Customer entertains the troops alongside Indianapolis legends
In support of the soldiers that are currently in action in volatile parts of the world, Co-ordSport customer and supplier, JRM, sent two of their cars to RAF Honington in Suffolk last week where rally driver Gwyndaf Evans and stunt driver Terry Grant put on a show for the soldiers based at the camp. They joined an event that featured some of the legends of Indianapolis 500, including: Al Unser jr, Davey Hamilton, Johnny Rutherford, Sarah Fisher and Mario Andretti.
The visit to East Anglia was part of a tour, instigated by the Indy drivers, of USA military bases in Europe and the Middle East, designed to show their support for the work service men and women are doing on behalf of their country. Their trip also marked the centenary year of this world famous race.
Having been impressed by the performance of Evans driving the JRM Group N Mitsubishi Evo rally car and Grant driving the Evo 400RS track-day car in the Live Action Arena at last week’s Autosport Show, Captain Iain Thomson from the 1st Royal Tank Regiment contacted the company to ask if the same display could be re-enacted for the troops. As an ardent supporter of the work being done by the forces and the Help the Heroes charity, Executive Director of the JRM Group James Rumsey had no hesitation in agreeing to the request.
The day at Honington began with a presentation, before moving outside and onto the runway where the action took place. To kick things off, Terry Grant entertained onlookers with a stunning display of precision driving, with one of his tricks seeing him turn doughnuts around a slightly worried-looking group of Indy drivers.
To provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the troops, the Indianapolis team had brought with them a two-seat Indy car, in which a selected group of soldiers were able to take a ride with none other than Mario Andretti. Whilst this went on towards the Eastern end of the runway, the two JRM drivers provided rides for other military personnel present: Evans demonstrating the capabilities of the company’s rally car, whilst Grant showed how fast and maneuverable the 400bhp track-day car can be – in spectacular fashion!
As each passenger emerged from the JRM Evos, the look on their faces told the story of their experience, it was clear from some of the comments what the main topic of conversation between the troops that evening. In fact, the display by the two JRM cars was so impressive that, when Evans and Grant were in full swing, it temporarily drew attention away from the Indy car activity.
Following the event, the JRM team was praised for the show it put on and principal organiser, Captain Iain Thomson, 1st Royal Tank Regiment said:
“As an Army Unit we have never experienced such an event within the barracks. It was a first and I hope we may be able to organise another like it again. We have many motorsport fans within the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and JRM did us proud. Once Terry and Gwyndaf got going, their performances went down a treat and we are grateful for the JRM team’s input which made the day such a huge success.”
