Helen 'Helly' Blake's Path to Championship Glory
It’s me, Mark Stone, and in this episode of the Backseat Driver Podcast, I speak with Helen 'Helly' Blake, a remarkable racing driver whose journey into the world of Autograss racing is anything but ordinary.
Helen shares how her path to motorsport began far from the track, rooted in an equestrian background and fuelled by childhood memories of toy cars and time spent in her father’s garage. From those early sparks of fascination to competing at a national level, Helen takes me through the challenges, breakthroughs, and defining moments that have shaped her racing career.
We discuss the technical demands of the sport, the camaraderie among female racers, and the unique community that keeps grassroots motorsport alive. Helen also reflects on the proud moment she was crowned Ladies Stock Hatch Champion, a milestone that stands as a testament to her determination and skill.
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Transcript
I'd like to introduce the backseat driver, Helen Helly Blake.
Speaker A:Racing driver, autograph racer, champion racer.
Speaker A:Helly or Helen, which do you prefer?
Speaker B:Just Helen, but heli is a nickname I was given when I was little.
Speaker A:Right, Helen, welcome to the backseat driver.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker A:How did all this come about?
Speaker A:Because it's an unusual form of racing.
Speaker A:I mean, is racing part of the family history?
Speaker B:It isn't, no.
Speaker B:I'm actually from an equestrian background, never had my own, but I've always ridden horses since I was like four.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But my dad is a keen petrol head and although he never actually bought anything fancy when we were growing up, he was always in the garage tinkering and I used to like joining him.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:And I remember like, I was always obsessed with toy cars.
Speaker B:I had toy cars when I was little.
Speaker B:You know, I didn't have dolls as well, but I. I had toy cars and I had toy train, so a bit of a tomboy.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I remember counting down the days that I could drive from age 14 onwards.
Speaker B:I was desperate, I couldn't wait.
Speaker B:So I used to sit in the car park of my mum's Vauxhall Cavalier doing the gear changes.
Speaker B:Just sat there pretending.
Speaker B:Pretending I was driving.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Did you, did you get to drive before you were old enough?
Speaker A:I mean, I was in the fortunate position that I grew up in the countryside and you got shoveled the wheel of Land Rovers etc very early on.
Speaker B:No, sadly not.
Speaker B:That was the dream.
Speaker B:The other thing I got to drive was there's little motorboats that you can go in all lake or the go karts and that was it.
Speaker B:That was the only driving experience I had.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So how did the racing come about?
Speaker A:Because, I mean, it's like you said, you're in the garage with your dad.
Speaker A:I conclude you learned mechanicing first.
Speaker B:Well, you'd hope so, wouldn't you?
Speaker B:But no, sadly I didn't learn anything.
Speaker B:I just liked to be in the garage watching dad and helping out where I could.
Speaker B:But I wasn't very good at the learning part of it.
Speaker B:Nothing stayed in my head and that's continued on into adult life, sadly.
Speaker B:But I do try.
Speaker B:But yeah, I got into racing because my fellow at the time was actually the chairman of the race club and he bought me my first race car and he basically said, here, drive this.
Speaker B:And I'm like, what the hell is that?
Speaker B:Yeah, thank you, but what do I do?
Speaker B:So he was like, right, well this is what you're doing.
Speaker B:It was a Fiat Punto shell.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:With a Vauxhall red top in, in it.
Speaker B:And it was called a Class 6 in autographs.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh my gosh, this is awesome and terrifying in equal measure.
Speaker B:You know, it had been the dream because I had seen autographs once before in my life.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Quite a few years previous to that.
Speaker B:And I went home for that was like, I'm gonna turn my little corset, that was my, my first ever car into a race car.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But then they're like, oh, you need a mechanic and you need.
Speaker B:It's like, oh gosh, that's going to happen.
Speaker B:You know, I'm from Lee's.
Speaker B:Nothing happens in Le Nobody's motorsport.
Speaker B:Well, I don't know anyone in motorsport.
Speaker B:So we just sort of shoved it on the road.
Speaker B:Became a biker instead.
Speaker B:Got me Frs that way.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker B:And then, yeah, years later I moved up to North Yorkshire.
Speaker B:I met someone who was the chairman of the club and he got me into it and then when we ended things I was like, well, why, why should I stop racing just because we're not together anymore.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I went out and I actually, I don't know how I managed it.
Speaker B:They must have recognized the skills.
Speaker B:I'm joking.
Speaker B:I got sponsored.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Very, very lucky to get sponsored.
Speaker B:So off I went, I did my trailer test.
Speaker B:When you still needed to do that.
Speaker B:I got my little van and I used to drive myself all over the country on my own.
Speaker B:I'm right proud of that.
Speaker B:And go racing on my own.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And for four years that was my life.
Speaker B:I just went racing on my own.
Speaker B:Single female, on the road, doing the racing.
Speaker B:I was like, check me out.
Speaker B:And that's how it all began really.
Speaker B:And, and the more I traveled, the more tracks I went to, the more experience I got.
Speaker B:And then I actually started doing quite well.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Because I mean you are a championship, a championship winning racer, aren't you?
Speaker B:I am.
Speaker B:I'm a two time UK series ladies champion in ladies stockhach and I'm also the 20, 23.
Speaker B:I was the overall champion out of all the classes of all the ladies.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And that was.
Speaker B:And I did that all by myself and I was so proud of that.
Speaker A:I mean I conclude you're, you're, you're racing against other ladies all the time, are you?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Now I have race with men.
Speaker B:When there's no ladies to race with, they will let me go out of the men.
Speaker B:But I do have a ladies license.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I would just like to add, when I race with them, I whip their asses.
Speaker B:I was Walking around the pits like, yeah, baby.
Speaker A:I mean, do the, do the men race the same type of coys or those little, little citron unique to.
Speaker A:Unique to the ladies?
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:So our classes are the same and the reason why we do have split ladies and men is so we can advertise it as a family spot.
Speaker B:So that if you have a mum, a dad and a kid.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:The mum can race the same if it's a class one, which is like a little one liter, the monk.
Speaker B:And race.
Speaker B:Yeah, man can race and the kid can race if the kid is 10 years old or older.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So it's 10 to 16.
Speaker B:So it is classed as a family spot and that's why we have split.
Speaker B:Now the ladies are allowed to get a man's license and race for the men.
