Latest news with #StephenJones
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'I drove a supercar at 140mph around Goodwood race track and didn't die'
Mirror Motoring's Stephen Jones is no stranger to fast cars - but has never driven on a race track before now - and Goodwood Like most men my age, I'm convinced had the opportunities fallen my way, I could have been a Formula One driver or, at worst, Top Gear presenter. How difficult can driving at 200mph once every couple of weeks for a few months a year really be? I finally stopped being all talk and took the chance to live out my fantasy and put the pedal to the metal on a track day at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit nestled in the rolling hills of West Sussex. Famous for the Festival of Speed being held this week (July 10th-13th), Goodwood is also home to one of the fastest tracks in the UK, notorious for its fabled flowing corners and generous straights which allow for sustained high speeds of around 160mph. I'm following in the tyre prints of legends like Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart who have made dancing cars around its sweeping bends look all so easy over the years. But as the day arrives, I have to admit, I'm starting to sport a little less bravado as the reality sets in during a pre-race safety briefing by chief instructor Jack Layton. He talks us through what each of the flag colours I might see various frantic stewards waving at me around the track mean - I need to be alert, he explains, to anything from a pile-up to a pheasant on the track. There's talk of racing lines, braking points and how not to spin off into the grass. Everyone else seems to be nodding knowingly while I'm beginning to wonder how I'm going to remember which pedal does what when we're flat out down the Lavant Straight at 140mph. I can't say I felt more ressured at this point, it would be safe to say I was vaguely terrified. It was clear I neeeded to keep my wits about me, so I asked Jack to take me for a spin in a BMW M340d to familiarise myself with the ciruit before I ventured about myself. "I stopped counting how many times I have been round here at 50,000 laps," he cooly explained as I tried not to vomit. "It's all about driving into the apex," he added, as I tried to imagine what Google result I would get for the word 'apex' if I could unclench my grip from the passenger door handle to reach my phone. It turns out that nothing quite prepares you for the sheer gut-twisting thrill of actually being thrown around a race track by a professional driver. It suddenly dawned on me that I am little better than an average driver with no racing experience beyond surviving the daily commute into work on the London North Circular - and that this was serious business. But there was no time to question my life choices as I climbed into a race-prepped Honda Type R (0-60mph in 5.4 secs). There's something deliciously empowering about clambering into a race car in a helmet when you are still basically a nervous amateur. But pulling on the helmet, you do feel transformed - a bit less Mr Bean and suddenly a bit more Lewis Hamilton. There's also a moment - just as you ease your foot off the brake, squeeze the throttle and feel the zipped up engine surge beneath you - when you realise this is a lot harder than it looks on TV... but by that point you are away and it's far too late to worry. I had a list of priorities in my head, number one was trying not to embarrass myself by spinning off the track or worse, into one of the walls. The truth is, I didn't really have any time to think as my first instructor of the day, Brad - who at first seemed calm and patient as he reminded me that the car will do what I tell it to - started screaming in my ear various instructions as I tried to survive my first lap. First lap, I'm tentative - the car feels so sharp, so willing to change direction, that my usual cautious road manners feel totally out of place. Brad shouts instructions over the radio: 'Brake now! Turn in! Feed the power in..!' "Not bad, you broke 120mph," he said after it, possibly sensing that I was wondering 'was that any good or did I look like a twat?' "Let's go again," he said as I that inital thought was quickly replaced in my head with 'try not to die again, Stephen.' But by the third lap, I'm no longer apologising for my driving, I'm grinning like an idiot. Next up was a spin in a Lotus sports car, powered by a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine (0-60mph in 4.3 secs) with my next instructor, John, and I could tell things were getting more serious because he was shouting more loudly. "You are too stiff, gripping on to the steering wheel like that, relax," he said. I couldn't argue, not least because I didn't want to explain I was holding on for both of our dear lives. But also, I surprised myself with how I was starting to get a hang of it. It's not that difficult to steer into an apex and accelerate out and hitting 130mph, it turns out, it's just a challenge to remember 'what do I do next?' and where you should be on the racing line in that nanosecond that comes after you breathe that sigh of relief you're still breathing. My final drive of the day was in the big one, the McLaren 750s supercar which, powered by a twin turbo-charged V8, does 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 206mph. By now I'm feeling brave, maybe too brave? You wouldn't get much change from a £300,000 for one of these, and god knows what a scratch might cost to repair. But again I have no time to worry, I just put my foot down, listen to my instructor and pray. I have driven one of these on the road before and it's a joy, but on the race track the McLaren is pure theatre, the steering is razor sharp and the throttle so sensitive that a sneeze might send you into a barrier... but when you get it right, it sings. The engine howls, the gearbox snaps through the gears and on the straights, it's brutally