Vaughn Jones (Car Number 43)
Name: Vaughn ‘give it a go’ Jones
Age: A very young 40
Occupation: Asbestos Technical and Quality Director; part time fabricator and mechanic).
Vaughn started his interest in race cars in the 80’s with a Williams (Nigel Mansell – great driver) and Lotus Scalextric set and enjoyed hours of fun seeing if the ramps that were built over the loft hatch were adequate for the cars to fly (yes/no!!). The 21st Century brought a new interest with the wonders of good race sim computer games and his interest in fabrication has helped with the creation of a homemade race seat simulator.
Vaughn’s passion for cars (from Land Rovers to Lotus – owned both!), fixing things and fabricating all things useful led to the building of a ‘Robin Hood’ kit car. Once built a new project was required and Vaughn agreed to help Matt Topham with his newly acquired Formula Vee Spyder by helping with race weekends and testing. Vaughn was persuaded to undertake the ARDS test to allow testing of two drivers for the car. A single seat experience in a Formula Ford at the wonderful Castle Combe circuit and passing the ARDS test meant a new shinny race license needed to be used. The fire in the belly had been lit and a quick deal was made with Matt that ‘if you ever decide to sell the Spyder let me know’ but little did Vaughn or Caroline (the lovely other half) know but Matt was already looking at another car (Vaughn should’ve known!). A deal was done and Vaughn was now a Race Car owner/driver and the Spyder was heading for a new garage in Wales.
2016 Brands Festival was the start of the new hobby and an enjoyable weekend was had. Even though spending time at the back of the grid was not ideal (dirty carburetor) a good race was had and Vaughn didn’t make a fool of himself and set out for the 2017 Championship.
Francis Twyman (Car Number 88)
Name: Francis ‘Franco’ Twyman
Age: Still under 40 last time he checked
Occupation: Master of all things technology related
Francis was always interested in motorsport paying close attention to the likes of Senna, Prost, Schumacher and Coulthard as the years rolled on in F1, but he really contracted the racing affliction after being given the opportunity to drive a Tatuus Formula Renault, and also participate in the Silverstone Single Seater Experience (cars that resemble a Formula Ford 1600). The exhilaration of both experiences hooked Francis on the sensation of driving a single seater car around a motorsport circuit at high speed.
The very first car Francis learnt to drive in was his father’s 1974 VW Beetle 1300, he even managed to dent a front wing driving it up and down his grandmother’s garden aged 13. With all this in mind, the stars aligned and Francis was determined to make a foray into the world of Formula Vee.
After purchasing his yellow Storm in 2015, Francis contested the 2018 and 2019 seasons with a mixed bag of results.
For 2020 his goals are to move further up the grid and be more consistent, hopefully bagging some top 10 results along the way.
Matt Topham (Car Number 47)
Matt retired from Formula Vee in 2019 after competing in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 championships but has decided to return in 2020 in a B Class AHS Challenger.
Matt’s interest in things mechanical is a lifelong addiction contain only by his wife’s patience and eBay’s app latency. There is always room for more car, clocks, tools and boats.
Early car recollections include driving advice to various parents on the school run (Matt walked a lot…) and waiting for some motorsport on Grandstand. A holiday near to Castle Combe brought the revelation of live motorsport and the madness of people going 4 abreast into Quarry. Many many Castle Combe meeting later, Matt tried indoor karting and proved largely unbeatable. Unfortunately he was eminently beatable when in a 100 National kart. A season preparing Formula Ford (back to Combe again) proved the height or nerdiness but it was 20 years later that Matt finally bought a Vee.
Road cars have been an odd mix of vans, sportscars (Spitfires, Europas and Elises) with the odd Mini thrown in.
The lasting impression is that any car registered after 1976 is new and that a F1 car should be black and gold. Biggest car mistake was a TR7 convertible, well 3…at the same time.
Home team is Emma and daughter Annie.