Don't Lift Off

Anthony Dunn
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Don't Lift Off podcast - for anyone who loves to keep it pinned with their foot hard on the throttle! Talking to anyone who is flat out in life...

  1. Sep 23

    #37 - Anthony Reid | 1990's racing in Japan, BTCC Super Touring...and the CARNAGE in-between!

    Anthony Reid is British racing driver with a multi race and championship winning career spanning continuously for over 50 years. From starting as a humble mechanic, he serving a long apprenticeship in British National racing in Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 before taking an opportunity to race in Japan winning the Japanese Formula 3 championship against runners up Jacques Villenueve and Tom Kristensen (and other stars such as Roland Ratzenberger and Michael Schumacher). He then had a brief stint in Japanese F3000 - and a huge crash - before winning in Japanese GT and Touring Car championship races.  His career then moved back to Europe, resulting in a long stint in the British Touring Car Championship, where he became a household name in the 1990’s and 00’s on British TV, racing for the best teams and manufacturers of the day including a Nissan Primera with Ray Mallock Ltd (RML), a Ford Mondeo for Prodrive and MG ZS for West Surrey Racing against the world’s best Touring Car drivers includong Jason Plato, Alain Menu, Yvan Muller, Ricard Rydell, Gabriele Tarquini, Tom Kristensen and Nigel Mansell. He also was successful in endurance GT racing, finishing 3rd at the 24 hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 962C and also made competitive outings in Sports Prototypes for MG. More recently he has been racing Touring Cars in South America for the Works Honda Petrobras Team, film work with Top Gear, a Works driver for Chevron from 2010 to 2014, was crowned 2011 British GT Champions (GTC) with Jordan Witt and was 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed outright winner. Anthony was appointed House Captain by Goodwood for the new GRRC Members Meeting from 2014 to 2023, Methuen House is still the most successful House amongst the 4 Houses.  He can be found at: www.AnthonyReid.com Don't Lift Off! If you enjoy this podcast and want to see more conversations, please support my channel by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE button…it’s FREE!  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@dontliftoff Instagram Don’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoff TikTok Don’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoff https://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoff Web Don’t Lift Off website www.DontLiftOff.com #dontliftoff #motorsport #podcast Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:26 - A mechanic with Caterham 00:11:50 - Moving to Silverstone 00:22:40 - Formula Ford 1600 & best mate John Pratt 00:31:51 - British GP support race winner 00:37:23 - Warren Hughes' compliment 00:39:46 - FF2000 00:45:01 - Silverstone Montego crash 00:49:52 - An opportunity in Japan 00:57:52 - Japanese F3000 and the big crash 01:02:02 - Jordan F1 opportunity 01:05:32 - Reuniting with Jacques Villeneuve at Goodwood 01:07:37 - Japanese racing culture in the 1990's 01:08:23 - BTCC with Nissan with David Leslie and RML 01:17:10 - Brands Hatch and Ricard Rydell 01:19:19 - The Golden Era of Super Touring 01:28:20 - The Hell's Angels... 01:32:29 - The centrifuge 01:34:58 - Back to BTCC Mondeo/ProDrive 01:40:23 - BTCC with MG - with Colin Turkington 01:43:47 - Team mates with Warren Hughes 01:47:10 - The Brands Hatch "Agreement" 01:48:49 - Le Mans with MG 01:51:12 - "You're talking to a different beast..." 01:53:25 - The horns come out... 01:55:14 - Goodwood Festival Of Speed runs 01:58:31 - An Escort Cosworth moment 02:02:02 - Festival of Speed in Nissan 350 Super GT 02:13:04 - ...one more thing...SEAT Touring Car Masters! 02:19:51 - "The Truck And Trailer" 02:22:12 - "The Can Opener"