quick - and oddly, that's the easy bit. The real trick is staying calm when you fling it into the double apex Madgwick Corner at speeds that would earn you an instant ban on any normal road. There was a moment on the Lavant Straight when I glance at the speedo and see we are nudging 140mph - and for a fleeting second, I feel like I understand what makes these cars so addictive. It's not just the speed, it's the noise, the smell, the sense that you're dancing on a knife edge between control and chaos. My instructor sounds more full of praise than relief as he explains 'you just need to relax more." I'm just keen to do it again, and again. After I park up in the paddock, relieved I have survived, and elated I haven't crashed any of the cars, I realise my heart is hammering and my face is aching from grinning. I was buzzing, and that's the magic of it, really. A Goodwood track day isn't about pretending you're a racing god, though you'll certainly feel like one for a few glorious seconds. It's about stepping into a dream that, for most of us, lives on YouTube clips and Sunday night Top Gear reruns. By the end of the day, I'm sweaty, slightly deaf and wondering if I can sell a kidney to pay for my own super car to do this every other weekend. There's an addictive quality to that rush, once you've tasted it, your sensible family saloon will never feel the same again. As I peel off my helmet, I catch one last look at the cars lined up in the pit lane, engines ticking as they cool. They're not just machines, they're invitations to live out every boy-racer fantasy you've ever had. For a few heart-stopping laps round Goodwood, they're yours. Would I do it again? In a beat of my heart, which I left somewhere near the chicane after bend seven. * Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from July 10-13th 2025. The Motor Circuit runs a variety of track days and driving experiences in a range of cars all year round. Full details:
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Our best candidate was already doing the job': Flair Airlines names permanent CEO
A familiar name within Flair Airlines was appointed as permanent head of the budget carrier Tuesday after serving the past year as interim chief executive officer. Maciej Wilk has been at the helm of the Edmonton-based airline since June 2024 as the board of directors searched for a replacement for former CEO Stephen Jones, who retired last June. Wilk joined the organization as chief operating officer in 2023. He previously spent six years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he worked on client projects in corporate finance, valuations, and financial modeling. 'People kept asking if we were still looking. The truth is, we had looked, and it turned out our best candidate was already doing the job,' said Jim Young, Chair of Flair Airlines' Board in a news release. 'Maciej has spent the past year steering through weather disruptions, organizational shifts, and economic headwinds, all while sharpening our focus on reliability, affordability, and performance.' The airline has a fleet of aircrafts connecting travellers to 25 cities across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. The company previously suspended plans to expand as it contends with plane delivery delays and hefty debts. As interim CEO, Wilk introduced an on-time guarantee and the Flair FWD Take Off platform providing in-seat ordering and a customer-first website.'I'm thrilled to make it official,' said Wilk. 'The title may be new, but the work and the mission haven't changed. I believe in Flair, and I believe Canadians deserve air travel that's efficient, accountable, and affordable for all. The past 12 months prove that it can be done, and we're just getting started.' Jones' departure came as the company sought investors to restructure its finances and grow its fleet.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Stephen Jones has 3-½ year ban restarted after visit to the Magic Millions Sales
The three-and-a-half-year ban being served by prominent country trainer Stephen Jones has been restarted after the Scone-based conditioner was found guilty of breaching the conditions of his disqualification. In February this year, the NSW Racing Appeal Tribunal upheld the three-and-a-half-year disqualification Jones was handed by Racing NSW stewards for a string of charges relating to the race-day treatment of horses. Jones, who has prepared more than 550 winners during his training career, was sidelined until October, 2027 as a result of the unsuccessful appeal bid, in which he pleaded not guilty to all but four of the 18 charges laid against him. But in March, while under disqualifaction, Jones made an application to Racing NSW seeking approval to attend the Magic Millions Yearling Sales on the Gold Coast in June. Following 'careful consideration' of the approach, Racing NSW ultimately refused the application. • Country trainer slapped with hefty treatment ban In the aftermath of the Magic Millions Sales, Racing NSW received information which led to the commencement of an investigation as to whether Jones did in fact attend the sales grounds. The evidence tendered alleged Jones 'entered the sales at 9.03am on June 2, 2025 before exiting a few hours later at 11.11am'. Stewards invited Jones to make submissions with respect to the allegations before consideration of all the available evidence and submissions led to Stewards being satisfied that Jones had in fact breached Australian Rule of Racing AR263(1)(m). The rule states that the disqualification period imposed on a person will automatically restart if the person breaches the rules. As a result, Jones' three-and-a-half-year ban will now expire in December, 2028.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Issue Outrageous Micah Parsons Statement Through ESPN Report
