Don't Lift Off

Danny Watts is a former multiple Championship Winning British Racing Driver. In an illustrious career, he has won in everything from karting to single seater Formula cars, to Le Mans Prototypes, including winning the Le Mans 24 hours twice.He is now a full time driver coach and also a qualified counsellor, spearheading the British Racing Drivers' Club's Mental Health and Wellness support campaign.To talk to the BRDC Mental Health & Wellbeing team, please contact them via:[email protected] or call +44 (0)7354 339676#dontliftoff 00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:35 - Intro00:05:06 - Arriving at Silverstone...00:08:19 - 1990's Karting00:13:11 - Super One - 100C & 100B00:13:36 - Helmet design - it's my signature!00:18:16 - My toughest competitors - Lee Rennison & Kimi Räikkönen00:20:08 - Remembering John Daltry00:21:03 - A little secret...00:22:38 - Moving to cars in 1998 - Formula First00:24:16 - Formula Palmer Audi - a learning experience00:26:44 - How Kimi Räikkönen raised my game00:32:15 - Learning to fly...at Oulton Park!00:35:59 - Macau...13 consecutive times!00:38:33 - Macau onboard McLaren MP4-12C00:41:31 - Becoming a British F3 race winner00:41:51 - The Flavio Briatore story...00:48:02 - Making history - winning in a Lola00:49:01 - A winning comeback in F3!00:55:44 - Porsche Carerra Cup00:57:49 - Le Mans prototypes01:00:05 - Winning at Le Mans01:03:08 - The mindset to 24 hour racing01:07:16 - Total alcoholic breakdown01:08:38 - Beating addiction & becoming sober01:10:32 - Getting help & turning my life around01:13:21 - Helping others with the BRDC01:19:06 - Joshua Watts - the next generation!

Steve Perez is a self made British drinks entrepreneur from Chesterfield, UK. From helping at his Dad’s pub as a teenager, and working for local brewery Tetley’s, he launched Global Brands, building it into a £90 Million pounds (GBP) business with brands such as Kick Energy Drinks, VK Vodka Mixes, Amigos Tequila Beer, Franklin & Sons Tonics and the original Hooch alcopop, all sold across the UK and sixty-plus countries.Steve also owns the boutique Casa Hotel in Chesterfield together with Peak Edge Hotel and Red Lion Restaurant and pub, which his Father original owned. He is four-time National and Historic Rally Champion with a fabulous collection of cars including; Marcus Grohölm’s 2007 WRC Rally winning Ford Focus, a Hannu Mikkola / Arne Hertz / Michelle Mouton 1985 Audi Sport Quattro A2, various Porsche 911’s, a Ferrari 12Cilindri and his beloved Lancia Stratos rally and road cars.Steve can be found at:https://www.youtube.com/@SteveJGPerezhttps://www.instagram.com/stevenjgperez/https:x.com/StevenJGPerezSteve Perez Rally Team:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063469511226Seb Perezhttps://www.facebook.com/sebperez66Don't Lift Off Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoff/https://www.youtube.com/@dontliftoffhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoffhttps://dontliftoff.comThe full podcast is also available on all main podcast platforms (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, etc). https://linktr.ee/dontliftoff #DontLiftOff #Podcast #StevePerez #StevePerezRallyTeam #KickEnergyRallyTeam #BTRDA #BritishHistoricRallyChampionship #cars #car #Ferrari #12Cilindri #LanciaStratos #lancia #stratos #audiquattro #Porsche911Rally #FordFocusWRC #WRC #1970s #1980s #1990s #2000s #GlobalBrands #VKDrinks #VKVodkaKick #AmigosTequilaBeer #KickEnergy #Hooch #farming #jeremyclarkson #Rallying #RACRally #Rally #MikeWilds Chapters00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:33 - Intro00:03:56 - A tour of the estate...and the rally stage!00:10:22 - The Toys...00:11:10 - 2007 WRC Focus - Marcus Grönholm00:12:12 - 1985 Audi Sport Quattro A2 - Hannu Mikkola / Arne Hertz / Michelle Mouton00:15:59 - Lancia Stratos story00:18:26 - Seb Perez' Ginetta Junior00:19:05 - 1974 911 Carrera RS00:21:02 - Ford Escort Mk200:23:34 - Porsche GT3 Touring00:24:07 - Ferrari 12Cilindri00:26:10 - Stratos heaven...00:26:51 - The Farm00:28:47 - Dansport00:29:48 - The RAC (Roger Albert Clark) Rally00:36:33 - Highland Cows and the garden00:37:36 - Mike Wilds: A Formula One Driver...and a Helicopter Instructor!00:39:45 - Racing vs Rallying00:43:17 - The Red Lion Pub & Restaurant...NO LABOUR MP'S!00:44:59 - Getting into selling drinks00:47:21 - The idea behind VK00:49:00 - Starting in rally co-driving00:52:55 - The art of co-driver timing00:56:48 - Chris Wood & Pro-Drivers00:58:42 - The story about the Rally Of The Inca's, Peru01:11:21 - Issues with Historic Rallying & 4WD's01:16:06 - Challenges with the Stratos01:17:33 - The fire01:24:02 - POLITICS - UK Government hospitality rates01:27:34 - Business people and politics - Trump's revolution?01:30:21 - Inefficiencies of government vs business leaders01:34:49 - Why do business people not get more involved?01:39:15 - Family run businesses and inheritance tax

Will Redford is a 20 year old racing driver & instructor from Warrington, England. He is a mechanic turned Sim Racer, Junior Saloon Car Championship podium finisher, Milltek Sport Civic Cup race winner and in 2025 he became a Racing Prodigy P3 Champion in North America, racing a Radical SR1 Sports Prototype. Created and run by Terry Radbourne, Bourne High Performance Powertrains (Bourne HPP) are an engine builder that boasts a unique combination of Formula 1, Le Mans and other WEC engine building experience, both in the workshop and trackside at major events around the world.In this podcast, Terry and Will sit down with host and racer Anthony Dunn and talk about of how they met and started working together, which led to them competing in and winning the 2025 Caribbean Clash of Champions in Guyana, racing with Team AJM in a Porsche GT3 Cup Car…all in a quite remarkable story!If you enjoy this podcast and want to see or find out more, please consider following us at:InstagramDon’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoffWill Redford - @wcredfordhttps://www.instagram.com/wcredfordBourne HPP - @bourne_hpphttps://www.instagram.com/bourne_hppTikTokDon’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoffBourne HPP - @bourne_hpphttps://www.tiktok.com/@bournehppWith special thanks to Cam Frankcom for the excellent videography. Cam can be found on Instagram@camfrankcomhttps://www.instagram.com/cfrankcom#Motorsport #Podcast #DontLiftOff #Guyana #BourneHPP #BourneHighPerformancePowertrains #WillRedfordRacing #WR42 #WillRedford #Winning #CaribbeanClashOfChampions #TeamAJM #BourneHPP #WillRedford #GT3Cup #GMRSC #Motorsport #SouthDakotaCircuit #CaribbeanClashOfChampions #Porsche #GT3 #racing #lifestories #British #Motorsport #Winner #SimDriving #Professional #SimRacer #Honda #K20 #CivicCup #Engine #Tuning #Dyno #LeMans #WEC #Mercedes #F1 #AER #Radical #SR1 #NorthAmerica #Champion #EngineBuilder #Tuner #JuniorSaloonCarChampionship #SimToRacer #KatherineLegge #USA #FastDriving #Driver #OilRich #Economy #RacingProdigy #SouthDakotaCircuit Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Don't Lift Off Podcast06:25 Guyana's Discovery and Motorsport Scene10:05 Behind the Scenes at Bourne HPP16:01 Engineering Innovations and Challenges24:18 Will's Journey from Sim Racing to Real Racing44:54 The Radical Racing Experience and Scholarship Program50:38 Tyre Management and Race Strategy53:03 The Shootout55:33 Team Dynamics and Learning from Mentors57:36 Taking Opportunities in Racing01:00:01 The Power of E-Commerce in Motorsport01:02:16 Setting Up for Success in Guyana01:03:11 Guyana's Rapid Development and Motorsport Growth01:06:30 The Caribbean Clash of Champions01:16:24 Race Day Challenges and Innovations01:28:22 Mental Resilience in Racing01:42:02 Future Aspirations in Guyana