  2. Jul 22 ·  Bonus

    “These are BRILLIANT CARS!” | Inside the World’s Biggest McLaren Specialist

    John Thorne from Thorney Motorsport, the world’s largest and longest established McLaren Independent Specialist runs through the opportunities and challenges of caring for pre-owned McLarens from both a service and sales perspective.Thorney Motorsport are based near Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire, UK, where they have a 30 acre site with 6 ramps, a two large showrooms and a custom dyno cell. They also have dealers all over the World and offer McLaren owners independent servicing and repairs to all McLaren models.They are also the largest independent supplier of pre-owned McLaren cars in the World, supplying over 200 pre owned cars to new owners under consignment sale agreements with existing owners.Their aim is simple; offer new and existing McLaren owners advice and assistance.If you enjoy and want to see more conversations, please consider supporting my channel by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE button…it’s FREE! Please also consider subscribing to Thorney Motorsport’s YouTube channel - links above! Thanks, Anthony#dontliftoff #mclaren #independent #servicing #parts #salesThorney Motorsport can be found at:https://www.thorneymotorsport.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/thorneymotorsporthttps://www.youtube.com/user/ThorneyMotorsporthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thorne-9774991a/https://www.tiktok.com/@thorneymotorsportEmail: info@thorneymotorsport.co.ukChapters00:00 - McLaren Specialist vs Main Dealer05:10 - The challenges and opportunities11:08 - Selling pre-owned McLarens16:20 - Being the Grim Reaper...21:42 - The difference with an independent?26:14 - The Thorney Motorsport franchise28:00 - The relationship with McLaren

  3. Jul 10

    #36 - John Thorne - Thorney Motorsport | Becoming the World's Largest Independent McLaren Specialist

    John Thorne is the owner of Thorney Motorsport, the world’s largest and longest-established independent McLaren specialist franchise.From beginnings as a Lawyer and Stock Broker, nearly 25 years ago John turned his passion of tuning cars into being his business by creating Thorney Motorsport, and began modifying, tuning and preparing high performance BMW and Vauxhall VX220 and VXR road and racing cars in such championships as the BMW CSL Cup, Lotus Cup and the British Touring Car Championship / BTCC. Thorney Motorsport then moved into building, preparing and racing Yamaha Off-road/Dakar vehicles, and from 2013 they have become the leading specialists in Servicing, Parts Sales and Pre-owned Vehicle Sales of McLaren road cars.#mclaren #12C #540 #570 #720 #750 #GT4 #performance #servicing #sales #tuning #parts #thorneymotorsport Thorney Motorsport can be found at:https://www.thorneymotorsport.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/thorneymotorsporthttps://www.youtube.com/user/ThorneyMotorsporthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thorne-9774991a/https://www.tiktok.com/@thorneymotorsportEmail: info@thorneymotorsport.co.uk#mclaren #12C #540 #570 #720 #750 #GT4 #performance #servicing #sales #tuning #parts #thorneymotorsport Chapters00:00:00 - Coming up...00:02:11 - Intro00:04:01 - Try not to look like you're f***ed...00:05:43 - How Thorney Motorsport started00:09:59 - Becoming a Stock Broker00:17:02 - I started tuning my own cars00:27:01 - Bikes are dangerous, let's go car racing00:34:38 - 9/1100:38:33 - VX22000:48:38 - The start of the rot...00:57:47 - Into the British Touring Car Championship with Tesco01:05:47 - The supermarket fuel issue01:18:20 - End of BTCC01:29:05 - Morphing into Off Road Racing01:33:09 - TV Shows and 24 Hour races01:37:28 - The Top Gear 24 Hour race01:54:00 - McLaren Independent02:22:07 - The McLaren business model...02:33:35 - The challenges and opportunities02:39:34 - Selling pre-owned McLarens02:44:45 - Being the Grim Reaper...02:50:08 - The difference with an independent?02:54:39 - The Thorney Motorsport franchise02:56:26 - The relationship with McLaren