Speaker B:I just choose not to because I choose life.
Speaker B:No, what it is, is I actually can't afford to do the, the repairs because I, I know it sounds sexist, but the manager's too rough.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And, and especially if there's a lady in the mix that they're not going to be very happy and you'll be like a sitting duck out there.
Speaker B:You know, if it's a quiet meeting, there's a.
Speaker B:There's only a few.
Speaker B:I'll go and join them.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:There's no visa races, but I much prefer to race with the ladies because, you know, we have the trackside banter.
Speaker B:There aren't that many of us and, and we're all good friends and it's just really nice.
Speaker B:But I think that the men just take it like seriously and get a bit, a bit rough and I'll just cut all the panel damage really.
Speaker A:I mean, I conclude it's.
Speaker A:It's not like stock cars where you are deliberately nudging one another is.
Speaker A:I conclude it's technically a non contact.
Speaker A:Well, all motorsport theoretically is non contact, apart from stock cars.
Speaker A:Is.
Speaker A:Is it meant to be non contact?
Speaker B:It is meant to be non contact.
Speaker B:Like you said, it does happen.
Speaker B:We are racing on dirt, so contact does happen, accidents happen.
Speaker B:But with the men there is definitely tactical ramming going on because you can see it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I, I don't want to be a part of that.
Speaker A:Now, the circuits, I mean, are they permanent circuits or are they temporary circuits?
Speaker B:They're permanent as far as I'm aware.
Speaker B:I mean they're always there.
Speaker B:It's just a lot of tracks do actually lose that land because that.
Speaker B:Farmers own it.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Farmers get offered a better deal, you know, like to build or something then.
Speaker B:And Some tracks do.
Speaker B:We do lose some track, sadly.
Speaker B:But as far as I'm aware, the ones that are still out there are available.
Speaker B:Yeah, they're always, they're always there, but you can only use them on club mates.
Speaker B:And what's interesting about our spot is there's no practice whatsoever.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So you can't just go and borrow a track.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So when it's your first time, you're literally throwing at the deep end and you're racing, there is no practice.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:So this, by virtue of that, I conclude there's no qualifying.
Speaker A:Or is the qualifying.
Speaker B:There's qualifying for the finals if there's more than eight of you.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So if, if there's.
Speaker B:Say there's like 16 cars in your class.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And that means there's two heats here and it's the top eight that go to the final.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:And that all goes on points.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And how many laps is a race?
Speaker B:It depends on where you are and how busy it is.
Speaker B:So I've just come up from the UK series at round four, which is a big two day meet and we started at five and a half laps and I think we ended at five and a half laps because they got through.
Speaker B:They did really well because they were racing against the weather, which was coming in.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But then, but then a final is more.
Speaker B:So a final is about six laps, maybe more.
Speaker B:Yeah, maybe it was more because we had five and a half laps.
Speaker B:I actually can't remember.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Then I went into a champions because I won the final champions race is 10 laps and it's exhausting.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And roughly how long, how long is a lap in distance?
Speaker A:Are they all roughly the same or do they vary depending?
Speaker A:I mean, you've got, you, you race a car on the circuit and circuits of different lengths.
Speaker A:Is it the same on your circuits?
Speaker B:Most.
Speaker B:Most circuits are similar in size.
Speaker B:I do know that some tracks are, you know, some tracks vary because of the field that they're in.
Speaker B:So the one that I just raced out this weekend was a shorter track and.
Speaker B:And that means we have to have a different wheel size.
Speaker B:We don't have to buy.
Speaker B:Choose to.
Speaker B:Because apparently it makes the screen better.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Now I do feel like I know what I'm talking about.
Speaker B:I absolutely don't.
Speaker B:I'm just relaying what people have told me over the years.
Speaker B:A shorter track, I go up a sizing wheel.
Speaker B:That's all I know.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And a long track, I go down the sizing wheel.
Speaker B:But yeah, so they do vary.
Speaker B:But I think that they try to keep it quite similar.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Now, looking at the car, because you are a.
Speaker A:A star of YouTube, I mean, the cars are completely stripped out, aren't they?
Speaker B:Yes, they are.
Speaker B:There's nothing in there except for a metal seat, a roll cage.
Speaker B:I don't have any dials.
Speaker B:The amount of people that say how fast you go, like, no idea.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:The only thing I've got in there is a switch to a switch to turn on the ignition, a button to press start and a switch for the fan.
Speaker B:And that is all I have in there.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:And how, how.
Speaker A:What sort of modifications have been done to the engine?
Speaker B:Nothing.
Speaker B:The other thing, because it's stock, so my class is stock hatch.
Speaker B:It's got to be stock, completely standard.
Speaker B:The only modifications you are allowed is you're allowed to skim the head to a certain measurement.
Speaker B:Please don't ask me what that is because I don't know.
Speaker B:You're allowed to modify the air filter and you are allowed to change the suspension and that is probably about it.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Because looking at the air filter, you're in very dusty conditions.
Speaker A:Do you put a better one on, a bigger one on, or do you alter where it sucks air from?
Speaker A:What do you do to try and cut down on the amount of dust and dirt that the air filter and the engine will suck in?
Speaker B:Well, there's a lot of cleaning involved.
Speaker B:I've recently changed my air filter.
Speaker B:I think I might have borrowed it off my fellas, I'm not entirely sure, but all of a sudden there's a bigger one.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, that's nice.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And then it disappeared.
Speaker B:It went on his car again.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, so we're sharing it away.
Speaker B:So that's like.
Speaker B:That's like a big spongy one.
Speaker B:Now, the air filter that I've always had before, he very kindly let me.
Speaker B:His was a K N air filter, like a CO1.
Speaker B:And I just used to spray it with.
Speaker B:Clean it and then spray it with the oil and then it get all the dust and then you'd clean it again.
Speaker B:So it's like a vicious cycle of cleaning.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But I don't.
Speaker B:I don't know much about the sponge yet.
Speaker B:It doesn't look very dusty to me.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:I mean, how, how often do you have to service these engines or how long does an engine last?
Speaker A:Because you'll be running in quite low gears at quite high revs, won't you?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we race, probably top revs.
Speaker B:We set off in first, get up to the limiter or Just before.
Speaker B:If you can change in second and then you're racing in second the rest of the time.
Speaker B:We are on the limiter a lot.