Ian Ashley is a former British Motor Racing Driver, Pilot and Motorcycle and Sidecar Champion. He has also been an instructor in all three disciplines.In a hugely varied life and career, Ian went from dominant novice at the Jim Russell Racing School to a fast, but uncut diamond in Formula Ford and Formula Three (against future champions such as Britain's James Hunt), to pace setter in Formula 5000 and then giant killing performances in underfunded and uncompetitive British Formula One teams including Token, BRM, Williams and Hesketh. After a huge crash that ended his F1 career, he then diverted to become a pilot, flying crop dusting bi-planes, Lear and Gulf Stream private Jets and Sea Planes from Alaska!He briefly returned to cars, racing Indy Lights and Indy Cars in the USA and also raced motorbikes and turned his hand to three wheels in Motorcycle and Sidecars. He had a brief foray into the BTCC, TVR Tuscan and Lotus Elise racing in the UK and later in his life returned to historic racing cars and finally winning multiple championships in historic Sidecars.In his rich life, he has created had a few stories and had a few crashes along the way...#f1 #f3 #formulaford #formula5000 #hesketh #jameshunt #williams #brm #btcc #indycar #tvr #lotus #racing #british #motorsport #stories #crashes #crash 00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:59 - Intro00:06:35 - Holding on to a sidecar...00:10:29 - My Dad was a test pilot for Concorde00:18:07 - A start at Jim Russell00:23:00 - Into Formula Ford and Formula 300:27:35 - Racing with Fittipaldi brothers Emerson and Wilson in Brazil00:31:54 - Becoming a star in Formula 500000:38:52 - Formula One with BRM00:40:15 - James Hunt00:42:19 - Giving no quarter00:44:36 - Learning the art of slipstreaming00:48:34 - F1 debut at...the Nurburgring!00:53:29 - Racing with Williams00:55:19 - Racing with a plaster cast leg...00:58:25 - A mistake moving to BRM01:00:08 - A drive with Hesketh01:06:35 - A brave shit01:12:24 - Becoming a Lear Jet pilot01:20:15 - Flying Jackie Stewart01:25:56 - Learning to drive or fly - the principle of starting with one axis01:31:14 - Looking like Ian Anderson from Fairport Convention01:33:10 - The accidental arrest!01:35:28 - Flying sea planes from Alaska01:37:22 - Indycars & Indy Lights01:40:55 - Motorbike and sidecars!01:49:37 - "Shunt" and "Crashley"!01:50:36 - Back to historic racing cars...01:52:15 - An unusual link01:56:00 - Motorcycle and Sidecar Champion01:56:59 - Can you remember...?Note: Due to technical issues with the audio that almost caused a cancellation and re-record, AI was used to help clarify voices. You may notice a slightly digital sounding voice in places, but I wanted to make sure the production happened and voices could be heard well. Hope that's understandable. If you enjoy this episode and would like to see more please Like, Share and Subscribe! Thank you, AnthonyIf you are interested in learning more about Ian's career, here are some good articles:https://www.f1forgottendrivers.com/ian-ashley-f5000/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-2012/113/more-than-a-tocken-effort/http://www.forix.com/8w/ashley.html

Kelvin Burt is a British Racing Driver with nearly 40 years of motor racing success. From the late 1980’s as David Coulthard’s title rival in Formula Ford 1600, Kelvin rose through the ranks to become a Formula Vauxhall Lotus Champion, British Formula 3 Champion, Porsche Supercup race winner, Formula 1 test driver for Jordan Grand Prix, British Touring Car Championship race winner with Ford, Volvo and Alfa Romeo, Japanese Touring Car and Super GT race winner, Macau Grand Prix Winner, British GT Champion, multiple ASCAR race winner and FIA GT podium finisher with Ferrari onto become a racing team owner.Today he continues his career in motorsport as a race winning coach in International GT’s and Single Seaters.#dontliftoff #F1 #Formula1 #EddieJordan #JordanGP #Tyrrell #Arrows #F3 #champion #FF1600 #FormulaFord #FormulaVauxhallLotus #british #motorsport #MotorRacing #underdog #Japan #GT #racing #btcc #TouringCars #ford #AndyRouse #Volvo #TWR #AlfaRomeo #Macau #KelvinBurt #british #BritishGT #ferrari #FIAGT #JackieStewart #PaulStewartRacing #CoachingChapters00:00 Teaser01:48 Intro to Kelvin Burt10:58 Starting At Jim Russell 13:32 Drifting My Dad’s Capri16:55 My Dad’s Story - Motorbikes And Road Rallies20:54 A Formula First Scholarship23:38 Getting His A**se Out At Brands Hatch27:28 Formula Ford 160033:30 David Coulthard’s Closest Rival38:15 A Modest Attitude40:40 First BTCC Race And Win With BMW44:15 1990 Formula Vauxhall Lotus49:00 Formula 3 With Fortec 199253:07 - F3 Champion With Paul Stewart Racing 199359:48 A Good Story About Richard Dutton1:02:00 Drive To Survive: Drama That Isn’t There?1:07:40 The 1993 F3 Season Into An F1 Test1:11:54 F1 Testing - Grabbing An Opportunity 1:25:24 British Touring Cars With Ford1:31:25 BTCC With TWR In A Volvo1:36:15 The Oulton Park Crash1:44:06 A Return To BTCC With Alfa Romeo With Gary Ayles1:45:20 Porsche Supercup Win At Silverstone1:47:13 Touring Cars And GT In Japan1:52:48 Group C testing and more Japan1:55:43 FIA GT & Le Mans with Ferrari 360 & 5501:59:50 Making Myself Sick At Sebring2:01:50 ASCAR2:08:49 “I Could Listen To You All Evening”2:09:38 The Thruxton Carrera Cup Crash2:16:27 Jan Magnussen At Jim Russell2:19:17 A Bedford DTM Drivers Story…2:22:06 Silk Cut Jaguar Le Mans Winner2:23:35 Coaching In Single Seaters & GT’s

Steve Markham is a former Oval Grass Track Racer, Stock Car Racer, Hot Rod Champion, Start Marshall, Rally Driving Champion, Rally Co-Driver and Instructor and lifelong HGV Truck Driver, Logistics Organiser and Trainer.#rallying #ovalracing #hotrod #rockingham #silverstone #stockcarracing #briscaf1 #grasstrack #hgv #hgvtraining #hgvdriver #truckdriver PLEASE NOTE: Views shared in this podcast are the individuals own and do not represent those of the companies or agencies mentioned.Chapters00:00 Steve Markham’s Early Life and Influences02:58 Discipline and Parenting06:05 Health Challenges and Resilience09:08 Grass Track Ovals, Stock Cars and Hot Rods11:51 The World of Motorsports14:50 Friendships and Collaborations in Racing18:01 Rallying memories20:52 Memorable Stories23:59 The Evolution of Racing Cars27:02 Geoff Capes57:25 Nostalgic Reflections 58:51 Establishing a Performance Driving Center01:01:29 Barry McGuigan and Encounters with Sports Personalities01:02:59 The Intersection of Sports and Entertainment01:05:39 Training and Assessing HGV Drivers01:09:31 The Evolution of Electric Vehicles01:12:43 The Next Generation01:15:10 Politics01:20:51 Social Media01:23:03 Kier Starmer 01:26:45 The State of the UK01:30:15 The Future of Energy and Sustainability01:34:30 Brexit01:39:18 The Challenges The Government01:45:10 Global Conflicts01:49:56 The Future of EV’s and wrapping up

Chris Hartley is a British Motorsport Commentator and former Go Kart Racer. He has over 30 years of experience from competing in Club and National Karting Championships in the 1990’s to becoming a commentator firstly in karting, then rising to some of the most prestigious championships in the UK and Europe including, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), Formula 3 (F3) and Formula 1 (F1) at the British Grand Prix as well as other well know events including Moto GP and Carfest.Chris also runs his own Media Production and Editing Company ‘Chris Hartley Media’ with clients including Ferrari and Fun Cup.He can be found at:www.chrishartleymedia.comhttps://www.instagram.com/hartleycommshttps://x.com/hartleycommshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hartley-media#dontliftoff #british #motorsport #commentary #karting #f1 #britishgrandprix #btcc #dtm #ferrarichallenge Chapters00:00 Chris Hartley’s Podcast Listens03:10 The Art of Conversation in Podcasting06:12 The Evolution of Motorsport Media08:59 Personal Stories from 1990’s Karting Days11:59 Racing Friendships22:41 More Karting Memories24:36 The Physical Demands of Karting26:43 The Evolution of Karting28:17 Chris’s Journey into Karting30:49 The Competitive Nature of Karting34:35 The Changing Landscape of Karting38:18 Overcoming Challenges in Motorsport42:52 Life Lessons from Karting51:48 Never Give Up: The Journey of Resilience53:07 Karting Challenges and Triumphs55:41 The Thrill of Racing58:45 Racing vs. Other Sports01:00:12 From Racing to Commentating: A New Chapter01:05:48 Finding My Voice01:13:48 The Journey of a Commentator01:19:35 Fun Cup Racing and Slick Pit Stops01:21:10 Creating a Fun (Cup) Awards Ceremony01:22:36 Commentary in British Touring Cars and DTM01:24:32 The British Grand Prix01:26:30 The Evolution of Racing Commentary01:28:00 Karting to Formula Racing: A Journey01:30:05 Max Verstappen - The Rise of Young Talent01:31:55 The Atmosphere of the Nurburgring 01:33:58 The Importance of Sim Racing01:37:56 The Challenges of Racing at the Nurburgring01:40:01 Future Podcast Guests