  4. Apr 10

    #35 - Danny Watts | From Winner To Counsellor: A Racer's Redemption

    Danny Watts is a former multiple Championship Winning British Racing Driver. In an illustrious career, he has won in everything from karting to single seater Formula cars, to Le Mans Prototypes, including winning the Le Mans 24 hours twice.He is now a full time driver coach and also a qualified counsellor, spearheading the British Racing Drivers' Club's Mental Health and Wellness support campaign.To talk to the BRDC Mental Health & Wellbeing team, please contact them via:shout@brdc.co.uk or call +44 (0)7354 339676#dontliftoff 00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:35 - Intro00:05:06 - Arriving at Silverstone...00:08:19 - 1990's Karting00:13:11 - Super One - 100C & 100B00:13:36 - Helmet design - it's my signature!00:18:16 - My toughest competitors - Lee Rennison & Kimi Räikkönen00:20:08 - Remembering John Daltry00:21:03 - A little secret...00:22:38 - Moving to cars in 1998 - Formula First00:24:16 - Formula Palmer Audi - a learning experience00:26:44 - How Kimi Räikkönen raised my game00:32:15 - Learning to fly...at Oulton Park!00:35:59 - Macau...13 consecutive times!00:38:33 - Macau onboard McLaren MP4-12C00:41:31 - Becoming a British F3 race winner00:41:51 - The Flavio Briatore story...00:48:02 - Making history - winning in a Lola00:49:01 - A winning comeback in F3!00:55:44 - Porsche Carerra Cup00:57:49 - Le Mans prototypes01:00:05 - Winning at Le Mans01:03:08 - The mindset to 24 hour racing01:07:16 - Total alcoholic breakdown01:08:38 - Beating addiction & becoming sober01:10:32 - Getting help & turning my life around01:13:21 - Helping others with the BRDC01:19:06 - Joshua Watts - the next generation!

  5. Feb 12

    #34 - Steve Perez | From Global Drinks Magnate to Rally Champion

    Steve Perez is a self made British drinks entrepreneur from Chesterfield, UK. From helping at his Dad’s pub as a teenager, and working for local brewery Tetley’s, he launched Global Brands, building it into a £90 Million pounds (GBP) business with brands such as Kick Energy Drinks, VK Vodka Mixes, Amigos Tequila Beer, Franklin & Sons Tonics and the original Hooch alcopop, all sold across the UK and sixty-plus countries.Steve also owns the boutique Casa Hotel in Chesterfield together with Peak Edge Hotel and Red Lion Restaurant and pub, which his Father original owned. He is four-time National and Historic Rally Champion with a fabulous collection of cars including; Marcus Grohölm’s 2007 WRC Rally winning Ford Focus, a Hannu Mikkola / Arne Hertz / Michelle Mouton 1985 Audi Sport Quattro A2, various Porsche 911’s, a Ferrari 12Cilindri and his beloved Lancia Stratos rally and road cars.Steve can be found at:https://www.youtube.com/@SteveJGPerezhttps://www.instagram.com/stevenjgperez/https:x.com/StevenJGPerezSteve Perez Rally Team:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063469511226Seb Perezhttps://www.facebook.com/sebperez66Don't Lift Off Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoff/https://www.youtube.com/@dontliftoffhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoffhttps://dontliftoff.comThe full podcast is also available on all main podcast platforms (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, etc). https://linktr.ee/dontliftoff #DontLiftOff #Podcast #StevePerez #StevePerezRallyTeam #KickEnergyRallyTeam #BTRDA #BritishHistoricRallyChampionship #cars #car #Ferrari #12Cilindri #LanciaStratos #lancia #stratos #audiquattro #Porsche911Rally #FordFocusWRC #WRC #1970s #1980s #1990s #2000s #GlobalBrands #VKDrinks #VKVodkaKick #AmigosTequilaBeer #KickEnergy #Hooch #farming #jeremyclarkson #Rallying #RACRally #Rally #MikeWilds Chapters00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:33 - Intro00:03:56 - A tour of the estate...and the rally stage!00:10:22 - The Toys...00:11:10 - 2007 WRC Focus - Marcus Grönholm00:12:12 - 1985 Audi Sport Quattro A2 - Hannu Mikkola / Arne Hertz / Michelle Mouton00:15:59 - Lancia Stratos story00:18:26 - Seb Perez' Ginetta Junior00:19:05 - 1974 911 Carrera RS00:21:02 - Ford Escort Mk200:23:34 - Porsche GT3 Touring00:24:07 - Ferrari 12Cilindri00:26:10 - Stratos heaven...00:26:51 - The Farm00:28:47 - Dansport00:29:48 - The RAC (Roger Albert Clark) Rally00:36:33 - Highland Cows and the garden00:37:36 - Mike Wilds: A Formula One Driver...and a Helicopter Instructor!00:39:45 - Racing vs Rallying00:43:17 - The Red Lion Pub & Restaurant...NO LABOUR MP'S!00:44:59 - Getting into selling drinks00:47:21 - The idea behind VK00:49:00 - Starting in rally co-driving00:52:55 - The art of co-driver timing00:56:48 - Chris Wood & Pro-Drivers00:58:42 - The story about the Rally Of The Inca's, Peru01:11:21 - Issues with Historic Rallying & 4WD's01:16:06 - Challenges with the Stratos01:17:33 - The fire01:24:02 - POLITICS - UK Government hospitality rates01:27:34 - Business people and politics - Trump's revolution?01:30:21 - Inefficiencies of government vs business leaders01:34:49 - Why do business people not get more involved?01:39:15 - Family run businesses and inheritance tax

