I've been a bit lax in keeping up with my blog since Donington. Too depressed I think!
To catch up briefly - I replaced my masterswitch for Silverstone and hoped for the best. Frustratingly, that was not the solution and I managed only about 4 laps in practice. Despite plenty of better brains than mine having a quick look I could find no obvious answer and had the same problem after about 3 laps in the race. After the race Andy Bates had a quick look and found a 'clicking' relay which he suggested I changed for a new one.
Having changed the relay I booked a test day at Sliverstone and went to test if that had done the trick. Sadly not. I noticed another 'clicking' relay which was in fact the fuel pump relay. I couldn;t get a new one on the test day so I replaced it in time for Mallory and hoped for the best.
So at Mallory I am reasonably confident that I have found the problem. But no. Same thing happened. After about 3 laps the car shuts down, and the fuel pump relay is clicking away again. Also the starter doesn't work, but the instruments still work so it is not a complete electical shut down.
Andy suggest I hard wire the relay temporarily for the race. So with this done I can start the race.
I'm on the back row having only done 3 warm up laps. I get a reasonable start and avoid some spins on the first lap. I manage to get in front of one other car within the first lap. On the second lap, half way round Gerrards, the dam thing pack in again!
I'm too frustrated for words now.
This car needs some serious surgery! I'm not sure where to start but I know it will involve parting with some cash!
So what a disasterous season. I've only finished 2 races. I've made some stupid mistakes and had some appalling luck with reliability. Actually it probably has nothing to do with luck. It's bad preparation by an amatuer with no expert knowledge.
I am seriously questioning whether an individual with a very limited budget and no expertese can expect to take part in this sport.
Well we'll see. I'm not giving up yet. Watch this space. As long as I still have a job next season I'll be out there again...somehow!
Monday 13 October 2008
Sunday 27 July 2008
Donington July 20th
Early start on Sunday. Donington is about as far as I can cope with going without staying over the night before. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive. I don't go that far for my holidays!
Having replaced the clutch (just in case!) I was feeling quite confident that I would get a result this time. I have never raced here before, although I did do a track day here in my old Integrale. Not that that counts for much except that I know which direction to go.
Oh yes, one bizarre thing in scrutineering. I was told that the mesh on the bonnet was too coarse. The holes need to be less than 1mm wide. This is what, my 7th race...and they have only just noticed? I reckon they make it up as they go along! I know, I know, they're only doing their job..to keep us all safe... So I humbly promise to sort it out for next time (when they will no doubt find something else!).
Anyway, as it turns out, that was the least of my problems.
Practice time. I'm very tentative, finding my way round gradually. But what's this? The return of the dodgy electics on a left hander... and there are a few hard left handers here.
I manage to do almost a full practice session, but on the last lap the cutting out gets the better of the car and the electics pack in completely. So my trip back to the paddock is on the end of a tow rope (I think that is the first time that's happened).
No surprise that I'm almost at the back of the grid. I did a 1:25s. The lead cars are doing 1:19s.
Still, not too bad for a dodgy car and a new track, but I have a lot of catching up to do.
First problem though is to fix the car. Fortunately for me, Andy Bates is on hand. He immediately identifies a dodgy ignition switch. Even I can replace that, so that's that sorted.
So with renewed optimism I am back in the running. I actually do a not too bad start this time. I'm right in there fighting at the first corner with the pack. I manage to avoid Tim spinning in front of me and am feeling good. I had a bit of a moment at the end of the straight which turns into a tight 'essess'. I brake very late and get all locked up, then get lots of oversteer into the corner. I'm sure the crowd appreciated it. Not very quick though.
A couple of laps and I'm really getting the hang of this. I'm actually catching a pack of class C cars up front. Not a trace of the cut out problem. I can tell where I'm getting it right, and perhaps more importantly, I know that I can gain time in the 'Craner Curves' if I can be a bit braver on the brakes. This is great.
I should know by now not to enjoy this too much. Lap 6 - Redgate corner - complete electrics failure. Bugger!!!
