Don't Lift Off

Anthony Reid is British racing driver with a multi race and championship winning career spanning continuously for over 50 years.From starting as a humble mechanic, he serving a long apprenticeship in British National racing in Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 before taking an opportunity to race in Japan winning the Japanese Formula 3 championship against runners up Jacques Villenueve and Tom Kristensen (and other stars such as Roland Ratzenberger and Michael Schumacher). He then had a brief stint in Japanese F3000 - and a huge crash - before winning in Japanese GT and Touring Car championship races. His career then moved back to Europe, resulting in a long stint in the British Touring Car Championship, where he became a household name in the 1990’s and 00’s on British TV, racing for the best teams and manufacturers of the day including a Nissan Primera with Ray Mallock Ltd (RML), a Ford Mondeo for Prodrive and MG ZS for West Surrey Racing against the world’s best Touring Car drivers includong Jason Plato, Alain Menu, Yvan Muller, Ricard Rydell, Gabriele Tarquini, Tom Kristensen and Nigel Mansell.He also was successful in endurance GT racing, finishing 3rd at the 24 hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 962C and also made competitive outings in Sports Prototypes for MG.More recently he has been racing Touring Cars in South America for the Works Honda Petrobras Team, film work with Top Gear, a Works driver for Chevron from 2010 to 2014, was crowned 2011 British GT Champions (GTC) with Jordan Witt and was 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed outright winner.Anthony was appointed House Captain by Goodwood for the new GRRC Members Meeting from 2014 to 2023, Methuen House is still the most successful House amongst the 4 Houses. He can be found at:www.AnthonyReid.comDon't Lift Off!If you enjoy this podcast and want to see more conversations, please support my channel by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE button…it’s FREE! YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@dontliftoffInstagramDon’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoffTikTokDon’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoffWebDon’t Lift Off websitewww.DontLiftOff.com#dontliftoff #motorsport #podcastChapters00:00:00 - Intro00:06:26 - A mechanic with Caterham00:11:50 - Moving to Silverstone00:22:40 - Formula Ford 1600 & best mate John Pratt00:31:51 - British GP support race winner00:37:23 - Warren Hughes' compliment00:39:46 - FF200000:45:01 - Silverstone Montego crash00:49:52 - An opportunity in Japan00:57:52 - Japanese F3000 and the big crash01:02:02 - Jordan F1 opportunity01:05:32 - Reuniting with Jacques Villeneuve at Goodwood01:07:37 - Japanese racing culture in the 1990's01:08:23 - BTCC with Nissan with David Leslie and RML01:17:10 - Brands Hatch and Ricard Rydell01:19:19 - The Golden Era of Super Touring01:28:20 - The Hell's Angels...01:32:29 - The centrifuge01:34:58 - Back to BTCC Mondeo/ProDrive01:40:23 - BTCC with MG - with Colin Turkington01:43:47 - Team mates with Warren Hughes01:47:10 - The Brands Hatch "Agreement"01:48:49 - Le Mans with MG01:51:12 - "You're talking to a different beast..."01:53:25 - The horns come out...01:55:14 - Goodwood Festival Of Speed runs01:58:31 - An Escort Cosworth moment02:02:02 - Festival of Speed in Nissan 350 Super GT02:13:04 - ...one more thing...SEAT Touring Car Masters!02:19:51 - "The Truck And Trailer"02:22:12 - "The Can Opener"

John Thorne from Thorney Motorsport, the world’s largest and longest established McLaren Independent Specialist runs through the opportunities and challenges of caring for pre-owned McLarens from both a service and sales perspective.Thorney Motorsport are based near Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire, UK, where they have a 30 acre site with 6 ramps, a two large showrooms and a custom dyno cell. They also have dealers all over the World and offer McLaren owners independent servicing and repairs to all McLaren models.They are also the largest independent supplier of pre-owned McLaren cars in the World, supplying over 200 pre owned cars to new owners under consignment sale agreements with existing owners.Their aim is simple; offer new and existing McLaren owners advice and assistance.If you enjoy and want to see more conversations, please consider supporting my channel by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE button…it’s FREE! Please also consider subscribing to Thorney Motorsport’s YouTube channel - links above! Thanks, Anthony#dontliftoff #mclaren #independent #servicing #parts #salesThorney Motorsport can be found at:https://www.thorneymotorsport.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/thorneymotorsporthttps://www.youtube.com/user/ThorneyMotorsporthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thorne-9774991a/https://www.tiktok.com/@thorneymotorsportEmail: [email protected]:00 - McLaren Specialist vs Main Dealer05:10 - The challenges and opportunities11:08 - Selling pre-owned McLarens16:20 - Being the Grim Reaper...21:42 - The difference with an independent?26:14 - The Thorney Motorsport franchise28:00 - The relationship with McLaren

