Second time out - Mallory Park 3rd June 07
A gripping tale of joy and despair in one day - I bet you can't wait!
Having scraped through scrutineering at Brands, I'm not confident that I will get past them this time. I've done nothing other than fix the a dodgy brake light. I haven't done anything about the cutting out problem that I had at Brands either. Not enough time. Anyway, I reckon better to try and get a race than to miss out altogether.
So Mallory Park here I come, ready or not.
I needn't have worried. I get past the scrutineers no problem - although I will need to change my fuel tank for next time.
Practise was interesting to say the least. I decide to take it easy for the first 3 laps to make sure I qualify (you have to do at least 3 regardless of the lap times). I speed up gradually and start to find some cars to follow to learn the way round. I still have the cut out problem on a left hand bend. Very odd. I can't work out whether it's fuel or electrical.
Anyway, my first experience of oil on the track awaits. I notice the oil flag at the hairpin (yes I can still remember my flags since my test all those months ago!). There is a line of oil that I can't avoid. Good practise for my car control! Loads of unplanned sideways action!
At the hairpin it's not so scary as it's obviously a slow corner. Gerrards is a bit different. That's the long right hander which is very fast indeed. It's very scary with oil on the track. If I had any sense I would have come straight in, like almost everyone else did. But I reckon I need the experience so I stick with it despite slowing considerably.
I get through without incident - thankfully. When I come in a I realise just how much oil there was out there. The car was covered in it, as was my visor. How could they leave a car out on the track that's spewing oil like that?!
Obvioulsy I'm first in the queue for the results. I'm 20th on the grid (out of 29). I had done a 53.5 best lap. The best class A cars can do 49, but most were in the 51's. So 2 seconds off the top pace, but only a tenth off the pace of my new arch class A rival - Julias. And we're on the same row of the start grid. Can't wait!
A quick clean up, check over, spot of lunch and I'm ready. Only 3 hours to go! I realise why most people have motorhomes. Oh well. Maybe one day! Still, time to have a chat with a few people. Everyone is friendly and approachable. It's good to know how other people approach their racing. I'd love to know what other people spend, but haven't had the cheek to ask yet. Obviously a lot for some of them.
Anyway on to the action.
I feel less nervous this time but there is definitely a moment on the grid when the stomach churns a bit.
So I'm 20th on the gid, about 10 rows back. Julias is next to me to my right. The first bend is a right hander so in theory he has the better line. But I can see a route straight down the left of the row on front of me so I reckon I can have him off the line. Fat chance! We're off. Julias takes off like he's on nitrous or something! The two cars in front are also Westfields, in class c so much less powerful. I can easily keep up with them but there is a big bunch going into the first corner so my sensible head keeps me back a bit for the first lap.
Christ this is quick. Come on guys, give me a chance - what's the hurry! Get a grip James, this is what it's all about. Go as fast as you can and then go faster!
Julius and the other two Westys are battling it out in front. I am right with them but I can't get past. I have the speed but not the bottle.
If I could just get past them into the Essess. No.
How about the hairpin Not on the way in, but if I hold my line I could outdrag them on the way out. Good plan - no chance. Julias is still there, but getting a bit sideways.
It will have to be Gerrards. The very fast long right hander. I reckon if I take them under braking I will be past half way through and can then stay ahead with my power advantage.
Not that lap, but the plan is hatched.
Next time into Gerrards I get brave and outbrake Julias and get along side the other two Westys. We are two abreast. I have the inside line. I have the power. I edge ahead into the rear straight. I'm ahead. Yeeeehaah! This is fantastic. I've taken three cars in one manouvre. Oh boy if I can hold this position I won't be last in class.
Following a pack is one thing. Staying ahead is quite another. I can easily stay ahead down the straight. Even the Essess I reckon is about as fast as I can be and I'm still well ahead. But the hairpin is quite a learning curve (excuse the pun). I brake as late as I dare, only to find three cars right up my chuff baying for blood! Thankfully I stay ahead thanks to pure grunt out the other side.
I pull away for the rest of the lap and even pull some distance by the time I'm out of Gerrards. Same thing up to the hairpin though. I'm suddenly engulfed by hungry Westfields behind me. I must brake later into that one but it's so scary.
I can't believe I'm still ahead. I'm a long way behind the next position so there is no way I can catch anyone else but I must stay ahead. If they could kindly put the chequered flag out now that would be fine by me!
Oh dear. I shouldn't have thought that.
The next lap I am braking into Essess and I feel as though I have a puncture. I get a bit sideways under braking and the car vibrates like mad (it vibrates a lot anyway but this feels serious). Needless to say, my chasing pack all come screaming past. I see no choice but to slow down and come in. I'm gutted but I'm not risking a fast lap with a puncture.
That was bad enough, but it gets worse. Back in the paddock, the leading class A car is there. Rob (the driver) comes over.
'Not you as well.'
Why what's happened?
Would you believe it. Six of the nine class A cars are already out (now seven including me). That means if I had just stayed out there and finished, even last, I would have been third in class (again!). If I had held my position before the puncture I would have been 2nd in class.
Oh cruel world.
Actually it gets worse. There was no puncture. Nothing broken. Nothing.
I have no idea what happened out there. I can only think that it must have braked too hard and flat spotted the tyre.
How gutted was I? I lost out on a potential 2nd in class for the sake of a slight wobble.
It was very scary though!
So - down to experience.
The good thing is, I did a 52.5 (a whole second off my practice time). And I was 3rd in class really - it just doesn't count if you don't actually finish! Oh well.
I've got 4 weeks until the next race. Hopefully I can sort out the cutting out and stuff by then. Snetterton here I come!