George Proudford-Nalder is a young Australian driver racing in the British Ginetta Junior Championship. Having raced in karting since he was 9 years old, in his rookie season in car racing with McKenna Driver Development, 15 year old George has impressed by being a front runner and finishing on the podium.Supported by his family, it is George's ambition to graduate the British F4 championship in 2026 and ultimately become a professional racing driver.George can be found at https://www.instagram.com/gpn.racing#dontliftoff #ginettajunior #ginetta #BritishF4 #weareginettaChapters00:00 Introduction to George Proudford-Nalder03:45 George's Journey in Racing11:23 Early Experiences and Background18:25 Transition to Car Racing24:59 Competitive Landscape in Ginetta Junior31:47 Reflections on the Season38:24 Future Aspirations in Racing45:00 Team Dynamics and Personal Life

Mike Wilds is a true British Motor Racing hero with over 60 years of racing experience from humble beginnings in 'club' Single Seater racing, then through into National and European Single Seaters, Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2, Formula 5000 and finally Formula 1.He later furthered his professional career in Sports Cars, making 7 Le Mans 24 race starts and winning the 1986 World Group C2 Team World Championship. He also has 12 British Championships in Sports, GT, and Touring cars, including the 2013 Britcar Production Cup Championship and most recently Class 2 of the 2016 Britcar/Dunlop Endurance Championship in a Ferrari 458GTC Evo driving with son Anthony.For more information on Mike, to obtain a copy of his excellent book ‘Life On The Wilds Side’ or to contact him about some coaching in your own car go to MikeWilds.com.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mike03:01 The start of a career05:58 The Evolution of Endurance Racing08:59 Memorable Races and Personal Stories12:02 Early Days in Racing14:51 Family Influence and the Racing Bug18:11 The Thrill of Competition21:03 The Fire Incident and It’s Aftermath27:35 More Racing History29:57 Accidents and Their Impact on Racing33:05 Family Legacy in Racing33:52 The Journey from Amateur to Professional36:56 The Transition to Formula Racing40:10 Challenges in Formula 4 and Sponsorships43:00 The Road to Formula 500048:05 The Leap to Formula 153:00 Memorable Moments in Formula 101:05:10 The Race That Changed Everything01:07:43 Transition to BRM and Early Challenges01:09:41 The BRM Experience and Testing Insights01:12:20 Memories of James Hunt01:16:14 David Leslie01:19:52 Personal Reflections on Family and Support01:28:21 Flying High: From Racing to Aviation01:34:12 Racing with Family: The Wilds Legacy Continues01:40:42 Racing Legacy01:43:08 World Sports Car Championship Triumphs01:45:49 The Thrill of Driving Classic Cars01:49:59 Memorable Racing Experiences and Challenges01:54:00 Accidents and Recovery: A Racer's Journey02:00:02 Comedy moments02:03:54 The Passion for Racing Continues

Barry Dunn is a former Clothing and Motor Trade Salesman, Sales Manager, Car Dealership owner and House Restorer. He is also a former sponsor and (still current) Father of Don't Lift Off podcast host Anthony Dunn!#dontliftoff #motorsport #motortrade #football #music #karting #f1 #stories Chapters00:00 Father's Day Reflections and Family Connections03:03 The Journey into Motor Racing05:56 Family Heritage and Early Influences08:57 The Dunn’s heritage in the Black Country12:01 The North East and Growing Up in Spennymoor15:04 Family influence on Career Choices18:04 Going into to the Motor Trade21:00 Memories of School and Early Relationships23:57 Music in our life26:58 Scrambling and motorbikes with the Hudsons29:59 Career Beginnings in clothing - the ‘Rag Trade’32:56 The Evolution of the Motor Trade35:56 The Rise of Chinese Automotive Brands38:56 Nostalgia for Classic Cars and Brands42:03 The Journey Through the Automotive Industry44:57 The Legacy of Family in Motorsports47:56 Reflections on the Future of the Motor Trade01:08:06 Musical Encounters and Celebrity Stories01:11:16 Motox and Mercedes01:15:14 Robert Maxwell01:19:26 The BMW Connection: F1 at Brands Hatch and the Turbo era01:21:47 The Racing World01:34:47 Karting in the 90’s02:02:50 The Ups and Downs of Racing Careers02:04:34 Finally…the Chris Wilder Oxford United Incident!

Paul Taft is a former multi-championship winning Racing Driver and Scramble bike rider. Since the 1950’s as a ‘works’ supported BSA rider to winning in Honda CRX, Metro Turbo, Renault 5 Turbo and in the British Touring Car Championship he has been at the sharp end of motorsport from rider to racer to instructor to coach, imparting his huge wealth of knowledge to the next generation.He also keeps bees, plays the clarinet and is a big fan of classical music. Since 1997 he has been 59 years old (in Taft years).Chapters00:00 Introduction to Paul Taft06:03 Bisto11:58 Rally Driving and Car Control35:05 Scrambling and The Isle of Mann TT42:08 Transition to Motor Racing49:35 National Service and Military Training01:01:20 Competition and Career Development01:14:30 The Art of Car Restoration01:20:04 The Thrill of Speed and Risk01:30:09 The Journey into Car Racing01:43:49 From Sales to the Track01:55:13 Nostalgic Reflections on Racing Days02:03:04 Insights in Racing02:14:34 Overcoming Personal Challenges in Racing02:25:39 Personal Life and Performance#dontliftoff #honda #crx #mgmetroturbo #racingdriver #motorsport #btcc

Mika Salo is Finnish racing driver with a prolific international career beginning in Finland in the 1970’s in Karting through to Formula Ford, Formula 3 (against compatriot and former next door neighbour Mika Häkkinen!), Formula 3000, GT’s, Sportscars and Formula 1, racing with Lotus, Tyrrell, Arrows and Ferrari. He most famously substituted for Michael Schumacher after the German broke his leg at Silverstone, and was on course to win the 1999 German Grand Prix before handing the lead to team mate Eddie Irvine and later finished on the podium at Monza.He is a double winner at Le Mans in GT2 for Ferrari and most recently an FIA Formula One Steward.His son Max has also begun a fledgling racing career beginning in FIA F4 and now races in sports cars in GT4, competing in a Porsche Cayman since 2024 in a Hitotsuyama Mercedes-AMG GT4 in Japan.To follow Mika:https://www.instagram.com/stories/mikasaloofficial/To follow Max:https://www.instagram.com/maxsalo_official/#mikasalo #ferrari #f1 #formula1 #podium #hockenheim #monza #karting #f3 #f3000 #lemans #winner #maxsalo #f4 #gt4 #japan #motorsport #racing #dontliftoff

Richard Attwood is a winner of the 1970 Le Mans 24 hour race with Porsche and a Formula One Grand Prix Podium finisher at Monaco in 1968 with BRM.In an illustrious international career, that also including racing for Ferrari, Lotus and Lola at almost every racing circuit of the age including the Targa Florio, Nurburging Nordschleife and the fearsome original Spa-Francorchamps and Osterreichring, Richard raced with the very best including Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees, Pedro Rodriguez and many, many more.At 85 years old he is still going strong, competing in historic racing cars and doing demonstrations at Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed. He is simply a living British motor racing legend.Richard can be found at:https://www.richardattwoodmotorsport.com/https://www.instagram.com/richardattwoodmotorsport/https://x.com/rjdattwoodPlease see the below for more podcasts, videos and articles Richard has been featured in:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpWkesEeq6Mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W3Pd4P7BWAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uXBxox_5S4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZ__wM24Jwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj39mMan1hghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_5pTBxwBOc&t=70shttps://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/2021/7/richard-attwood-is-the-most-humble-le-mans-winner/#dontliftoff #lemans #richardattwood #porsche #917 #porsche917 #stevemcqueen #ferrari #1970 #winner #goodwood #revival #goodwoodrevival #goodwoodfos #festivalofspeed

Mark Werrell is a British Motorsport commentator with 25 years experience at racing circuits and on television for many National and International series.In addition to commentary he also provides voice over, presentation and event hosting services both within and outside of motorsport.Mark is also a Brand Ambassador for the BMMC (British Motorsports Marshals Club).To contact Mark:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorsportcommentator/X: @comms_boxWeb: www.motorsportcommentator.co.ukMobile: 07852629447Email: [email protected]#motorsport #commentator #btcc #dtm #FIA #Formula2 #GT #gt1 #gt2 #gt3Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mark Werrell - Motorsport Commentary02:58 Running and Fitness in Motorsport06:00 The Importance of Circuit Familiarity09:01 Memories from Karting and Early Racing Days12:00 Personal Stories and Injuries in Sports14:57 Exploring Lincoln and Its History17:56 Charity Cycling for Neonatal Care27:35 Living Life on Your Own Terms28:04 The Challenge of Solo Adventures29:19 Mental Resilience in Endurance Sports30:00 The Fear of Failure31:09 Mindset and Overcoming Setbacks32:28 The Journey into Motorsport34:14 Transitioning from Passion to Profession36:35 The Art of Race Commentary39:23 The Thrill of Motorsport Events42:57 Memorable Racing Experiences46:47 The Evolution of Motorsport Careers51:13 The Community of Motorsport Enthusiasts01:01:32 The Journey of Car Enthusiasm01:03:05 Restoration Tales and Challenges01:04:34 Current Rides and Future Aspirations01:05:51 Networking in the Racing Community01:08:10 Commentary Insights and Challenges01:12:41 Fitness and Mental Health Benefits01:15:28 Inspirational Stories of Endurance01:19:20 Diving Adventures and Mindset01:20:34 Pronunciations01:29:43 Don't Lift Off!

