Donington March 2014 - Start of a New Season

So, here we go with a whole new season.
After a bit of a mixed season last year, I was (very easily) persuaded by Mr Gray to try some upgrades over the winter.

My 06 R1 engine was tired so the plan was to upgrade to a Suzuki GSXR, go dry sump and get rid of the bonnet bulge, improve the aero with Tim's computer designed body mods, and then Robert, as they say, is your mother's brother and we're going faster.

Here she is..the first revealing!

Does my bum look big in this?...er..yes!

To be honest, if your looking for a detailed technical explanation of the rebuild you're reading the wrong blog. I realise this is not in the RGB spirit, and I'm full of admiration for those who design and build their own cars, but that's not me. I just let Tim get on with it. I didn't even see the car from leaving Cadwell to turning up at Donington on the Friday before the race weekend. Tim was sure, having driven it himself, that the car was massively improved and I was keen to drive it before the race so got myself a session on the Friday test.
Unfortunately for me we immediately had a problem with the new hydraulic clutch. I was struggling to change down below 3rd, and on a circuit with two hairpins, that wasn't good news. Also the noise limit meant that I had to short shift past the pit straight, so I was never going to get a good time. The car did feel great though, clutch issue aside, so the signs were good.

Tim tried some running repairs to the clutch during the session, and it improved a bit, but Tim resorted to going home to get a new master cylinder after the session. So by that evening we were convinced that we had fixed it.

Sisters!

The TGM camp.

Saturday morning's qualiying went well and I got third in class for both races with Paul Rickers and Richard Wise ahead of me, but not by much. I managed a 1:45.45, with Paul 1.4s ahead.Just to put that in perspective, the best time i did last year was 1:47. So 1.5s a lap quicker straight out -the-box as they say! Well it impressed me!

So I'll spare you a blow by blow race report but just give you the highlights. The videos are here.

Race 1 (part1)

 Race 1 Part 2

Race 1 - not too bad a start off the line, but at the first corner I had to avoid a spinner and span myself into the infield. I got going again quickly but dead last. The next few laps was just catching up through the field which was great fun, but frustrating. I could see Richard and Colin up ahead and was catching slowly but I didn't think there would be enough race left to catch them.
Then a stroke of luck for me. A red flag and a restart.
So on the restart I'm 4th in class on the grid. I get a really good start (lots of others stalled due to overheating problems), and I'm right up there with Paul Rickers. Do watch the video of Race 1 part 2 as it's pretty close racing. I'm amazed that I kept pace with Paul and i even had a chance to pass him into the Old Hairpin at one point (5.55 on the video), but sadly I bottled it, and that was pretty much it. That pesky Mr Rickers; using his driving talent to stay ahead like that. Grrrr...
There's also a moment when Richard Wise gets past me at the hairpin (5:20), but I get him straight back again into Redgate. Exciting stuff!
So I end up 2nd in class. I was shaking with an adrenaline rush after that. Fantastic stuff.

Race 2 (part 2)

Sunday. Race 2. Not a good start. My clutch issue reappears on the green flag lap and I can't get into neutral for the start. I'm pushed to the right side of the track and have to watch from with the side.
Then my luck is in again as another red flag stops the race (everyone unharmed but Richard Wise's car was out). Amazingly, I was allowed to start from the pit lane, and the restart counts as a completely new race so I was back in with a chance.
Again, the video tells the whole story, but basically, I drove like my hair was on fire to catch the front class F guys. I was struggling with the gear change though into the hairpins which was a little disabling, but i did, in the end, get myself up to 3rd in class.

As Austen said at the presentation; the luckiest 3rd place ever! So that no.13 isn't doing me much harm so far!

So all in all, a pretty good weekend given that it was first time out with the new mods and the persistent clutch problem. I'm so excited to be up there challenging Paul. I know he can go quicker, but I'm confident that I'll get quicker in this car as I get used to just how fast it now is and find my new limits. It bodes well for a great season.

I'll be a Silverstone. Looking forward to seeing some more Class Fs out there then...