Instagram story viewer> @timcrighton> Posts

Tim Crighton

@timcrighton

2.5K

followers

1064

following

Former pro racing driver now racing for fun
Coaching & instruction
Motorsport POVs and insights
Columnist for @typelotus magazine
Daddy to boys
UK 🇬🇧

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

👋 Hi. A bit about me.

I'm Tim Crighton and I am incredibly fortunate to race some pretty awesome cars on behalf of a lovely bunch of collectors, owners and preparers.

I've grown up around cars and motorsport. My great grandfather, grandfather and Dad (that's him in the background wondering what I'm doing!) have all been into cars and bikes and competed themselves. So I guess it's in the genes.

I started Karting when I was 6 and racing cars when I was 15 (I'm 6'4 so too tall and heavy for karting anyway!). I became the youngest driver to start a British GT race back in 2002 with Marcos and I joined a manufacturer's young driver programme for a few seasons before racing back in the UK in Production Touring Cars and the MINI Challenge and ended up with Beechdean in their Aston Martin before taking a break from 'modern' Motorsport and getting a 'proper' job (as I was reminded many times playing with racing cars is a hobby not a job apparently)

After close to a decade out of a car I was asked to hop back in a car a few years ago to do some coaching for an old friend; I caught the bug again and here we are! These days it's mainly older classic cars I race and I love cars with a history, that tell a tale and a story. I love the simplicity of them. They constantly remind me that actually cars haven't really got loads better or more fun... Just more comfortable and perhaps safer. But certainly less exciting.

I'm a qualified ARDS instructor (a racing coach basically!) and still occasionally find myself in the passenger seat coaching - something I really enjoy and find incredibly satisfying, being able to give back some of what I've learnt.

You never stop learning and I'm learning all the time; about the cars I'm racing, the driving style they need to extract the best from them and the way driving styles have adapted over time too.

If you are at one of the races where I'm racing then do come and say Hi.

📷 @charlieb.photography

#motorsport
#classicracing
#goodwood
#goodwoodrevival
#goodwoodmembersmeeting
#silverstone
#mastershistoricracing
#motorracinglegends
#racecar
#austinhealey
#jaguar
#DriveTastefully
#Instacar
#raceinstructor by @timcrighton

356

31

2 years ago

How is @goodwoodmotorcircuit #MembersMeeting a week ago already?

Great memories though and now focused on Donington Historic in a fortnight's time.

Beautiful capture by the talented @inmotionimages 👏

#frazernashcarclub
#frazernash
#historicracing
#Panningshot
#ClassicCar
#MotorRacing
#GroverWilliamsTrophy
#sunoco
#DriveTastefully
#instacars
#Motorsport
#GoodwoodMembersMeeting
#GoodwoodRevival
#Goodwood taken in Goodwood Motor Circuit by @timcrighton

144

3

2 years ago

@goodwoodrevival testing complete.

In two weeks time I go for the St Mary's Trophy partnered up with @andypriaulxmbe but this time not in the big 7 litre #FordGalaxie but in a tiny #AustinA35 with its massive 1293cc engine!

Looking forward to what is always one of my favourite weekends of the year.

Stuff I'm looking forward to:

- Seeing 4 Healey 3000s out for the #StirlingMossTrophy - the most I can remember for ages and some really important ex Works cars too.

- @jensonbutton and @al_buncombe going for the #FreddieMarch trophy in the @riedling_mouser prepared C-Type but they are going to have to work hard as the super speedy Healey 100S of @jackrawles46 and Jake Hill is going to be flying.

- The #JimClark tribute - there are some amazing cars lined up for that from what I hear. For me, he was the greatest driver of all time, so a great tribute to be making.

- A fiercely competitive #StMarysTrophy field, with @steve_soperracing in the @alanmannracing Ford Fairline, @maxchilton and @tomchilton in the Alfa, Jenson Button and @chris_buncombe in @portellogb super speedy Alfa. Don't overlook the @nickswift76 and @snappylittlechariot Minis either, the first time the Minis have run in the 50s St Marys. We are going to have to work very hard in the little Austin to keep those guys in sight.

- The #TT is going to be a belter. New cars; that stunning Low Drag E Type and a change of driver roster in some of the front running cars. I'm excited to see how @tomingram80 goes this year... Can he make it two in a row? I'd reckon it's possible, but it's tough unless you are in a V8 it seems now.... So we will have to see what car he's in 😉

- Catching up with great mates, fellow drivers, mechanics and just soaking up the love and passion for old cars which Revival provides so well.

Counting down the days.