Speaker B:So when you.
Speaker B:When we race around and it is really hard to not.
Speaker B:It's really hard to leave your foot on the floor when you all.
Speaker B:You can hear it and you think, oh, I know I shouldn't like sacrifice, like crucify the engine, but I don't want to lift off because I'm going to lose speed and then someone will overtake me.
Speaker B:So you literally just have to go, bye, bye, bye.
Speaker B:You know you're not getting any more power out of it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But you just can't help it until you're ready to just go around the corner.
Speaker A:So there's no way, there's no way you'll ever actually take third gear then?
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:I think the only people that do that are the people in class one or junior saloons.
Speaker B:Yeah, but I've completely forgotten what you asked there.
Speaker A:But we're talking about how much.
Speaker A:Basically the engines.
Speaker A:I mean, the engines will need servicing.
Speaker A:Quite a lot, won't.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:So I.
Speaker B:When I raced on my own, I never serviced my engine and all I did was clean it in between racing because I was a bit rubbish.
Speaker B:I just sort of packed it up and left it there and went, oh.
Speaker B:And I did really well with that.
Speaker B:Ever since meeting my fellow who I've introduced to racing.
Speaker B:Yeah, he's got really keen on the spannering side of things.
Speaker B:He races too, but he's like really helping me out.
Speaker B:And then a lot of people very cali off taught me out as well and they've done like bits to it and stuff.
Speaker B:But all I can say is for the four years that I raced on my own, I did not fall with my engine and still did well.
Speaker A:So I mean, I can't even down to like, it'll be.
Speaker A:It'll need regular oil changes.
Speaker A:Do you not bother with that?
Speaker B:I didn't bother that.
Speaker B:The only time it got stuff done is if it did well at the nationals or the UK series.
Speaker B:It got stripped at the end of the year to get measured.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then you get.
Speaker B:You get your engine back in a box and I'd be like, hi.
Speaker B:And sent it to either my sponsors at the time or somebody who knew what they're doing.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And then they rebuild it.
Speaker B:So I never actually saw the maintenance side of it.
Speaker B:I was very lucky that people were keen to help me out.
Speaker B:So if it did get serviced, I.
Speaker B:Sorry, I'm not arriving drive.
Speaker B:But I sound like it, so.
Speaker A:And I mean tires.
Speaker A:Are you on standard road tires on these?
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:Some classes have just gone on to control tires which are like snow tires.
Speaker B:Snow tires we're currently not.
Speaker B:We're allowed to have our max sport tires, which is like an off road tire.
Speaker B:So that's what we use.
Speaker B:And if they do move us onto control tire, I will probably cry.
Speaker A:How come?
Speaker B:Because.
Speaker B:Well, we have to get track watering because of the dust.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And because we are front wheel drive class and we have rear wheel drive classes, they tend to get the water bowser out in front of the front wheel drive courses and they're quite keen on doing it in front of the lady stock hatch.
Speaker B:So if they put us in control today, it'll just be total carnage.
Speaker A:Yeah, right.
Speaker A:And I mean, as I said, I watched, I mean, is there much in the way of opposite lock and handbrake or do you just steer them?
Speaker A:What is the noble art of getting a car around one of these little, little trikes?
Speaker B:We just stir it.
Speaker B:Like, I don't use my hand, but the other thing I use my handbrake for as a start then.
Speaker B:Because if you roll forward, you get black fog.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I start on the handbrake and that's it.
Speaker B:That's the other time I use the handbrake.
Speaker B:Yeah, you just stay.
Speaker B:So you sort of stomp on the brake, send it fly around and then just sort of mess around with your ribs until you've got around the corner then flat out again.
Speaker B:Yeah, as well as what I do, other people might.
Speaker B:Might be different, but that's just what.
Speaker A:I do right now, as I said, you could watch your.
Speaker A:I mean, you work for a motorbike garage, don't you?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Classic cars and motorbikes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Frank's Motorcycles and Frank's Motor Company in Colchester.
Speaker A:And you are a bit of a star of their YouTube channel, aren't you?
Speaker B:Yeah, that all happened by complete accident.
Speaker B:I'm so happy about it.
Speaker B:So what happened was me and my fellow are actually looking for a wedding venue and somebody said to us the night before, have you heard of Frankton?
Speaker B:We went, no, because we've just moved down here from Yorkshire, in case you can't tell by the accent.
Speaker B:And we're like, right, well, let's put our wedding venue looking on hold and let's go see this place for classic cars and motorbikes.
Speaker B:So off we went and we met the owner, John, and I was like telling him the story.
Speaker B:I do racing.
Speaker B:We're all Petrol heads, we love this but, you know, like, just chatting away.
Speaker B:I'm a biker as well and.
Speaker B:And then I dropped it in because I knew my, my summer job was coming to an end.
Speaker B:I said, don't suppose you're looking for anyone to like create any content for you and.
Speaker B:Yeah, advertise your bikes and cars for sale.
Speaker B:Because that's like my dream.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Nobody's ever going to take me on because all I've ever done is child care all my life.
Speaker B:And he went, to be fair, we get asked that all the time, but it's always people that know what they're doing.
Speaker B:We don't know.
Speaker B:We don't want anyone that knows what we're doing.
Speaker B:We want someone with raw passion and I can see that in you.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh my gosh, are you serious?
Speaker B:So next thing, anyone.
Speaker B:I've gone for this informal interview and.
Speaker B:And then I'm hired.
Speaker B:I'm like, like, oh my gosh.
Speaker B:I have no idea what I'm doing but I am loving it.
Speaker B:I've made.
Speaker B:So I make weekly behind the scenes, like episodes.
Speaker B:Yeah, we're on episode 11 now, which you've seen, haven't you?
Speaker B:And, and then on top of that, I make all the adverts, all the walk arounds, I do reviews, I get to ride the bikes and drive the cars.
Speaker B:It's just the absolute dream job for a petrol head.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, what, what, what age of classic cars was it?
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Any climb, any classic car, it's any classic.
Speaker B:We have all sorts of random stuff in there and it's just gorgeous.
Speaker B:The showroom is.
Speaker B:It's like walking into heaven.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:The first time I walked in there, I was blown away.
Speaker B:So I walked into the back, the motorbike showroom first and that's got classics collectibles, you know, like one of one available, like this Triumph functional, which is absolutely stunning and you know, all the way up to semi modern bikes.
