Driver interview
Driver name: Tony Hurdle
Team: Revolution Racing
2007 Results
Best Finish: 3rd
Championship Position: 5th
Likes & Dislikes:
Food? Curry. Oops don’t tell my trainer.
Band & Album? A real toughie as my Dad is a musician who played on some real good stuff and I used to play the drums. Queen would be a favourite along with Led Zep, Genesis etc, right through to Earth, Wind and Fire and big band jazz with a real pumping brass section. Basically, anything by real musicians playing real instruments.
Football team? None really. Maybe Liverpool at a push only because my best mate at primary school liked Man Utd.
Actor/Actress? Peter Sellers. A really funny man. If you have never heard the GOON shows with him and Spike Milligan, you don’t know what you’ve missed. They were way ahead of their time.
Film? Good Will Hunting, Ice Age ( Remember the squirrel type animal chasing the acorn? I can relate to that)
TV Programme? Nothing specific. Sports channels and Sci-Fi.
Book? Men’s Health
Car? E- Type
Driver? Maybe Tony Stewart and Jnr, only because they aren’t clones and say what they think.
Holiday destination? California (Dad lives there, so cheap and lots of sun). Egypt, stunning seas and diving. Really warm in the winter.
Questions:
2nd favourite race circuit (after Rockingham of course!)? Bristol Motor Speedway and the Sharpie 500. That is some steep banking and definitely an experience. A cauldron of noise. Irwindale Speedway is good. Driven that. California Speedway is really big. Driven there too. Would like to go to Charlotte.
What was your first road car? Mini Van
What’s your occupation? Vehicle Examiner, trying to keep the roads safe.
How did you get started in motorsport? Went banger racing as a kid and wanted to do it when I got older. Finally managed years later. Met my mate Phil who got me into Superstox and it went from there. He’s got a lot to answer for J. Saw NASCAR in the States and fancied it when Rockingham started here. Couldn’t afford it until a couple of years ago.
First thoughts leaving the pit lane for the first time in a stock car? I can’t see the sides of the car. Where’s the wall? I found out 5 laps into my first race when I comprehensively binned it between 3 and 4. The mark’s still there. Mind you, the track was damp. It’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
How does your driving style change for the oval? Need to be a lot smoother on the big ovals whereas on the small tracks it can be late and hard on the brakes, turn and barrel out the other side. I also need to place a lot of faith in my spotter (brother) at Rockingham instead of doing my own thing on the short ovals.
Why do you race with number 98? I’ve always had it in one form or another. My banger number was 498, Superstox 98, Brisca 198, now 98 in SCSA.
Best Moment of the season? Not really race related but it was having the family, friends and team at my party earlier in the year.
Worst Moment of the season? All the rain!!!!!!!!! Not being able to get the car to perform in the August round despite everyone busting their hump to sort it out.
A brief season review (and sponsor plug!!!)
A bit of a strange year what with all the weather issues. Hopefully next year will be a different thing all together and we can get the grids bigger, the racing better and give the fans want they want. A serious dose of V8 grunt and noise. I need to thank all the lads and ladies in Revolution, especially Matt, Rich, Squirty and James for keeping the car and me safe.
I also need to pay a big thank you to Bob at Klann Tools for coming on board this year. He has been a great support and has really enjoyed the atmosphere and access that SCSA allows. The guests he brought along at various points all went away with a good buzz so hopefully we have a few more converts.
