PHIL'S IN THE HILL'S

Website
Nik Eastwood

Welcome to 264 Racing.  Our main aim is one thing, to have a bit of racing fun at a weekend, To keep things simple we will have news and results as part of this page and run it much like a Blog/Online diary, latest items will always appear in date order at the top of the page, see the links on the left to other pages on this site... Thanks for visiting!! Page last updated on 09/11/2008

09/11/08: The 264 venture into 1300 Stockcars!!
I have had many conversations with Dave Pierce at Buxton Raceway about starting a new stockcar formula, well thats just what hes decided to do and is going to run them with the existing Formula Ministox, these are the 1300 Saloon Stocks which also race at Skegness Stadium, there is lots of interest in this formula from other drivers and at least one person I know of [Chris Emery] is actually building one from scratch based on a Vauxhall Corsa (clever man). The car I will be racing in 2009 is also based on a Vauxhall Corsa and I have already had a go in the car [click here] with the Ministox and really enjoyed it, but I cant wait to be mixing it up with them (if I can catch them!) when I have the car set up to my liking..
So, in order to get out there on track something has to give and that means I will be taking a break from the Hot Fords and concentrating on the 1300 Saloon Stox but I do hope to make the odd appearence in the Hot Fords when time and budget allows, and this will be in the Escort that we have which I'm hoping to finish prepping in the closed season [the Fiesta is for sale]. Sharon is also going to be using it in RookiRods. For more info about the new 1300 Saloon Stox formula there is a page on the Buxton Raceway website - www.buxtonraceway.com  and follow the link.

13th October: Photos added from the 12th

Race Report 12th October Hot Fords
Practice was fine, nice to get out on track with my old man in his Rookirod but pity he couldn't keep up. He had a good days racing though and finished his day off with a 2nd in the final.

Right back to me now, Heat 1: Got a good start and had a really good race, I was hit quite hard on the back end at one point by a driver who obviously cant race none contact but I managed to get it pointing in the right direction and came home in 3rd behind two very good drivers and under pressure by another. Heat 2: Another good start and and soon found myself in 2nd place with the car in front doing a good job holding me off, I made a move on him coming out of the town bend and was going much quicker than him but rubbed his back end slightly, he got a wobble on and I went past (sorry to #80) it wasn't deliberate and it was only very slight and as a result of that I got a warning flag for some reason but their you go.. I went on to take the chequered flag ahead of the very fast #306 Craig Bennett. The Final: Got away well again and was really going well and enjoying myself think I got my nose into 3rd briefly having a good old battle then I got a really big hit from another driver who thinks the way to race none contact is to bash other drivers out of the way banger style, I was well out of shape after this hit nearly hitting the armco on the bar bend, needless to say I was passed by a number of cars and ended up finishing 10th. A really good days racing with lovely weather. I just find it a shame that drivers use deliberate contact to try and pass another driver, it must be deliberate as nobody came over to say sorry afterwards. P

24th September: Photos added fom the 21st

22/9/08: Meeting report for 21st September Hot Fords
Shepherdswood Final: I qualified last on the grid for this, took it easy for the first couple of laps then got stuck in, had a really good race, great fun, finished 8th, not bad I thought.
Heat 1: Got away well from the back of the blues and had some great tussles with different drivers, good clean racing, just how it should be and I finished 4th, I was really pleased with this.
Heat 2 and I didn't get the best of starts and found myself on the outside and found it a bit slippy then got passed by a few cars on the inside, I got back into it when I could get onto the inside, I'm not realy sure what happened when entering the bar bend, I think I locked up, not sure whether I was hit on the back end but I hit the back of 02 Jack Emery quite hard (Really sorry for that Jack!!) luckily I didnt spin Jack or anything and he was fine when I spoke to him afterwards. Soon after that incident I was coming out of the bar bend, full power on and there was a car almost stopped on the racing line, needless to say I had nowhere to go and went straight in to the back of the 95 car, this driver was also ok when I spoke afterwards, I couldn't help it and he couldn't get out of the way as his driveshaft had come out, just one of them things, I pulled off after this as I thought my rad had gone but amazingly it hadn't, even though it was a bit flat along with the rest of the front panel of the car. I was also on the end of some contact in this race but thats racing I suppose. I did get warned about my contact afterwards, which I suppose was fair enough even though none of it was deliberate.
The Final, not a great start, lost a few places but did have a good old race and finished 10th in the end, unable to pass 43 Stupid Stu!! P

