OLD BOYS RUNNERS AND RIDERS
Just for fun, I don’t mean to sound harsh at all, if I do I’m sorry, so don’t take the odds (and some of the comments) seriously. The numbers will probably not be those used in the race, and is a number relevant to the driver wherever possible. The odds are partially based on those for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. Please also note you cannot bet on these.
1. Pip Hammond President 07/08 3-1 (Fav)
The most successful driver in HUGS history, both in HUGS and after, following his Stock Hatch triumph in 2009. Has a good record at Teesside as well, winning an Inter-Uni race with Imran in 2008, and running highly in another. It may be hard to look beyond him.
2. Imran Khan 7-2
Very strong round Teesside, and capable of beating Pip; he showed this by setting the fastest lap in the aforementioned Inter-Uni Race, and was the highest placed Hull driver in the race with York in March 2009. He was also one third of the team that were denied victory in the Inter-Uni race at Teesside in November 2009 due to a faltering engine. Very much worth a punt.
3. Jane Cummings 40-1
Jon’s Missus is back from Germany, and is the only female in the field. Only previous karting with HUGS has been at BUMPS, but the pace has been reasonable, and could quite easily surprise a few people.
4. Jon Beagles Vice-President 06/07 & President 08/09 7-2
While Pip has the biggest achievement in racing out of all the HUGS drivers, Jon has probably the biggest achievement in karting, having been in the winning team of the ProKart class in last year’s Milton Keynes 24 hours. However, his luck at Teesside has not been great; spinning out of 3rd place on the opening lap in an Inter-Uni race in June 2007, and infamously losing a wheel in the York race in March 2009. Nonetheless, his outright pace is always very quick. If it stays dry, worth a punt at 7-2.
5. Matt Batten 15-1
Has had recent Teesside Iron Man experience, and also put in a solid show in his return to HUGS racing at Warden Law in March of this year. Instantly recognisable in his bright yellow helmet, is very quick, but often out of luck at Teesside. He crashed heavily in the York race in January 2008, and glazed a brand new set of brakes in the race in June 2008. But his pace his obvious, as Pip would not have put him in the A Team in said York race. 15-1 is good odds, and is also a great but sadly defunct game show on Channel 4.
6. Keith Herbert President 06/07 & Treasurer 08/09 10-1
A HUGS legend, he will be praying for rain on Saturday. Will he get it? Will he be smiling when he pulls up to the track in his Lada? Possibly the most consistent driver in HUGS history, and is always there or thereabouts. Unless of course he gets a crap kart at BUMPS. Teesside luck is again more bad than good; he spun simultaneously with Jon in June 2007, was the victim of Matt’s brakes in June 2008, and was lumbered with a poor kart in March 2009. But should it rain, could well be on the podium at least.
7. Tom Smith Social Sec 09/10 & President 10/11 15-1
Has shown massive improvement over the course of the year, and rewarded with some fine results. Will again be instantly recognisable in his white Sparco suit. Teesside record has been pretty good, in the team which finished 3rd in May 2009, and a solid showing in November 2009, finishing 5th after having no practice thanks to a cock-up from his team-mates.
8. Phil Blanchard 18-1
Another Old Boy, but a relative unknown quantity as far as the current HUGS members are concerned, but have been reliably informed that he is a strong competitor.
9. Mark Foley Vice-President 09-10 8-1
Arguably the strongest racer from this year, he could well be challenging the expected top 3 of Pip, Imran and Jon. Teesside record is pretty good, spearheaded his team to 3rd in the race in May 2009, and led the race in November 2009, only for his team to be denied by a faulty engine.
10. Rich Towers 25-1
Armed with the coolest name on the grid, but a motocross racer at heart. Has raced for Hull before, but will this race finally prove to him 4 wheels is better than 2?
11. Lawson Whiting 20-1
Another of Pip’s mates, and has also raced for Hull in the past. Has proved to be a worthy competitor in the past, so could be on for a Top 10 finish.
12. Brock Hayes 25-1
Another of Pip’s mates, and another motocross racer. Once again, will this race persuade him that 4 wheels really is better than 2?
13. Sam Firth Social Sec 10/11 30-1
His first race with HUGS was after being roped in at the last minute by house-mate Mike, but has gone on to be an integral part of the society, and some strong performances at races, especially last time out at Pontefract. His only previous Teesside experience was in the rain in November 2009, so should it remain dry, will get a chance to appreciate the quality of the track.
14. Mike Miller Treasurer 09/10 & 10/11 25-1
Another to show great improvement since his first race in February 2009, and deserves an award just for showing patience after the infamous aborted races at BUMPS in the same month. Teesside record is solid, always consistent, and is widely believed to have set the qualifying time that put Hull’s C Team 5th on the grid in the Inter-Uni race in November 2009.
15. Marcus Stuttard Social Sec 10/11 18-1
New for this year, and has been an absolute revelation, frequently outpacing the more seasoned drivers. Again, only past Teesside experience has been in the rain, but could get a strong result this time out.
16. Jon Whitwell 35-1
Another former member, and another consistent racer, with some quick lap times at HUGS favourites BUMPS and Pontefract. Only Teesside experience after being a last-minute stand-in in May 2009.
17. Tom Buxton 30-1
Another driver to show strong improvement this year with some good results and lap times. Has had previous Teesside experience, though again both were in adverse conditions, so will be another driver to appreciate the circuit should it stay dry.
18. Ben Best 12-1
Will have driven 200 miles to race, and whilst with HUGS was selected for the A Team in Inter-Uni races. In recent times, he was in the team that finished 3rd in the Ice Race at Grimsby with York in December 2008. Also produced a solid display in Inter-Uni races at Teesside in 2008.
19. Josh Overhill Administrator 09/10 & Vice President 10/11 8-1
The main challenger to Mark this year, and has accumulated a fine collection of trophies this year. Instantly recognisable in his bright red suit, and always goes well at Teesside, in both the dry and the wet. Finished 4th in the York race in March 2009, and was the final third of the A Team in November 2009, narrowly missing out on victory and setting the fastest lap of the race in the wet. Could well be on the podium.
20. Pete Szedlak 30-1
Part of HYMS, could have raced for York, but no, chose to the race for Hull instead. Has put in some solid showing, and was disappointed it rained at Teesside in November 2009, so will definitely be hoping for dry conditions.