  6. 12/31/2025

    #33 - Will Redford & Bourne HPP | Guyana Adventures - Winning the Caribbean Clash of Champions!

    Will Redford is a 20 year old racing driver & instructor from Warrington, England. He is a mechanic turned Sim Racer, Junior Saloon Car Championship podium finisher, Milltek Sport Civic Cup race winner and in 2025 he became a Racing Prodigy P3 Champion in North America, racing a Radical SR1 Sports Prototype. Created and run by Terry Radbourne, Bourne High Performance Powertrains (Bourne HPP) are an engine builder that boasts a unique combination of Formula 1, Le Mans and other WEC engine building experience, both in the workshop and trackside at major events around the world.In this podcast, Terry and Will sit down with host and racer Anthony Dunn and talk about of how they met and started working together, which led to them competing in and winning the 2025 Caribbean Clash of Champions in Guyana, racing with Team AJM in a Porsche GT3 Cup Car…all in a quite remarkable story!If you enjoy this podcast and want to see or find out more, please consider following us at:InstagramDon’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.instagram.com/dontliftoffWill Redford - @wcredfordhttps://www.instagram.com/wcredfordBourne HPP - @bourne_hpphttps://www.instagram.com/bourne_hppTikTokDon’t Lift Off Podcast - @dontliftoffhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dontliftoffBourne HPP - @bourne_hpphttps://www.tiktok.com/@bournehppWith special thanks to Cam Frankcom for the excellent videography. Cam can be found on Instagram@camfrankcomhttps://www.instagram.com/cfrankcom#Motorsport #Podcast #DontLiftOff #Guyana #BourneHPP #BourneHighPerformancePowertrains #WillRedfordRacing #WR42 #WillRedford #Winning #CaribbeanClashOfChampions #TeamAJM #BourneHPP #WillRedford #GT3Cup #GMRSC #Motorsport #SouthDakotaCircuit #CaribbeanClashOfChampions #Porsche #GT3 #racing #lifestories #British #Motorsport #Winner #SimDriving #Professional #SimRacer #Honda #K20 #CivicCup #Engine #Tuning #Dyno #LeMans #WEC #Mercedes #F1 #AER #Radical #SR1 #NorthAmerica #Champion #EngineBuilder #Tuner #JuniorSaloonCarChampionship #SimToRacer #KatherineLegge #USA #FastDriving #Driver #OilRich #Economy #RacingProdigy #SouthDakotaCircuit Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Don't Lift Off Podcast06:25 Guyana's Discovery and Motorsport Scene10:05 Behind the Scenes at Bourne HPP16:01 Engineering Innovations and Challenges24:18 Will's Journey from Sim Racing to Real Racing44:54 The Radical Racing Experience and Scholarship Program50:38 Tyre Management and Race Strategy53:03 The Shootout55:33 Team Dynamics and Learning from Mentors57:36 Taking Opportunities in Racing01:00:01 The Power of E-Commerce in Motorsport01:02:16 Setting Up for Success in Guyana01:03:11 Guyana's Rapid Development and Motorsport Growth01:06:30 The Caribbean Clash of Champions01:16:24 Race Day Challenges and Innovations01:28:22 Mental Resilience in Racing01:42:02 Future Aspirations in Guyana

