Colin
Blower began his motorsport career in 1973 racing
a MGB, a year later he completed a full season in
the Production Sports Car Championship with a Lotus
Europa, where after winning a number of races he
finished runner-up in the championship.
In
1975 Colin began a long and successful relationship
with the Blackpool sports car manufacturer TVR,
which continued until the end of 1982. During that
time
many races were won as well as two championships.
1983
saw a switch to Porsche, and after another successful
year in Production Sports in which he claimed another
two championships. Colin moved on to dominate Production
Saloons with a works backed Mitsubishi Starion.
1984
brought further success for Colin when he recorded
twelve wins and the Class A championship in the Uniroyal
series. A year later he claimed both Uniroyal and
Monroe titles taking the chequered flag on no less
than sixteen occasions.
Arguably
1986 was his best ever season in terms of victories,
taking the Class A title with 22 wins in both the
Uniroyal and Monroe series. It was a tremendous achievement
against such tough opposition, but with the Sierra
Cosworth appearing on the scene in 1987, the Mitsubishi
was no longer a competitive race car and although
giving away 50 bhp to the fourteen Fords competing
that year. Colin would often come away with a top
five placing.
Mitsubishi
recognised Colin's achievements by presenting him
with their driver of the year award, however, Mitsubishi
were forced to withdraw a year later after the RAC
failed to control turbo boost.
At
the end of the 1989 season Colin renewed his acquaintance
with TVR, taking in three races before embarking
on a full season that continues too this day. Taking
part in over one hundred races in the TVR Tuscan
Challenge, highlights that have included finishing
runner-up in 1991, 1993 and 1994 plus winning the
title in 1992.
One
of his highlights was to have been in a race against
Nigel Mansell which he beat in qualifying to snatch
pole position from the former World Champion. But
Mansell's well publicised accident in the TOCA shoot-out
earlier in the day led to the former grand prix driver
withdrawing, leaving Blower to go on and win the
race.
A
down side to his career came in 1996 when towards
the end of the year, he broke both his leg and ribs
in an accident in qualifying at a wet Silverstone
after the throttle on his TVR had jammed open at
more than 150 mph.
Interspersed
amongst his decade of races in the TVR Tuscan Challenge,
Colin has tried his hand at GT racing in both 1997
and 1998 with a TVR Cerbera in GT2. And despite not
being quite so successful as racing in the Tuscan,
still managed an outright victory at Donington Park.
Has
recently been competing in the European Sports Prototype
Championship for pre 1972 sports cars in an ex Denny
Hulme Lola T70 Spyder, winning races at the Nurburgring
in Germany and Coys Historic racing festival at Silverstone.
In 2000 became a member of the prestigious BRDC. |