Speaker B: Like we've got a nice GSX: Speaker B:Like thousands spent on all these extra bits.
Speaker B:Yeah, we've got, we've got the, you know, the Panigallia, the Ducati Panigallia.
Speaker B:So we've got loads of modern, but lots of rare and collectibles and classics as well.
Speaker B:And then over to the car showroom, there's more bikes up there as well and then there's loads of classics.
Speaker B: e got something from like the: Speaker B:Like a big, massive American Road Runner.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:What else have we got there?
Speaker B:We've got Jaguar Latus X.
Speaker B:Not an X type.
Speaker B:A Type.
Speaker B:We've got a beautiful Mini.
Speaker B:Like an Italian Job.
Speaker B:Yeah, like, you know, the Italian Job Minis, that.
Speaker B:It was like a special.
Speaker B:Oh, what's the word?
Speaker B:A limited edition.
Speaker A:Well, there were many.
Speaker A:I mean, the.
Speaker A:I know a great friend of mine was heavily involved with the Italian Job Minis.
Speaker A:And a little bit like most people don't know at the end, the cars that go over the cliff edge, or 850minis, shells made to look like Coopers.
Speaker A:So the cars changed quite frequently.
Speaker A:They're not.
Speaker A:They are not exactly what you think you're seeing.
Speaker B:Oh, I love it.
Speaker B:Well, these ones were made.
Speaker B: I think there was only: Speaker B:The video's on there somewhere on Frank's motorcycles on YouTube.
Speaker B:If you'd like to give us a subscribe, that'd be amazing because that's my job, to try and grow it.
Speaker B:But yeah, and I have made a video of me and the.
Speaker B:The business partner, Will, we went, we took that out and he was like, I'm 15 again.
Speaker B:I was.
Speaker B:What do you mean, 15?
Speaker B:Because he's a farmer.
Speaker B:Oh.
Speaker B:You know, I used to bred these around the field, even.
Speaker B:Loving life and.
Speaker B:And I've actually raised the classic Minis as well, which I'm sure we'll get to soon.
Speaker B:But, yeah, this mean it's a.
Speaker B:It's an Italian Job replica or limited edition or something like that.
Speaker A:Like a celebration.
Speaker B:Yes, exactly that.
Speaker B:So, yeah, we've got one of those.
Speaker B:We've got all sorts of classics in there that.
Speaker B:And they're just.
Speaker B:And then we've got like a barn find section as well.
Speaker B:So we've got a barn fine Ferrari, which if it was old enough, would be worth over a hundred thousand pounds.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But as it stands now, it's less than that.
Speaker B:But, you know, it's still a beautiful car and.
Speaker B:Oh, my God, what's in there?
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:So, I mean, how many of them do you drive?
Speaker A:I mean, like, do you take the E type out?
Speaker B:Yeah, I can take anything out.
Speaker B:I'm allowed to do anything.
Speaker B:I haven't done the E types video yet.
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm still working through the inventory because there's loads of bikes to get through first.
Speaker B:And then I have done a few cars and some of those are sold on the back of the videos, which is great because that means that they're working yeah.
Speaker B:So, yeah, I'm gradually getting through the inventory and I'm sure the E type will come.
Speaker B:I have driven one before.
Speaker B:I've driven two before.
Speaker B:I actually wrote an article about the jug for Jaguar enthusiasts.
Speaker A:Yeah, because you've.
Speaker A:Is it.
Speaker A:You've been on Bangers and Cash, haven't you?
Speaker B:I have been on Bangs and Cash.
Speaker B:That was a brilliant thing to do.
Speaker B:And it's amazing on.
Speaker B:It's amazing how long you film for.
Speaker B:For two minutes of airtime.
Speaker A:Oh, you've noticed.
Speaker A:You've noticed.
Speaker A:I used to do TV in France and Germany and people don't realize that to generate about three minutes worth of television, you're at it for about three hours.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:It was a full day's filming and all I got was two minutes.
Speaker B:I was like, the cutouts much stuff, but it was a lot of fun to do.
Speaker B:So someone in the MG car club rung me and said, oh, would you want to be on tv?
Speaker B:I was like, hell, yeah, I'm not shy.
Speaker B:Would you talk about your ngts?
Speaker B:Because I've got a little collection of them.
Speaker B:And I went, yeah, I will.
Speaker B:Everyone knows I'm obsessed with them.
Speaker B:I love them.
Speaker A:Yeah, I've got.
Speaker B:I've got three MGTs, one MGF and A.
Speaker B:So, yeah, I love EMGs.
Speaker B:And so he said, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:So they gave me the phone number.
Speaker B:I found it.
Speaker B:Oh, we're looking for a female enthusiast.
Speaker B:Well, you've got the right person.
Speaker B:Yeah, Sarah.
Speaker B:We went filming near where I used to live up in Yorkshire in the Swinton Estate.
Speaker B:And, yeah, I was on Magazine Cash, bigging up the mgtf, because what they'd done is it was the restoration version, fangs and cash.
Speaker B:So they got one to do up and they were just spent the entire time insulting the mgtf.
Speaker B:So they wanted someone to big it up.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So that's what I did.
Speaker B:And actually, what's really funny is if you type into YouTube, biggest mgtf fan, I think I'm the top search, because they.
Speaker B:They made a short of it because I'm just like sat there gushing over the mgtf.
Speaker A:Yeah, I mean, the MGTF is.
Speaker A:Well, it wasn't at one point a particularly valuable car.
Speaker A:You could pick them up for not a lot of money.
Speaker A:I think the only thing you had to be careful of was the.
Speaker A:Was like the air intakes, because they used to be called the Fish Fryers Delight because they used to boil their oil.
Speaker B:Well, you know, you're the only person that didn't say head gasket.
Speaker B:Everybody says to me, how many head gasket replacements have you done?
Speaker B:It's really annoying.
Speaker B:If you look after them, the head gaskets are fine and the K series engine is a fantastic engine.
Speaker B:And, and so, you know, if you want to, if you, if you want to buy one of these cars, which I highly recommend because they are still quite, quite achievable at the moment.
Speaker B:Yeah, just get a multi layer head gasket on there and you'll be fine.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So is, is it an MGTF you run as an everyday car?