I can do nothing other than cruise to a stop on the grass. I'm gutted. I frantically try to fiddle with the ignition switch thinking that might fix it. Fat chance.
So another tow back to the paddock.
Then guess what. As soon as I'm off the tow rope I try the ignition again and it starts. Aaaaaah.
Now I have no idea what the problem is.
Anyway, looking on the bright side, I managed a 1:21.6. The winner did a 1:19.6 so I'm 2 seconds off the pace of the leaders. Not too bad for a novice I reckon. The good thing is I can see where some of that 2 seconds could come from. Also, had I finished where I went out I would have got another 3rd in class, and I'm getting close to a top ten finish on the track. Well, you've got to have a goal haven't you!
So back to the drawing board with the electrics. Hopefully I'll be able to get to Silverstone in August.
Having replaced the clutch (just in case!) I was feeling quite confident that I would get a result this time. I have never raced here before, although I did do a track day here in my old Integrale. Not that that counts for much except that I know which direction to go.
Oh yes, one bizarre thing in scrutineering. I was told that the mesh on the bonnet was too coarse. The holes need to be less than 1mm wide. This is what, my 7th race...and they have only just noticed? I reckon they make it up as they go along! I know, I know, they're only doing their job..to keep us all safe... So I humbly promise to sort it out for next time (when they will no doubt find something else!).
Anyway, as it turns out, that was the least of my problems.
Practice time. I'm very tentative, finding my way round gradually. But what's this? The return of the dodgy electics on a left hander... and there are a few hard left handers here.
I manage to do almost a full practice session, but on the last lap the cutting out gets the better of the car and the electics pack in completely. So my trip back to the paddock is on the end of a tow rope (I think that is the first time that's happened).
No surprise that I'm almost at the back of the grid. I did a 1:25s. The lead cars are doing 1:19s.
Still, not too bad for a dodgy car and a new track, but I have a lot of catching up to do.
First problem though is to fix the car. Fortunately for me, Andy Bates is on hand. He immediately identifies a dodgy ignition switch. Even I can replace that, so that's that sorted.
So with renewed optimism I am back in the running. I actually do a not too bad start this time. I'm right in there fighting at the first corner with the pack. I manage to avoid Tim spinning in front of me and am feeling good. I had a bit of a moment at the end of the straight which turns into a tight 'essess'. I brake very late and get all locked up, then get lots of oversteer into the corner. I'm sure the crowd appreciated it. Not very quick though.
A couple of laps and I'm really getting the hang of this. I'm actually catching a pack of class C cars up front. Not a trace of the cut out problem. I can tell where I'm getting it right, and perhaps more importantly, I know that I can gain time in the 'Craner Curves' if I can be a bit braver on the brakes. This is great.
I should know by now not to enjoy this too much. Lap 6 - Redgate corner - complete electrics failure. Bugger!!!
I can do nothing other than cruise to a stop on the grass. I'm gutted. I frantically try to fiddle with the ignition switch thinking that might fix it. Fat chance.
So another tow back to the paddock.
Then guess what. As soon as I'm off the tow rope I try the ignition again and it starts. Aaaaaah.
Now I have no idea what the problem is.
Anyway, looking on the bright side, I managed a 1:21.6. The winner did a 1:19.6 so I'm 2 seconds off the pace of the leaders. Not too bad for a novice I reckon. The good thing is I can see where some of that 2 seconds could come from. Also, had I finished where I went out I would have got another 3rd in class, and I'm getting close to a top ten finish on the track. Well, you've got to have a goal haven't you!
So back to the drawing board with the electrics. Hopefully I'll be able to get to Silverstone in August.
After Brands
If you read my entry for Brands and got a sense of my dissapointment - it gets worse.
I took the car in to PDQ. They rang a couple of days later and said there was nothing wrong with the clutch, although the transfer box was out of gear (that's the special reverse gear box - the original gear box on the bike doesn't have a reverse).
