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| The History of RG Racing.RG Racing was an amalgamation of RMW Motorsport and DG Racing in 1996. The 2 main personalities being Rob Willshire (RMW Motorsport) and Gary James (DG Racing) Partners Rob Willshire & Gary James Team Manager and Gary's Mechanic- Doug Mercer Trucky and Bens Mechanic - Dave Sessions Rob Willshire born in 1960 was introduced to motorsport in 1963 by his Father and Uncle (Dennis Mayo). Dennis being works manager for the Alexander Engineering concern of Michael Christie the Hill Climb competitor. When Rob was around 9 he discovered via his older brother BRISCA stock cars racing. Norman Ricketts, Kenny Horn and Bob Boddington of Haddenham were using Ricketts Yard as a base. Rob was the car washer and gofer. At 17 Rob tried has hand at Co Driving / Navigating on Road Rallies by the age of 19 he had competed on International Rallies in Europe. At 23 he was helping a German driver (Reinhold Gropper) from Paderborn with his VW Golf (Kamei Golf) and the Zender Sirocco. He was also introduced to Karting and won some races. In 84 Reinhold switched to the old Esso Ford Mustang built by Dave Cook Racing Services This was also worked on by Ray Prince who in the passed assisted Jonny Buncome and Vince Woodman. This was raced in the DTM and ETC Races in 84 and 85 up against the likes of Roland Ash and Klaus Ludwig. 86 was a year off with a move back to the UK for work. In 88 Rob worked for GA Motorsport for a short period. 89 was a year of much rejoicing. Working for Dave Cook Racing Services they won the British Touring Car Championship with Vauxhall and John Clelland. Other team Drivers were Louise Aitkin Walker, Jeremy Rositer. 1990 was spent at Paul Stewart Racing on the Vauxhall Lotus Team. The drivers being a young David Coulthard and Gil De Ferran. David's father giving a complete 125 outfit to Rob for the 91 Karting season. In mid 91 Rob Moved to Tyrrell F1 on the Test team. 92 was spent with Jordan GP on both the Test Team and Race Team. From 93 to 95 Rob took time away from motorsport and went and worked for the Overseas Development Administration in Bosnia then Rwanda as a logistics expert. 96 saw Rob return to the Long Circuit Kart scene. With a new Chassis from Stratos Karts and engines on hire he got back in to the swing quite quickly. 97 was a steady year with 9th in the championships and a 4th at Oulton Park. 98 was lap record year. The class record went at Knockhill on a new engine from KartPro Stratos. 99 and 2000 less track time and more in to projects at work. 2001 will be spent working with Brooklands College on the Kart Project and working with the other team drivers.
Gary James (Driver/Partner) Born 1957. Went to my first race meeting (Silverstone) when I was 6 months old. My father’s cousin was Tom Kirby who ran a successful motorcycle team in the 1960’s and 1970’s and supplied bikes for Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Bill Ivy and Paddy Driver. From the age of 6 I was a regular visitor to the paddocks of Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Snetterton, Silverstone and Crystal Palace as my father was ‘employed’ as a mechanic. I have many old photos and programmes of that era and fond memories. My father’s passion was sidecar racing and from 1965 he managed and sponsored many top riders under the banner of RNJ Racing. Terry Vinicombe, George Bye, Barry Lock, Bill Cooper, Tony Harris, Roger Aldous, Andy Jackson, John Barker and Clive Stirrat have all benefited from personal funds pumped into the sport. I assisted in the funding of the team from 1979 and took up the position of team manager in 1981 when we sponsored Clive Stirrat. Major successes came from all the riders sponsored, both in the UK and Europe. At the end of 1984 my father and myself called it a day as costs within sidecar racing were starting to escalate and it was no longer possible to provide enough money to be successful. During the 20-year period we had been to several Grand Prix and European Championships visiting Assen, Spa, Le Mans, Hockenheim, Salzburgring, Zolder and many others. In 1985 I took on the part time job of secretary to the Motorcycle Racing Sponsors Association, (my father was one of the founding members) but resigned at the end of the year. In 1986 I decided that rather than spend money on other people to go racing I would spend some on myself, so I bought my first kart. A second-hand Zip 125 with air-cooled Rotax. Spent my learning years at Kimbolton and Snetterton, before buying a brand new Anderson chassis in 1990 to go long circuit racing. I can remember my first conversation on the telephone with Ian Rushforth who was full of encouragement in trying to get as many drivers as possible to taste long circuit racing. The air-cooled 125 Rotax was totally unreliable and I was forever seizing and having the motor rebuilt. In 1992 I bought a new Minarelli and started to see the chequered flag for the first time. Competed in the 1993 125 P & R championship and finished 9th despite missing two rounds. Made a serious attack on the championship in 1994 and improved to 8th by the end of the season. Unfortunately the next 5 years saw a lack of funds, a shortage of time and a divorce, so racing was severely curtailed. Having bought a new Pavesi engine, managed to secure 8th place in the Formula 125 National championship in 2002, more by luck as a few guys dropped out along the way. Since then a racing budget has been difficult to put together, so track time has suffered. Still enjoy the buzz, even when I am writing race reports rather than being on the track. I suppose that having visited race circuits all over Europe for the past 47 years it’s in the blood and you can’t beat the smell or the noise.Doug Mercer (Chief Mechanic) Doug assisted Gary with the side cars for several years. His is an Engineer by trade and his knowledge is a great asset to the team. Dave Sessions (Trucky/Mechanic) Dave has helped the team for 10 years. He has a passion for all types of motorsport. He needs a regular fix of Petrol and Castrol R40. From Speedway to F1. Dave looks after Tyres, Fuel etc. He also assists with some spanner work on Bens kart.
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