Speaker B:Yes, when it works.
Speaker B:Well, since moving down here, everything's been put on the back burner, so my little collection is currently all thorned and backed up and I haven't been able to drive my MG down in sunny Colchester since I moved down here because everything's run out of mot and moving down here has cost a fortune.
Speaker B:And yeah, as soon as the funds are back up, I shall be getting.
Speaker A:Them out right now.
Speaker A:One thing you mentioned earlier on was racing a classic Mini on a circuit, a proper circuit, not a autograph circuit.
Speaker A:How did that come about?
Speaker B:That came about because a very good friend of mine who I used to race with his daughters in autographs, saw that I wasn't successful in.
Speaker B:Have you heard of Formula Woman?
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:So I joined this competition called Formula Woman where it said they're encouraging ladies to get into Mount Spot, into circuit racing and the prize was like a fully funded season.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh my gosh, that is the absolute dream.
Speaker B:I'm gonna go for it.
Speaker B:So I joined this competition, got through the first round, went to the second round, Anglesey, but I wasn't successful.
Speaker B:And so I thought to myself, maybe I can't drive, maybe I'm no good, maybe this.
Speaker B:And I got really quite down about it and put a post on Facebook saying, I can't believe it.
Speaker B:You know, I genuinely thought it was in with the shot.
Speaker B:I think it was my age, if I'm honest, that I think that they got all younger girls.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And so my friend Steve Hughes got in touch with me and said, look, I'm gonna do an all girls race team for the mini Grand 24 at Snetterton.
Speaker B:Would you like to be in the team?
Speaker B:And I was like, oh my gosh, all my Christmas has all come at once.
Speaker B:This is amazing.
Speaker B:Yes, please.
Speaker B:And he says, look, as long as you can find this certain amount of money to pay your entry fee, we'll provide the rest.
Speaker B:Yeah, I highly advise getting sponsored because you're gonna need to get all new Kit because it needs to be all fireproof which we don't need for autograph.
Speaker B:Can you do it?
Speaker B:And I was like, yes, this is the dream, this is a new dream.
Speaker B:I'm going to be on this team.
Speaker B:This is incredible.
Speaker B:And thanks to him and his belief in me, we, we got there.
Speaker B:I went and did my ass test and passed that and got all my gear.
Speaker B:I got sponsored, went and bought all new gear which.
Speaker B:Oh, that's my favorite type of shopping, not gonna lie.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then off we went to Setterton and we were in a four girl race team and we had mechanics, we had our own little area in the garage.
Speaker B:Oh, the whole experience was just phenomenal and for that weekend I was living the dream.
Speaker B:It was just incredible.
Speaker B:The other thing I didn't like was a night driving because everyone's got the full beams on and everyone's behind your neat so you can't tell where everyone is on the track and I didn't like that bit.
Speaker B:That was the only part I didn't enjoy was the night driving.
Speaker B:But the rest of it was just brilliant.
Speaker B:The team was excellent and we did very well out of eight Minis, bearing in mind we are racing the Citroen two CVs.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Out of the eight Mini teams we came fifth.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:And out of 32 cars, so that's Minis and Citroen, two CBs we came eighth.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:And that was three out.
Speaker B:I know two out of the four of us in our team were first timers.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So you know, we were first time and it was all, it was all televised and it was just brilliant.
Speaker B:And for that moment I was like, I've made it.
Speaker B:I have truly made it in the hot spot world.
Speaker B:I was just like, yeah, this is amazing but sadly I just can't afford a circuit.
Speaker B:It.
Speaker A:I would say the problem with it all is, is money.
Speaker A:The only thing that lets you go racing is money.
Speaker A:The only thing that makes you go faster is money.
Speaker B:I know, isn't that sad?
Speaker B:And I do believe that there's so much talent that gets wasted out there because they just can't afford it.
Speaker B:And also I do believe, and this is why I drive stock hatch, that it shouldn't be about how much money you spend it, it should be about driving skill and passion.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:How badly that's not what motorsports are is.
Speaker B:It's all about the money.
Speaker A:Now now you've done circuit racing, were you able to translate any of your circuit experience into the autographs?
Speaker B:No, it's completely different.
Speaker B:It is the most different, two different disciplines you can ever think of.
Speaker B:You know, autograph is racing on mud and circuit racing.
Speaker B:You've got, you know, you've got glass for a start, or plastic.
Speaker B:You've got a windscreen.
Speaker B:Like, we don't have anything.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I could have, you know, I was racing in comfort.
Speaker B:It was nice.
Speaker B:Whereas autograph is very raw and grassroots.
Speaker B:And then with circuit, you're traveling in all directions.
Speaker B:You're going left and right, whereas in autographs, I'm just turning right.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:With the circuit, because it was like a relay sort of.
Speaker B:You get in and, like, people communicate with you as you cross the finish line.
Speaker B:Like the thing, you know, next lap, pit or whatever.
Speaker B:And there's communication for safety cars out there that there's.
Speaker B:There's loads of the people.
Speaker B:Whereas autograph, it's fast and furious, and it's like a few laps and you're done.
Speaker B:There's no safety cards.
Speaker B:You get yellow flags and that's it.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:And then circuit, the flags are different as well.
Speaker B:So I had a whole new set of flags to learn rules.
Speaker B:And I was like, you know, it was.
Speaker B:It was an incredible experience.
Speaker B:I would love to have another go at circuit.
Speaker B:If only I had the money.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I'll tell you what I would love to do.
Speaker B:If I truly have money, which I don't think will ever happen in my life, I like to get into rallying.
Speaker B:Now.
Speaker B:I have done a rally experience day, and I've got another one to do.
Speaker B:My parents very Cali got me a rally school ticket.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I did that once, and the guy went, oh, have you done this before?
Speaker B:No, never.
Speaker B:And I was like, you're very good.
Speaker B:I was like, really?
Speaker B:Thanks.
Speaker B:And I was driving a Subaru, so I was like, yay.
Speaker B:It was awesome.
Speaker B:And, yeah, if I could, I would love to have a go rally.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, the problem is, in the good old days, back in the 50s and 60s, people used to rally standard coys.
Speaker A:And it's something I've said on a regular basis.
Speaker A:Take the hubcaps off, fit three spotlights and possibly a couple of spotlight, a couple of stopwatches on the dashboard, and lo and behold, you had a rally car.