So basically the car didn't have drive because it wasn't in gear!!!
How stupid did I feel. There are no words...
Now I'm having a real crisis of confidence that I can do this at all. Is it possible for a muppet like me to expect to compete in motor racing with experienced people who really know what they are doing.
Well, I'm not giving up so I might as well grin and bear the ridicule. Donington here I come!
I took the car in to PDQ. They rang a couple of days later and said there was nothing wrong with the clutch, although the transfer box was out of gear (that's the special reverse gear box - the original gear box on the bike doesn't have a reverse).
So basically the car didn't have drive because it wasn't in gear!!!
How stupid did I feel. There are no words...
Now I'm having a real crisis of confidence that I can do this at all. Is it possible for a muppet like me to expect to compete in motor racing with experienced people who really know what they are doing.
Well, I'm not giving up so I might as well grin and bear the ridicule. Donington here I come!
Wednesday 25 June 2008
July 22nd Brands Hatch
I think the less said about this weekend the better.
I turn up, get the car off the trailer - realise there is no clutch!
Doh!
No one had a spare - so back on the trailer and off I go home again.
Another one down to experience I guess.
Looking forward to Donington. Or maybe i'll just take up fishing or something!
I turn up, get the car off the trailer - realise there is no clutch!
Doh!
No one had a spare - so back on the trailer and off I go home again.
Another one down to experience I guess.
Looking forward to Donington. Or maybe i'll just take up fishing or something!
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Brands Hatch 19th & 20th April
An encouraging start to the season, I reckon.
I must admit I was not looking forward to another wet weekend. From my brief experience at Silverstone last year, I am not good in the wet. Still, I need the experience and I reckon Brands won't have the flooding problems that Snetterton had, given that it's so hilly.
So sure enough the practice session on Saturday morning is soaking wet. It wasn't quite as bad as Silverstone though and I manage to stay on the black stuff. Still scary though, and when I come back to the paddock I am shaking like a big girl's blouse.
I have been unable to replace the rear anti-roll bar since Silverstone, and, to be honest, I couldn't really tell the difference to the handling, although I am told that a soft rear end is better in the wet. Anyway, I posted a best lap of 1:04.26 which got me 20th out of 32 on the grid in race 1 and 19th in race 2.
So I am losing at least 10 seconds a lap in the wet - the leading cars are losing about 7 seconds, so I still have a lot to learn!
Saturday afternoon sees slightly clearer skies, but still a bit of a drizzle in the air. Sitting on the grid before the start I remember this time last year which was my first ever race. I'm not quite so nervous as I was, but it still gets the heart beating like nothing else I have ever done. I really want to hold this together. I was pretty useless at starts last year and I have had no practice so my race could be won or lost in the first few seconds!
I'm 20th on the grid, but 4th in class A, and right alongside the 3rd class A car (1st and 2nd are right up the front so no chance of seeing them!). I really want to get into 3rd and try to hold my position. The lights go red, then off (which means go, by the way), and I dump the clutch in a mad frenzy. The start line is on a slight slope down to my right and because the wheels are spinning so much I drift forward at about a 30 degree angle for a few yards. Definitely not the quickest way! As if to punish my crap driving at least 4 cars come past me like I was standing still. Not good. So now I'm playing catch up just to get back to where I was on the grid.
I always lose count of the number of laps I've done, but early in the race I see Steve Robinson (the no2 class A car) on the side. That's good - I have a chance of a top 3 class position now if I can keep going. I wish I hadn't thought that - I'm in the thick of a bunch of cars going into Graham Hill and touch a wheel on the wet grass and spin right across the track to the grass on the other side. Fortunately the barrier is well set back there and I manage to stop, keep the car running and get back on. Not without losing a whole bunch of positions though. Now I really am playing catch up.
I must say though, this is fun. I manage to get past a few of the much slower cars and really sense that I am catching the pack that I was in when I span. Just another lap or two and I'll get them back - but the race is all too short this time and the chequered flag spoils my fun.