  7. 11/14/2025

    #32 - Ian Ashley | A Life Less Ordinary: F1 Racing Driver, Jet Pilot and Motorcycle/Sidecar Champion

    Ian Ashley is a former British Motor Racing Driver, Pilot and Motorcycle and Sidecar Champion. He has also been an instructor in all three disciplines.In a hugely varied life and career, Ian went from dominant novice at the Jim Russell Racing School to a fast, but uncut diamond in Formula Ford and Formula Three (against future champions such as Britain's James Hunt), to pace setter in Formula 5000 and then giant killing performances in underfunded and uncompetitive British Formula One teams including Token, BRM, Williams and Hesketh. After a huge crash that ended his F1 career, he then diverted to become a pilot, flying crop dusting bi-planes, Lear and Gulf Stream private Jets and Sea Planes from Alaska!He briefly returned to cars, racing Indy Lights and Indy Cars in the USA and also raced motorbikes and turned his hand to three wheels in Motorcycle and Sidecars. He had a brief foray into the BTCC, TVR Tuscan and Lotus Elise racing in the UK and later in his life returned to historic racing cars and finally winning multiple championships in historic Sidecars.In his rich life, he has created had a few stories and had a few crashes along the way...#f1 #f3 #formulaford #formula5000 #hesketh #jameshunt #williams #brm #btcc #indycar #tvr #lotus #racing #british #motorsport #stories #crashes #crash 00:00:00 - Coming up...00:01:59 - Intro00:06:35 - Holding on to a sidecar...00:10:29 - My Dad was a test pilot for Concorde00:18:07 - A start at Jim Russell00:23:00 - Into Formula Ford and Formula 300:27:35 - Racing with Fittipaldi brothers Emerson and Wilson in Brazil00:31:54 - Becoming a star in Formula 500000:38:52 - Formula One with BRM00:40:15 - James Hunt00:42:19 - Giving no quarter00:44:36 - Learning the art of slipstreaming00:48:34 - F1 debut at...the Nurburgring!00:53:29 - Racing with Williams00:55:19 - Racing with a plaster cast leg...00:58:25 - A mistake moving to BRM01:00:08 - A drive with Hesketh01:06:35 - A brave shit01:12:24 - Becoming a Lear Jet pilot01:20:15 - Flying Jackie Stewart01:25:56 - Learning to drive or fly - the principle of starting with one axis01:31:14 - Looking like Ian Anderson from Fairport Convention01:33:10 - The accidental arrest!01:35:28 - Flying sea planes from Alaska01:37:22 - Indycars & Indy Lights01:40:55 - Motorbike and sidecars!01:49:37 - "Shunt" and "Crashley"!01:50:36 - Back to historic racing cars...01:52:15 - An unusual link01:56:00 - Motorcycle and Sidecar Champion01:56:59 - Can you remember...?Note: Due to technical issues with the audio that almost caused a cancellation and re-record, AI was used to help clarify voices. You may notice a slightly digital sounding voice in places, but I wanted to make sure the production happened and voices could be heard well. Hope that's understandable. If you enjoy this episode and would like to see more please Like, Share and Subscribe! Thank you, AnthonyIf you are interested in learning more about Ian's career, here are some good articles:https://www.f1forgottendrivers.com/ian-ashley-f5000/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-2012/113/more-than-a-tocken-effort/http://www.forix.com/8w/ashley.html