Speaker A:And that's how people used to go rallying.
Speaker A:Like the motoring news and road rallying, they were standard coys.
Speaker A:It's all for safety, that they've now become proper rally cars with roll cages and everything else.
Speaker A:But, I mean, one way into rallying is to learn to navigate.
Speaker B:That is where I would fall Apart, I was throw up a lot.
Speaker B:What's funny is I totally forgot about this when I spoke to you earlier.
Speaker B:I've actually done a road rally.
Speaker B:It's like a 12 car road rally.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I was a standing driver for somebody who was poorly and I did it in my MGTF and it was an old battered one so I didn't really care what happened to it.
Speaker B:Yeah, that sounds horrible but you know, it was a basket case anyway, it was real legal, so off I went.
Speaker B:Never done it before, never had.
Speaker B:Never heard of all this.
Speaker B:90 right, 20 left or whatever he was saying to me.
Speaker B:I was like, okay, whatever, just go, go, go.
Speaker B:And I won the class.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh wow, this is awesome.
Speaker B:And the people I was racing against, they had an Audi TT and they came up to me in the pub afterwards and went, are you the one driving the mg?
Speaker B:And yeah, that was me.
Speaker B:And they were like, well done, girl.
Speaker A:I mean it is an unusual form of rallying is 12 car because in the main they are standard road cars.
Speaker A:Although a it extra lights because it tends to be at night time.
Speaker B:Yes, it was.
Speaker B:It was a December evening and it was a wet one.
Speaker B:It was very foggy.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And of course it's a matter of plotting to various points and finding the quickest way.
Speaker A:There's no real official route on them though.
Speaker A:Everybody follows the same route because everybody.
Speaker A:There's only one quick way to each point.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And what we did.
Speaker B:So I did have an experienced navigator with me otherwise I wouldn't have had a clue.
Speaker B:And we had to collect these codes which was like cut in half.
Speaker B:Registration plates.
Speaker A:Yeah, Core boards.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's one of that.
Speaker A:That's one of the other ones.
Speaker A:Will use a big whiteboard with two letters written on it.
Speaker B:Okay, well, yeah, that's what we had to do and.
Speaker B:And yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker B:It was very foggy.
Speaker B:So I suppose it was the person with the biggest balls that won it, which happened to be me because I.
Speaker A:Mean you're also given a time like you'll all set off at 8 o' clock and you've all got to be back.
Speaker A:Benign o' clock type of thing.
Speaker B:Yeah, but you can't go under the time as well.
Speaker B:It's because you got to stick to the speed limit because you're on public roads.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was brilliant.
Speaker B:It was a really interesting experience.
Speaker B:But I did nearly break my car because we did.
Speaker B:We daisy juked it over a bridge and I heard there's the most tremendous bang and I thought oh, that's it, we're out.
Speaker B:And we landed in a bit of a ditch and we had to push it out and we still want it.
Speaker B:And I was like, well, I'll do that again in a half.
Speaker A:So it is something you do again.
Speaker A:I mean, what you need to do is join a car club, a proper car club club.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And what's funny is, you know, cuz we race Axos, we've actually got a road going, Saxo, which is track prepped.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we could use that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But I care about that one.
Speaker B:I don't want to damage it.
Speaker A:But you could use the MGS.
Speaker A:I mean, set one aside for it.
Speaker A:And there's your, there's your 12 car car.
Speaker B:That is such a good idea.
Speaker B:I'm going to do that.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker A:Now, on your video, the one that you suggested I watched, you didn't have a particularly good time.
Speaker A:I mean, I'm talking to a racing driver who is on YouTube announcing the giving up.
Speaker A:I mean, how did all that come about?
Speaker B:So what happened was, is two weeks prior to last weekend, it was our Ladies and Genius Nationals, which is the biggest meet of the year.
Speaker B:It's one that everybody wants to win and it crowns the champions in each class.
Speaker B:I set off in heat one and I won it by quite a distance.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh my gosh, that was amazing.
Speaker B:You know, I was up against some seriously quick girls.
Speaker B:And in heat two, I had a particularly bad roll.
Speaker B:I landed on top of another car, which I didn't know I landed on top of another car till I got out of the car.
Speaker B:I thought I'd broken a rib.
Speaker B:I didn't break it luckily, but I did pick up an infection because I couldn't breathe properly for about three days.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I went to A E, got treated for that and then came back and I was like, you know what, I'm not letting it put me off because in the nine, nine years of racing, I've never had a role.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I was like, well, I survived, we're all fine, nothing's broken, the car got mended.
Speaker B:Let's go for UK round four, which was this weekend just gone.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I went out in heat one and I was leading it.
Speaker B:I was like, yeah, woohoo.
Speaker B:I've not lost my confidence.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:Don't let it bother you.
Speaker B:And then my wheel fell off.
Speaker B:So before anyone says anything, of course I checked my nuts.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I taught, wrenched them on, but I said it didn't feel right.
Speaker B:Somebody else checked.
Speaker B:Then they said, oh, no, it's fine, it's fine.
Speaker B:Go out.
Speaker B:So I went out and wheel fell off and the cardigan.
Speaker B:And I nearly rolled it again.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, my gosh.
Speaker B:And since then, so in heat too, I was like, that was horrible.
Speaker B:I didn't enjoy that one bit.
Speaker B:And I came fifth, which isn't really a normal position for me.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then in heat three, I was like, I don't want to go out.
Speaker B:So I let them all go.
Speaker B:And I came six out of eight.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I was like, everyone's like, what's up with you?
Speaker B:I was like, I. I don't know, I. I'm not feeling it.
Speaker B:I don't want to do it.
Speaker B:Anyway.
Speaker B:I'd had.
Speaker B:I had about two hours until the final and I. I started freaking out.
Speaker B:I don't want to do this in the mod.
Speaker B:I. I genuinely don't want to do it.
Speaker B:I've got no desire to get out on track.
Speaker B:I'm done.
Speaker B:Let's sell up.
Speaker B:Let's do something completely different with our lives.
Speaker B:I didn't want to do it.
Speaker B:And resort me to one side and it says, helen, this is all you've ever done since I've known you.
Speaker B:This is what you do.
Speaker B:What the hell are you talking about?
Speaker B:Yeah, just go out there, go in the final with no expectations, but just go and send it for near, who is his daughter.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I got in the car and I was like, I don't want to do this.
