Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge
28th November 2004

Roy Craig's report on the event

The 2005 Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge was an even more special occasion than it normally is as this year marked the 10th anniversary of this unique event. It was held yet again - as only an indoor event of this size could be - at The Raceway in London's Kings Cross, on Sunday 28th November.

"How time flies " is an often used cliché but it is oh so true. In 1994, at Johnny's first karting challenge held on the A40 West of London at Formula Fun, Johnny had finished that F1 season at Ligier and was about to join Benetton (again) as team-mate to Michael Schumacher (the story of that is, of course, consigned to history).

That event starred many drivers who had their career in front of them: David Coulthard, who had joined Williams after the tragic death of the legendary Ayrton Senna, Allan McNish, then a fresh faced young man, and Mark Blundell, who was driving for Ligier. Work commitments etc did not allow David and Mark to be present at this years event but Allan, who has been a staunch supporter of our event throughout, did not let anything stand in his way of coming.

It's funny how anniversaries tend to get one's mind going over the past and much talk on the day was of our previous events. We had turned out the albums for a small display of pictures from some of those, some of us of course did not want reminding that 10 years had flown by so quickly!

Out of the teams that have entered Johnny's Karting Challenge before, a very large percentage re-enter, which of course is hardly surprising given the fantastic experience the day brings, but this usually gives me trouble when I have so many wishing to enter. This dictates that there will be some very disappointed people who don't make the grid; our maximum of 24 teams was soon reached with the last entry being from none other than Maserati.

Such is the popularity of entering this event that Jenson Button and his fiancée Louise Griffiths, who last attended in 2002, both entered a team of their own.

Louise's was an all girl affair that included another of our long standing supporters - Louise Goodman - taking part along with McLaren Autosport BRDC young driver award nominee Susie Stoddart, karter extraordinaire Helen Gardiner, Jenson's PA Jules Kulpinski and Sam Lauren.

Jenson seemed to be taking no chances with his driver line up: they were club racers Alex and Chris Buncombe, Supersports champion Stephen Shanly and Renault Clio driver Richard Williams.

Heading the list of entries (by tradition as well as favouritism!) was Team No. 1, "Herbies Heroes", led as in all the previous years by the man himself - Johnny Herbert, dutifully supported by Andy Baker, Terry Alland, Antony Cannon and Julie Izzard, with a guest drive by Lee Edgell of Invert Clothing, the man responsible for creating our special 10th Anniversary T shirts.

Although space and time does not allow me to list every entrant I must of course mention the web based team of Johnny's supporters "Team Forum", which was led by Champion racer David Scott and the drivers were Ian Percival, Matt Fowler, Simon Botting, Rooney Massara and Stewart Smith. The team was expertly managed by Meg Turner!

The day starts early for everyone, including The Raceway staff (many of whom work through the night preparing the karts). I arrive at 0730 to find that Bob & Jane Herbert are already unloading the fan club merchandise. Peter Hendley and his helpers from The National Kidney Research Fund are also there.

Other early starts would be required not only by team entrants who travel from far and wide but by the celebrities who so very kindly give their time to attend. Johnny's team mate from 2004, Jamie Davis, travelled from Somerset, Louise Goodman from Oxforshire, John Hindhaugh from way up North and Allan McNish was even due to fly in from Germany, where he had to cut short his duties at the Essen Motor Show to attend.

Setting up at the circuit's reception, with lists of drivers' names ready to be ticked off, was Heidi Alland, who once again volunteered to help with this most daunting task! When you have the prospect of 144 drivers who just want to get in, get changed and race - well, alas a lot has to be done first. Prompt arrivals do have a wait on their hands and to help with this, The Raceway's Peter Rankin, who is to be a compere and commentator for the day conducts interviews with celebrities and advises spectators of what they can expect to see.

It is a shame that some entrants can't get their act together and try harder to be at the circuit in good time as instructed in their pre-event literature! Eventually, we have 99% of the participants in attendance and as we are now behind schedule we must proceed with the drivers briefing, an essential part of the day being a requirement at all motor racing events and one that indoor karters will be familiar with.

With the briefing complete it was then time for practice and qualifying much to the relief of the drivers who have been so patient all morning, the karts are fired up and, as they speed on to the circuit, all the teams and their supporters hope for that coveted pole position, massing around the circuits monitor screens to keep a check on the ever changing times.

30 minutes later I hear a few gasps! Pole has been taken by… The Penelope Pitstops team led by… Louise Griffiths. It was in fact Helen Gardiner who put in the stonking lap to take the pole, it had the makings of a classic race to come.

Noon was our official time for the start of our 3-hour endurance race and we were running about 45 minutes late but we were now more than ready to go…go (were have I heard that before?) No less than two super fast karts driven by up and coming young racers took the role of pace karts as they led the field of 24 karts on the parade lap.

As is also a tradition at Johnny's event, the celebrities from each team do the first stint and this really is a sight to see. What made for an even better race was to see Johnny in the No.1 kart back in an unaccustomed 9th place with Allan McNish in 10th - this was going to be a hairy start!

As the 24 karts roared over the start/finish line a crescendo of sound filled the Raceway and promised not to diminish until 3 hours later. Louise Goodman, starting the race from pole, was leading the pack of snarling karts all wanting to be were Louise was. The battle between Johnny and Allan was intense, as with most of the other professional racing drivers!

Needless to say we did indeed witness a great race with positions changing many times over. As we approached the end of 3 hours the racing was nail biting stuff, we were also watching history in the making as for the first time in its 10 years The Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge was won by an all ladies team - The Penelope Pitstops.

Not only did they secure a win but more records came with it, Helen Gardiner not only set the fastest lap but also the new lap record and Louise Goodman was crowned driver of the day. I think you could say the lads got whitewashed!

Close on the heels of his fiancée in second place was BAR F1 driver Jenson Button with his team "Get off my land" and to complete the podium was Tim Sugden's team aptly named "The mad ferrets" (another team of racing drivers!).

It was indeed a fantastic effort by Louise's team, I wonder if it can be repeated? It was a valiant effort by all the teams involved and as some would admit: "it is hard out there"!

After the podium presentations we had our usual memorabilia auction with help from one of our keenest supporters and TV personality Gareth Jones, who succeeded in squeezing out bidders last pounds including £1,500 from Michael Segal for a signed Chelsea Football!!

Sky TV were in attendance in their role of making a programme about Johnny Mowlem, another of our supporters, this is called "Mowlem's Travels" and I think will be shown in early 2005, well worth watching. Andy Spellman from Granada Television who as well as entering a team also brought a camera man along to record the action, as yet I do not know when this may be transmitted so watch this space!

I try my hardest to thank everyone on the day for the incredible support that is given to this event of which I am very proud to be associated, from the celebrities who I badger to come all year, the team managers for entering their teams, the volunteer helpers, Peter Rankin for his expert commentary and all The Raceway staff led from the helm by none other than Michael Segal and his wife Sandra- to all these people: Thank You. I would like to add that without the help of Peter Hendley from The Kidney Fund I would certainly have a lot less hair! Thank you, Peter. I apologize to anyone I have missed.

ROY CRAIG

Late news: Jenson Button's racing helmet, kindly donated by him on the day, raised £5,000 at the Autosport Show in January. The auction was run by Bill Williams of Racing for Charity. In addition, some signed racing gloves from the kart event raised £500. In total, the amount raised for The National Kidney Research Fund was over £30,000.