Va-va-vroom

On an overcast Tuesday in September, members of the UK’s asset
and motor finance industry gathered at Milton Keynes’ Daytona
racetrack for the Finance & Leasing Association’s second annual
go-karting event, sponsored by White Clarke Group.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Access deeper industry intelligence

Experience unmatched clarity with a single platform that combines unique data, AI, and human expertise.

Find out more

In all, 23 teams took to the grid, with the team to beat the ‘local
boy’ champions Team VWFS (UK), led by Mark Hodgson, winners of last
year’s event.

The aim was to race the most laps over the allotted two and a half
hour time frame, and the top teams jockeyed for advantage,
especially in the last hour and a half, with a glut of penalties
incurred for anything from ignoring the yellow flag to out-and-out
overly aggressive driving.
 The Motor Finance team had something to prove this time round
after coming last and receiving the most black flags in 2006, which
provoked gleeful mockery throughout the office.

Unfortunately luck was not on our side: mid-way though the race,
the engine on our kart sputtered to a halt and the team had to
suffer a 6 minute lap (the longest in Daytona history) as the
mechanics struggled to revive the kart. Still, 18th place is an
improvement on last year, when there were no such mechanical faults
to use as a scapegoat.

The day was won by VWFS, with Team White Cart Group and Team CHP 1
second and third on the podium. Congratulations to Tony Dean of
WCG, who managed the fastest lap with a very respectable 1min
11.697s. The prizes were presented by Stephen Sklaroff, FLA
director-general.

The whole event could not have happened without the formidable
organisational skills of the FLA team, and the support of WCG. Many
thanks for such a great day of fun. Next year, who knows – we might
even follow the lead of the VWFS champions and bring our own
helmets.

 

Sponsor’s comment: Daytona 2007

It is now a year since White Clarke Group launched the finance
leasing industry’s Daytona Challenge, together with the FLA, as a
means of engaging with younger bloods in the industry. Let’s face
it; there are plenty of opportunities for the older set to
socialise at golfing events and the like. We were all delighted
when the 2006 Challenge turned out to be such a resounding success.
A great day out!

So much so that, at popular request, Daytona is to become an annual
fixture. The 2007 Challenge sees last year’s winners, Volkswagen
Financial Services, defending their White Clarke Trophy with old
scores to settle and new spurs to be won. Teams vying for the award
include LVM (team name FARR ERR I) and Lombard Group Technology
(Wong Turn). It really is a fantastic way for spectators to unwind,
while competitors pump up the adrenaline.

 “We are thrilled to have set the tone and once more to be
co-sponsors of this key industry social event,” says Denise Canvin,
PR & marketing manager, White Clarke Group. “To get into the
mood, contestants will all receive goodie bags containing WCG
stopwatches, caps and lots of high-energy refreshments.”

White Clarke Group will also be fielding two teams (Racing LeMons
and White Cart Group) – a true grudge match this – each determined
to win the laurel leaves at this ‘home’ venue in Milton
Keynes.