Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge
24th November 2002

Roy Craig's report on the event

After having to cancel Johnny's Karting Challenge last year because of a fire at The Raceway circuit, it was decision time as to whether we carried on the trend and got the wheels in motion for this year.

After much thought and checking of dates it was decided that we would stick to the usual date and hope that Johnny's busy schedule would allow him to attend - after all what would the event in his name be without him being there! But true to his word as always Sunday 24th November saw our No.1 hero not in sunny Monaco but a very wet Kings Cross in London town.

The Raceway Circuit was once again the chosen venue as it must be the only indoor track capable of running twenty three six man teams for three hours and also accommodating all their friends family, fan club members, public, etc, etc.

There is no doubt that if it was known who was also entering a team in this years event that attendance would have been record breaking beyond belief!! For those of you who maybe decided to stay at home on a wet November day or did not see the story in the national press I guess it's time to eat your heart out. Team No 22 was headed by none other than the pop worlds biggest star ROBBIE WILLIAMS with current F1 driver Jenson Button as his team's ringer!

After the initial wait for late arrivals all the 130+ drivers were signed on, briefed and ready to do battle. Just after 12 noon all 23 teams with their celebrity drivers in the karts were ready for the rolling start.

It was F1 driver Anthony Davidson leading the field away from pole position but it was not long before he was being hassled by the leader of team No.1" Herbie's Heroes", Johnny Herbert himself, who before long had passed Anthony to take the lead. As you can imagine (and you may have to!) once driver changes came into play, the lead changed many times.

I should mention that, apart from a spin in the initial laps, for a man that has never learnt to drive a car Robbie Williams was doing extremely well. He also did very well in making a lot of people very happy by signing many autographs and having his picture taken with many adoring fans. All in all a very nice man who undoubtedly gave a lot of people a day to remember.

But that is what The Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge is all about, a day of rubbing shoulders not only with Johnny himself but with many motorsport and entertainment celebrities while raising money for good causes. This year the benefiting charity was The National Kidney Research Fund and the amount raised was over £17,000.

The teams entered were as varied as always with two from Johnny's own club, two from The Mark Webber supporters' club, and a team from Goodwood race circuit who also took the prize for the biggest donation made by presenting the charity with no less than £1581. Others were Jaguar Racing, Jordan Grand Prix, and Granada Television.

Many had traveled a long way, with our Friend Gary Jordan bringing his team from Belfast, club member Peter Fiddling bringing his from Norfolk and the one and only Howard Scaife bringing no less than five teams from Yorkshire. Also from the depths of Yorkshire was Paul Clarke with his Mach 1 Racing Team.

Ian Hammond came with his team from Southampton while Paul Wells was a bit nearer from Marlow, another team was made up of regular visitors to Johnny's website. To prove that being in the karting game is no restriction, the Armstrong family from Aylesburys Klub Kart Racing Circuit also entered a team. It was in fact Marilyn Armstrong who very kindly offered her services to help organise Johnny's day.

Sky Sports had a film crew in attendance, but with a difference, they have been following top sports car racer Johnny Mowlem all year for a programme due to be broadcast in early January so they had decided to include footage of Johnny Mowlem taking part in this event - miss it at your peril!!

Bob and Jane Herbert were of course present with the fan club shop and with the same undying support for their son that has been so strong throughout Johnny's long career, and it would seem, fortunately for us his fans, for a lot longer yet.

After three hours of hard fought racing it was none other than Robbie's team heading the leader board although it could have been so different! The Klub Kart Racing Team had fought their way up from last position to first only to be the victims of a misunderstanding about pit stops, the effects of which dropped them back to fourth and off the podium.

With more than a little help from Johnny himself but by big efforts from the lads Herbie's Heroes once again made the podium in second position, while from wonderful Yorkshire, Team Evo 6 took third.

Johnny made the trophy presentations, firstly to Robbie Williams and his team with Jenson Button telling us that it was his first visit to a podium for a rather long time!! These were the pictures that found themselves in the press.

We then had a memorabilia auction and raffle before having a well received pint in the circuits brand new "Eau Rouge" bar to complete the day.

My thanks go to all the celebrities for giving their time so willingly, all the team organisers and helpers on the day, to Marilyn Armstrong from Klub Kart Racing for her invaluable help, to Peter Hendley and his staff at The National Kidney Research Fund and to my wife Brenda for putting up with me!! My biggest thanks must go to Johnny Herbert for the incredible gesture of giving me one of his helmets, something that I will surely treasure.

ROY CRAIG

More photos of the event are here...