12/9/08: Photos & Team Lowe pages updated

8/9/08: Meeting report for 7th September RookiRods
Well then, for Starters, Sharon had a good practice with my dad behind her for one of the sessions and not able to pass her.
The First heat was different though, she decided to start at the back because she wasn't too keen on racing in the wet, a couple of laps in she spun on the town turn and the pack came back round & with Sharon stranded in the middle of the track lots of cars managed to miss her but another lady driver just couldn't avoid her and hit her head on causing quite a bit of panel damage to the car and bursting the radiator. I/Phil had left the spare radiator at home in the garage doh!! but Firko RR40 let us use one of his which was fitted but that had a leak (Thanks Firko!) so we called it a day.
My old fella on the other hand got a third in the same Heat. I missed this heat because I was getting myself ready to go out in a 1300 Stockcar, a formula Dave Pierce the Buxton Promoter is hoping to introduce to the Raceway sometime soon I hope. Dave kindly let me go out in the car with the Formula Ministox. I really enjoyed myself in the car, a lot different to my Hot Ford or anything else Ive ever driven but it is something I'm very interested in racing - and after having a go in the car I am even more keen. Dave warned me to keep away from his minis so that what I did.

With Sharon retired for the day and my 1300 stockcar trial over with it was down to my Dad to get some results and he did just that with a win in his next Heat and a 6th in the Final. Well done dad, keep it up, I think you'll end up further back on the grid next time. P

27/8/08: Photos updated

26/8/08: Meeting report for 25th August RookiRods
Heat 1 Sharon decided to go off the front for the first time, she started outside on the second row, got away cleanly enough, was held up a bit by a slower car, as she came on to the back straight still on the outside line she was hit on the back corner and pushed sideways towards the infield (nudge and spin is for bomber init???) the car on the inside line had nowhere to go and ploughed straight in to the side of Sharon, both ended up on the infield, the other car #92 rejoined, sharon wasn't sure the car was ok having had quite a wallop so decided to retire. Lots of panel damage but nothing major so it was out for Heat 2 Got away ok, kept her inside line so faster cars could pass easily, did a few laps but lost the back end on the town turn and ended up on the rumbles facing the wrong way so decided to stay there until the end.
The Final, was allowed to start from the back with some other none qualifiers, relaxed and had some fun kept her line and was getting faster. She enjoyed the Final and I have spent all day fixing the car and it is now ready for the next meeting in 2 weeks time 7th September also started to do a bit on my own car [the Escort] to try and get it ready because if all the Rookirod meetings are going to be like this one then the car wont last much longer. Well done Dad (Rooki Rick Lowe RR181) on his first win and a second, nice one!!!!! P

19/8/08: Meeting report for 17th August Hot Fords
I nearly didn't bother doing this meeting, I was still sore after having a hernia operation a few weeks ago but I've been so bored sat in the house recovering that I thought I'd give it a go.
I went out for a practice and forgot to put my bonnet pins in, needless to say, my bonnet flew off, whoops!!! the car wasnt right in practice, it was spluttering at the end of the straights, I cleaned the carb and it still did it, I couldnt find the problem and was thinking of putting it back on trailer, then we deciced to put 14" wheels on the front to alter the gearing slightly and maybe this would keep the engine revving to the end of the straights before the engine started to splutter, I didnt have time to try it out before the first race so I kept my fingers crossed that this would help.