Cowboys Issue Outrageous Micah Parsons Statement Through ESPN Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - Long-time followers of the Dallas Cowboys understand by now that team owner Jerry Jones handles major contract negotiations with stars at his own - sometimes frustratingly slow - pace. Advertisement As it relates to any delay in sealing a deal on a new contract that will make All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history? Angst aside, there is really nothing to see here. That also applies to a story we broke years ago about how Jerry Jones and his family often take a majestic vacation - all the kids and all the grandkids - for spring break ... which just happens to coincide with the March start of NFL free agency. Which means, yes, the Cowboys GM is often on a yacht somewhere off the coast of Greece or something at that critical time on the league calendar. But again ... most Cowboys fans have made their uncomfortably peace with all that. Advertisement At the same time, nobody in the organization has ever conceded that offseason vacations are due to the fact that there is a "lull'' in the team's overall activities. Rather, Stephen Jones in particular loves to talk about running the football side of a Cowboys as a "24/7 business.'' And that brings us to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler - and one we find to be troublesome on one of two levels. "So, this is kind of a relaxed situation," Fowler said Saturday morning on SportsCenter. "You know, when I talk to the people involved, they're like, 'Look, it's a lull in the summer right now, not a lot going on. People are on vacation. Team officials were out on the beach somewhere.'' Wait a minute. "People'' - that is, multiple people - from here inside The Star literally told Fowler .... Advertisement *"It's a lull right now.'' *"Not a lot going on.'' *Team officials are out on a beach somewhere.'' Can we all see the dual-threat problem here? It's not about whether Parsons is going to eventually get a new deal with an average of $40 million annually, which will likely be the highest APY deal ever for a non-quarterback. That's going to happen, hopefully in time for this to not be a problematic distraction over the course of Cowboys training camp, which launches in Oxnard on July 21. No, the problems are this ... One, we frankly have a very difficult time believing that multiple "people involved'' offered this information to Fowler. It doesn't pass the smell test that one person said the "lull/not a lot/beach'' quote. But the odds that multiple "people involved'' told this to the Bristol-based reporter are ... zero. Advertisement And two, even if Fowler is exaggerating and paraphrasing or even slightly misquoting ... but even one Dallas official expressed to him the outrageous idea that the Cowboys front office is taking the summer off, and that such an expression is a reflection of the truth? Shame on the "24/7'' Cowboys. Related: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Break Jerry Jones Tradition And 'Rally Together' for Major Rule-Breaker Related: Cowboys Blockbuster Trade for Kyle Pitts Teased By Micah Parsons Brother This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys' Top 5 All-Time Free Agents
Cowboys' Top 5 All-Time Free Agents originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Two ways to look at Dallas Cowboys' free agency this offseason: 1. The bad: While two-time Pro Bowl performer Jaire Alexander signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the Cowboys settled for the Green Bay Packers' "other" cornerback — Robert Rochell — who has bounced around five teams in four seasons. Advertisement 2. The good: Their class is an improvement over 2024, which was highlighted by underwhelming linebacker Eddie Kendricks. Relatively speaking, Jerry and Stephen Jones were proactive and aggressive in this year's free agency. The Cowboys signed much-needed help at pass rusher with Dante Fowler Jr. and running back with Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Those moves, of course, supplemented trades for No. 2 receiver George Pickens and backup quarterback Joe Milton. We're not suggesting a class also aided by defensive tackle Solomon Thomas and receiver Parris Campbell will be Dallas' best ever, but it's a step in the right direction of positive player acquisition. Unless we're missing something, however, none of the signees will crack the list of the Cowboys' Top 5 all-time free-agent signings: Advertisement 5. Leonard Davis, 2007 – Right guard started all 16 games, made the Pro Bowl, second-team All-Pro and helped a record-setting offense lead Dallas to a 13-3 record before making two more Pro Bowls. 4. Terrell Owens, 2006 – Despite an icy relationship with Bill Parcells, his production on the field was undeniable to the tune of three 1,000-yard receiving seasons and double-digit touchdowns. 3. Jay Novacek, 1990 – A converted H-back from the Arizona Cardinals, the "Plan B free agent'' made five Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls as Troy Aikman's security blanket. 2. Nate Newton, 1986 – Signed after his time as a Tampa Bay Bandit when the USFL folded, he battled his weight and finally arrived to help anchor one of the best offensive lines in NFL history while making six Pro Bowls, winning three Super Bowl rings and annually paving the way for all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith. Advertisement 1. Deion Sanders, 1995 – If you can't beat 'em, steal 'em. After losing to him and the San Francisco 49ers in the '94 NFC Championship Game, the Cowboys signed him and won the ensuing Super Bowl as he blanketed receivers, returned punts and even caught passes on offense. In five years in Dallas he lived up to the hype, making four Pro Bowls, recording 14 interceptions and scoring eight touchdowns on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Related: Cowboys Sign Packers Ex Cornerback as Free Agent Related: Cowboys Sign Two Free Agents and Cut Two from Roster This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
