Snetterton again, 20th September

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.

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.

Silverstone 22nd August 2009

I got a trophy! Whoopee!!

Ok calm down. It was only a 3rd in class, and that was only because two of the class A leaders broke down. But hey! you know what they say, if you want to finish first, first you've got to finish! I know that cliche doesn't work for third but you know what I mean.



Quite a good day all in all. Although saying that I feel slightly disapointed that my lap times are stubbornly about the same as last time out here (1:07s). I could call on racing driver excuse number 37, oil on the track at a crucial point at Becketts, but actually the truth is I am just not getting it right yet in the crucial fast corners.



Anyway, some memorable moments.

In practice I had a interesting view from the back of Phil's car as it exploded in a cloud of white smoke. I have never seen an engine give way in quite such dramatic fashion. The car was completely engulfed in dense white smoke for a couple of hundered yards along the pit straight. So much so that Phil must have been blinded for most of it. Well done Phil for not losing it. I moved over to avoid him but still got covered in oil.



The race was quite eventful as well. Having had a frankly hopeless qualifying I was 22nd on the grid (out of 29) which means I was starting slightly on a bend at Woodcote. On the lights I got a blinder of a start (for me, that is) and gained at least 4 places. Then bunched up with the pack into Becketts only to see a whole lot of carnage going on in front. David Wale's car was very badly damaged and several others were losing bits left right and centre. I picked a line through the middle as best I could and remarkably I went through unscathed. Quite unbeleivable now that I think about it. Anyway I was thinking, great I must be at least in the top ten now. Sadly, an inevitably of course, it was not to be. The red flags came out and we reformed the grid as we had started. Back to 22nd (well about 20th of those that survived).

I had a great start again but found myself in a little battle with a couple of class c cars who were annoyingly quick. Actually I had a great dice with Damian. He was trying just a tad too hard though and span off a couple of times. I managed to remain slow but consistent and stayed ahead!

One point that I was annoyed with myself about was that I lost a lot of ground to the pack ahead of me under yellow flags. I thought you were supposed to back off a bit under yellows. It seems that if anyone else did it was undetectable. (sorry - there I go again - racing driver excuse number 38).



Anyway, bottom line is I finished 11th on the track having gained 11 places from my starting position, and 3rd in class. So I was chuffed with that.



My wife and daughter, and my mate Joe turned up to witness my moment of glory so that was good.

No damage or problems with the car so looking forward to Snetterton in September.



Oh by the way, a footnote that makes me feel rather sober. For much of the morning before practice I was watching a plane doing aerobatics in the skies directly above us which was facsinating and awe inspiring. After practice I didn't see it again.

I've just read in the Sunday papers that, at about the time we were out in practice, that plane crashed and the pilot died...

Mallory Park. 2nd August 09

I think this weekend qualifies as one of the best ever. Not so much in terms of absolute results, but in terms of some great, close battles on the track.

Just for the record, I had two races, with a 16th place (5th in class) and a 12th place (4th in class) with my best lap time of the day of 51.64 in the second race.



It was another example of a very close field. I noticed that I have knocked about a second off my time when I first raced here. If I knocked another second off my time I ought to be getting about 4 places up the grid, but I would still only be about the 4th quickest in class A. So I have a lot of work to do to be consistently getting even a regular 3rd in class.



Still, as I say, the absolute result is not what it's about. Both races were exceptionally close and the just the best fun. The second race was especially exciting as I was behind Andy Grant most of the time and I knew I was quicker on the track, but I just could not find a way past (even though Austen did which was rather depressing!). There's some good video of this from Austen's car at this link (health warning - watching in-car video is very boring unless you were there!!).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVXukh94pIs&feature=player_embedded



Sadly the video misses my major drifting moment into Gerrards. From where I was sitting it felt like I was on full opposite lock for half the corner, but it probably looks like a imperceptable twitch on film. Shame. That was my one failed attempt to dive up the inside in a heroic overtaking manouvre into Gerrards which sadly failed. Hey ho!



So areas for improvement as always - 1.race craft. Must learn to be a little braver and overtake now and then. 2. must learn about suspension set up.



I've now bought a book re point 2. Off to read up on it now.



Silverstone next. Can't wait.



Oh by the way, I was just giving that upstart Mr Hamilton a few tips the other day when he popped in to my Baker Street place...

