2008 NEWS

17th August, 2008
thanks to Chris Clark

Derek's engine is at Dave Powell's having the engine sorted, he found it was smoking after the last meeting. Wes Goodwin is letting Derek have the use of his car for the Semi-final next week. So a BIG thank you to Wes.

Neither Derek or Lee will be racing at Buxton on Sunday. They are both going karting at Wigan for a stag do!!!!

Dereks engine still at Performance in York and Lee will be taking Gary Beswicks engine out this weekend, think they are rebuilding another one for Lee!!!

Derek has taken his engine out due to the smoking problems he has had for the past couple of weeks and dropped it off at Dave Powell's at Performance Unlimited.

Team Fairhurst would like to thank their Sponsors new and old for their continued support of both Derek and Lee and helping to keep them on track.

Due to the current high cost of fuel, Derek and Lee, are having to be selective about which meetings to attend and race at the moment. Lee has been struggling with a lack of engine power recently but has still managed to maintain a good run of form and got some pretty good results. The team have swapped the head and good parts over from his primary race engine and fitted them to his spare engine to see if that improves the power shortage as the other engine block was down on compression on one cylinder. Lee is back up to yellow grade and almost has enough points for blue grade. He has also at present got enough points for a berth in the World Semi Finals.

Derek is happy to have qualified for the World Semi Finals himself and is very happy to have been drawn to race in the Skegness semi race. If he had been drawn at Kings Lynn it wouldn’t have suited his car but he would have raced and run around to see if he could pick up a few places. However Derek feels that he can race to a good position at Skegness and will be using the next Skegness meeting to fine tune the cars settings ready for his semi final race in August. He hopes to follow that up with an appearance at the European Championship at the end of July.

Stock Car Magazine Interview by Chirs Clark

3rd May 2008
thanks to Chris Clark

15th March 2008
thanks to Lee Fairhurst

Its been a while since we have had an update but we have some photos of thanks to Lee

Here's a few pictures of the newly sprayed 218 transporter at the go Goodwins depot. A big thanks to Wesley and Geoff Goodwin. Windows now to be re-fitted with new rubbers with the help of Gary Thorpe (49's mechanic). Thanks Gary.

09th January 2008
thanks to Lee Fairhurst

F2 going for shot blasting in near future and will then be sprayed and sign written. Derek's F1 will also be sign written some time after NEC.

Sponsorship space is  available on F1 + F2 or both to fund travelling costs. 2 for the price of 1!!!

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7th January 2008
thanks to to Mike Ashcroft

The car is now back in Widnes and needs the front axle straightening (now removed) and building back up for the NEC.

Also a couple of shots from inside the bus showing the extent of devastation!!!! (re 30th Dec report below)

30th December 2007
thanks to Mike Ashcroft

It's been busy at the garage these last few weeks, Ian, Brian and Derek have been stripping the bus out for a full winter refurb; there is no kitchen in it or any seats (except the drivers) and all the floor covering and storage shelves have been removed. A new kitchen is going in shortly and the floor will be repaired and recovered soon after. Once that's done the plan is to fit some new seats, replace some of the exterior panelling and have it re-painted ready for the new season.

As far as the car goes, it's been re-bumpered and nerfed, by Derek, Tony, Jack and the rest of the team and it is currently at Boundary Garage in Bury where the chassis has been re-painted. That job is just about complete and we plan to take it back to Widnes to get it ready for the NEC in a couple of weeks. Once that is out of the way and as long as time and funds permit we will re-paint the body of the car and hope to have everying in place for the new seasons' start. There's still an awful lot to do but with any luck the 218 car should be out on track at the Skegness Good Friday meeting 21/03/08...see you there?

As we expect to be painting not only the car but also the bus it's a good time to mention that Derek is on the look out for new sponsors for 2008. GM Computers will no longer be with Derek as far as sponsorship goes but I'm sure most know that I (Mike Ashcroft) race myself now and to all intents and purposes race as "team mate" to Derek. As a result of the repaint, large areas of the 218 car and, of course, the transporter are available so if anyone out there thinks their business could benefit from exposure on one of the best presented outfits on track please contact us via this website.

Derek's son, Lee, will continue to race in the F2's next year but has also been granted an F1 license, Lee may well been seen in the F1 several times next year and if his performance in the tooz was any indication he should be one to watch in 2008! Sponsorship is also being sought for Lee's racing and together with Derek a good package could also be negotiated if required.