See you all there 😎 do come and say Hi

📸 @olliesmithphotog

#goodwoodrevival
#historicracing
#RaceCar
#goodwood
#GoodwoodMotorCircuit
#motorsport
#motorracing
#swiftune
#AustinA35 taken in Goodwood Motor Circuit by @timcrighton

139

21

a year ago

Looking forward to being back in the @hiltonandmoss owned Jaguar E-Type for the @motorracinglegends season closer at @silverstonecircuit on October 17th.

On the 18th October I will be back in the fantastic BMW I drove at Revival for the @hrdc_racing Top Hat Trophy for Pre66 touring cars. Owner Tony was so buoyed by it's Goodwood run that we thought we'd give it one last shakedown before the end of the year.

Always a great meeting with some fantastic cars and a chance to get up close and no need for any special passes etc. just turn up and come straight into the pits.

Well worth a stop in. See you there. taken in Silverstone Circuit by @timcrighton

170

9

17 days ago

A fabulous surprise at Goodwood to be presented with this amazing drawing by artist @petrarichards_artist

Taken from an image of my race at @goodwoodrevival where I was fortunate to drive the car for owner @noelle.dunkerley

Petra is a very talented artist; well known for her incredible drawings of horses (she's worked with Household Cavalry to draw several of their horses over the past couple of years). But a secondary passion for her is old cars. After speaking at this year's Members Meeting she explained her ambition to draw some cars, and 'Kermit and Tim' is a first for her. I am sure you'll agree it's something that we'd love to see her do more of.

She has a video on her page explaining the technicalities of how it's drawn and I won't pretend to be an expert. But in simple terms it's drawn with pencils and onto a semi transparent sheet which is drawn on both sides to make the colours extra vibrant.

The hope is that the drawing will be selected for an upcoming exhibition on motoring art and I'm very proud to be custodian of it whilst it's not being displayed.

Beautifully framed by @elletsonframes it is a stunning piece.

Petra is available for commissions and can be contacted through the link in her bio. taken in Goodwood Revival by @timcrighton

283

23

25 days ago

Officially the fastest ever lap by a BMW in the St Mary's Trophy.

We managed to get back into the 32s during the race as well, showing my 1.32.5 in qualifying wasn't a fluke.

Given we hadn't had the opportunity to test due to the engine issues in the shakedown (see my earlier post!) it was a great result for a car I'd not driven in anger before the event.

It's fantastic to drive. Very neutral, a little bit of understeer on turn in but with the ability to rotate it on the throttle. It's all about carrying momentum and keeping the car moving.

A brilliant race with the big Plymouth Barracuda of Darren Turner and Duncan Pittaway was a highlight and so much fun.

Big thanks to:

@bilstein
@carlessclassicfuels
@retroengineeringltd
@bmwclassic
Advent Motorsport

For giving me the best tools to do the job 🙏

Counting down to 2028 Revival already (the next for 60s saloon cars... Next years St Mary's is a 1950s year, so hopefully I'll be back for that too 🤞🙏)

The best snaps as always by @charlieb.photography 📷🏆 taken in Goodwood Motor Circuit by @timcrighton

203

22

a month ago

P9 at the flag in the St Mary's Trophy.

I couldn't quite keep the big Plymouth Barracuda behind me - but one of the most fun St Mary's races I've done as the great handling BMW battled big V8 power!

Massive thanks to all of those who make Goodwood what it is. It's a bubble of joy for the weekend; 100 miles from the real world and glorious for it.

Great to share with Chris for the weekend. Having known each other for years it was nice to actually get to share a car.

Hugely appreciative to Tony for letting me loose in his car.

My Dad for his tireless preparation and set up knowledge.

@retroengineeringltd for giving us a great engine.

@bilstein for the dampers which make this BMW 1800 Ti one of the very best balanced cars I've driven at Goodwood.

@swiftuneengineering for the oil - thanks Swifty! Turns out it does work well in a BMW too!

And of course to the Duke and all of his team for the invite to be part of this incredible event. taken in Goodwood Motor Circuit by @timcrighton

181

12

a month ago

We line up 8th for todays St Mary's Trophy with a 1.32.5 in qualifying yesterday.

A little to find to get into the mix with the top few cars but I'll be pushing.

After the last couple of weeks this was payback for the hours and effort from owner Tony and my Dad to prepare the car. They have between them delivered a car that is brilliant to drive.

The @bilstein dampers are working perfectly and the balance in the car is superb.

Qudos to @retroengineeringltd for the engine which is feeling great.

Let's see what we can do come 1.10pm this afternoon. Whatever happens we've shown the speed and honestly after the last fortnight any result is a triumph!