Unbelievably, there were 3 class A retirements so I did get that 3rd in class (which is obviously much better than saying I was 19th on the track!). I know it means nothing, but I was quite pleased that my lap times showed I was the 3rd fastest class A car, and had I not spun I had the pace to get 2nd in class. Mind you, most of the cars that are faster than me have less power - so I'll just shut up now!
Actually, no I won't, because Sunday was even more exciting.
Definitely a dry race this time. Not a great start but marginally better than last time. This is really close racing. I've no idea how I manage not to hit someone. Again I was hoping to get ahead of the 3rd place class A car but have failed miserably and now he is a couple of cars ahead. I can't get past a class B car ahead and the pack in front of him is pulling away. I am definitely quicker than the guy in front, but I just can;t quite make that crucial move to get past. It is my closest race yet. I've also got another car in my mirrors the whole time and trying to stop him getting past is distracting me from getting in position to make a move on the guy in front. Frustrating, but at the same time, a fantastic dice.
I notice Buzz has had a big shunt. A sobering moment. He was OK though. The race is stopped and we line up for a re-start. That's good - more practice for me. It worked well for me this time and I gained a few places at the start.
So I end up 17th on the track this time - but only 4th in class as there were fewer casualties this time. It showed on my lap times that I was being held up in the race. I reckon I need some serious race-craft lessons - overtaking being a reasonably fundamental skill in motorracing!
I must admit I was not looking forward to another wet weekend. From my brief experience at Silverstone last year, I am not good in the wet. Still, I need the experience and I reckon Brands won't have the flooding problems that Snetterton had, given that it's so hilly.
So sure enough the practice session on Saturday morning is soaking wet. It wasn't quite as bad as Silverstone though and I manage to stay on the black stuff. Still scary though, and when I come back to the paddock I am shaking like a big girl's blouse.
I have been unable to replace the rear anti-roll bar since Silverstone, and, to be honest, I couldn't really tell the difference to the handling, although I am told that a soft rear end is better in the wet. Anyway, I posted a best lap of 1:04.26 which got me 20th out of 32 on the grid in race 1 and 19th in race 2.
So I am losing at least 10 seconds a lap in the wet - the leading cars are losing about 7 seconds, so I still have a lot to learn!
Saturday afternoon sees slightly clearer skies, but still a bit of a drizzle in the air. Sitting on the grid before the start I remember this time last year which was my first ever race. I'm not quite so nervous as I was, but it still gets the heart beating like nothing else I have ever done. I really want to hold this together. I was pretty useless at starts last year and I have had no practice so my race could be won or lost in the first few seconds!
I'm 20th on the grid, but 4th in class A, and right alongside the 3rd class A car (1st and 2nd are right up the front so no chance of seeing them!). I really want to get into 3rd and try to hold my position. The lights go red, then off (which means go, by the way), and I dump the clutch in a mad frenzy. The start line is on a slight slope down to my right and because the wheels are spinning so much I drift forward at about a 30 degree angle for a few yards. Definitely not the quickest way! As if to punish my crap driving at least 4 cars come past me like I was standing still. Not good. So now I'm playing catch up just to get back to where I was on the grid.
I always lose count of the number of laps I've done, but early in the race I see Steve Robinson (the no2 class A car) on the side. That's good - I have a chance of a top 3 class position now if I can keep going. I wish I hadn't thought that - I'm in the thick of a bunch of cars going into Graham Hill and touch a wheel on the wet grass and spin right across the track to the grass on the other side. Fortunately the barrier is well set back there and I manage to stop, keep the car running and get back on. Not without losing a whole bunch of positions though. Now I really am playing catch up.
I must say though, this is fun. I manage to get past a few of the much slower cars and really sense that I am catching the pack that I was in when I span. Just another lap or two and I'll get them back - but the race is all too short this time and the chequered flag spoils my fun.
