DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

The concept

ENDURANCE , noun
1. the act of enduring
2. the power of enduring (; specif.,)
- ability to last, continue, or remain
- ability to stand pain, distress, fatigue, etc.; fortitude

All DDKers must be fans of some form of endurance:
That our cars have endured 40 years plus of mixed ownership and usage.
That the marque is famed for multiple wins at the great enduros - Targa Florio, Carrera Panamerica, Daytona, Sebring, Monza, Nurburgring, Spa, Le Mans...
That in November this forum of mavericks will have been with us for 10 years and counting!

One year ago Bootsy set us all an admirable target: Raise £10k for Macmillan, to coincide with DDK's tenth anniversary.
The £10k target was achieved in January: 10 months early.
Since then the donations have dropped off...

So what now? I know that lots of members are already finding ways to increase the 10K pot: thumbs up to all involved.

For my effort, I wanted to find something fitting, to coincide closely with the November anniversary.
Something that could raise some decent funds, while reflecting the club's passion for petrol and power, something to represent the endurance of the DDK...

The plan

I am pleased to announce that DDK will be racing at the Buckmore 24 Hours, on October 12th and 13th.
Our kart will be entered under a scheme which guarantees a minimum of £1500 to be raised for Macmillan.

If you are not familiar with Buckmore Park, it's probably the best kart circuit in the UK: http://www.buckmore.co.uk/
The 24 Hours is a pro-am event and there will be 35 teams racing.
All teams will use Buckmore's RT8 own hirekart fleet - so pretty fair and equal performance for all entries.
Not quite Le Mans in a 911 RSR, but karts still offer a helluvalot of fun, close and competitive racing.
And let's be honest, how often in life do you get an opportunity to enter a 24 Hour race!?

The basic scheme works like this:
- The kart has a team owner. I have entered a team.
- The team owner will subsidise the team entry by offering to pay half of each driver's entry fee, if they are able to generate sponsorship to at least the value of their entry.
- If they do not raise enough money, the drivers will be expected to pay the "balance" direct to the DDK charity.

In English:
It costs £1500 to enter a team. There will be 6 or 7 drivers on the team.
Each driver must raise at least £250 for charity, and the team owner will pay £125 of their entry fee.
- Cost to each driver to do the 24hours = £125
- Money raised for DDK charity = Minimum of £1500 per kart

We have 7 drivers confirmed, 4 of whom are DDKers: Moggy, rhd racer, gridgway and 23e Heure.

How can you help?

So if you want to support the scheme, what can you do?

Firstly - we don't want any donations yet. We'll definitely let you know when though

In time we will be asking for help to support the event itself...
Flasks of coffee in the early hours? T-shirt designs? Loan of a camper van or two? Sticker printing? etc... All offers are welcomed, we have time.

What we do need NOW is to know if there is interest in entering another team?
If so, we will need to find:
- Another team owner. To the smart investors out there, team ownership offers you a guaranteed minimum 100% ROI. Not many other schemes can compete with that!
- At least 5 more drivers. We'd prefer these to be DDK members, but it's not compulsory.

If you are interested, please send me a PM and I'll let you know the options.

As part of the run up we are entering karts in the Buckmore 3 Hours (July 20th) and the 6 Hours (August 25th)
Moggy has also kindly offered to organise an endurance event at Glan Y Gors in North Wales http://www.gygkarting.com if there is sufficient interest from people who would rather not travel to Kent.

Attendance at at least one of these events is compulsory for the drivers who will be racing in the 24 Hours.
Endurance kart racing is very tough work: This way we make sure we have committed drivers who really know what they are signing up for.

More updates will be posted as we have them, watch this space...

James,

My T25 Hi-top camper with 2+2 awning is available if required. Has 240v hookup and propane hob/grill, halogen oven. Petrol generator also if needed (makes 240v electric power not petrol!) .

Chris

Top stuff Chris, thanks

We have already had a couple more drivers put their names down for this.

At this rate we'll be needing someone to step forward and enter a second team...

HOW TO DONATE

If you have read this far, congratulations! My posts have been rather verbose, so I salute you

For the Reader's Digest fans, here's the condensed version:

- DDK are entering a kart in a 24 hour race.
- There are 7 drivers, and together they have already paid the race entry fee.
- The target is to raise a minimum of £1500 to boost DDK's 10 for 10 charity total.
- If - by the time of the race itself - the combined donation associated with 24 for 10 for 10 is less than £1500, then the drivers will have to put their hands in their pockets to make up the balance.

Here's how to donate, in two easy steps:

- Visit the DDK 24 for 10 for 10 justgiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/23e
- Dig deep and give generously!

We have waited a while before starting to ask for donations, as we wanted to make sure everything was in place and confirmed in full.
Yesterday saw the team complete our first warm up race - a 3 Hours Race at Buckmore - so now is the time to open the books.
(you can read about our efforts at the 3 Hours here: http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewto ... =1&t=44406)

Surely the simple fact that some club members are doing something taxing is excuse enough for you to make a generous donation, right?
Well if you need any further persuasion, let me run it by you again...

We are racing for 24 hours. Outdoors. In October.

When it's likely to be wet:




And cold. Crikey, it might even be snowing:




And at that time of year it's dark for more hours in a day than it is light:




And - let's be honest - none of the team are teenagers any more.
One of the drivers is in his 30s... the rest of us are a little older:




So this is no small effort we are making here.
It's a sacrifice of sanity and health on behalf of the fantastic worthy charity which is Macmillan.

PLEASE DONATE!
https://www.justgiving.com/ddk10kfor10years/

Just 5 days to go until the DDK enter a kart at the Buckmore 24 Hours.

Thank you so very much to those that have already donated: so far we have raised £2552 for the 10 for 10 Macmillan fund.
That means we are now less than £500 from our target!

If you want to donate, don't worry there is still time... It is quick and easy, and will leave you wearing a warm glow of goodness:

http://www.justgiving.com/23e

We would love to see some DDKers at the circuit this weekend, giving us some much needed track side support.
Buckmore is very easy to get to, just off the M2 at J3: http://www.buckmore.co.uk/content.php/12020
The racing is close and quick, and the sight of 35 teams of drivers keeping going for 24 hours solid should be something to behold!

Find us in the paddock and seek out our very own DDK Man Friday for the weekend.
Mike Usiskin will be on site throughout the race, serving the DDK with tea/coffee/toast/"chef's specials" from Chris Turner's T25 camper...
Make yourself known and claim your free cuppa!

Mike mentioned this on the school run this morning. What time does it kick off on the 12th ?

You could get a lift down from SE22 with us, but I guess the 7.30am start may be too early!

Practice and qually from 1pm.

Race start is 2pm.

Would be great to see you there.

Cool - might be a bit of a flying visit as we've been invited for pub lunch out in the sticks. Will try and swing by on the way back.

Good luck boys and looking forward to the full race report!

And that's quite a chunk of cash you've raised so far, well done!

Thanks Nigel, much appreciated. £3k and counting!

Mitch wrote:Good luck boys and looking forward to the full race report!

Not the only one!