Clive Baker is a former international racing driver and BRDC Member. From 1962 he competed in a huge array of sportscar races including being a ‘Works’ Austin-Healey driver with their 3000 and Sprite and as a Chevron Works driver in their B8 and B16 in a total of eight starts at Le Mans and also many other endurance races such as 1000 km of Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Sebring 12 hours and Daytona 24 hours.He also competed in single seaters in Formula 3 (F3) and in the fearsome Formula 5000 cars of the 1970’s.#dontliftoff #1960s #1970s #lemans #nurburgring #daytona #sebring Chapters00:00 Introduction to Clive and Personal Background03:01 Le Mans and Early Racing Experiences06:04 Transition to Professional Racing08:51 Coaching and Mentoring in Motorsport12:04 Racing in Australia and the Start of a Career15:01 The Journey to Healey Factory and Early Success17:47 Racing in the Bahamas and Notable Experiences21:05 The Legacy of Le Mans Racing22:01 Experiences at Le Mans: Triumphs and Challenges23:04 Innovations in Racing: The Rotary Engine Story24:01 Testing and Development: The Journey of a Race Car28:55 Racing in North Carolina: A New Chapter31:57 The Birth of Legends Cars and NASCAR Involvement37:00 The Evolution of Sponsorship in Racing41:56 Formula 5000: The Beast of Racing43:12 The Call to America: A New Opportunity44:38 Racing Challenges: The Formula 5000 Experience46:05 Disastrous Races: Trials and Tribulations48:53 The Competitive Edge: Driving Beasts51:37 The Transition: From F3 to Sports Cars52:42 Life on the Road: The Struggles of Racing54:59 Monza Madness: The Castrol Oil Record Attempt57:55 Adventures and Escapades: Tales from the Track01:02:04 Nostalgic Antics: Mischief in Racing01:07:44 Looking Ahead: Future Racing Plans

Lars Sexton is a high performance coach and mentor, specialising in motorsport. He is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Timeline Therapy ™ Coaching and Hypnotherapy.He is also a former BMX Champion, 1990’s Formula A Open Champion in Karting, Elf La-Filiere Scholarship winner, F3 racer, Aston Martin GT test driver and engineer.To contact Lars email [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/larssextonTo listen to the 2-part podcast Lars did with Mike O’Neill and Biff Harris discussed at the beginning, see here:Part 1https://on.soundcloud.com/xB4mtjqVUkDR2ZRd9Part 2https://on.soundcloud.com/fniiSR5b1zyz7VJ67#dontliftoff #coaching #karting #1990s #prodrive #astonmartinContents00:00 Introducing Lars Sexton01:48 The Informal Beginnings of Karting in the 80’s and 90’s04:46 Nostalgic Karting Memories and Influential Figures 07:40 Silverstone Stories and Connections in Karting 10:45 Inspirational Figures and Their Impact 13:45 The Evolution of Karting and Personal Growth 16:52 Memorable Racing Incidents and Lessons Learned 19:50 Elf La Filière Scholarship and into National F3 22:58 The Importance of Commitment in Racing25:44 Reflections on Past Competitors and Their Journeys 28:49 The Role of Female Drivers in Motorsport31:55 The Future of Women in Racing34:48 The Importance of Investment in Young Talent47:33 Evolution of Racing Technology48:02 Gender Dynamics in Motorsport49:00 The Future of Female Drivers50:29 Nostalgia for Karting Days51:42 The Shift in Karting Competitions54:33 The Impact of Tyre Technology56:47 The Changing Landscape of Karting today58:02 The Role of Sim Racing in Development60:20 The Importance of Physical Conditioning01:03:38 Personal Connections in Racing01:06:10 The Journey of a Racing Career01:10:45 Working at Prodrive01:14:03 The Challenges of Testing01:18:14 The Importance of Team Dynamics01:20:56 The Evolution of Motorsport Culture01:24:06 Mental Health in Motorsport01:30:10 The Power of Positive Reinforcement01:36:17 Keep it real!

Andy Corner is a farmer from Oxfordshire who has competed and won in rallying for over 40 years and now supports his grandson Aiden in F1000 Junior Rallying.He has been a friend of Don’t Lift Off Podcast host Anthony Dunn’s family since the 1960’s.In this conversation he discusses his rally driving and other exploits over the years and living next door to former US Airforce base Upper Heyford.As a third-generation farmer, he also outlays the challenges farmers are facing in 2025 and his involvement supporting campaigns Farmers To Action and Back British Farmers and their protests down to London, outside The Palace of Westminster and The Houses of Parliament#dontliftoff #rallying #rallydriving #f1000 @FarmersToAction #backbritishfarming #backbritishfarmersChapters00:00 Introduction to Andy Corner and Rallying Background02:55 Experiences in Rallying and Motorsport05:58 The Evolution of Rallying Venues08:59 Military Connections and 1980’s Upper Heyford Air Shows12:01 Aiden Corner - The Next Generation of Rally Drivers14:58 The Journey of a Rally Car18:00 The Influence of Farming on Motorsport20:59 Learning and Growing in Rallying25:38 Nostalgic Adventures on the Yamaha ATC Trike28:08 The Thrill of Rallying and Sponsorship Challenges35:14 The Journey of Rallying: Trials and Triumphs48:29 Farming: Generational Challenges and Inheritance Tax Issues53:13 Understanding Agricultural Economics56:14 The Pressure on Small Farmers01:00:19 Labour Government Policies and Subsidies01:03:46 The Fight for Farmers' Rights01:08:37 Personal Cancer Struggles and Resilience01:12:59 Living for Today and Future Generations01:21:13 Trip to London…

Charles Rainford is a multiple race winning British instructor, coach and racing driver in the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship. He is racing in the 2025 British Touring Car Championship with West Surrey Racing in a BMW 330i.Charles can be found at:Website: https://www.charlesrainford.com/driver-profile/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charles_rainfordFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlesrainford99/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles_rainfordX: https://x.com/racingrainford#dontliftoff #charlesrainford #btcc #WSR #bmw Chapters00:00 Introduction to Charles Rainford01:37 Early Racing Experiences03:11 Testing the BTCC BMW at Croft Circuit04:22 Background and Family Influence07:14 Transition to Classic Racing12:13 Move to Porsche Carrera Cup GB14:08 Dancing Background and Discipline20:11 Homeschooling and Entrepreneurial Spirit23:12 Musical Talents and Diverse Interests26:40 The Journey Begins: From Dreams to Reality29:32 Learning the Ropes: First Season Challenges31:05 The Evolution of Racing: Cars and Technology34:00 Sponsorship and Support - Building a Team36:07 The Championship Battle: High Stakes Racing39:10 Racing at Le Mans44:03 Simulators: Training for Success48:52 The Mental Game in Racing51:25 Transitioning to the British Touring Car Championship53:00 The Dynamics of Different Race Cars58:12 Testing and Preparation for Racing01:03:06 Historic Racing Projects and the 3 litre Capri!

Olly Allen is a multiple Ford National Champion in his super-fast “Fezzie” Fiesta. He has also won in the Time Attack Championship Pro class and is an ARDS Grade A licenced instructor and coach with over 20 years of experience. He is the owner of ORA Motorservices car service and repair shop and racing car preparer in Grantham. He is also the Original Brother Klaw.ORA Motorservices can be found at:https://www.facebook.com/share/1EbtYj...https://www.instagram.com/oramotorservices?igsh=a2J3aDB4cnVxNHRk#dontliftoff #racing #motorsport #champion #ford Chapters00:00 Introduction to "Brother Klaw" Olly Allen02:01 Memories from Silverstone05:53 Instructor Training Experiences12:06 Connections in the Motorsport Community14:59 Starting ORA Motor Services a Business in Cars and Motorsport20:03 Fighting and Racing Stories28:58 Racing Experiences and Coaching Insights30:34 Nostalgic Driving Tales32:58 Car Mishaps and Police Encounters35:40 Memories of Colleagues and Friends at Silverstone39:22 Racing History and Early Experiences42:14 The Evolution of Racing Cars46:06 Building and Tuning Performance Cars50:01 Accidents and Their Impact56:02 Reflections on Racing and Friends01:01:03 Passion for Racing and Car Preparation01:04:05 Achievements in Racing and Personal Triumphs01:07:43 Coaching the Next Generation of Allen Racers01:11:24 Family Life and Personal Stories01:16:15 Charity Work and Giving Back01:18:15 Comedy Moments in Racing01:30:38 Reflections on Racing Experiences01:36:09 The Influence of Mentors in Motorsport01:40:11 Racing Strategies and Techniques01:46:08 Challenges in Racing Equipment01:51:12 The Future of Coaching and Mentorship01:56:26 Massachusetts