John Thorne is the owner of Thorney Motorsport, the world’s largest and longest-established independent McLaren specialist franchise.From beginnings as a Lawyer and Stock Broker, nearly 25 years ago John turned his passion of tuning cars into being his business by creating Thorney Motorsport, and began modifying, tuning and preparing high performance BMW and Vauxhall VX220 and VXR road and racing cars in such championships as the BMW CSL Cup, Lotus Cup and the British Touring Car Championship / BTCC. Thorney Motorsport then moved into building, preparing and racing Yamaha Off-road/Dakar vehicles, and from 2013 they have become the leading specialists in Servicing, Parts Sales and Pre-owned Vehicle Sales of McLaren road cars.#mclaren #12C #540 #570 #720 #750 #GT4 #performance #servicing #sales #tuning #parts #thorneymotorsport Thorney Motorsport can be found at:https://www.thorneymotorsport.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/thorneymotorsporthttps://www.youtube.com/user/ThorneyMotorsporthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thorne-9774991a/https://www.tiktok.com/@thorneymotorsportEmail: [email protected]#mclaren #12C #540 #570 #720 #750 #GT4 #performance #servicing #sales #tuning #parts #thorneymotorsport Chapters00:00:00 - Coming up...00:02:11 - Intro00:04:01 - Try not to look like you're f***ed...00:05:43 - How Thorney Motorsport started00:09:59 - Becoming a Stock Broker00:17:02 - I started tuning my own cars00:27:01 - Bikes are dangerous, let's go car racing00:34:38 - 9/1100:38:33 - VX22000:48:38 - The start of the rot...00:57:47 - Into the British Touring Car Championship with Tesco01:05:47 - The supermarket fuel issue01:18:20 - End of BTCC01:29:05 - Morphing into Off Road Racing01:33:09 - TV Shows and 24 Hour races01:37:28 - The Top Gear 24 Hour race01:54:00 - McLaren Independent02:22:07 - The McLaren business model...02:33:35 - The challenges and opportunities02:39:34 - Selling pre-owned McLarens02:44:45 - Being the Grim Reaper...02:50:08 - The difference with an independent?02:54:39 - The Thorney Motorsport franchise02:56:26 - The relationship with McLaren

Danny Watts is a former multiple Championship Winning British Racing Driver. In an illustrious career, he has won in everything from karting to single seater Formula cars, to Le Mans Prototypes, including winning the Le Mans 24 hours twice.He is now a full time driver coach and also a qualified counsellor, spearheading the British Racing Drivers' Club's Mental Health and Wellness support campaign.To talk to the BRDC Mental Health & Wellbeing team, please contact them via:[email protected] or call +44 (0)7354 339676#dontliftoff 00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:35 - Intro00:05:06 - Arriving at Silverstone...00:08:19 - 1990's Karting00:13:11 - Super One - 100C & 100B00:13:36 - Helmet design - it's my signature!00:18:16 - My toughest competitors - Lee Rennison & Kimi Räikkönen00:20:08 - Remembering John Daltry00:21:03 - A little secret...00:22:38 - Moving to cars in 1998 - Formula First00:24:16 - Formula Palmer Audi - a learning experience00:26:44 - How Kimi Räikkönen raised my game00:32:15 - Learning to fly...at Oulton Park!00:35:59 - Macau...13 consecutive times!00:38:33 - Macau onboard McLaren MP4-12C00:41:31 - Becoming a British F3 race winner00:41:51 - The Flavio Briatore story...00:48:02 - Making history - winning in a Lola00:49:01 - A winning comeback in F3!00:55:44 - Porsche Carerra Cup00:57:49 - Le Mans prototypes01:00:05 - Winning at Le Mans01:03:08 - The mindset to 24 hour racing01:07:16 - Total alcoholic breakdown01:08:38 - Beating addiction & becoming sober01:10:32 - Getting help & turning my life around01:13:21 - Helping others with the BRDC01:19:06 - Joshua Watts - the next generation!