Speaker B:And I was shaking, which I never do.
Speaker B:And I was like, well, whatever.
Speaker B:So I picked grid five because I was like, not a very good qualifier after my poor heats.
Speaker B:I was surprised that Grid 5 was actually available.
Speaker B:It was a middle.
Speaker B:Middle of the grid and I picked it.
Speaker B:I was like, well, I'll go send it, but I'm not going to do any.
Speaker B:Anyway, I got out the gates, got to the top corner and.
Speaker B:And I was leaving it.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, my gosh.
Speaker B:And it all came.
Speaker B:It all came flooding back to me.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, okay, I'm in front.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Don't let them go around you.
Speaker B:Don't let them go around you.
Speaker B:Make them go around you.
Speaker B:And I think we got to about four, four laps and the red flags came out and I was like, don't red flag it.
Speaker B:No, I've got it all to do again.
Speaker B:Just after I've psyched myself up, you know, I. I was doing well and, and I. I don't want to have to do it all over again.
Speaker B:I was like, for goodness sake, now, the thing about Sunday was there was a heavy rain forecast and, and get through before the rain came because the track had polish and rain on polish is impossible.
Speaker B:So I said, right, that as soon as we came off, I could hear the tanner.
Speaker B:I just old lady stock hatch, come straight back around for your rerun.
Speaker B:Got into the holding lanes and then said, oh, we've just been told that that race will stand.
Speaker B:I was like, what?
Speaker B:Pardon?
Speaker B:What?
Speaker A:What?
Speaker B:So say that the race result stand, you won it.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God.
Speaker B:And that is what.
Speaker B:And I felt bad for the other girls because unless you see the last lap flag, they shouldn't do that.
Speaker B:But then other people have said, oh, if it's three quarters away complet and they can do that.
Speaker B:So that's what they chose.
Speaker B:So I became the round four Ladies Stockholm champion, which I was so happy about after the poor effort I put in in the heat.
Speaker B:So that is definitely what I needed.
Speaker B:And now I'm like, yeah, I'm back on full throttle and I can't wait to go again in two weeks.
Speaker A:I suppose it's like riding a horse.
Speaker A:Somebody once said to me, if horses and I don't get on, the first thing a horse wants to do with me is get shutter me.
Speaker A:But somebody said if, if, if you fall off or if you get thrown, what you need to do, provide you haven't been injured, is get straight back onto them.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And being in a question, that is what I've always been taught to.
Speaker B:And that is what I said to myself, you know, get straight back on the horse.
Speaker B:And that's what I did.
Speaker B:I got straight back in the car.
Speaker B:But because in heat one, the wheel fell off and I nearly went over again.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, oh dear.
Speaker B:And it really put me off.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I was then gutted about.
Speaker B:Because I was so psyched up about going racing after the roll, not letting me, not letting it put me off.
Speaker B:And then all of a sudden I was put off by my wheel coming off.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's really weird.
Speaker B:It was a really weird feeling and it just wasn't me.
Speaker B:And I was so upset with myself for letting it happen.
Speaker B:But then I needed that final and it happened and yeah, now I just can't wait to go back out.
Speaker A:Now, you mentioned earlier on motorbikes oi were bikers.
Speaker B:I am a biker.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Well, I am, but I had to sell my bike two months ago because, you know, life is expensive town south compared to up north.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I was looking for A render for my house and I hadn't had them at the time.
Speaker B:So sadly, to pay the bills, I needed to sell my bike.
Speaker B:But I will get another one.
Speaker B:But yes, I've been a biker for many years.
Speaker B:I was a scooter girl.
Speaker B:Before that I had a Vespa and then I got my big, big bike license and yeah, I've been a biker for years and years and I love it.
Speaker B:But racing, racing takes preference over biking.
Speaker B:So I did miss it, but because I didn't really get a chance to ride it much then I just knew that that had to be the vehicle that had to go.
Speaker B:Sadly.
Speaker A:Yeah, but you've no intentions of racing bikes?
Speaker B:No, no, no, no.
Speaker B:Me and bikes is pleasure only.
Speaker B:There's no racing involved in biking.
Speaker B:No, you gotta go have a completely different set of balls for that.
Speaker A:So, I mean, what, what are your intentions going forward?
Speaker A:It's like you said, you'd like to go rallying.
Speaker A:Start with the simpler forms of rallying.
Speaker A:I mean the autographs.
Speaker A:Where do you go from the autographs or do you go up categories or classes or what?
Speaker B:You can choose which class you're in.
Speaker B:So I'm more than happy to stay in stock, actually.
Speaker B:I absolutely love stockhatch.
Speaker B:I love the girls in it and there's always new girls coming in.
Speaker B:So I don't have any intentions of moving to a different class.
Speaker B:It's not like you don't start low and aim high.
Speaker B:You choose the class that suits you.
Speaker B:And that suits me to the ground.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:We are talking about building a Class 4 over the winter, but I don't know.
Speaker B:So that's a one liter souped up.
Speaker B:You can have front or rear wheel drive and though.
Speaker B:So there's talk about going into class four as well.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So like.
Speaker B:Because my fellow racing stock actually, well, I got him into it and he's doing really well, but he's like, well, if I build a Class 4, you keep your stock hatch and we can swap and change.
Speaker B:You went.
Speaker B:That's a good plan.
Speaker B:I'm up for that.
Speaker A:So what would a Class 4 coil be?
Speaker A:Would it.
Speaker A:Would it be similar to.
Speaker A:To what you're driving with a bigger engine or a completely different vehicle?
Speaker B:It will be a completely different vehicle.
Speaker B:I like the look of the Mini pickup.
Speaker B:So you can race a mini pickup or like a mic or something and all the back gets chopped out.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then it will be a 1L engine but souped up to the max.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So you can do.
Speaker B:You can do a lot of stuff to A class for which I, I'm only learning about.
Speaker B:So I suppose I'll learn more if we get one or if we build one then I'll be able to talk more on Class 4.
Speaker B:But yeah, I'm gonna have a.
Speaker B:In the winter series at Nottingham.
Speaker B:Yeah, he very kindly said, you know, you can have a girl.
Speaker B:Oh, thank you.
Speaker B:So that's a mini pickup and it looks beautiful.