20th June - Brands again

Check out some pics at this link:
http://www.rgb-racing.org.uk/rgbbb/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=270#p1865

What a roller coaster ride this motor racing lark is. After the disaster with the diff last time I was pretty despondent about the whole thing, but this weekend has restored my faith!

I got a 10th place in the RGB race (equalling my best ever so far) and had a great race with the bikesports before that where I managed by best ever lap time (53.36s) knocking nearly 0.6s off my previous best time here.

I know that doesn't sound much, but if I could keep that pace up for a whole race I would be in the running for a top 5 finish. I know I've still got a lot to learn but I really feel that I'm getting better.



A quick update on the diff problem. It turned out to be entirely down to my own poor preparation. A prop shaft mounting worked loose, causing the diff casing to break. The prop shaft then damaged the chassis around it. So one new diff casing, a lot of re-welding of the chassis and a big cheque later the car is ready to go. I have strict instructions from Steve at Spirit Automotive to keep everything tight from now on!


So, despite feeling financially bruised, I see no point in spending the money to fix the car and then not using it, so I signed up for the additional 2 races in the bikesports series that were on offer. So that's going to be 2 qualifying sessions and 3 races in one day. There won't be much time for fixing anything if it goes wrong this time! Mind you, we have the luxury of using the garages and the scutineers come to us rather than us having to queue for hours to see them. I could get used to that! Like being a proper racing driver!



First up is the bikesports qualifying. Fairly luke warm performance. End up 11th on the grid. Not my best lap time by a long way. I had my excuses lined up. Tyres too cold, not been out for 6 weeks, new brake pads, blah, blah...



Quick check of the nuts and bolts aroung the diff. Mmm. Bit of a worry. All the mounting bolts are loose already! I only have about an hour at most, so a very quick spanner check all round and off to the RGB qualifying.

Slight improvement in the lap time this session, but only 14th on the grid. As I mentioned earlier, the 7 cars in front of me are all seperated by less than 3/4 of a second! This is going to be a tight race!



Spanner check again. This is a worry as the diff bolts are working loose after very session.

I'll have to find a way to fix that.


So, on to the first bikesports race.

Bikesports, by the way, are cars with similar engines to RGB, but are allowed modifications, wings and slicks. The quickest of them are doing under 47s laps. We have about 7 RGB cars doing this race though so I won't be on my own at the back.



Well the result sheet doesn't really tell the story this time. I only managed 11th but what an exciting race. I manage my usual trick of messing up the start and letting a slower car through which, somewhat ironically in this case was one of the bikesports cars. Anyway, after a heroic overtaking manouvre up the inside into Druids (ooh- sounds like a proper racing driver thing to say doesn't it!) I get past and then the race is on to catch Bob and Austen who have gained about the length of the straight ahead of me. To my surprise I can tell that I am indeed closing the gap and being out on my own I can take some clean lines rather than worrying about defending every corner. By the last lap I reckon I have a good chance of getting past Bob. Going into the last corner before the straight I am getting a bit over excited and lose some time with some rather wasteful oversteer (which Bob had captured rather well on his in car video here-http://www.rgb-racing.org.uk/rgbbb/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=270#p1850 -you have to go all the way to the end though!).
I gain a bit on the straight and we cross the line together. I honestly could not tell whether I had got past or not. As it happens, I was 0.04s behind him. I didn't mind too much - it was a superb feeling having such a close race.

Bob has since told me that he had a fuel problem on the last lap which is why I caught him so quickly at the end. And here's me thinking it was my skill. Doh! Nevertheless, my best lap was 53.36s which is a fantastic improvement for me. Dead chuffed with that.

My RBG race next. I was pleased with my start this time. I think I gained at least 2 places into the first corner. I knew this was going to be close racing but it has been a while since I've been in the thick of it like this. Great stuff!

I got an extra boost when Al Boulton and Colin Chapman span in front of me. So I'm thinking that's 4 places gained! Fantastic! Trouble is, Al went and spoiled my fun by catching me up rather too quickly for my liking. So two steps forward and one step back! Then Steve Robinson has a problem. Colin Chapman was looming in my mirrors so the last lap was a defensive game but I did indeed hold him off.

So, 10th on the track. Best ever result. Ok, only 5th in class but there are a lot of class A cars these days! Pleased with that.

I only have about half an hour before the last bikesports race. I am worried about the diff mountings so another quick spanner check. Sadly one of the bolts appears to have threaded and I can't tighten it. There is no way I'm going to risk running like that, and there is no time to fix it so that's that for the day.