Having scraped through scrutineering at Brands, I'm not confident that I will get past them this time. I've done nothing other than fix the a dodgy brake light. I haven't done anything about the cutting out problem that I had at Brands either. Not enough time. Anyway, I reckon better to try and get a race than to miss out altogether.
So Mallory Park here I come, ready or not.
I needn't have worried. I get past the scrutineers no problem - although I will need to change my fuel tank for next time.
Practise was interesting to say the least. I decide to take it easy for the first 3 laps to make sure I qualify (you have to do at least 3 regardless of the lap times). I speed up gradually and start to find some cars to follow to learn the way round. I still have the cut out problem on a left hand bend. Very odd. I can't work out whether it's fuel or electrical.
Anyway, my first experience of oil on the track awaits. I notice the oil flag at the hairpin (yes I can still remember my flags since my test all those months ago!). There is a line of oil that I can't avoid. Good practise for my car control! Loads of unplanned sideways action!
At the hairpin it's not so scary as it's obviously a slow corner. Gerrards is a bit different. That's the long right hander which is very fast indeed. It's very scary with oil on the track. If I had any sense I would have come straight in, like almost everyone else did. But I reckon I need the experience so I stick with it despite slowing considerably.
I get through without incident - thankfully. When I come in a I realise just how much oil there was out there. The car was covered in it, as was my visor. How could they leave a car out on the track that's spewing oil like that?!
Obvioulsy I'm first in the queue for the results. I'm 20th on the grid (out of 29). I had done a 53.5 best lap. The best class A cars can do 49, but most were in the 51's. So 2 seconds off the top pace, but only a tenth off the pace of my new arch class A rival - Julias. And we're on the same row of the start grid. Can't wait!
A quick clean up, check over, spot of lunch and I'm ready. Only 3 hours to go! I realise why most people have motorhomes. Oh well. Maybe one day! Still, time to have a chat with a few people. Everyone is friendly and approachable. It's good to know how other people approach their racing. I'd love to know what other people spend, but haven't had the cheek to ask yet. Obviously a lot for some of them.
Anyway on to the action.
I feel less nervous this time but there is definitely a moment on the grid when the stomach churns a bit.
So I'm 20th on the gid, about 10 rows back. Julias is next to me to my right. The first bend is a right hander so in theory he has the better line. But I can see a route straight down the left of the row on front of me so I reckon I can have him off the line. Fat chance! We're off. Julias takes off like he's on nitrous or something! The two cars in front are also Westfields, in class c so much less powerful. I can easily keep up with them but there is a big bunch going into the first corner so my sensible head keeps me back a bit for the first lap.
Christ this is quick. Come on guys, give me a chance - what's the hurry! Get a grip James, this is what it's all about. Go as fast as you can and then go faster!
Julius and the other two Westys are battling it out in front. I am right with them but I can't get past. I have the speed but not the bottle.
If I could just get past them into the Essess. No.
How about the hairpin Not on the way in, but if I hold my line I could outdrag them on the way out. Good plan - no chance. Julias is still there, but getting a bit sideways.
It will have to be Gerrards. The very fast long right hander. I reckon if I take them under braking I will be past half way through and can then stay ahead with my power advantage.
Not that lap, but the plan is hatched.
Next time into Gerrards I get brave and outbrake Julias and get along side the other two Westys. We are two abreast. I have the inside line. I have the power. I edge ahead into the rear straight. I'm ahead. Yeeeehaah! This is fantastic. I've taken three cars in one manouvre. Oh boy if I can hold this position I won't be last in class.
Following a pack is one thing. Staying ahead is quite another. I can easily stay ahead down the straight. Even the Essess I reckon is about as fast as I can be and I'm still well ahead. But the hairpin is quite a learning curve (excuse the pun). I brake as late as I dare, only to find three cars right up my chuff baying for blood! Thankfully I stay ahead thanks to pure grunt out the other side.
I pull away for the rest of the lap and even pull some distance by the time I'm out of Gerrards. Same thing up to the hairpin though. I'm suddenly engulfed by hungry Westfields behind me. I must brake later into that one but it's so scary.
I can't believe I'm still ahead. I'm a long way behind the next position so there is no way I can catch anyone else but I must stay ahead. If they could kindly put the chequered flag out now that would be fine by me!
Oh dear. I shouldn't have thought that.
The next lap I am braking into Essess and I feel as though I have a puncture. I get a bit sideways under braking and the car vibrates like mad (it vibrates a lot anyway but this feels serious). Needless to say, my chasing pack all come screaming past. I see no choice but to slow down and come in. I'm gutted but I'm not risking a fast lap with a puncture.
That was bad enough, but it gets worse. Back in the paddock, the leading class A car is there. Rob (the driver) comes over.
'Not you as well.'
Why what's happened?
Would you believe it. Six of the nine class A cars are already out (now seven including me). That means if I had just stayed out there and finished, even last, I would have been third in class (again!). If I had held my position before the puncture I would have been 2nd in class.
Oh cruel world.
Actually it gets worse. There was no puncture. Nothing broken. Nothing.
I have no idea what happened out there. I can only think that it must have braked too hard and flat spotted the tyre.
How gutted was I? I lost out on a potential 2nd in class for the sake of a slight wobble.
It was very scary though!
So - down to experience.
The good thing is, I did a 52.5 (a whole second off my practice time). And I was 3rd in class really - it just doesn't count if you don't actually finish! Oh well.
I've got 4 weeks until the next race. Hopefully I can sort out the cutting out and stuff by then. Snetterton here I come!
posted by Unknown at 8:37 pm
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