Speaker B:So I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker B:I think it'll be quite similar.
Speaker A:Do you fancy having to go at rear wheel drive?
Speaker A:I mean you talk to any, any rally driver and they'll also.
Speaker A:It's rear wheel, you've got to drive rear wheel drive.
Speaker A:You need a Mark 1 or a Mark 2 escort and that's it.
Speaker A:Rear wheel drive.
Speaker B:I would love a Mark 1 or Mark 2 escort.
Speaker B:Having all the money for that suddenly.
Speaker B:But yeah, all my cars are rear wheel drive.
Speaker B:Really interesting.
Speaker B:But in the racing world I've never, never driven rear wheel drive ever in any of the disciplines except for auto tests.
Speaker B:So I don't.
Speaker B:I think it would take me a while to get used to racing rear wheel drive but I'm not opposed to it.
Speaker B:I just because I'm quite competitive.
Speaker B:I know I do badly for, for about half a year while I get used to it and I'll just be really annoyed and suck it off.
Speaker A:Either category.
Speaker A:If you drove a rear wheel drive, are there categories for them or would you be up against the front wheel drive drives?
Speaker B:No, so there are categories.
Speaker B:So there's class 3 rear wheel drive, class 5 rear wheel drive, you can get class 4 rear wheel drive, class 7A rear wheel drive, class 8, 9 and 10, they're the specials, they're all rear wheel drive.
Speaker B:So yeah, there's plenty of options out there.
Speaker B:I just, I haven't fancied having a go because I'm too competitive.
Speaker B:Yeah, it'd be like going back to the drawing board, learning something completely different, you know, like to have a go eventually.
Speaker B:But I'm too competitive at the moment.
Speaker A:Now if somebody wants to keep a track of what you're up to, what, how, how do they get to follow you?
Speaker A:I mean you've a, you have a Facebook page.
Speaker A:Helen Helly Blake.
Speaker B:Yeah, so that is actually my personal profile but it's where I do all my posting about my racing.
Speaker B:I do have a race page but I always forget about it so I'm not very good at keeping track on posting.
Speaker B:I it.
Speaker B:I've also got Instagram which I'm really rubbish at doing as well.
Speaker B:Tick Tock is something I like to make things out of.
Speaker B:That would be.
Speaker B:I think it's heli yd137 which is my race number.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then because I work at Frank's now and because I do the content, he, John said, you know, why don't you put some of your racing in there?
Speaker B:You know, people might like to follow your journey.
Speaker B:So yeah, I think what a bit of stuff on that as well.
Speaker B:I mean I know it's not about the business but he said that it's, it's relatable for people.
Speaker B:So yeah, he said put that in there.
Speaker B:I said, oh, thank you very much.
Speaker A:So what's the name?
Speaker A:Is it Frank's Motorcycles?
Speaker B:Yeah, the name of the YouTube is Frank's Motorcycles.
Speaker B:Please give us a subscribe.
Speaker B:That would be amazing if you don't listen to this.
Speaker B:Just doesn't cost anything.
Speaker B:It's free TV at the end of the day and as the auction, anything free is good.
Speaker B:So yeah, give us a subscribe and follow.
Speaker B:Follow the journey of Franks.
Speaker B:Follow the journey of my rating as and when I can put it on because I don't want to bore people with it because it isn't to do with Frank's.
Speaker B:But he very kindly said, you know, know do it.
Speaker B:But yeah, if you want to add me on Facebook, I'm not one of these people that only has people I know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Helen Helly Blake on Facebook.
Speaker B:Helen Helly Blake racing on Instagram and on Facebook.
Speaker B:Even though I'm really rubbish updating that.
Speaker B:And they're not on my Tik tok as well.
Speaker A:Now you mentioned them early on.
Speaker A:What's your parents reaction to all this?
Speaker B:They're really quite keen on it.
Speaker B:Dad being a petrol head, he, he likes to talk about technical stuff and I sort of glaze over but he does like to talk about technical stuff and he likes to correct me when I'm done, so.
Speaker B:Oh, you went to either.
Speaker B:Even though he's not a racer himself, he likes to comment on that, bless him.
Speaker B:Mom is actually really keen on it.
Speaker B:She, she's like a big supporter of mine.
Speaker B:She'll.
Speaker B:She'll come to any race meet that she can do, as will dad, and she'll film it and she'll like to have a little go at commentating on her own videos for me and then she'll like to comment on everything as well.
Speaker B:And she always messaged me when she can't go to race me.
Speaker B:She's like, oh, how are you getting on?
Speaker B:And she's really keen on it.
Speaker B:She's.
Speaker B:Which is so lovely, considering neither of them are from a motorsport background.
Speaker B:But my mom, bless her, the badass that she is, for her 67th birthday this year, I think it's 67.
Speaker B:She's gonna kill me if it's wrong.
Speaker B:She asked if I would send her to stunt driving school.
Speaker B:All right, so we off we went to Hereford to the stunt driving school.
Speaker B:And she learned because she's got a classic Mini, she learned how to do handbrake turns, J turns, parallel parking and driving on two wheels up a ramp.
Speaker B:And I was like, mum, you're so badass.
Speaker B:It's brilliant.
Speaker A:Anything you.
Speaker A:Is it something you fancy?
Speaker A:You go out?
Speaker B:Oh, I'd love to.
Speaker B:It's just money, isn't it?
Speaker B:You know, bless her.
Speaker B:That was her Christmas present from me, so I spent the money on her.
Speaker B:But I'd like to have a go.
Speaker B:But I asked for rally school instead, so that's where I'm going.
Speaker B:But, yeah, I'd like to have a go at that because I do sometimes do auto tests on emg.
Speaker B:That'll be.
Speaker B:It'd be good skill to use.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:She auto tested her little Mini at the Steam Rally last weekend and she did really well.
Speaker B:Yeah, she was handbrake turning on her own and everything.
Speaker B:I'm like, mom, I love it.
Speaker B:You're so badass.
Speaker B:So, yeah, I think it's always been there in our blood, but we didn't realize it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Helen Helly Blake, thank you very much for joining me on the backseat driver.
Speaker A:It's been fascinating chatting to you.
Speaker A:I hope it all goes well.
Speaker A:I hope you progress through the ranks and are able to start doing some rallying and, shall we say, advance what you do.
Speaker B:I would love that.
