In aid of

Roy Craig's Day at the Races

Dateline Sunday 26th November Year 2000.

Although our hero has decided he has had enough of Fl and will move to pastures new, he obviously has not had enough of The Raceway in London's Kings Cross, the scene of the annual Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge.

2000 was the 7th such event, the 6th held at The Raceway and the circuits owner, Michael Segal had, as he does every year made even more improvements to this incredible venue. First arrivals at the Central Warehouse where the circuit is situated must wonder what lies in store for them but, after you have climbed the short stairway, you enter a Tardis of mega proportions decorated to suit motor racing and changing room fans alike.

Large pictures of former Fl world champions line the entrance hall and at the end of which you see the first of Michael's changes from last year, a large horizontal window has been set into the wall and allows you to view the fastest section of the circuit, a magnificent 1800 banked corner which is taken flat out by those who can bear the bump midway!

You then proceed through the reception and driver registration area, a kart proudly on display on the polished hardwood floor, a further corridor much the same but bedecked with the Logos of all the current Fl teams leads through to the track itself, for an indoor circuit this is enormous as it would have to be to stage Johnny's do, with attendance figures likely to be around 350/400 people.

7.30am and Andy Baker and myself arrive at the front door, Bob and Jane Herbert are just seconds behind us, our day has started early as it has for many others who are making their way in from all points of the compass.

The farthest travelled this year must be Fan Club member Rick Elkin who jetted over from New Jersey in the USA, not of course on the morning of the event but a few days before. Rick, along with Peter Aisthorpe-Buckley had managed to arrange two full teams, i.e. ten drivers, via the world wide web, as in Johnny's own website.

Their teams were very aptly named - BRITISH AMERICAN CARTers and HERBIES AMERICAN DREAM TEAM. After all Rick's efforts it was disappointing that their allotted celebrity for the B/A CARTers team, Darren Manning, was unable to turn up, the Dream team however enjoyed the company of sports car star Johnny Mowlem.

We were scheduled to run 22-24 teams again this year but for various reasons we had a few cancellations, somewhat surprisingly from teams that have attended every year in the past, the two most notable being Jordan Grand Prix and the lads from Belfast who had won the event in 1999. Some last minute entries put our total teams back up to 20 which included a SPARKS all-stars team headed by Gareth Jones the TV presenter who's enthusiasm for the event makes the day even more enjoyable.

Johnny's Fan Club was also represented by three teams, heading the list with Johnny was HERBIES HEROES but it was bad news for us that Johnny was still suffering injuries to his knee sustained in his last Grand Prix in Malaysia and was unable to race. His good friend and wonderful all round human being - as well as commentator and racing driver - Allard Kallf, stood in for him, or should that be sat in for him!! And did a splendid job too.

Next were JOHNNY'S GEMS with F3 driver Jamie Spence and JOHNNY'S FLYERS with ace stunt driver Terry Grant. New club member Luigi Amitrano also fielded a team with his friends and was assisted by no other than Gary Paffitt. More about this team later…

I must say a big thank you to Howard Scaife who once again played a major part in the event. Howard bought five teams with him from over the border in Yorkshire!! He was also responsible for our very colourful programme and for sponsorship of the catering for our celebrity guests.

I would also like to thank a man who IS from over the border, he has supported Johnny's event many times even though he is always so very much in demand himself the 2000 ALMS champion Allan McNish. He drove with the BENTLEY JENNISON team from Yorkshire and yet again broke the existing lap record, which Allan seems to do every year!!

I do of course thank all the teams that entered and it is only time and space that stop me from detailing them all. The four hour endurance race started somewhat later than planned mainly due to drivers late arrivals, which to put politely is very naughty of them!!!

The Raceway's brand new fleet of gas powered Bowman karts looked stunning as each teams celebrity sat on the grid behind the pace kart. As it is gas and not petrol that drives these machines there is no need to refuel as they will run on their twin tanks for seven hours.

It was destined to be a very competitive race with so many good teams in attendance and this it surely was, but four hours is a long time for an indoor race and many things can happen. And happen they did!

But it did provide plenty of entertainment for the many spectators in between getting autographs and having pictures taken with not only the Star, Johnny Herbert, but also in attendance were Louise Goodman, Carl Stevens (aka Mika Hakkinen), Tim Sugden, Steve Parish, Edward Homer and Shane Lynch of Boyzone as well as those I have mentioned previously.

As the chequered flag came out only seconds separated the first few teams with none other than Club Member Luigi Amitrano's LA Racing taking first place, close behind them with an outstanding performance was Klub Kart Racing from that same named Kart track in Aylesbury, they were, by coincidence celebrating the first anniversary of their own track opening on this very date in 1999. Third place was claimed by a team from Jaguar Racing made up from the very mechanics that have been with Johnny all year (I wonder how it was that their Kart did not breakdown!!!)

Johnny presented the incredible spark plug trophies (which are very apt when you consider all proceeds go to the charity SPARKS!!) to the three top teams. The memorabilia auction helped to boost the takings, as did the raffle and extra donations made by fans.

All in all another tiring but thankfully successful event which I'm sure a lot of people will hold in their memories for a long time to come, perhaps most of all by Luigi as he has twelve months to look at the perpetual shield. I would like to thank all those who entered teams and all the celebrities for giving up their precious time. Through SPARKS a lot of children will benefit from this.