I was thinking, whilst trying to stay awake watching the Grand Prix. Who's the better driver, Button or Hamilton? Obviously the car makes up 80% of the result so we will probably never know. The best driver is probably the one squeezing half a second a lap more out of a bad car than the car really ought to be capable of at the back of the field.

So, and humour me here, where does that put me in the RGB league? Obviously we all know Derek is the best driver, no question, but below that? I reckon the usual suspects in the top 5 are genuinely in the top league and are not there just because they have the quickest cars. But could it be that I am actually not a bad driver, I am just struggling with a badly set up car?

Well probably not, but I can dream can't I? Being a good racing driver is about knowing what the car is doing wrong and being able to at least communicate that to someone who can fix it if not doing it oneself. Sadly that aspect of racing is like a whole chapter I haven't got to yet. But I reckon I am at least getting to the point where I think those last 2 seconds a lap could be gained as much by setting up the car properly rather than just my driving.

Anyway, I will get the car ready for Mallory with renewed vigour and see if I can at least finish some more races. Can't wait!

Brands Hatch April 09

Well that weekend was good while it lasted.
Cruelly cut short by a broken diff.

Still, looking on the bright side, I had a good qualifying session and half an exciting race.

Having had a rain shower early on Saturday I thought we might be in for a wet qualifying, but for once the forecast was right and it was sunny by 9am. I got out on track about mid field and got stuck behind some slightly slower cars, but managed to get past (under a blue flag as it happens which doesn't happen to me often!)
I was really pushing on through Clearways which is an area where I reckon I can improve my time (the other one being paddock). I can get lots of oversteer through there which means I can get on the power early for the straight. It works, and it's great fun. I did have one major sideways moment on one lap-definitely not the fastest way round a corner, but it gets the adrenaline flowing!

Anyway, I end up with a best lap of 53.9 which is half a second quicker than I've ever done before round here. I am within a few tenths now of my nephew, Oliver's time when he drove this car here. But then he's a natural, and he probably wasn't trying very hard!

More importantly I was 12th on the grid for the race - row 6 - which is my best qualifying position ever (so far!). I was dead chuffed with that.

Back in the paddock I found an oil leak which was, thankfully, easily fixed, and a quick spanner check revealed some very loose nuts and bolts in the drive shaft which was a bit of a worry, but again, easily fixed.

On to the race then. It was quite a novelty to be sitting on the grid with only five rows of cars in front. I could almost plan my trajectory off the line stright up the outside of 5 cars at once to a heroic win. Sorry, daydreaming there. The reality was more like, when the lights went out I went backwards 3 places (relatively speaking of course although I woudn't put it past me to select reverse on the grid!). Too much wheelspin. I really need to practice those starts!

So now I'm chasing the same cars I was qualifying with. A good dice but frustrating because the first few laps are under a yellow flag at clearways which is where I'm most likely to be able to overtake, so the leaders pull away.
Then, on lap 8, I'm approaching paddock at full chat and suddenly it sounds like someone's shaking a bag of spanners behind my head. I have visions of the drive shafts coming loose and bashing me on the head. I then realise that that is not happening so it must be the diff. I find out later that at this point I am spraying oil all over the guy behind, but I didn't know that at the time, but I did know it sounded terminal. So I pulled off as soon as I could.
Sure enough the diff has sprayed oil all over the place and is clearly broken.

What is great about the RGB lot is their enthusiasm to help. Unfortunately no one had a spare diff so that was that for my weekend. Doubly dissapointing since I missed the second RGB race on the Sunday and the 2 bikesports races that I entered (for the experience).

So back home with my broken toy. I'm not out again until June so I've got time to get it fixed.
I'll be back!

I've since found out about Paul Rogers' story of his weekend with his new car. He totally rebuilt has engine on Friday night after testing on Friday - had problems on Saturday with a mechanical fault, and then went on to win on Sunday. Makes my efforts sound rather pathetic!
Once again, I am in awe of the RGB guys (and girl). All the more pleasing that I'm even in the game.

Snetterton 14th & 15th March 2009

What a fantastic weekend that was.

I managed to finish both races, improve my lap times from last time I was here, and get a top 10 position in a race for the first time ever - oh yes, and I have now completed 6 races which means I can ditch my novice badge!

I know how boring these blogs can be so I'll keep it short (I mainly write them for my own benefit anyway so I won't be offended if you skip the rest!).

