Not only a 3rd in class (ok I've done that twice before but this time was particularly satisfying), but I've smashed my personal best lap by 0.8s. I did a 52.5!
So, another double header weekend. First time out with the Bongo (my new camper van - see pic).
I have done literally nothing to the car since last time out at Brands other than clean the fuel vent valve. But then, if it ain't broke and all that.
I did ok in qualifying - two laps of exactly 53.45 (chances of that!). Not as good as my best ever lap here so far but I am fairly sure that was my best qualifying time. That put me 12th in the first race (Saturday) and 11th in the second (Sunday).
So I'm on the outside of the track in race 1. 5th row. That's pretty much up there with the big boys!
Anyway, sitting on the grid it starts to rain. We sit there for what seems ages, getting wet! Eventually we get the off and I do my usual over revved mad blast off the line which puts me very sideways on the sloping start line. I think that stopped Austen and Colin getting past at that point (unintentionally of course). As the grip comes I find myself flying down the outside of paddock and up past Doug. I can hardly believe it. I seem to have forgotten that it's wet, or found a dry line on the outside of paddock. Paul (the leading class A car) had a spin out of paddock and somehow I'm in 8th place by Druids and 2nd in class A! (You can see a bit of this in Austen's video here-)
Then I find I am keeping up with the leading pack. I keep this up for about 4 laps before Doug gets me and then Tony. But they're not getting too far away from me. What a blast!
I must have been really on it. I end up 10th on the track (equalling my best ever result) and 3rd in class (ditto), but the big news for me was the lap time of 52.5!
Looking back at my blog last time I said that knocking a whole second off my best of 53.3 would put me in the top 3. Well I'm 80% there! Another half a second and I really would be up there on top table.
It was a huge boost for me to have my fellow competitors coming up to me saying what a great drive I had.
Thinking back I reckon I can identify where I gained the time. Probably the braking into Paddock, and getting on the power early out of Clearways. It really makes a difference to be chasing the pack. It's the best tuition you can get.
So the first night ever in the Bongo. The folded down bed was a bit lumpy - I need to sort that out - I must play with the pressures in the inflatable bed. Maybe get some advice on the best ratios for Brands bed set up...
Anyway, on to Sunday's race.
In theory I was 1 place further up the grid this time, but in fact that meant I was on the inside which means you just get blocked in. There will be no shooting down the outside of Paddock this time. At least it was dry.
But what a disasterous start. In my head I thought I would be up into the leading pack off the line. What happened was I sat there spinning the wheenls for a while whilst everyone else went past. Oh dear. There goes Austen, Colin, Phil... oops. You know when you're playing a racing game on playstation and you mess up and just cancel and start again. I wanted to do that. It's just so unfair.
My race was then just a battle with Phil. I'm sure there was a time when I could take Phil easily with my extra grunt. Not now. I don't know what he's done but I could not get past him. It's amazing how wide he can make that car. Every lap I would get almost along side him down the straight and hope to outbrake him and nick the inside line round Paddock. Every time I couldn;t quite get there. On one lap I got up the inside only to touch wings and then thought better of just barging through. On another lap Phil made a bit of an error at Graham Hill bend but just as I had an opportunity to get a nose ahead I fluffed a gear change and missed it. Doh!
So I finished 12th. Behind Phil. 4th in class. An excellent dice, but very frustrating as I know I could go faster but my race craft needs a bit of work still.
(I'll put up some links to some video clips shortly).
So one trophy for the weekend. Despite the frustrations of Sunday's race I am really, really pleased with that.
I would have had to rely on one of the top 3 class A cars having a problem to get 3rd in that race even if I had got past Phil so in terms of the championship it made no difference. I would like to know that I could beat some class B cars though.
There is much discussion at the moment about changes to the regs for the 2012 season. The plan is to split the classes into just 2: front engined and mid engined, all with 1000cc engines. That would mean that my car would become ineligible (eventually - I would be allowed to continue if I wanted to but no new entrants with 'busa engines would be allowed). So I will probably swap my 'busa for a 1000cc engine and stick in the front engined class. I would love to go mid engined but I don't think I have the budget. Mind you - by 2012-maybe.
I have had a real boost this weekend. I am now thinking that my car is not such a barrier to a big improvement in performance after all. It really is just down to my driving. If I can gain a nearly a second through just being braver on the brakes, what could I do if I get the car set up properly? I will never be able to compete with the mid engined boys, but could I hope to get up to the pace of the leading class B front engined cars? Another half a second and I'm there.
I am more excited about this racing than ever now.
The next race is at Cadwell Park in North Lincolnshire. I've never raced there so I don;t expect much. But watch this space!
