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Another podium
for Declan Jones
THE Liverpool based teenager Declan Jones put
in a fantastic performance in the French V de V Sports event at
Dijon over 29 June to July 2012.
The 17 year old, who recently
stunned on his debut in the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup at Oulton
Park, taking class pole position, as well as third in class in the
second race, went into the event on a high and he didn’t disappoint
in the Courage Classic-run and engineered by Kelvin Jones Chevron
B54 that he was sharing with Alain Schlesinger.
Indeed despite a technical issue in qualifying, Declan and Alain
lined-up in tenth place on a 1 minute 32.056 seconds. That was
a precursor to a fine run in the 2 hour Historic race, which
ultimately culminated with the duo finishing a superb 6th overall;
placing them third in the Prototypes and first in the Super 2000
class, despite being up against many rivals with two or even 3 times
as much horsepower at their disposal.
Chicago Soft and The London Perfume Company Limited-backed
youngster, Declan said that:- “It was a fantastic weekend, it
really was. I was still learning the car, but it is good and every
time I go out in it I get faster and faster. I did 1 hour and 20
minutes in the car, while Alain did the final 40 minutes. I was very
happy with my times during the race. They were very consistent and
were within tenths of each over whenever I had a clear lap. The main
issue we had is that there is a really long straight at Dijon and
our car has only got 120 brake horsepower and we were competing
against some big Porsches that have got 350 to 400 brake horsepower
and when we came to the straight they would just fly past. However
in the twisty bits I’d close back up and overtake. It was a bit
frustrating not to be able to do defend more on the straights, but I
kept a cool head and concentrated on looking after the tyres and not
making any mistakes. When I stopped and handed over to Alain we were
P3 overall and we had a massive gap. However, 3 laps later the
safety car came out and a lot of teams took advantage to make their
driver change and make up some time. In the end though, we still
brought it home in a good position. Overall I really enjoyed the
weekend. The Chevron B54 is a fantastic little car and through the
corners it is brilliant. It just lacks a bit of oomph in a straight
line. It was my first ever endurance race and it was the longest
stint I have ever done and so to get on the podium was very
satisfying. I couldn’t have done more and I can’t wait now to team
up with Alain again later on this year.”
Declan’s focus now shifts back to the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup
with his next run in his Century Motorsport-run Ginetta G50 likely
to come at either Knockhill (25 August to 26 August 2012) or
Rockingham (22 September to 23 September 2012). Declan
continued adding:- “I am really looking forward to my next
outing in the Ginetta G50s. This is another learning year for me,
and I have to adjust to jumping from a modern car to an older one.
Nevertheless I want to go into my next Ginetta GT Supercup weekend
like I did at Oulton Park. I want to impress. My aim is to go in and
hopefully get my first win in the Ginettas.”
Declan’s dad and manager, Kelvin Jones meanwhile was delighted with
his son’s form at Dijon. He said:- “What can I say? He was
very impressive all weekend. The longest race he had ever done
before was 20 laps in the Ginettas and now he has done a 1 hour 20
minute stint on a very demanding circuit and when he got out of the
car he was still very fresh. It was a mega drive; one of the best I
have ever seen him do. All-in-all it was a good team effort and Dec
and Alain worked really well together. For us to get P6 overall and
obviously third in Prototypes and first in Super 2000 was fantastic.
What did it for me, however, was that every lap Dec did was within a
second and he was constantly banging in consistent laps and in a 2
hour race that is where you can make up so much time. I was very
impressed. It was great over the tannoy system too, as all you could
hear was... 'Declan Jones magnifique, magnifique...!’” |
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Liverpool
Fashion Week App launched
THE Liverpool Fashion 2012
week takes place over 15 October to 20 October 2012 and features 50
catwalk shows over 6 nights across 4 of the city’s top locations. It
is the biggest fashion event for the North of England with live
entertainment from the freshest talent each night. The
organisers are now pleased to announce the yearly fashion event now
has its own app. The app is available for free to download and can
be found on i-tunes at this
link The app has content
about the event, designers, venues, tickets. Amanda Moss LFW
Director, said:- “We will use our styling and image making
expertise to help promote and build local fashion based businesses
and get their great work out their so style hungry men and women of
the region can wear and support new talent. Our app is another way
the many thousands and thousands of dedicated followers of fashion
that this city (and now beyond) has can keep themselves upto date
with all things Liverpool Fashion Week." The
event kicks off in the Leo Casino on Monday, 15 October 2012 with
Sinitta launching the full week of fashion. Tickets are on
sale now via:-
ticketquarter.co.uk. For
a full line up visit:-
liverpoolfashionweek.co.uk.
"eCall"
crash system could save lives
A European Parliament
resolution for cars to automatically dial the emergency services if
they are involved in an accident has been welcomed by Labour Euro
MPs. Labour Euro MPs voted in favour of the resolution which
recommends that all new cars should be fitted with eCall by 2015.
The eCall system is designed to immediately alert the emergency
services if an accident occurs, even if the passengers are unable to
do so.
Local Labour Euro MP, Arlene McCarthy said:- "Being involved
in an accident is any driver's worst nightmare and cases where
victims are unable to call the emergency services are not uncommon.
eCall solves this problem by automatically connecting vehicle
occupants to an emergency centre in the event of an accident, whilst
simultaneously transmitting basic data on the crash location to an
eCall operator. By making eCall compulsory we can ensure that even
if there is an accident with no witnesses, the emergency services
are able to quickly get to the scene. We hope that this will reduce
cases when victims with life-threatening injuries are left trapped
and unable to get help."
The European Parliament's vote on eCall came less than a week after
the UK Department of Transport released figures showing that in 2011
road accident deaths in Britain rose for the first time since 2003.
Arlene added:- "The Coalition has taken its eye off the ball
when it comes to road accidents, cutting funding for life-saving
strategies that should be of highest priority. Given the rising
number of crashes in the UK, I am relieved that the European
Parliament recognises the importance of maximising road safety
standards across the EU."
According to the Parliament's report, making eCall compulsory could
save as many as 2500 lives a year, and reduce the severity of
injuries by 10 to 15%. Arlene said:- "The
life-saving benefits of eCall are absolutely clear and I hope that
the adoption of this resolution will lead to new laws to ensure all
new cars use the system by 2015."
Proudly serving
the Olympics
AMANDA Balshaw-Greer, a
nurse practitioner in Nephrology at the Royal Liverpool and
Broadgreen University Hospitals is taking a once in a life time
opportunity to be part of the Olympic Games this summer.
Amanda, an experienced nurse, was one of the first people to be
invited for interviews and was chosen from 18,000 medical applicants
to become one of the 3,000 Olympic medical volunteers officially
known as the ‘Games makers’. Amanda’s role as a
specialist medical volunteer was confirmed in September 2011 and
since then Amanda has been involved with the training for the
Olympics at London Excel event, Wembley Arena and Hackney College.
Amanda will be based in Greenwich Park for the Olympic Equestrian
events and will be working as a venue nurse treating members of
public, working with doctors to treat any VIPs as well as deputising
for the venue medical manager. Amanda said:- “I am delighted
and very proud to be part of the Olympic ‘Games makers’ team and I
would like to thank the Trust, especially my directorate manager,
Marcella Sherry, for their support throughout. I’m looking forward
to whole experience and I’m hoping being based at the Equestrian
Centre that Zara Philips does well and that we see the Royal family
cheering her on!” |
