An Interview with National Banger driver Hacker 26 Dan Holmes
(interview published November 26 2014 in the lead up to the Micro Banger Best Pairs and Brian Pfender Memorial)

Age: 32
Home Town: Newmarket
Occupation: Roofer
Family: Girlfriend Sophie
Racing career: On my 18th birthday in a Mk3 Escort at Mildenhall which was a surprise from his dad

You were among the first wave of drivers to book in for this year’s Micro meeting on December 14, is this a meeting you enjoy and are looking forward to?
Very much so. These kind of meetings are definiately my favourite kind. I’ve been saying it more and more but the Mondeos are definitely more for the younger driver because after I’ve done a Mondeo meeting I really hurt (laughs), not just ache a bit, but I’m really suffering and that’s even when I don’t have a good crash (laughs). But I love my racing and there are still other meetings which I think are now a little bit better for me and the Micro meeting is definitely one of them and I’d say I enjoy them probably about as much as I enjoy the non Mondeo meetings which I’m really keen on right now. There are a lot of good things about Micro meetings in my opinion. The biggest is that the meetings tend to be much more about having fun and enjoying yourself which is exactly how it should be. But the cars we race also plays a big part because I think everyone starts the day pretty much even and even if there is a car that’s a bit better than another, there is usually a big field of cars in the race or the track is bit wet because it’s December and so by the even everyone is pretty much in the same boat which I think is one of the main reasons why the meeting is so popular.

You missed last year’s meeting, can you explain why?
I had cut one of my tendons and could hardly walk. I was absolutely gutted because I had my car all built and ready but there was no way I could race which was a real shame because again it’s a meeting I really look forward to doing.

Have you saved the car built for last year for this year’s meeting?
(laughs) No, that was have been a bit extreme! No I’ve built a new one which is all pretty much ready to go now. I’m hoping it will do me well, especially because I’ve found a decent engine for the car which has been quick before so I’m hoping it will do the job again. There will probably be some that will think it’s crazy switching an engine for a meeting like this but I’ve had lots of problems before with unreliable engines so when you find one that you know is good and it doesn’t take too long to fit it I think it’s worth the extra effort.

You are teamed up with long time running mate Terry Mansfield, are you planning a serious stab at trying to win the Best Pairs event?
I’m not too sure how good our chances will be (laughs), I think we are a little too different to make a good team like that. Terry is definitely more of a crasher and I think I’m more of a racer but don’t get me wrong if a good hit presents itself I’m sure I won’t be able to resist because I still love a good crash and that is another great thing about this meeting that you can have a crash with these cars and they usually keep going for more. I’m hoping I’ll have a pretty good car for the meeting so I’ll be setting out with the hope of doing well while knowing Terry all he’ll probably want to do is get stuck in which he usually does at this meeting, like me, it’s one of his favourites. But you never know if we both manage to get good places in the heats we might give it a go in the final for the (Best Pairs).

It’s just been announced that the Brian Pfender Memorial trophy will go to the highest scoring white or yellow grade driver on the day, is that something you might try to win?
Absolutely, it would be a huge honour to win that, like it would to win any memorial trophy. They really are a very special thing and to win one would be a tremendous thing. I only knew of Brian, rather than actually knowing him but Terry knew him and he’s always spoke very highly of him and never had a bad word about him which seems to be the case with most people so it would be cool to win it. I think it’s good as well that a lower graded driver will win it. I understand that Brian was mostly a white or yellow top so I would imagine he would approve and it’s always nice when there is something special for a lower graded driver to win because it’s not always the way.

The current amount of bookings for the event is quite remarkable, are you surprised at the interest in the meeting?
Not at all. This meeting always gets plenty of cars which I think is down to the reasons we’ve already mentioned. Add to that, the cars are fairly easy to find and build, having a lot of cars is an appeal because it’s always better racing a meeting with plenty of cars rather than one with only a few and also I think this kind of meeting appeals to different people so you get some new faces, old faces and drivers from other formulas, again all because it’s just a bit of fun.

It’s been announced there will be a second Micro Banger meeting at Mildenhall this year, taking place in April. Given the increasing amount of these meetings in the sport, do you think this is a good idea?
I really do. I get that one of the reasons the meeting in December is so good is because it’s the only meeting like it at Mildenhall but I definitely think there is room for another, again because the cars are so easy to find and there is plenty of time between December and April to find another one so I think it will be really good again.

Moving on to other subjects, how do you think your 2014 season has been?
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been able to do. It would have been nice to have done a bit more but work always comes first but I did enjoy what I did. The highlight was definitely the caravan race and rolling over in the pile-up. That was brilliant. I was actually about to take the lead when I did it but I had friends who were sat up on that bend watching me so I kind of thought I owed it to them to wreck at least one caravan in front of them. My intention was to drive through that van and out the other side and carry on in the race but it didn’t go quite how I’d planned (laughs). But it was an awesome buzz and I would do it again in a heartbeat, even though my friends thought I was crazy (laughs).

Have you any targets or goals for 2015?
I would very much like to try and get to the blue grade. I’ve been stuck between the white and yellow grade for a while now and I find it quite tough from the yellows. The trouble is you cannot hold back in the races and that means getting involved with the white grade as soon the race starts and it’s quite easy to get caught up and taken out but I think if you can get it so you start a bit further back by the time you get nearer the front the field has settled down and thinned out a bit so that’s my biggest goal because I think I could do quite well if I can get over that hump. I admit I’ve been putting a bit more effort into my racing, even simple things like tyre pressures. I never used to worry about things like that and then someone suggested I should and I couldn’t believe the difference it made so I have been putting a bit more thought and effort into my racing and I’m hoping I will get some better results next year as well.

You also raced your first rear wheel drive car in nearly 10 years at the RWD Championship, is that something we might see more of in 2015?
I hope so, even though I didn’t have the best of luck with that Omega. It wouldn’t run right at the RWD Championship and the caravan race wasn’t really a fair test but at least I had a big crash (laughs). But it was a lot of fun, when I first started I had no luck with rear wheel drive cars and just gave up on them I suppose but I honestly think I am a better driver now than I was when I started which is one of the reasons why I wanted to try one again and I’m hoping to do some more next year. I’m very fortunate that Terry helps me with the cars as much as he does and he’s plenty of suitable cars we can use so there is no problem there and I’m hoping to get a Volvo 240 sorted and hopefully take it to a track day or two at Mildenhall before racing it which might help me out.

You’ve been a supporter of the Winter Series meetings in the past, are you hoping to do these meetings again in 2015 and if so what is the appeal?
(laughing) The mud! Yes I am hoping to do these meetings, partly because again they are the kind of cars I enjoy racing now but also because these meetings are a lot of fun. Shale is a great leveller but in the winter it’s even more so because it’s usually a bit wet and slippery although I think the last couple of years haven’t been too bad and we’ve been pretty lucky. But they are still a lot of fun, you get some different people come and have a go, it’s a bit more laid back than a normal meeting and most people enjoy themselves.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
Carlos who is my main mechanic and is always there for me whenever I need help and never asks for anything in return, Terry who I couldn’t do it all without, my Dad, especially for helping me to get to meetings away from Mildenhall, Sophie for her support and everyone else who lends a hand.