Heat 1 was very slippy, lots of sideways action, good fun though and I finished 2nd, the car in first place had opened up a bit of a lead by the time I got myself into 2nd and I managed to catch him up with only one lap to go, so didnt have chance to really challenge for 1st place. Another great 2nd in Heat 2, I got my nose in front briefly but as I went on the outside of the car I was overtaking another car went up the inside and took the chequered flag, well done that man. I got another great start in the Final and I was leading by the time I got to the end of the back straight and then it was plain sailing really, keep it pointing the right way and hope the problem I was having with the engine didn't get worse. A great days racing with a trophy and some points, car still needs attention as the problem with the spluttering never really went away, and Sharon is using the car for Rookirods on Bank Holiday Monday. P

18/8/08: Photos Updated

14/7/08: Team Lowe page updated
As detailed below, 181 Rick Lowe now out in a Rookirod, some pics added as well as a youtube video

22/6/08: Rick Lowe back behind the wheel!
Rick Lowe (father of Hot Ford driver Phil Lowe) had an outing in RookiRods using Phils Hot Ford back in 2006 and also scored a few points from the back of a full grid. Ever since, he has wanted to get out in his own car, so he just went out and bought a pre raced car originally prepped back in 2005 by Nik Eastwood for 69 Chris Dean, then this was sold on to a couple of other RookiRod drivers, although during that time the car hasnt been used constantly and we guess a lot of things have probably been changed on the car since Nik had it in his back yard.

Rick will be racing under Phils original number of 181

Once he's checked the car over and given it a lick of paint and a bit of a practice session just to blow the cobwebs off (thats off him not the car) I'm sure he will be on track very soon, if it lives beyond the practice session, I know another member of the Lowe family is sniffing around for a go and he thinks he's the next best thing to Lewis Hamilton, hmm. Couple of pics:

Left: Rick had a bit of a moment back in 2006 with the 54 car. Right: Taking the 78 car on the inside, strangely, the 78 car is Ricks new one!!

17/6/08: Photos Updated

17/6/08: Meeting Report RookiRods
Great start to the day, got a good start in Heat 1 and was determined not to get lapped, or at least not in the opening stages of the race! I managed to finish without any problems and wait for it......I wasn't last!!! yipeeee!!! I really enjoyed it.
Heat 2: A rubbish start and things didn't get much better but I finished without any damage which always pleases Phil.
The Final: Phil had told me to get out there and enjoy myself, starting at the back in the non qualifiers it was my last chance so relax and have some fun, so thats what I did, got a great start but the race was restarted due to a non starter at the front of the grid. Didn't get as good a start 2nd time but got stuck in and had a race long battle with a fellow novice driver RR11 in a VW Golf. I had the edge on him for some time, as I pulled away up the straights but he gained on the bends, last lap and I hit a load of water or something on the town turn and round I went, D'oh!!!! oh well, I wasn't too dissapointed I had a great time and a good clean race. Thanks for all the people who wished me luck and cheered me on throughout the day :-) you know who you are THANK YOU!! Cant wait till next time. Really good racing by the Rookirods today, less on track seems to of made a big difference.

/6/08: Meeting Report Hot Fords
No practice as the medical crew were not present,  but I knew the car was ok it was just the driver I was worried about. Got a really good start in Heat 1 and was in with the yellow grade drivers before the end of the home straight, got stuck in passing cars until I made the wrong choice to overtake a car, I went to pass on the inside and then got held up behind it and was passed by a number of cars, finished 12th I think.


Heat 2: We had a bit of a shower which made the track very slippery, I drove like a big girls blouse to be honest, tyres wern't very good but I have to say I think I could of done better.

The Final: Started at the back in the non qualifiers and I got away well and passed some cars early on in the race, then there was an incident on the exit of the bar bend, cars going everywhere, I had to take action to avoid contact, so took to the rumbles and lost a few places, I soon got back on the pace again and passed the same cars I had done earlier. Had a good race with Val HF120, which was good and I even kept up with her, I dont think she was as quick as usual though, top driver is Val, their should be more lady drivers out there.

In all, a great evenings racing, maybe not as quick as I should be but it was nice to be back racing and I really enjoyed it. See you soon. P

See the photos page for more meeting pics

25/5/08: Photos Updated: Some pics added from "back in the day" at Skegness Stadium in 2005, my second meeting in RookiRods under my original number of 181 clicky clicky

24/5/08: In the Garage Updated

8/5/08: Skegness Report
This meeting was part of the Sheppards Wood Cup. Ok, Heat 1, kept right out of trouble and the car didnt grip very well at all. Heat 2, felt a bit better with car after changing the outside rear tyre and letting a bit of air out. The final was the best race of the day, had a good tussle with a couple of drivers.