Geoff Banks, Neil Primrose and Anthony Dunn talk about Motorsport, 60's, 70's and 80's War Planes, Music, Touring, Life and Scalextric while they are walking in the Yorkshire Dales at Ingleborough.Geoff is a former Sponsorship Manager for HP who worked with Jordan Grand Prix, Anthony is a racing driver and coach and host of the Don't Lift Off Podcast and Neil is a racer, instructor and drummer in the rock back Travis.#dontliftoff #f1#formula1 #music #travis #touring #jordangrandprix #eddiejordan #warplanes #lifeChapters00:00:00 - Cars and motorsport chat00:06:22 - Paul Stoddart's VC1000:18:00 - Indycar races00:19:34 - Working with Eddie Jordan's Formula One Team00:28:32 - Having George Harrison as a guest00:35:02 - Jarno Trulli's Castorani wines00:40:47 - Filming a Travis video and seeing them live00:44:12 - A shared passion for military aircraft00:55:26 - Neil's 2025 racing plans01:08:51 - ...and more 1960's and 70's military aircraft!01:17:20 - An anorak fact about Silverstone...01:24:09 - Breaking his neck - Neil's near-death experience

Ray Grimes is a motor racing driver, instructor and coach. He has over 40 years of winning in motorsport from karts to single seaters, saloons to F1. He is currently racing in an LMP3 Ligier Sports Prototype and Ferrari Challenge car in the Masters series.Ray can be found at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ray_grimes28Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ray.grimsey.14#dontliftoff #lmp3 #ligier #ferrari #488 #masters Chapters00:00 Introducing Ray Grimes02:00 Building the Race Shack 05:00 The Joy of Racing and DIY Projects 08:01 Nostalgia and the Smell of Castrol R 11:07 The Racing Community and Old Friends 18:45 Life Lessons from COVID-19 21:32 Overcoming Health Challenges 24:37 The Journey into Racing 27:30 Experiences with Cancer 30:44 Racing Adventures and New Opportunities33:39 The Thrill of Driving LMP3 Cars36:50 The Importance of Technique in Racing39:49 Respect and Rivalry in Racing42:39 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Geoff Banks is a former Sponsorship Manager for Hewlett Packard in many high profile sports, including IndyCar, FIFA World Cup, RFL, British Touring Car Championship/BTCC and Formula 1 with clients including Williams and Jordan Grand Prix.He is Co-Owner of The Art Of Wine Ltd, Sole UK Importer of Castorani Wine produced by ex-Formula One driver Jarno Trulli’s family business.He is also currently an experienced mountain and trail guide fitness and nutrition coach running courses through Airbnb. He can be found on Instagram at:  / y3p_challenge   Neil Primrose is a race winning driver in modern sports prototypes, sports cars and classic sports cars and a qualified motor racing instructor.He is also the drummer in multi-platinum selling Scottish Rock 'n' Roll band Travis, with hits including Why Does It Always Rain On Me, Sing, Turn and Flowers In The Window.#dontliftoff Chapters00:00:00 Introduction to Fell Men00:03:47 What Y3P Challenge is about00:07:45 The importance of nutrients when exercising00:12:29 Coaching and the importance of getting outdoors00:14:38 Supporting Alzheimer's Dementia charities and Three Peaks challenges00:18:55 Neil's sale of motorsport memorabelia00:22:12 How the Ingleborough landscape has changed over the years00:35:33 Jordan Grand Prix, Pacific and Ray Mallock Limited00:38:31 How Geoff ended up looking after Hewlett Packard's F1 sponsorship programme00:48:11 The Prometheus Trail...00:54:46 Gaping Gill00:59:54 Great Gene Hackman films and other good films01:26:04 Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro chat01:30:24 Modern bands and how they play live01:40:29 Cars and motorsport chat01:46:52 Paul Stoddart's VC1001:58:30 Indycar races02:00:04 Working with Eddie Jordan's Formula One Team02:09:02 Having George Harrison as a guest02:15:31 Jarno Trulli's Castorani wines02:21:17 Filming a Travis video and seeing them live02:24:41 A shared passion for military aircraft02:35:56 Neil's 2025 racing plans02:49:21 ...and more 1960's and 70's military aircraft!02:57:49 An anorak fact about Silverstone...03:04:39 Breaking his neck - Neil's near-death experience03:19:44 Eddie Jordan Tribute

Ian Flux is a 5 x British National champion racing driver. From Karting to Formula Vee, Formula 3 to Formula Atlantic, Can-Am through to Sports 2000, TVR Tuscans, the British Touring Car Championship, British GT and Historic Formula One cars, Ian has raced and won in almost everything he has done over a 50 year period.He has also had a colourful private life, including a period of paying for some of his racing car career as a Rent Boy in Soho!Ian is one of the great characters of British Motorsport. #dontliftoff DISCLAMER:This interview is very raw and viewing caution is advised. There is no intention to offend or upset anyone, but if you are easily offended or you do not like swearing, PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THIS!Ian’s and Matt James’ excellent book ‘For Flux Sake: Beer, fags and opposite-lock’ can be purchased from Amazonhttps://amzn.eu/d/fiOpope

Bryce Wilson is a former junior karting World Cup Champion, Renault Spider Champion, National Saloon race winner, Sports Prototype race winner, British Touring Car Championship test and development driver, driver coach and owner of a Vapour Blasting and Protective Coatings business “Restore & Coat” in Dunfermline.To contact Bryce about coaching or about Restore & Coat:Facebook   / restore-coat-100078488515982  Website www.restoreandcoat.co.ukEmail [email protected]: +44 (0)7775 800232#dontliftoff 00:00 Introduction 03:14 Racing Career and Coaching 09:25 First Impressions and Early Racing Days 15:14 Family and Future Aspirations 21:21 Championships and Achievements 26:27 Early Racing Memories and Family Influence 37:41 The Journey to the Junior World Cup 43:55 Transitioning to Car Racing 49:56 Challenges and Triumphs in F3 55:01 The Thrill of Racing: A Personal Journey 01:03:55 The Psychology of Coaching and Learning 01:09:46 Honesty in Racing: The Key to Progress 01:24:26 Reflections on Competition and Personal Growth 01:31:17 The Role of Coaching vs. Instruction 01:40:25 Personal Health Challenges and Recovery 01:48:14 Transitioning from Motorsport to Business 02:01:55 Restore and Coat - Business Insights 02:03:55 Politics in 2025 02:08:10 The Importance of Open-Mindedness 02:14:31 The Need for Open Discussion in Politics 02:20:37 The Role of Politicians in Social Issues 02:26:35 Personal Decisions and Public Health 02:35:57 Music and Memories: A Personal Connection 02:37:51 ...one more thing...! 02:44:43 Ingenuity in Racing: Clever Tactics and Strategies 02:47:40 Influences and Inspirations in Racing 02:50:45 The Importance of Instinct and Reading the Race 02:53:57 Development Work and Engineering Insights 02:54:55 Special drivers and their impact 02:59:56 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

Chris Hodgetts is a double British Touring Car Champion (BTCC), TVR Tuscan Champion, British GT Champion, Le Mans 24 hour winner and driver coach to future racing stars. In this conversation he shares his rich history in motor racing, from his early days as a milkman to becoming a celebrated driver and coach. He discusses his passion for motorcycles and the Isle of Man, the influences that shaped his career, and the transition from amateur racing in karting and Clubsports to professional driver in BTCC, Le Mans, and British GT, and from team owner to coach.Chris discusses key moments in his racing career from overcoming his fears to first race at Le Mans to racing in Japan and the journey to becoming a factory driver for Mazda in their famous 767b rotary engine racer.Finally Chris talks about the nurturing of young talent with Elite motorsport, particularly focusing on the promising career of Red Bull F1 Academy driver Alisha Palmowski.#dontliftoff #btcc #toyota #lemans #mazda Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chris Hodgetts04:11 Passion for the Isle of Man08:45 The Milky Bar Kid20:06 Early Racing Career and Jim Whitehouse's influence 30:01 Transition to Professional Racing35:01 Racing Memories and Early Challenges38:15 The Road to Silverstone41:40 A Life-Changing Opportunity44:51 The British Touring Car Championship Journey48:10 Transitioning to Team Ownership52:28 The Rise of the Toyota Corolla Team56:43 The Competitive Edge and Challenges01:01:14 Reflections on Career Decisions01:06:17 International Racing Adventures01:08:27 Le Mans Adventures and Championship Wins01:10:05 The Thrill of Racing in Japan01:15:42 Facing Fears and Overcoming Challenges01:18:57 The Mazda 767b Experience and the Racing Dynamics Team01:20:39 Building Connections in the Racing Community01:25:40 The Journey to Becoming a Factory Driver01:32:18 The Mazda Legacy and Its Impact01:41:24 Reflections on Racing Friends and Memories01:44:16 The Journey Begins: From Racing to Coaching01:47:13 Memorable Races and Championships01:51:05 The Evolution of Karting and Its Impact01:54:05 Family Ties and Personal Stories02:03:17 Nurturing Young Talent with Elite Motorsport02:12:47 Alisha Palmowski: The first female F1 driver?

