John who?

RIKB · 12 Mar 2001, 23:00 (Ref:70637)

Just looking through the BTC production entries and i notice there is one driver called John B & Q.

Who is he then?

BTC-P fan · 12 Mar 2001, 23:07 (Ref:70640)

John B&Q is a complete idiot who last year raced in the Fiesta Championship as John Top-Gear. He finished last in his first 4 races and managed to score 0 points all season. Most rounds he was between 3 and 5 secs off the pace. At R3 Thruxton he was out qualified by Ben Shephard (Childrens TV Presenter) in the guest car who then managed to finish 45secs in front of him in the race. In R4 he was beaten by comedian Fred MacAuley. More often than not he finished behind the guest car, and his high point of the season was beating Caroline Menu in R7 at Silverstone.
Despite being a pretty useless driver, he has managed to secure the funds for 2 (yes 2) BTC-P cars (£300K) unlike Gordon Shedden who hasn't got the money for 1 and he won 9 out of 14 rounds of the same championship. Something is slightly wrong with this picture. Do you know what it is?

***Chris Y*** · 13 Mar 2001, 00:50 (Ref:70685)

Please tell me he hasn't changed his name again?

Sparky · 13 Mar 2001, 01:10 (Ref:70691)

Why, what was he before? John Do-it-All?

...Or Derek Q. Homebase?

hunttheshunt · 13 Mar 2001, 16:41 (Ref:70809)

I think its disgracefull John B&Q can get a drive but Gordon Shedden has been left in the cold.

Les · 13 Mar 2001, 19:01 (Ref:70857)

I totally agree with you HTS. How John Batchelor/TopGear/B&Q could get a licence after a somewhat dismal display in the Fiestas. Nothing against the bloke - he is actually a pleasure to natter to but there are 30 people I would put in front of him.

Danielsun · 13 Mar 2001, 20:31 (Ref:70903)

Quote:

Originally posted by Les
... but there are 30 people I would put in front of him.

... with Alain Menu slightly behind him.

Seriously, this guy needs a clue out there. In the rounds last season that I witnessed, the only good thing he ever did was the writing on the car at Silverstone's finale...

pv27uk · 13 Mar 2001, 21:25 (Ref:70932)

I actually got moaned at for saying that this guy was rubbish on another forum, even though it is clear he is a terrible driver. The statistics have proved it, and I saw him race at Silverstone. He was an embarassment.

However, if there are limits on competitors at certain tracks, he will most definitely not qualify. The Integra is getting on a bit (aren't they all 1.8?), but he won't be able to use that as an excuse. Nick Beaumont will do better, but that won't exactly take much.

hunttheshunt · 13 Mar 2001, 22:20 (Ref:70945)

But a lot of the BTCP is based on sponsorship-just like the NSC and last years Class B was.

pv27uk · 13 Mar 2001, 22:26 (Ref:70949)

John's become famous/infamous just by changing his name to Top-Gear. Of course, this got nice publicity in TG.

I just think it one of the unfair things in life that money is more important in talent, one of those things we've got to accept. Maybe B&Q liked him because he would change his surname to B&Q. I mean, it's massive promotion. Otherwise, a team of two Integras with two drivers your average punter won't have heard of wouldn't get much recognition. But because of this name change, lots of people are talking about him. Clever strategy by B&Q, unique sponsorship deal.

Just won't get much extra promo when he fails to make the grid, when another driver might have done, within the capabilities of the car.

***Chris Y*** · 13 Mar 2001, 23:03 (Ref:70966)

..Or when he spins around at Redgate Corner (Donington) for the 6th time in 6 laps. Full 180s too. Very pretty, but not the fastest way round

hunttheshunt · 14 Mar 2001, 16:15 (Ref:71102)

It seems slightly odd that Batchelor's and Beaumont's team (cant remember the name) have entered with the ageing Integra. It's only a 1.8 litre engine, and cant see it even being slightly competitive.

pv27uk · 14 Mar 2001, 18:23 (Ref:71131)

I'm pretty sure it's Team B&Q. I agree, the Integra seems a bit long in the tooth now, the Accord is much better. Just depends what cars they could source within their budget.

redshoes · 14 Mar 2001, 18:24 (Ref:71133)

Probably because there a fair number of them floating around and you can pick a pair relatively cheaply.

GT2001 · 14 Mar 2001, 21:40 (Ref:71188)

Why don't companies like B&Q sponsor decent drivers , not some fool who will change his name.

GT2001 · 14 Mar 2001, 21:42 (Ref:71191)

P.S What team is actually behind Team B&Q , is it John B&Qs Fiesta team BIM Motorsport?

BTC-P fan · 14 Mar 2001, 22:27 (Ref:71222)

I would think it was BIM because they ran both Beaumont and Batchelor last year. Great combination, useless driver & useless team. When Beaumont did R1 with Goodliff he finished 2nd with fastest lap, went to BIM and didn't get anywhere near the podium again.

Bring Back The Cavaliers · 14 Mar 2001, 23:45 (Ref:71264)

Useless team? This being the same team that ran John Bintcliffe and Gareth Downing to 2 Fiesta championships.

hunttheshunt · 15 Mar 2001, 17:16 (Ref:71407)

How many seasons ago was that?!

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