Monday, heat one, was ok but nothing special, Heat 2, passed again early on by much faster cars on the day but had a good race with some others. The final, got off to a good start and was in 3rd for a short while but things got a bit silly with cars spinning out etc, so I just decided it wasnt worth wrecking my car for the sake of one race and backed off then tagged on the back of the bunch and had some fun. Great weekend, nice to meet and speak to other drivers etc. Thanks to Lee Bennett for helping out at the track, top man!!!!

7/5/08: Skegness pics added to the Photo's page

7/4/08: Pics of Daniel added to Team Lowe Page

7/4/08: Sharons first Rookirod meeting
I enjoyed myself, wasnt nervous at all. I had listened to Phil and took it easy and didn't worry too much about being off the pace, that will come eventually, the main thing is to learn things in my own time, I realised it wasn't as easy as it looks, theres a lot to take in. I had a practice and was happy enough, we new the car was ok as we had been to the track the day before, so unless Phil had decided to put a load more oil in it (Doh) then it was all good.

Lined up to race in my first heat behind #21, felt happy with this because I'd been on track with him the day before and know he's ok. Got away ok but soon realised when your on track in a race, these guys don't mess about, it only took a 2 or 3 laps for the leaders to catch me up but I stayed on my line and most of them passed with no problems, a few more laps on as I was just settling in and enjoying myself I saw a couple more cars in my mirrors, one of these decided to get half way passed and then shoved me on the rumbles (won't mention any names or numbers, its a rooki formula, drivers make mistakes, so what!) and thats where I stayed. Not too much damage to the car, a cracked front bumper and the passenger wing was a bit bent in, Phil pulled the dent out a bit and checked everything else was ok ad it was on to the 2nd heat. Track was slidy due to the showers we had throughout the day and I was drifting wide on the bend, I saw I was going to be lapped again and decided I didn't want to cause any incidents so pulled on to the middle. I didn't bother with the final coz the weather took a turn for the worse, it was terrible out there. S

More pics from 6th April HERE

5/4/08: Practice
We took the car to the track today for Sharon to get some laps in, as its her debut meeting tomorrow, weather reports prior to us going were not very good, but it wasnt too bad, nice sunshine, a bitter cold wind and occasional bout of hail, actually it sounds awful but it was ok, at least the track was dry for 95% of the afternoon, that was the important thing.
Tyres were checked and the car fuelled up, all ok.
Phil took the car out for a few laps to get it warmed up, then it was Sharons turn to have a go, with caution she took it round with no drama, gradually speeding up and getting used to the car. It helped that there were other rookirods there too, and some of the laps she did were with other cars, by the end of the afternoon, her speed and confidence had improved a lot, even doing well on a hail soaked track.
Phil had a couple more trips round in it, and was very happy with it.
Part way through the afternoon, the 264 Racing webmaster had a go, thats me - anyway, last time I went round there was my last meeting in 2006, I knew how the car would handle, I have seen it round there and know it inside out, so off I went, I didnt pussy about and got stuck in, this was my first go in a Mk2 Fiesta and as I thought it would be, it was quite twitchy in the corners, but I soon got used to it, and was throwing it into the corners at speed, the speed and acceleration of the car was impressive, and the gearing is just right, on 13" wheels with a diesel ratio'd gearbox, it had more to give at the end of the straight, yet still pulled very well out of the corners, overall - I had a great time!! THANKS PHIL AND SHARON!! N

15-3-08: In The Garage Updated

8/3/08: Practice
I sorted the brakes last night. So got to the track, unloaded and we had decided I was going to have a go in the car first just to make sure it was ok. Brakes were fine and car feels good had it very sideways on the town turn due to some oil on the track [probably my own!], had some fun and the car feels quick enough but didn't have any other Hot Fords to compare it to. A couple of problems I had today were, fan dont work and I have engine oil leaking out of somewhere, its sprayed on to the bulk head and all over the place but I cant find where its coming from.