Conor Flynn discusses his experiences and insights from running Ice Drive Sweden, an ice driving school that offers unique driving experiences on frozen lakes. He shares the evolution of the business, the types of cars used, the experiences the customers have, and the importance of maintaining a family-oriented atmosphere. Conor reflects on his father Pat’s legacy and how it has shaped his approach to the business, emphasising accessibility and fun for all drivers.#dontliftoff Ice Drive Sweden can be found at:Websitehttps://icedrivesweden.comInstagramhttps://instagram.com/icedrivesweden/Facebookhttps://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068905579055Telephone: 00 44 (0) 7855 468 003Email: [email protected] ice driving experiences are also available in Scandinavia, and whilst I recommend Ice Drive Sweden, you should also consider looking around at what may be most suitable for your requirements. AnthonyTakeaways* Ice driving teaches essential car dynamics in a safe environment.* The business has evolved significantly since its inception.* Customer experience is prioritised with ample driving time.* A diverse fleet of vehicles enhances the learning experience.* Pricing is structured to be accessible all budgets.* Family involvement is encouraged, with activities for all ages.* The importance of maintaining a fun, friendly atmosphere is emphasised.* Conor's father Pat’s legacy continues to influence the business.* Future plans include expanding activities and experiences.* The ice driving experience is a unique adventure tourism opportunity.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ice Driving and Conor Flynn00:50 The Dynamics of Ice Driving and Safety01:47 Introduction and Weather Talk03:28 Getting to Know Each Other04:29 The Ice Driving Experience07:34 Transitioning to a Business Model10:28 Learning from Experience13:39 Growing the Business17:18 Focus and Team Development20:16 The Boathouse and Customer Experience21:55 Introduction and Ice Driving Experience24:55 Diverse Fleet of Cars on Ice27:52 Night Driving and Unique Experiences30:55 Customer Demographics and Learning Opportunities33:56 Budgeting for Ice Driving Adventures36:56 Family Involvement and Local Activities39:57 Facility Improvements and Future Plans42:53 Reflections on Legacy and Growth45:17 Conclusion and Future Aspirations50:50 Bonus customer interview!51:42 Discussion on Cars and Experiences52:50 Tribute to Pat Flynn

Ice Drive Sweden owner Conor Flynn tells how affordable the experience can be

Brad Philpot is a professional racing instructor, automotive industry trainer, go-kart racer, coach and YouTube content creator. He is also a former Toyota MR2 champion, Red Bull Kart Fight champion, 'Works’ Peugeot racing driver, Nurburgring 24 hour race winner, Race Of Champions Celebrity Skills Challenge winner (narrowly beating Ferrari Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel) and a British Touring Car Championship BTCC driver.Brad can be found at:YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@BradPhilpotWebsitehttps://bradphilpot.comFacebookhttps://facebook.com/bradley.philpotTwitter/Xhttps://twitter.com/BradleyPhilpotInstagramhttps://instagram.com/bradley_philpotTwitchhttps://twitch.tv/bradphilpotWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_PhilpotSim Coachinghttps://theracecoach.comMy thanks to Caffeine & Machine for use of their great facility. They can be found at:Websitehttps://caffeineandmachine.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/caffeineandmachine/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/caffeineandmachine/Chapters00:00:00 - Car park00:01:16 - Nürburgring Nordschleife corner names...00:03:24 - Ok, let's do an intro...00:04:26 - Starting in Cadet karting00:09:05 - The challenges of being coached by family00:14:21 - An uncomfortable incident00:17:01 - Getting back into karting on a shoestring budget00:20:47 - First attempt at a car racing scholarship00:23:08 - Becoming a Palmersport Instructor00:32:59 - A full time professional instructor00:37:10 - Toyota MR2 challenge - first championship win00:45:16 - Entering the first competition - Red Bull Kart Fight00:56:12 - Peugeot Works driver competition01:11:56 - Beating Sebastian Vettel at the Race Of Champions01:20:23 - Formula 4 (F4) / Formule 3 (F3) test driver01:24:19 - A British Touring Car Championship opportunity01:35:23 - Tyre testing with Cooper/Avon01:36:26 - In summary...a hard grafter

I travel across to Sim Dynamics in Manchester to try the latest generation of affordable home and office simulators made by real world motor racing instructor, coach and racer Simon Mason.I want to discover how sims have progressed since I last spent a lot of time on them and how easy they are to pickup for a real world old school racer! And how useful are they really in improving your driving skills?My thanks to Simon for giving his time to allow me to experience what a modern sim is like. See the link at the end for the full length episode.Sim Dynamics can be found at:Web:https://sim-dynamics.com/YouTube:www.youtube.com/@sim-dynamics24Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/simdynamics/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/simdynamics

I travel over to Sim Dynamics in Manchester to try the latest generation of affordable simulators made by real world motor racing instructor, coach and racer Simon Mason. I want to discover how sims have progressed since I last spent a lot of time on them and how easy they are to pickup for a real world old school racer! And how useful are they really in improving your driving skills?We delve into the evolution of racing simulations, comparing real-world racing dynamics with those experienced in simulators. We also discuss the importance of immersion in sim racing, the role of experience in improving performance, and the balance between reliability and performance in racing. Finally, we explore the intricacies of simulator hardware and setups, and the implications of AI in racing, highlighting both its benefits and potential drawbacks...as well as the opportunities for combining some other simulated sports!My thanks to Simon for giving his time to allow me to experience what a modern sim is like.Sim Dynamics can be found at:Web:https://sim-dynamics.com/YouTube:www.youtube.com/@sim-dynamics24Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/simdynamics/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/simdynamicsTakeaways- Sim racing has evolved significantly over the years- Real-world racing dynamics can be mirrored in simulations- Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing racing experiences- Immersion in sim racing is vital for effective training- The journey of a racing driver involves continuous learning and adaptation- Choosing the right simulator setup is essential for performance- AI is becoming increasingly influential in racing strategies- Patience and rhythm are key components in racing success- The details in simulator setups can greatly affect the experience- Authenticity in racing simulations is highly valued by driversChapters00:00 Introduction to Sim Racing and a brief history05:04 The Evolution of Racing Simulations06:46 Meeting Simon Mason and Modern Simulators07:03 The Dundretti Story...07:54 Remembering Jamie Hunter09:12 The Accidental American Accent10:33 Embracing the Dundretti Identity11:01 Introduction to Sim Dynamics13:38 Analysing Real-World Driving Techniques16:21 The Importance of Sound in Sim Racing18:29 Navigating Challenges in Sim Racing19:09 Innovations in Coaching Techniques21:43 The Role of Simulators in Driver Training24:11 Virtual Reality and Immersion in Racing25:20 Practical Setup for Sim Racing25:31 Done a rally driving course ain't ya Tyrone...25:51 Rallying vs Circuit Racing: A Driver's Perspective26:11 Introduction to Rally Driving Experience26:20 The Challenge of Mental Discipline in Racing26:44 Introduction to Sim Racing Dynamics28:40 Immersive Technology in Racing Simulators30:23 Understanding Track Dynamics and Car Setup31:08 Realism in Racing Simulations31:31 Understanding Racing Dynamics and Data Analysis32:21 The Importance of Replay in Racing Strategy32:40 The Birth of a Simulator Center36:29 The Evolution of Simulators in Racing39:55 Real-World vs. Simulated Driving Experiences43:51 The Importance of Calibration and Realism48:27 Racing Experience and Coaching Insights53:31 Understanding Simulator Hardware and Pricing59:03 Immersive Experience in Racing Simulations59:57 Understanding Vehicle Dynamics and Performance01:16:33 Exploring the Equipment and Setup01:16:33 The Evolution of Sim Racing01:19:13 Transitioning from Real to Sim Racing01:20:47 Mortal Kombat Dads fighting!01:21:31 The Future of Sim Racing and Real-World Applications01:21:36 Exploring the World of Sim Racing01:23:51 The Realism of Driving Simulators01:24:29 Don't Lift Off

Motor racing drivers and instructors Keith Robinson and Anthony Dunn talk about working at Club Fiorano for Peter Gethin, the 1971 Monza F1 Grand Prix winner - still the closest ever Formula One race in history. Club Fiorano was the brainchild of Peter and was Ferrari UK's original driving club in the 1990's. Club members were invited to drive their Ferrari's at racing circuits throughout the UK and Europe included Goodwood, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Brno and Dijon with cars including F40, 355, 360, 456, 550 and 360 Challenge and many other classics such as Ferrari 330 P2.