Credit to @chris_buncombe for his drive yesterday. The car had a sticking front brake and Chris drove a great race to deliver back the car in one piece and with a solid result. A shame he couldn't show his ultimate turn of pace, but next time 👍💪 taken in Goodwood Motor Circuit by @timcrighton

368

30

a month ago

Sometimes the achievement is simply showing up.

Racing often looks easy. Instagram shows you the shiny bits. It overlooks the late nights, the bloody knuckles, the swearing fit when you've dropped the spanner inside the engine bay for the fourth time.

The last fortnight has been bloody hard.

This is the BMW 1800Ti that I'm racing at Goodwood this weekend.

We shook it down at Thruxton last week. 6 laps in, on an engine from a supposedly reputable builder, it ate the headgasket and picked up on the bore. Cue a total engine rebuild in record time.

It's Goodwood. Of course you'll make it happen. You don't turn down an invite. You move heaven and earth to get to the biggest Historic meeting in the world.

With the help of the brilliant @retroengineeringltd
(Nigel, Tom and team are some of the nicest people you could meet in Motorsport) we have an engine. Built fresh for us. From the first call it was a calm no nonsense approach. You need an engine? For when? Next week? Errr, OK, it's tight but we will make it happen!

The car is owned by my Dad's best mate Tony and both of them have pulled out all the stops to get it to Goodwood. Yesterday they both did 16 hour days and I've no doubt today will be similar. That's a good effort when you are in your 70s. So is bench pressing the diff into the car... But they managed that too. It's also hard when you know you have a long race weekend coming up too and are going to go into it with the batteries already low. I'm incredibly grateful for their help and all those who make this mad sport possible.

But we will get there. The car is due on the rollers this evening and will be loaded and down to Goodwood tomorrow with a fair wind 🤞🤞

Let's hope so. I'm hopeful, but it's going to be tight.

It's also my Dad's birthday today. So Happy Birthday Dad. If you see him at Goodwood at the weekend, then say Hi and Happy Birthday 🎂 🎈🎂 - I've no doubt by Sunday afternoon he's going to need the pep up!

Hmmm... Something is missing. 3 days to turning a wheel at Goodwood!

The old engine had been fitted with a type of Wills Ring or Fire Ring which helps to add a seal between the piston/combustion chamber and the Headgasket. taken in Thruxton Race Circuit by @timcrighton

348

46

a month ago

Great to join the @hrdc_racing Top Hat grid at @castlecombecircuituk Autumn Classic.

The plucky A35 overcame a mix of 50s touring car opposition to come out as Leston class winner for Pre 1960 Saloon Cars.

It was the first time I'd been back in the car since Revival 2025. It handled horribly at Revival last year being honest and it was remarkable that between @andypriaulxmbe and me we hauled it up to 18th overall. I'd never driven anything so slow that wanted to kill me so much! But with some thought and work ahead of the run at Combe the awful bump steer it was suffering has been dialled out and it was a massive improvement.

Big thanks to HRDC for making us very welcome for the weekend. To owner Tony for his trust and to @swiftuneengineering for a great engine and @carlessclassicfuels for the sustainable fuel. Whilst we don't need to run it for Combe we've opted to stick with it due to the super clean burn and great performance.

Hopefully back in 2027 for the St Mary's? Before that though we have this year's event and a new set of wheels ... taken in Castle Combe Circuit by @timcrighton

96

1

a month ago

After an aborted qualifying session due to a fault we lined up at the back of the 36 car field for the race.

William (@theclassiccarlife) drove probably the best stint he's had to date to work his way back to 22nd. After being caught out with the timing of a safety car we dropped back to 28th at the driver changes, but a fun 40 minute stint had us back up to 15th overall at the flag. Without the safety car issue we'd have been knocking on a top 10 which would have been a great result from the back of the grid.

The car felt great and always a pleasure to join the @hiltonandmoss team in their beautiful Jaguar E Type. Very much looking forward to our final run of the year at Silverstone on the GP circuit in October.

Next up is Goodwood Revival.... Less than a week to go!

Great snaps from @charlieb.photography 📷 taken in Castle Combe Circuit by @timcrighton

161

6

a month ago

Looking forward to being back behind the wheel of this little pocket rocket this weekend at @castlecombecircuituk Autumn Classic as we join the @hrdc_racing Top Hat Pre 66 Touring Car Grid.

It might not be the fastest against the 60s cars but it's a hoot to drive and puts a great big smile on your face. Thanks to it's owner for letting me drive it.

Powered by @carlessclassicfuels and @swiftuneengineering

I'll also be out on the Saturday joining the @gtandsportscarcup grid sharing the beautiful @hiltonandmoss E Type Jaguar with @theclassiccarlife

A race week is always a good week. by @timcrighton

95

7

a month ago