Unbelievably, there were 3 class A retirements so I did get that 3rd in class (which is obviously much better than saying I was 19th on the track!). I know it means nothing, but I was quite pleased that my lap times showed I was the 3rd fastest class A car, and had I not spun I had the pace to get 2nd in class. Mind you, most of the cars that are faster than me have less power - so I'll just shut up now!
Actually, no I won't, because Sunday was even more exciting.
Definitely a dry race this time. Not a great start but marginally better than last time. This is really close racing. I've no idea how I manage not to hit someone. Again I was hoping to get ahead of the 3rd place class A car but have failed miserably and now he is a couple of cars ahead. I can't get past a class B car ahead and the pack in front of him is pulling away. I am definitely quicker than the guy in front, but I just can;t quite make that crucial move to get past. It is my closest race yet. I've also got another car in my mirrors the whole time and trying to stop him getting past is distracting me from getting in position to make a move on the guy in front. Frustrating, but at the same time, a fantastic dice.
I notice Buzz has had a big shunt. A sobering moment. He was OK though. The race is stopped and we line up for a re-start. That's good - more practice for me. It worked well for me this time and I gained a few places at the start.
So I end up 17th on the track this time - but only 4th in class as there were fewer casualties this time. It showed on my lap times that I was being held up in the race. I reckon I need some serious race-craft lessons - overtaking being a reasonably fundamental skill in motorracing!
Well that's about all for now - oh except to say that after 2 races I am 8th in the championship - I'm enjoying the moment - it won't last!
Saturday 29 March 2008
This year's dates.
These are the dates that I hope to do this year.
April 19th and 20th - Brands Hatch
June 22nd - Brands Hatch (two races).
July 20th - Donington
August 23rd - Silverstone
October 12th - Mallory Park.
If you want to come to any of these let me know - I may have some spare tickets.
April 19th and 20th - Brands Hatch
June 22nd - Brands Hatch (two races).
July 20th - Donington
August 23rd - Silverstone
October 12th - Mallory Park.
If you want to come to any of these let me know - I may have some spare tickets.
Tuesday 18 March 2008
Snetterton 16th March - A wash out!
Well the problems encountered at Silverstone are fixed. A rebalanced prop shaft and a new thingamigig in the whatsiname seems to have done the trick (sorry if that's a bit too technical for you). Anyway, I'm ready and off to Snetterton.
Sunday morning does not bode well. Up at the crack of dawn. Pouring with rain. This is not feeling like fun already! Ho hum. It's all experience in the wet - and boy do I need that.
A very boring 2 and a half hours later; still raining. There is talk of serious delays to practice. I get scutineered anyway. No problems thank goodness.
Sunday morning does not bode well. Up at the crack of dawn. Pouring with rain. This is not feeling like fun already! Ho hum. It's all experience in the wet - and boy do I need that.
A very boring 2 and a half hours later; still raining. There is talk of serious delays to practice. I get scutineered anyway. No problems thank goodness.
Waiting in the rain - I did at least manage to get my new numbers on!3 hours of hanging about and then we are all told to go home. There is standing water on the straight and it is not considered safe.
I wonder how come Silverstone doesn't have that problem.
Well, nothing I can do. Put that one down to experience. I will think twice about even turning up next time though!
Next up - Brands, next month.
Sunday 2 March 2008
Saturday 1st March - Silverstone Track Day
Saturday 1st March - my first time out this year. I have arranged for my nephew, Oliver Bryant, to come with me and give me some professional tuition (if you haven't heard of him, check out his web site on the link at the top of the page).
Olly's the young good looking one!
Armed with a new oil cooler, and seat (see last years blog -my last race at Snetterton for how I broke my seat), I'm off to Silverstone on a Gold Track track day.
I remember now what I love, and what I hate about track days.
What I love is the chance to see all that exotica in action. It's amazing isn't it. There must be, what, a few hundred 997 GT3 RSs in the country? I reckon nearly all of them where there. It was like a Porsche Club meeting. That's not to mention all the 996 GT3s, a Lambo Mercialago, a couple of Carrera GTs, and more M3s than you could count. Oh and I spotted a new Nissan GTR in the car park.
