derekwatts747
Stutt9art VIP
- Messages
- 5
- Points
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Cars owned: Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, Nissan GTR, Renaultsport Megane Cup S, Peugeot 205 Rallye LHD
Hi All
Just an intro post from me... Been around racing cars and supercars since my childhood, spannered for Barry P during his Formula Ford days as a young teenager, so I suppose I could technically say I suffered an abusive childhood, being regularly teased and verbally bullied by his other wayward mechanics! (Imagine being called 'Stick insect' as a 14 year old!) 🤣 I then went to Lola for 3 years building the Group C Nissan R89 and R90, the Lola Indycars (T89-50 etc), the Larrousse Lola F1 project, before finally leaving to concentrate on my own racing. I went on to race in the British Formula Ford 1600 championship for a few seasons, always running my own car, then into Formula Three before the harsh realities of being a racing driver with no money finally bit! (Familiar sob story.) Had some interesting years instructing at Silverstone and Thruxton with some fun characters like Jason Plato, Darren Turner, Dan Wheldon (RIP), Peter Dumbreck to namedrop just a few, a very brief and final foray into Single Seaters in Formula Renault, before deciding it was too late at the age of 26.
I then decided to get a proper job, but that didn't work out, so I became an airline pilot instead! I turned my back on cars for a few years out of pure resentment and frustration, telling everyone that aeroplanes were so much better because they were fast in 3 dimensions, not just 2... 😉But I was deceiving myself, and when I finally earned enough money, I started buying fast cars again. Been a few interesting motors over the years, Renault 21 Turbo, Nissan 300zx TT, Volvo 850 T5R, Nissan GTR, Renaultsport Megane Cup S, an old school Peugeot 205 Rallye (EU spec, LHD, with the TU24 engine), and just 2 weeks ago finally bought a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. It's currently in storage in the UK but it will split its time between the UK and Portugal, where I spend most of my time now. In fact we live just 10 minutes drive from Estoril GP circuit so the GTR has done many track days there, often helping test development parts for Litchfield, and I am keen to compare the GT4 RS there too. I also have an appartment on site at the Portimao Circuit AIA, so planning to do some days down there too! Only driven it once, but absolutely loved it...
Anyway I digress. I will post some pictures of the Porsche when it is home, I also design and make parts for the GTR (ducting, brake cooling systems and the like) and really getting into CAD and 3d printing / CNC manufacturing, so interested in doing some projects for the Porsche too and who knows what else, although from what I hear the GT3 and GT4 RS are so well engineered it probably won't need it! Here's a pic of the GTR on track here in the meantime...
All the best
Derek
Just an intro post from me... Been around racing cars and supercars since my childhood, spannered for Barry P during his Formula Ford days as a young teenager, so I suppose I could technically say I suffered an abusive childhood, being regularly teased and verbally bullied by his other wayward mechanics! (Imagine being called 'Stick insect' as a 14 year old!) 🤣 I then went to Lola for 3 years building the Group C Nissan R89 and R90, the Lola Indycars (T89-50 etc), the Larrousse Lola F1 project, before finally leaving to concentrate on my own racing. I went on to race in the British Formula Ford 1600 championship for a few seasons, always running my own car, then into Formula Three before the harsh realities of being a racing driver with no money finally bit! (Familiar sob story.) Had some interesting years instructing at Silverstone and Thruxton with some fun characters like Jason Plato, Darren Turner, Dan Wheldon (RIP), Peter Dumbreck to namedrop just a few, a very brief and final foray into Single Seaters in Formula Renault, before deciding it was too late at the age of 26.
I then decided to get a proper job, but that didn't work out, so I became an airline pilot instead! I turned my back on cars for a few years out of pure resentment and frustration, telling everyone that aeroplanes were so much better because they were fast in 3 dimensions, not just 2... 😉But I was deceiving myself, and when I finally earned enough money, I started buying fast cars again. Been a few interesting motors over the years, Renault 21 Turbo, Nissan 300zx TT, Volvo 850 T5R, Nissan GTR, Renaultsport Megane Cup S, an old school Peugeot 205 Rallye (EU spec, LHD, with the TU24 engine), and just 2 weeks ago finally bought a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. It's currently in storage in the UK but it will split its time between the UK and Portugal, where I spend most of my time now. In fact we live just 10 minutes drive from Estoril GP circuit so the GTR has done many track days there, often helping test development parts for Litchfield, and I am keen to compare the GT4 RS there too. I also have an appartment on site at the Portimao Circuit AIA, so planning to do some days down there too! Only driven it once, but absolutely loved it...
Anyway I digress. I will post some pictures of the Porsche when it is home, I also design and make parts for the GTR (ducting, brake cooling systems and the like) and really getting into CAD and 3d printing / CNC manufacturing, so interested in doing some projects for the Porsche too and who knows what else, although from what I hear the GT3 and GT4 RS are so well engineered it probably won't need it! Here's a pic of the GTR on track here in the meantime...
All the best
Derek