Keith Robinson is a former car valeter, racing driver, current Mercedes Benz World instructor and Classic Supercar test driver. Over a 30 year period he has worked for and raced top sports marques including Ferrari, Morgan and Noble in British GT and he is a winner of the Britcar 24 Hour event at Silverstone. He is also a goddam Rock 'n' Roll star! In this episode, Keith and Anthony talk about single seater motor racing in the 1990's, working together at Club Fiorano, Ferrari UK's official driving club run by Formula One legend, the late Peter Gethin - winner of what still remains the closest ever F1 Grand Prix finish at Monza in 1971 in a BRM. Keith also talks about his friendship with rock band The Who's lead guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend, a random encounter with AC/DC's Brian Johnson in London (and Anthony's brief coaching session with him), and about his friend Gordon Giltrap. Finally, Keith talks about his love for music, his own guitar playing, working at Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands with his friend, former Indy Lights race winner Dillon Battistini, test driving his favourite car a Ferrari Daytona and his passion for trainspotting! 00:00:00 - Let's Rock n Roll! 00:14:08 - My Dad's Ferrari Daytona 00:22:03 - The influence of Nigel Mansell 00:30:05 - Bob Pope and Le Mans 24 Hour 00:30:39 - Christophe Hissette and endurance karting 00:35:56 - BARC Formula Renault 00:40:37 - Rolling a Formula Renault at Snetterton 00:44:56 - Jonathan Palmer, MSV and track limits 00:49:17 - Working for Peter Gethen at Club Fiorano and Ferrari UK 00:51:02 - Michael Jackson, Love Affair, Everlasting Love 01:00:00 - Peter Gethin, 1971 Monza Grand Prix Winner 01:12:00 - The legacy of Club Fiorano 01:13:32 - Caterham Racing 01:21:23 - British GT 01:27:54 - "Alright Trigg!" 01:31:24 - Britcar with Ferrari 360 Challenge and GT2 01:34:12 - Racing for Noble 01:35:43 - Britcar 24 hour winner 01:39:25 - Rock and rolling with Brian Johnson 01:43:59 - Keith Robinson, friends of the stars! 01:47:40 - My mates Gordon Giltrap and Pete Townsend 01:55:55 - Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands and Dillon Battistini 02:03:06 - Keith Robinson holiday snaps and shoutouts! 02:05:06 - Led Zeppelin Kashmir 02:08:39 - Trainspotting

Simon Hill is a former racing driver, instructor, coach and automotive trainer. He is also the father and mentor of 2024 British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill. Simon delves into his wealth of experiences in motorsport, giving the his early days of single seater racing in Formula Ford at Brands Hatch to Formula First, Formula Renault, Renault Spider Championship and finally sportscar racing in the Lotus Elise Championship. He discusses being born the illegitimate son of 50’s and 60’s number one crooner Ronnie Hilton (born Adrian Hill) and the affect his absent father had on his early life, to a later reconciliation and how that has influenced his role as a father and husband. Simon and Anthony discuss working together and racing in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s and they discuss their mutual heroes James Hunt, Gilles Villenueve, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna and reflect on the legacy of Murray Walker and the passion that drives them in the world of motorsport. From the legacy of Val Musetti and unexpected circuit incidents to the lasting impression of a unique meeting with Gilles Villeneuve at Brands Hatch and Ayrton Senna, the conversation captures the essence of UK motorsport culture, the evolution of Formula One carsvthe changing landscape of motorsport media. Finally, they discuss the influence of mentors and having a strong team, the significance of sponsorship without family money, the importance of family and friends in motorsport and the emotional highs and lows experienced during racing to win a championship. Chapters 00:00 Birthdays and Historical Events 02:58 Motorsport Memories and Random Connections with Ayrton Senna 05:54 The Evolution of Motorsport Safety 09:07 The Legacy of Murray Walker 11:57 Personal Stories and Family Background 14:52 Passion for Motorsport and Learning 16:55 Alzheimers dementia and motor racing statistics 18:00 The Journey into Racing 23:00 Almost over before it began 28:00: Growing up without a Dad 32:35 The Legacy of Valentino Musetti and Stunt Driving 34:03 Unexpected Circuit Incidents and Local Connections 36:42 First Encounters with Motorsport and Heroes 41:33 The Evolution of Formula One Cars and Drivers 45:37 Gilles Villeneuve: A Lasting Impression 48:43 Ayrton Senna - 7 Times World Champion? 51:27 The Changing Landscape of Motorsport Media 54:00 …off the track more than on! 55:37 Jake’s first go on track 01:11:42 Racing Memories and Trophies 01:12:35 The Influence of Mentors in Racing 01:14:01 Old School Racing Techniques 01:16:36 The Legacy of Lotus and Iconic Liveries 01:18:05 Personal Stories and Family Connections 01:22:57 The Journey of a Racing Career 01:25:34 Family Bonds and Shared Achievements 01:30:07 Reflections on Growth and Improvement 01:37:10 How my son won the British Touring Car Championship 01:38:02 The Role of a Parent in Racing 01:43:05 Managing a Racing Career 01:44:27 The Importance of Support in Motorsport 01:48:14 Emotional Moments in Racing 01:54:24 Overcoming Personal Challenges 02:00:05 The Journey of Persistence 02:12:05 Knowing what it feels like to be Max Verstappen’s Dad

Rallying, Racing and Automotive Training industry veteran Howard Paterson tells the story of an unexpected rallying opportunity in Barbados. He explains evolution of rallying in the region and the camaraderie among rally drivers, and the vibrant atmosphere of the event and the lasting impact of these experiences on both the participants and the local community. #dontliftoff #rallying #barbadosrally #barbados #rallydriver

Rally school owner Howard Paterson tells the story British Touring Car Drivers creative job titles on nights out... #dontliftoff #btcc #simonharrison #jasonplato

Howard Paterson is a race and rally driver, automotive trainer and former team owner. He shares his extensive experiences in the world of motorsport, from rallying to car sales and sponsorship, reflecting on his early days in rallying, the evolution of his career, and the importance of engaging with clients. He also tells the story of memorable events like the London to Sydney Rally and the Barbados Rally, as well as the challenges and fun of working in the automotive industry. Howard's passion for cars and people remain as strong as ever, even after 40 years of experience in the sport and industry. #dontliftoff #podcast #rallying #motorsport #comedy #carsales #sponsorship #racing #automotive #rallyschool #londontosydney #barbadosrally Chapters 00:00 Podcasting from a Hotel Room: What type of film are we making?! 01:34 New Chapter 02:04 Memories of Mallory Park 06:01 The Journey into Motorsport 11:46 Life Lessons from Car Sales 17:45 Creative Marketing in Racing 23:56 The Evolution of Rallying Experiences 30:59 Rallying Beginnings with Lada 36:33 The Himalayan Rally Adventure 41:47 The creation of First Time Racing 57:18 The transition to Rally Drive and Scholarship Programs 01:02:35 The Journey Begins: London to Sydney Rally 01:09:55 Adventures in Barbados: Rallying and Unexpected Encounters 01:22:20 The Panda Project: A New Adventure in Morocco 01:34:13 “It’s a clipping point, not an apex!”

Former Peugeot 'Works' professional rally driver Kevin Furber reflects on his competitive journey, the professionalism of works teams, and the intense pressure of rally competition and breaking the nearly 20 years of class dominance by Skoda in the World Rally Championship at the Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain. Kevin also pays tribute to his late friends and fellow drivers, legendary World Rally Champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns, exploring their legacies and the impact they had on his life and career and delves into the risks of rallying and personal regrets.

Former professionally rally driver Kevin Furber tells the story of trying to get into a nightclub with his friend legendary World Rally Champion Colin McRae