What amuses me is that these guys are out there in their hunded grand cars, burning up thousand of pounds worth of tyres going as fast as they dare, and here's me in my old bath tub of a Westy worth a few quid, and I can easily keep up with them. There's a certain satisfaction in that for me (not that I wouldn't do the same if I had a shed load of money to play with!).
What I dislike about track days is the fact that you can't do any timing, so you have no idea whether you are improving or not.
Having said that, Oliver is a good instructor and I reckon I picked up a few really good tips, not just for the Silverstone GP circuit, but for everywhere, like how to deal with chronic understeer, and getting in the habit of using all of the track width even if you don't think you need to.
It was an eventful day though to say the least.
Firstly Olly had a set of hemets with an intercom system so that we could talk to each other. Well that was the idea anyway and I'm sure it would work well in a car with a roof - or even a windscreen, but with neither the wind noise was just too much at anything more than cruising pace. So we did our best with hand signals and lots of post- lap briefings.
I then got a bit too brave at Copse and span and rode sideways over the curb. I can't be sure, but it was probably that that broke my rear roll bar. I must admit I didn't notice anything different except a vibration that we both put down to flat spotted tyres, but we were black flagged and had to come in. The remains of the roll bar had snapped and was hanging loose. That in turn must have knocked the rubber boot off the drive shaft and there was diff oil everywhere.
We cobbled together a repair to the drive shaft seal, removed the roll bar and got out there again. We lasted nearly another whole session but then developed a severe vibration which felt bad enough to need to come in and sort out. I got the wheels balanced and did a bit of nut tightening, but one more lap showed it wasn't fixed so we called it a day.
Back to Spirit for a check over before my first race on the 17th. I'm hoping it's just the prop shaft out of balance. We'll see..
I remember now what I love, and what I hate about track days.
What I love is the chance to see all that exotica in action. It's amazing isn't it. There must be, what, a few hundred 997 GT3 RSs in the country? I reckon nearly all of them where there. It was like a Porsche Club meeting. That's not to mention all the 996 GT3s, a Lambo Mercialago, a couple of Carrera GTs, and more M3s than you could count. Oh and I spotted a new Nissan GTR in the car park.
What amuses me is that these guys are out there in their hunded grand cars, burning up thousand of pounds worth of tyres going as fast as they dare, and here's me in my old bath tub of a Westy worth a few quid, and I can easily keep up with them. There's a certain satisfaction in that for me (not that I wouldn't do the same if I had a shed load of money to play with!).
What I dislike about track days is the fact that you can't do any timing, so you have no idea whether you are improving or not.
Having said that, Oliver is a good instructor and I reckon I picked up a few really good tips, not just for the Silverstone GP circuit, but for everywhere, like how to deal with chronic understeer, and getting in the habit of using all of the track width even if you don't think you need to.
It was an eventful day though to say the least.
Firstly Olly had a set of hemets with an intercom system so that we could talk to each other. Well that was the idea anyway and I'm sure it would work well in a car with a roof - or even a windscreen, but with neither the wind noise was just too much at anything more than cruising pace. So we did our best with hand signals and lots of post- lap briefings.
I then got a bit too brave at Copse and span and rode sideways over the curb. I can't be sure, but it was probably that that broke my rear roll bar. I must admit I didn't notice anything different except a vibration that we both put down to flat spotted tyres, but we were black flagged and had to come in. The remains of the roll bar had snapped and was hanging loose. That in turn must have knocked the rubber boot off the drive shaft and there was diff oil everywhere.
We cobbled together a repair to the drive shaft seal, removed the roll bar and got out there again. We lasted nearly another whole session but then developed a severe vibration which felt bad enough to need to come in and sort out. I got the wheels balanced and did a bit of nut tightening, but one more lap showed it wasn't fixed so we called it a day.
Back to Spirit for a check over before my first race on the 17th. I'm hoping it's just the prop shaft out of balance. We'll see..
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