The off season is as an important time as any in the motorsport calendar and this off season has been no exception. Most drivers will spend their time training hard in preparation for the year ahead and of course trying to find the all important pennies that enable us to go racing. Mine has been no exception.
On the budget side of things development is well underway. I’m currently working full time on sponsorship so I’m hoping it will all come off before the start of the season.
I’ve ramped up my training so that when things do come off I’ll be as fit as ever and ready to take on the rest of the grid. I’m currently training about five or six times a week, spending 9-5 (and the rest) on sponsorship and doing my part time job in the village shop!
The major motorsport event to write about is the Autosport Show. This year I was down for all four days, my first time I’ve been right through. The show always brings excitement for me, I love seeing the cars and the people. All in all I had a good show; I met a few people to talk about sponsorship and drives in the future as well as having the odd media interview. I also used the show to expand on my technical knowledge having a good chat to various people on the Quaife and Bremsen Technik (Brembo) stands. (also a big thanks to Bremsen Technik who gave me a lift to and back from the show!)
I also went along to the Ginetta Awards ceremony, it’s always a great occasion when we get to see everyone we race against all year in a very relaxed atmosphere. Rick Parfitt Jnr rocked the stage after the awards ceremony.
I also got to race a remote control version of my Ginetta G50 on the BRCA stand. I had a race with lots’ of other Ginetta drivers, Lawrence Tomlinson and Tony Hirst from Coronation Street. Mardave, who built the car and it’s shell did a great job, the car looked very similar, just 1/12th the size. I’m hoping to get one that I can sticker up like mine.
I’m also in the running for a shorty award. This is an award to reward the achievements of people, brands, companies and charities on social media sites. I’m currently running 4th in the Athlete category behind Tom Daley and Fernando Alonso. To vote for me all you have to do is tweet: “I nominate @MaxCoates71 for a Shorty Award in #athlete because… … a reason!” It could be that I write a blog for The Checker Flag!
It’s been a busy end to 2012 and beginning to 2013, hopefully it will get a bit busier over the next few weeks and I’ll be able to announce my plans for the season.
Fingers crossed I’ll see you all from the cockpit at Brands Hatch on the 31st.
Max