Qualifying went reasonably well, apart from the minor issue of not pinning my bonnet down and having to fix it in the pit lane. Anyway, that fixed I was reasonably tentative being the first time out this year but the car felt pretty good. I couldn't detect any loss of power due to the cat, and everything was holding together.

In a way the problem with the bonnet did me a favour because I was half a lap down on everyone else for the session which meant I was well out of the way when a few cars had a big off at the bomb hole and dumped a load of oil on the track. It got a bit slippy so that was the end of that as far as getting a good time was concerned.


So I qualified fairly consistently on 16th and 15th (out of 26) on the grid (1:21:93 and 1:22:06).



In the first race we had a red flag on lap one. I didn't mind too much - I got a terrible start anyway! Second time round was a bit better. I forget how bloody quick this car is. If I get the start right I can easily keep up with the pack. Trouble is it all gets very messy at the first corner and my survival instinct means I tend to back off a bit which just lets people through. I suppose it has allowed me to avoid any damage so far, but I spend the next few laps getting past slower cars and letting the rest of the pack get away.


Race 1 was a long one - 23 mins plus a lap (it should have been 28mins but for the restart). It was a great race for me but at least four cars went off for one reason or another. Anyway I managed to finish 10th which is my best finish ever (out of 17 finishers). I was 4th in class which I was very pleased with (although someone will no doubt kindly point out that of the cars that finished I was last in class!). My best lap was 1:19:56, so I achieved my aim of beating my best time of 1:19.7.

Sunday's race was equally exciting for me. I end up 11th (4th in class again) and did a 1:19:41 so that time is creaping down. Another second off that and I'll be up with Mr Carter (fat chance!).

Anyway, I'm starting to feel as though I'm getting the hang of this. I can still see where I could gain some time. I could carry more speed into Corner 1 for instance, and it understeers like my Fiat 500 on a wet roundabout round Corum, so maybe I can work on that. But on the whole, I'm chuffed to bits.

It was good to have an evening out with the guys on Saturday. How about £2.99 for a full roast dinner? It's cheaper than not going out.

Also, first time I've camped out in the car. That went well. No really - it was very cosy! Who need a motorhome eh?

Anyway, looking forward to Brands.

Check out this video from race1 (that's me on the left most of the time in the picture):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqXS9SbV0d4&feature=player_embedded

Car's ready - all set to go!

Just picked up the Westy from PDQ. My seat is now fixed. I have suffered from a very wobbly seat up until now. I was picked up on it by scrutineering at Mallory and I have been told by people who know about these things that fixing it will make me quicker.
The problem is it is difficult to support the shoulders as they are above the level of the rear bulkhead so there is nothing to fix it to at the top of the seat. Anyway, Larry has reinforced the seat itself and then fixed some aluminium braces at shoulder level. It is now more rigid than..well, insert your own joke here.. but I am very pleased with it.

I'll post some pictures when I get round to it.

So, all ready for Snetterton this weekend (14th + 15th March). My aim is to improve last year's lap time (assuming it's dry of course) and get a good race. Let's hope this season goes better than last year. Here goes...

Pre 2009 Season update

Jan 24th 2009.

Well if you read my Mallory blog at the end of last season (see below), you might not be too surprised if I'd packed it all in by now. But I still have my job, and I have had some professional help (with the car I mean, mind you..there's a thought). Anyway, I did what I should have done last summer and took the Westy to Larry at PDQ to try to find the electrical fault. He has a rolling road so could easily test if the car was fixed.

Well, as if to show me what an muppet I am, the problem was fixed easily. Traced to a bad earth connection which was hidden under the scuttle. Simple as that. Fixed for a few hours worth of labour! I'll know next time.

Time to think about the things I need to do for the 2009 season.

The main regs change is the need for a cat. Larry suggests a second hand one off a new bike. Lots of bikers ditch their cats on new bikes (apparently a pointless excercise as it makes no difference whatsoever but it's a biker thing).

So a second hand cat is acquired and fitted very neatly into the existing system. (see pic).

I also need to fix my seat so it's more rigid. Larry is sorting out some additional reinforcement for my current fibreglass seat, and I will probably pack it out behind with some foam behind the seat.

Still need to sort out the front tow eye and some foam protection on the roll bar and we're nearly there.

I reckon I can get to Snetterton in March which is a double header so that's the plan.

I reckon there are going to be more class A cars this year so my chances of getting a class place are going to be slimmer this year but you never know. Let's hope I actually get to finish a few races before I worry about that.

Mallory Park, 12th October

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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..