Sharon did really well today, took it easy and gradually got quicker and quicker. She really started getting the power down and coming off late, she loved it!

More pics on the PHOTO'S page

4/3/08: In The Garage Updated

3/3/08: Photos Page updated

2/3/08: Race Meeting
2nd March Summary: Finished painting the car about 10pm Saturday night [still needs a bit more], after fitting eye bolts, wiring the brake lights up, putting roof fins on, bolting doors shut, put firewall in and probably other stuff that I cant remember right now. Got up sunday, still had to fit seat and harness, top the gearbox oil up as there was none in it, load the van and then go and get the trailer and pump the tyres up on it, eventually after messing around for ages, we were on our way to the track..

Got to the track and after the car had run for a bit I realised the fan wasn't wired up, so wired that up, didnt make practice and was out in Heat 1, I had decided to start my races today from the back of the grid for the safety of other drivers as this was the first time the car had been on track, you never know what might happen! I had a problem with the clutch straight away and pulled on to the middle, after kicking the pedal and things, all seemed well again so got buckled up again, meanwhile the officials were holding the start just for me, what nice people they are at Buxton Raceway. I lined up and it was go go go!! , the car felt quick enough and I was pleased that the diesel box fitted did what it was supposed to in allowing me to run 13" wheels on the front keeping the car nice and level, unfortunately entering the second bend I lost the back end for some reason, it just flipped out and round I went [see, good job I started at the back!!], ended up facing the wrong way. I made my way on to the infield took a look at my temp gauge and it was quite warm but I had no sign of the fan coming on and was also still having problems getting gears etc, so I parked it up and watched the rest of the race perched on a nice comfy tractor tyre.

I messed about with the wiring a bit and the clutch, but decided there was other things to do to the car too, like bleed the brakes and maybe try some slightly higher rear springs, I think it might be too low. So decided to load up instead of working on the car all day coz I had worked on it all week non stop so thought I'd spend some rare quality time with my missus and my son watching some racing. I thought the hot fords were ace today, great racing and some fantastic looking cars, some VERY fast cars too. It takes time to get a car right, we'll get there with it in the end. So far the Fiesta has done 1 lap.

29/2/08: In The Garage updated, will the Fiesta make Sundays meeting??

 

23/2/08: In the Garage updated - the Escort runs again!!

16/2/08: In the Garage updated

9/2/08: In the Garage updated - work starts on the Escort.

6/2/08: Photos and Garage Page updated

2/2/08: In the Garage updated, engine in, connected up and running

30/1/08: In The Garage updated

27/1/08: In The Garage updated

27/1/08: Sponsors page updated with the addition of NGK Spark Plugs

21/1/08: In The Garage updated, more work on the Fiesta and some news and pics of the 264 Escort
Sharon has got her Rookirod licence for 2008, look out for her, Sharon France RR264 :)

14/1/08: Sponsors page updated, thanks to K&N Filters

5/1/08: In the Garage updated

2/1/08: Sponsors page updated

1/1/08: Photos added from the old site, see "Photos" page

29/12/07: Work has started today on the Fiesta, see the "in the garage" page

28/12/07: We still have the old car [in the logo above] and it is going to be stripped of its engine and any other useful parts, but we are building two new cars for 2008, a mk2 Fiesta which was bought as a 1.4 and this will have all the parts transferred into it from the XR2 that was damaged beyond repair at Skegness during 2007, and a mk4 Escort XR3i, the Fiesta will be used occasionally by Sharon in Rookirods as well as being a spare car, and the Escort will be used in Hot Fords by myself. Work starts soon in getting the Fiesta stripped ready for all the parts to be transferred into it, the damaged shell is long gone and we have a big pile of parts here rusting away in the shed ready to fit, check out the "In the garage" page for updates on the progress.

27/12/07: We have a new site look for 2008, we still intend to use parts of the old Piczo site such as the Links and Guestbook page, and the site will still keep its same address, we will have some photo galleries of the cars on a photos page and pics of the team hard at work [yeah right] on the "Team Lowe" page, a camera is never far away!!