Former National Rally Champion Kevin Furber shares his remarkable journey from being a Works Peugeot Rally Champion to his current endeavours in film production and content creation. He discusses the challenges he faced, from on his early experiences in karting and rallying, the competitive nature of the sport, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including the Peugeot Challenge. He also touches on the impact of dyslexia on his driving and the unique advantages it provides, emphasising the importance of vision and intuition in motorsport. Throughout the conversation, Kevin offers valuable insights into leadership, teamwork, and the spirit of rallying. Kevin shares his experiences from the world of rallying, reflecting on his competitive spirit, the challenges faced during races, and the importance of teamwork. He discusses the rise of World Rally Champion in-the-making Richard Burns, his own thrilling experiences, and the impact of sponsorship in the sport. The conversation also delves into the contrasting styles of legendary drivers and team mates Colin McRae and Burns, emphasising the significance of having a strong support system in achieving success. He also discusses the world of film editing and the intricacies of editing and the need for professional production support, and finally the significance of encouragement, and the impact of mentorship on the next generation, and the lessons learned from both triumphs and adversities in life and motorsport. Kevin also outlays the legacy of his late friend Pat Flynn, discussing the challenges of building a championship together and how his legacy impacted National Rallying and finally his own personal health journey with HPV-related cancer and the importance of vitamin D. Kevin can be contacted at his business www.burnleyfilmstudio.co.uk and found on YouTube: youtube.com/@kevfurber He is also sharing his journey with HPV-related Cancer on YouTube: youtube.com/@KevandthebigC Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcasting Journey 05:54 The Art of Editing and Content Creation 12:06 Respecting Guests in the Industry 17:57 Motorsport Beginnings and Professional Growth 29:35 Leadership and the Art of Serving 44:20 Overcoming Educational Challenges 52:12 The Nature of Talent in Motorsport 59:19 The Journey Begins: Early Rallying Experiences 01:04:45 The Peugeot Challenge: A Turning Point in Rallying Career 01:12:24 The Works Driver Experience: A Dream Come True 01:18:32 Rivalries and Friendships: Competing with Legends 01:34:35 Reflections on Loss: Remembering Colin McRae and Richard Burns 01:41:49 The Gamble of a Career: Risks and Rewards 01:47:51 The Next Generation: Chris Ingram's Rise 02:00:30 Behind the Scenes: Filming Chris Ingram's Journey 02:06:36 Branding Battles: The Hat Dilemma 02:12:56 The Evolution of Professional Driving 02:20:58 Feedback and Audience Participation 02:27:39 The Legacy of Pat: A Tribute to a Mentor 02:34:59 The Prize Fund Dilemma 02:40:22 Ice Driving Experiences and Opportunities 02:56:05 Learning from the Best: Ice Driving Techniques 03:01:06 Recent Achievements and Future Aspirations 03:06:10 Facing Health Challenges: Kev's Journey 03:13:11 The Importance of Early Diagnosis 03:18:34 Lifestyle Changes for Better Health

Rob Garofall is a racing driver, coach and a heritage Formula One Test Driver for the McLaren F1 Team. He is also the founder of Silverstone RV Motorhomes (SilverstoneRV.com) who supply luxury motorhomes to motorsport drivers and teams and for film events throughout UK and Europe. Rob explains how he began his life as a car dealer and progressed from humble beginnings Pro-Karting at local races and then on to work at Silverstone as an instructor and becoming a multiple European Sports Prototype Champion and testing some of the world’s most desired Formula One cars. #dontliftoff #lmp3 #prototype #racing #champion #formula1 #f1 #mclaren #senna #hamilton #button #coulthard #fittipaldi #marlborough #drivetosurvive #lauda #MP4-6 #automobile #MP4-23 #MP4-8 #MCL-36 Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:08 - "Well it all looks the part...." 00:11:22 - Formula Ford 2000 00:18:53 - "Fully qualified" at Silverstone 00:19:14 - Accelerating the learning curve 00:22:25 - Early days of performing Passenger Rides 00:26:39 - Getting sacked... 00:31:35 - The Minibus Race 00:35:09 - The Grimesy story... 00:38:52 - Fast forwarding to Caterham racing 00:41:58 - Nurburgring Nordschleife 24 hours...in a Caterham! 00:49:33 - Radicals and V de V / SPEED Series in Europe and the UK 00:57:30 - The competition in V de V and Bryce Wilson 00:59:54 - Learning to make no mistakes 01:03:33 - Introducing Stumpy 01:04:14 - LMP2 with Barry Gates and RLR Msport 01:13:57 - LMP3 01:18:47 - Losing the excitement 01:22:34 - Silverstone RV Luxury Motorhome business 01:28:33 - Charles Leclerc's choice... 01:31:07 - Shooting big guns! 01:34:13 - McLaren 600 LT launch video 01:42:57 - Formula One testing with McLaren Heritage 01:51:50 - The role expands 02:00:12 - Sharing duties with Lando Norris 02:02:39 - A very special McLaren MP4/5B 02:04:35 - Incredibly privileged 02:05:43 - British Grand Prix demonstration laps MP4/26 02:08:39 - Making the front cover of Autosport magazine 02:09:25 - The V10 period 02:11:44 - Running under the lights 02:12:34 - A life challenge gets thrown in the way 02:20:09 - Testing the latest F1 hybrid car 02:24:26 - Next project - testing the car which Ayrton Senna took his last victory - the McLaren MP4-8 02:28:08 - Finishing up

Michael “The Baron” Vergers is a Professional Racing Driver, Driver Coach and Driving Standards Advisor Official. In a career spanning over 40 years, has competed in many international championships in a huge variety of competition vehicles. From humble beginnings in 2-Stroke Go-Karts to becoming regional champion in Spain and moving on to being Formula Ford UK Champion, Radical Enduro Champion, SCSA Ascar Champion, MES LMP2 Le Man Prototype Champion, a Nurburgring Production Car Lap Record Holder…and Dutch Hillclimb Champion* Michael has raced against and beaten the best drivers of his generation including a number of future Formula One drivers including David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher.He is also the owner of MV Automoto vapour blasting business in Manilva, Spain (Costa Del Sol) that can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/MVAutomoto#dontliftoffChapters00:00:00 - Intro00:02:41 - Early years and living next door to James Hunt00:06:39 - Karting00:07:23 - Don't Lift!00:09:32 - Vapour blasting and Matt Kelly00:15:35 - Truth telling00:18:21 - Team Managing00:27:09 - Cultural exhanges in motorsport00:29:13 - The beginnings00:32:02 - Learning from the best00:35:10 - First steps in Formula racing00:39:08 - The impact of Senna's legacy00:45:32 - Navigating the racing landscape00:49:55 - The financial struggles of racing teams00:52:42 - Controversial race strategies00:56:41 - Comeback to Formula Ford01:00:30 - Diversifying and the evolution of racing cars01:02:52 - The affordability of motorsport01:06:18 - An unexpected turn of events01:10:56 - The Radical story01:13:28 - Nürburgring Nordschleife production car lap record01:22:47 - More Radical experiences and The 'Ring01:24:52 - A bit of a whoopsie...01:30:50 - Transistion to American racing01:32:39 - Grabbing the microphone and telling it like it is...01:40:06 - First race at Daytona01:42:49 - Racing in the WEC and GT Championships in GT2 and GT301:44:12 - European Le Mans Series LMP2 and Le Mans01:46:20 - A Le Mans story...01:52:29 - Versatility out of the cockpit02:00:37 - Goodwood Revival02:01:58 - Ford Transit Supervan!02:04:00 - Gyrocopter Channel hopping with Phil Bennett02:07:53 - Learning how to fly a commercial jet in the basement...02:13:45 - Radical SR902:16:08 - Insights into Saudi Arabia and cultural perspectives02:22:48 - GT2 in Europe and up to date02:27:56 - Racing into later years02:32:04 - Driving Standards Advisor in British GT02:33:51 - Imperial Mints at the ready...02:36:55 - ...and finally*one of these is not true

Tom Jakobitsch is an Austrian former 2-stroke kart racer, Formula Vauxhall Junior single seater and Caterham Roadsports race winner in the 1990’s and a European Endurance Racing Champion. He is now a regular ‘Citizen Journalist’ reporter on Formula One through his social media feeds. He can be found at: Instagram: @tomjakobitsch X: @tomjakobitsch Facebook: Thomas Tom Jakobitsch Chapters 00:00 - Start 01:48 - How we met 04:24 - How did you end up racing in the UK? 08:20 - Karting in the 90's 17:50 - BMW M3 Endurance racing in Europe 19:26 - The genius of Tom Sherpherd and Richard Shaw - GTS Motorsport/Laranca Engineering 21:31 - Formula Vauxhall Junior - Team Parker Racing 26:30 - Racing against the son on an F1 World Champion 27:30 - Caterham Roadsports 1998 38:40 - David Leslie 40:52 - International Special Car Series - BMW M3 in Europe 43:37 - Moving onto GTS 49:23 - Formula One Citizen Journalist! 53:56 - Shooting from the hip

“Dangerous” Brian Saunders is a former Formula Asia Championship winning racing driver, performance driving instructor, coach and ADI Qualified driving consultant. Over a 30 year period he has worked for most major sports car manufacturers and is also a former Slot Car World Championship winning company owner. Find Brian at P1 Driving Dynamics on Instagram: @briansaundersP1 My thanks to Neil Primrose and Eddie for the intro track! Chapters 00:00:00 - 70's Children 00:02:43 - Introducing Don't Lift Off 00:03:41 - Motorsport UK 00:04:53 - Meeting at Silverstone 00:08:51 - Where and when did you start? 00:16:15 - Cutting a hole in the instructing perimeter fence... 00:17:13 - Slot car World Champions 00:20:45 - 1990's instructing 00:24:00 - Early Spa-Francorchamps experiences 00:31:47 - Club Fiorano 00:35:17 - Looking for opportunities... 00:37:29 - Racing customers... 00:44:18 - The invention of Electronic Stability Programs 00:49:35 - First big accident and early racing 00:53:12 - To know where you want to get to, first you need to know where you are... 00:56:52 - Learning on the job...from the best coaches in the world 01:02:16 - Wrapping up about Don't Lift Off