  8. 10/20/2025

    #31 - Kelvin Burt | From a £100 scholarship...to Formula 1

    Kelvin Burt is a British Racing Driver with nearly 40 years of motor racing success. From the late 1980’s as David Coulthard’s title rival in Formula Ford 1600, Kelvin rose through the ranks to become a Formula Vauxhall Lotus Champion, British Formula 3 Champion, Porsche Supercup race winner, Formula 1 test driver for Jordan Grand Prix, British Touring Car Championship race winner with Ford, Volvo and Alfa Romeo, Japanese Touring Car and Super GT race winner, Macau Grand Prix Winner, British GT Champion, multiple ASCAR race winner and FIA GT podium finisher with Ferrari onto become a racing team owner. Today he continues his career in motorsport as a race winning coach in International GT’s and Single Seaters. #dontliftoff #F1 #Formula1 #EddieJordan #JordanGP #Tyrrell #Arrows #F3 #champion #FF1600 #FormulaFord #FormulaVauxhallLotus #british #motorsport #MotorRacing #underdog #Japan #GT #racing #btcc #TouringCars #ford #AndyRouse #Volvo #TWR #AlfaRomeo #Macau #KelvinBurt #british #BritishGT #ferrari #FIAGT #JackieStewart #PaulStewartRacing #Coaching Chapters 00:00 Teaser 01:48 Intro to Kelvin Burt 10:58 Starting At Jim Russell  13:32 Drifting My Dad’s Capri 16:55 My Dad’s Story - Motorbikes And Road Rallies 20:54 A Formula First Scholarship 23:38 Getting His A**se Out At Brands Hatch 27:28 Formula Ford 1600 33:30 David Coulthard’s Closest Rival 38:15 A Modest Attitude 40:40 First BTCC Race And Win With BMW 44:15 1990 Formula Vauxhall Lotus 49:00 Formula 3 With Fortec 1992 53:07 - F3 Champion With Paul Stewart Racing 1993 59:48 A Good Story About Richard Dutton 1:02:00 Drive To Survive: Drama That Isn’t There? 1:07:40 The 1993 F3 Season Into An F1 Test 1:11:54 F1 Testing - Grabbing An Opportunity  1:25:24 British Touring Cars With Ford 1:31:25 BTCC With TWR In A Volvo 1:36:15 The Oulton Park Crash 1:44:06 A Return To BTCC With Alfa Romeo With Gary Ayles 1:45:20 Porsche Supercup Win At Silverstone 1:47:13 Touring Cars And GT In Japan 1:52:48 Group C testing and more Japan 1:55:43 FIA GT & Le Mans with Ferrari 360 & 550 1:59:50 Making Myself Sick At Sebring 2:01:50 ASCAR 2:08:49 “I Could Listen To You All Evening” 2:09:38 The Thruxton Carrera Cup Crash 2:16:27 Jan Magnussen At Jim Russell 2:19:17 A Bedford DTM Drivers Story… 2:22:06 Silk Cut Jaguar Le Mans Winner 2:23:35 Coaching In Single Seaters & GT’s

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Don't Lift Off podcast - for anyone who loves to keep it pinned with their foot hard on the throttle! Talking to anyone who is flat out in life...

Information

  • Creator
    Anthony Dunn
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Anthony Dunn
  • Show Website
    Don't Lift Off

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