Well this just gets better and better.
No trophy this time, but the best ever track position (8th) and the most exciting race ever.
Oh yes, and we are going to be on the telly.
I did the bikesport race again this time, mainly for the practice as it doesn't count in the championship, but I need all the practice I can get and it was pretty good value.
The race was 30 minutes - the longest race I have done so far, and it was quite interesting. Obviously all but the novice bikesports cars were much quicker than the RGB cars with their aero and slicks, but I had a great battle with Paul R. Our cars are very well matched although I reckon Paul has maybe half a second a lap on me when he is really on it. I was right behind him on the grid and stayed with him for about the first 6 laps. I even had a little go at getting past him into Russell at one point.
I then thought about what an immense strain I was putting on the car keeping up that pace and thought if I was going to get past him we might take each other off, and ruin my RGB race. So I backed off just a tad. I started to short shift, and brake a bit earlier. Once I had decided to back off, Paul disappeared ahead. I was then out on my own. I stuck with it to the end but actually it was very boring. I should have come in really but just couldn't bring myself to give up.
Interesting phycology going on there! A race for points and a trophy is far more exciting than one without. Go figure!
Anyway, on to the main gig.
Qualified in 10th position which means 5th row on the grid - equal to my best.
And oh what a race.
I found myself in a 4 way battle with Colin, Henry and Richard, all class C leaders. My power advantage kept me up there with them despite my lack of speed through some, but not all, of the corners.
I got past Richard who then did a mad lunge into Russell to get past me which ended in him collecting the tyres somewhat terminally.
No trophy this time, but the best ever track position (8th) and the most exciting race ever.
Oh yes, and we are going to be on the telly.
I did the bikesport race again this time, mainly for the practice as it doesn't count in the championship, but I need all the practice I can get and it was pretty good value.
The race was 30 minutes - the longest race I have done so far, and it was quite interesting. Obviously all but the novice bikesports cars were much quicker than the RGB cars with their aero and slicks, but I had a great battle with Paul R. Our cars are very well matched although I reckon Paul has maybe half a second a lap on me when he is really on it. I was right behind him on the grid and stayed with him for about the first 6 laps. I even had a little go at getting past him into Russell at one point.
I then thought about what an immense strain I was putting on the car keeping up that pace and thought if I was going to get past him we might take each other off, and ruin my RGB race. So I backed off just a tad. I started to short shift, and brake a bit earlier. Once I had decided to back off, Paul disappeared ahead. I was then out on my own. I stuck with it to the end but actually it was very boring. I should have come in really but just couldn't bring myself to give up.
Interesting phycology going on there! A race for points and a trophy is far more exciting than one without. Go figure!
Anyway, on to the main gig.
Qualified in 10th position which means 5th row on the grid - equal to my best.
And oh what a race.
I found myself in a 4 way battle with Colin, Henry and Richard, all class C leaders. My power advantage kept me up there with them despite my lack of speed through some, but not all, of the corners.
I got past Richard who then did a mad lunge into Russell to get past me which ended in him collecting the tyres somewhat terminally.
I was then following an epic battle between Colin and Henry. At one point, when Henry had got ahead of Colin, I managed to get a nose ahead of Colin down the straight only for him to outbrake me and drive round the outside of me into the essess. A humbling lesson in how to take that corner!
The rest of the race was a masterclass for me in how to drive Snetterton. I stayed with Colin and Henry as they swapped positions several times. I was thinking that I was unlikely to get past these two unless they take each other off.
Then on the last corner of the last lap Henry made another mad lunge and went off, long enough for me to get past and take 8th.
I was 4th in class A.
I can't tell you how good it felt to have been part of such a great race. It brought a lump to my throat! Not as exciting as Colin's race though who got his first class win. I hadn't realised at the time that the battle I was in the thick of was actually the class C front runners, but I felt quite honoured to have been part of it.
So, all in all, a good day.
Looking at the lap times I am still well off the leading pace (1.19s compared to 1.14s) but the 3 class A leaders (and normally 4 but Doug was not there) are mid engined cars so there is no way I could match that. There are some front engined class B cars doing 1:17s which is where I reckon I ought to be, but clearly I have much to learn to knock 2 seconds off my times. Maybe some of that is in the set up of the car, maybe not.
Anyway, one thing I can say is that I am currently the leading class A front engined car. That's got to be worth something hasn't it?
Maybe I should go mid engined next season. Actually I'm enjoying the challenge of pushing myself and my car as far as I can and I don't think I'm there yet. I'm enjoying the ride though.
Oh, p.s. - the day was televised by Motors TV (Sky). Haven't seen it yet. No doubt it will end up on Youtube somehow. I'll post a link when it does.
Mallory again next and then the Birkett.