Steve Perez is a self made British drinks entrepreneur from Chesterfield, UK. From helping at his Dad’s pub as a teenager, and working for local brewery Tetley’s, he launched Global Brands, building it into a £90 Million pounds (GBP) business with brands such as Kick Energy Drinks, VK Vodka Mixes, Amigos Tequila Beer, Franklin & Sons Tonics and the original Hooch alcopop, all sold across the UK and sixty-plus countries.Steve also owns the boutique Casa Hotel in Chesterfield together with Peak Edge Hotel and Red Lion Restaurant and pub, which his Father original owned. He is four-time National and Historic Rally Champion with a fabulous collection of cars including; Marcus Grohölm’s 2007 WRC Rally winning Ford Focus, a Hannu Mikkola / Arne Hertz / Michelle Mouton 1985 Audi Sport Quattro A2, various Porsche 911’s, a Ferrari 12Cilindri and his beloved Lancia Stratos rally and road cars.Steve can be found at:https://www.youtube.com/@SteveJGPerezhttps://www.instagram.com/stevenjgperez/https:x.com/StevenJGPerezSteve Perez Rally Team:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063469511226Seb Perezhttps://www.facebook.com/sebperez66Don't Lift Off Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoff/https://www.youtube.com/@dontliftoffhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoffhttps://dontliftoff.comThe full podcast is also available on all main podcast platforms (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, etc). https://linktr.ee/dontliftoff #DontLiftOff #Podcast #StevePerez #StevePerezRallyTeam #KickEnergyRallyTeam #BTRDA #BritishHistoricRallyChampionship #cars #car #Ferrari #12Cilindri #LanciaStratos #lancia #stratos #audiquattro #Porsche911Rally #FordFocusWRC #WRC #1970s #1980s #1990s #2000s #GlobalBrands #VKDrinks #VKVodkaKick #AmigosTequilaBeer #KickEnergy #Hooch #farming #jeremyclarkson #Rallying #RACRally #Rally #MikeWilds Chapters00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:33 - Intro00:03:56 - A tour of the estate...and the rally stage!00:10:22 - The Toys...00:11:10 - 2007 WRC Focus - Marcus Grönholm00:12:12 - 1985 Audi Sport Quattro A2 - Hannu Mikkola / Arne Hertz / Michelle Mouton00:15:59 - Lancia Stratos story00:18:26 - Seb Perez' Ginetta Junior00:19:05 - 1974 911 Carrera RS00:21:02 - Ford Escort Mk200:23:34 - Porsche GT3 Touring00:24:07 - Ferrari 12Cilindri00:26:10 - Stratos heaven...00:26:51 - The Farm00:28:47 - Dansport00:29:48 - The RAC (Roger Albert Clark) Rally00:36:33 - Highland Cows and the garden00:37:36 - Mike Wilds: A Formula One Driver...and a Helicopter Instructor!00:39:45 - Racing vs Rallying00:43:17 - The Red Lion Pub & Restaurant...NO LABOUR MP'S!00:44:59 - Getting into selling drinks00:47:21 - The idea behind VK00:49:00 - Starting in rally co-driving00:52:55 - The art of co-driver timing00:56:48 - Chris Wood & Pro-Drivers00:58:42 - The story about the Rally Of The Inca's, Peru01:11:21 - Issues with Historic Rallying & 4WD's01:16:06 - Challenges with the Stratos01:17:33 - The fire01:24:02 - POLITICS - UK Government hospitality rates01:27:34 - Business people and politics - Trump's revolution?01:30:21 - Inefficiencies of government vs business leaders01:34:49 - Why do business people not get more involved?01:39:15 - Family run businesses and inheritance tax