Andrew Clark - CIM Communications Director

KARTING - Like John my first taste of motorsport as a competitor was racing arrive and drive karts. Unfortunately despite me best efforts it soon became clear that I was nearly twice as heavy as the guys I was racing against, and head and shoulders above them too. I was never going to be anything other than tail end Charlie. To use Damon Hill's words "I am not here to make up numbers - I am only here to win". Not strictly true for me, but I would have liked not to come last just once! Circuit Racing - Seemed like the logical progression from Karts, more expensive but a step in the right direction. After a course with the Ian Taylor motor racing school I was sure it was a good idea. Unfortunately a chassis failure during the build of a BMW 325i race car put paid to that idea... Rallying - Last chance now to build a own a car of my own... The Skoda Estelle was a much better investment than the BMW. Rallying is cheaper (relatively) than circuit racing as it is only my driving that will cause accident damage! The engine was in the right place and it handled much more like a kart as a result. The car was finished and MOT'd but never used in anger. Unfortunately a house move prompted it's sale (too many spares to locate in the new house) so it had to go. It was sold to a writer of Retro Cars Magazine (sadly now no more) and had a 9 page feature in one of their editions. Road Rallying - As well as the ownership and development of the Skoda I also had a road rally Peugeot 205. It is a 1800 Diesel, with only permitted updates to make it competitive. We competed and won the local novice championship in this car, but it was a hard season (not so sure about my comment concerning rallying being cheaper now). This car has been returned to daily commuter service and replaced in the garage by a 309 GTI. It is much faster and handles much better. It has been finished, taxed, insured and MOT'd. It is the first true race car we have finished and can actually use! It has seen competitive service on slalom events already - with it being used by two drivers. Other - As well as the road rallying with the 309 it is also to see action as a Slalom competitor and track day driving experience host. It has also seen "action", as a static display at a local church fun day.   **for more on Andrew Clark, see: Folly Motorsport

Andy Harding

While being interested in most aspects of the sport, Andy's primary focus is in the historic motorsport scene. He is a member of the Vintage Sports Car Club  - which he recommends as a really friendly club where relatively low cost motorsport is still a possibility. His current car, The 'Triangle Skinner Special' is an historic hill climb & sprint car with a long history. It started life as Morris Minor in 1931, produced by the factory to do 100 mph and 100 mpg ( but not at the same time! ) as a publicity stunt. It then became a competition car in the hands of the Skinner family of SU Carburetors (it boasts four) and was continuously developed. In the immediate prewar years it was a Shelsley Walsh record holder for 3 years running.  It has a Hudson 4.2 litre straight eight engine and not much in the way of brakes. Driving it can best be described as character-building! Through CIM, Andy has recently enjoyed meeting others involved in the sport who share his Christian convictions and has been encouraged to find there are a good number.  Away from motorsport he runs Cochrane McGregor , a consultancy which specialises in the design and planning of the workplace and in managing company relocations.

Adriano Medeiros

Meet Adriano Medeiros Brazillian by birth and an instructor with Palmer Sport, Audi. the following is an extract from his testimony. "I competed in some races and had some good results, taking in account my financial conditions. Well, that's all my involvement with motoring before that unforgettable day when, looking for help to compete abroad, I set a meeting with Alex Dias Ribeiro, at the Interlagos racetrack on Wednesday night. I got to the racetrack and I got really surprised, for when I walked into the garage, I saw Alex and Emerson Fittipaldi talking in front of a car of formula 3. Imagine how I felt, I just stopped standing at the door of the garage. Alex called me saying, "Come in man", and I introduced myself to him and Emerson. God has made that day. In a few minutes I realized that it was a meeting about Bible studies, and all of a sudden I saw myself listening about Jesus, through Alex and Emerson. We sat, prayed and studied the Bible. I got impressed to see two symbols of the Brazilian motoring talking about Jesus. I had heard about Jesus before, but the cultural differences between my speaker and I had caused some resistance. However God knows me, as it's written in the psalm 139:"Lord, you probe me. You know when I sit and stand; from far away you notice my thoughts". It was then that I heard Alex saying that he could help me spiritually but not materially. That was the best help I could have had, for from then on I started having direction in life. I began attending the meetings and then I accepted Jesus in my heart as being my only and enough Saviour. From that day on everything started changing, I put God in the first place and, as the God's word says, everything started being added in my life."

Dan Blythe

My name is Dan Blythe and Motorsport is a hobby for me but it is also more than ‘just a hobby’. I am fortunate enough to be involved with one of the leading Le Mans Endurance Series teams, Rollcentre Racing, as a tyre technician and this has taken me all around Europe and to the States. I have been praying about ‘Christians in Motorsport’ since before it existed but only started my association with organisation in December 2005.  I strongly believe that God is going to do great things with CIM and I want to be there as a tool for Him to use. I’m an active member & trustee of New Life Church , Congleton where I am also a sound engineer for the various worship groups. I will shortly be taking over the role of treasurer, for CIM. Feel free to contact me on danb@christiansinmotorsport.org.uk

Gary Thomas

I'm Gary Thomas from Nottingham.   I have competed in Hillclimbing and Sprinting since 2003 having been a Formula Ford competitor in the 1980's.     I have enjoyed some success in speed events winning the NSCC  Speed Championship in 2004 and 2005, finishing runner-up in the Auto66  Speed Championship in 2005, being a class champion in the Curborough  Championship in 2004 and a class champion in the Midland Speed Championship in 2005. Above photo compliments of WhatNoNegatives.com My church is Trent Vineyard. My fellow competitors know that I am a Christian and I want to be the person who God wants next to them.

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