Snetterton - last weekend of the season and the best yet.

Snetterton is the track I know best having done a few track days before, but to race here is very exciting. The day starts with intermittent rain but as usual my race is one of the last on the programme and by the time we go out for qualifying the rain has stopped and the track is dry.







I get out for qualifying up front. I am thinking that I will let a few cars go past and then I can pick one to follow to learn something. It is really useful to learn the braking points, especially after Snetterton's very long straight. This is one of the few circuits where I can be absolutely flat out for a good length of time. That means about 140mph, and a very tight 'S' bend at the end of it. I watch the brake lights of some of the quick cars. I would instinctively look to brake at about 150 yards. That makes me a big girls blouse as far as most other cars. Make that 50 yards!

I can't wait to see my time after practice. I reckon I have done ok.

I remember from track days last year that I was doing roughly 1m 26 sec laps. My best time in qualifying was 1:21.9. That gets me 15th place on the grid (out of 29). So midfield again. Ho hum! The lead cars are doing 1:15s. Unbelievable, but then those cars are aerodynamic. Mine is not. Oh yes, and those guys have a few year's experience and can drive!

By the way, I have been trying to work out how much fuel I am using. I don't have a fuel gauge, so I use a dip-stick to test the level in the tank. It's a bit of a rough guess but I reckon I am using about 1 litre per minute - that works out at about 4 miles per gallon! Yes 4!! Well I never claimed it was an environmentally friendly hobby!

So Saturday's race is thankfully dry. I am not nearly as nervous as I was in my first couple of races. I think it helps that there are a few people who have done fewer races than me now.

The start is proving to be my big weakness. I am still learning how best to get a quick start and am still not getting it right. As the lights went out I had 3 cars come straight past me like I was standing still. Fortunately I have the pace down the straight to get them back and I take them on the first lap. Trouble was that put me just out of range of the next class A car which I should be able to beat, but now I'm playing catch up. So after a few laps I manage to catch and take a couple of the other class c cars, which gets me up to 13th. I then notice that my nearest rival class A car has had a bit of a moment on the grass and I am past him. So now I'm really excited, I might be up for a class placing here if any of the leaders fall off!

As if to put me firmly back in my place I push just a tad too hard at Corum, which is a very fast right hander before the chicane. I go off onto the grass. Now, as we are often told by the extremely witty track officials in the briefings, the green bits are not as grippy as the black bits so you lose control if you go on it. Well you know what, they are not joking! Apart from the complete lack of control, it is also a bit bumpy and I hit a bump and take off. I have no idea how high the car went, but when I came back down my seat broke!

On reflection I'm rather glad it did because had it not it might have been me that broke. Anyway, I somehow managed to get the car back on the black stuff and break for the chicane. Remarkably my little bit of off-roading didn't cost me a position at the time, but I was then driving a car with a wobbly seat. Trying to corner hard with no support was a bit scary. Needless to say, there was no way I was going to keep up my earlier pace. I might as well have been driving by remote control! So I was reasonably resigned when 2 cars came past me on the last lap.

So I end up 16th on the track, and 5th in class. I still beat my nearest class A rival so all was not lost. Also I did a best lap of 1:19.7. I am really pleased with that. That's over 2 seconds off my qualifying time. At that pace I would have qualified in 6th place, and it was the 10th quickest lap of the race! Mind you, the leaders were down in the 1:14s, just to remind me how far I have to go. I reckon my car could do 1:17s in the right hands and that next 2 seconds will probably take me years!

Anyway, I have to fix the seat so I just swap the passenger seat over (thanks to Gordon for lending me his drill). This is not ideal as I can't get the position quite right, but it'll do.
Quick check to see if my bump has damaged anything. It would appear not.


One slightly wonky, but fixed seat!


















So off to a B&B for the night and ready for Sunday's race.


I'm 18th on the grid this time but in front of my nearest class A rival (no 28).
Again I mess up the start. No 28 gets past me. I hold back a little from the bun fight into the first two bends and by half a lap I'm about 4 cars down from my start position. Mind you it was a good job. The end of the straight is carnage. I can't work out who it is but I reckon about 4 cars have taken each other off. As I feed through I'm thinking 4 down, 12 to go!

I easily take a couple of the class c cars that got me at the start, and can see no 28 just ahead. After one lap I am right with him. This turns into the best race I have had so far. I am obviously faster than 28 but I can't get past. Each lap I'm thinking about how I can get past. My plan is to get close enough into the straight and then get him down the straight, but it's not working. I'm not brave enough to out brake him on the straight, or into the chicane so I resign myself to hassling him, staying as close as I can, and hope that he makes a mistake. And guess what, he did! At the chicane he gets it wrong and runs across the grass. He pops back on just in front of me, but he has lost momentum and I get him accelerating out of the chicane.

I can't describe how excited I was. This is what it's all about!

I then pulled away. My lap times show that I was pulling away by at least 1 second a lap. It feels harder though to lead rather than chase, but I'm pleased that my times improved.
Anyway, it's not over yet. I get the 'last lap' board and I think great, I can easily keep this position. I then notice a bit of an odd smell. The oil temperature is off the gauge. I have been too busy to notice (not that it would have made any difference!). But now I'm in front of 28 I think I can back off a little to save the engine from boiling.
Coming up to the last corner I come up behind a back marker who I am lapping. No point in risking anything to get past into the chicane so I tuck in behind. Big mistake! No 28 is suddenly there in my mirrors. Oh **** he's going for it. He's going to take me on the line!
I pull left of the back marker, thinking that 28 won't have room to go right of him. It works for a moment but he's past just after me. 100 yards to the line. I just hold my breath an keep my right foot planted.

I cross the line 2 seconds ahead. Phew!


I just doesn't get more exciting than that. I doesn't matter that I wasn't racing for the lead. I beat my nearest rival in a fair fight. 'nough said!

Another picture just for the sake of it!

I was 13th in the race. 5th in class (again). My best lap was 1.19.8. Actually slightly slower than Saturday's race, but a million times more exciting!

Oh yes, and I did win something. I won the prize draw for a new set of tyres. I have really finished the season on a high!





At the prize giving there was a rousing speech about the camaraderie of everyone in the series. I really felt part of that, and it felt great.

So that was my first motor-racing season.
I ended up 24th in the championship (out of 48), having done 5 out of 14 races. I was 8th in class (out of 10). I have worked out that, at my average points per race, if I had done all the races, I would have been 6th in class and15th overall.

When I started writing this blog I didn't expect much and just wanted to have a go. Having done 5 races I am really pleased with myself, and feel inspired to do more. It's a very steep learning curve for me and I really want to see how far I can go. I am well over budget, but hopefully I can do about the same next year. We'll see.

Thanks to all my friends for taking an interest, to Larry at PDQ, Steve and Kingsley at Spirit, and all at the 750 Motor Club. OK I'm filling up now, See you next year!

Back to the mechanic...again!

Forgive the blatant plug but I must mention the excellent advice and service that I get from Larry and the guys at PDQ Motorcycles. I had a serious oil leak which had to be fixed and Larry quickly got it sorted. He has recommended removing the oil cooler which he beleives to be unneccessary, and is the source of oil leaks. He has also moved the battery from the nose of the car to the bulkhead which makes it more accessible, and inproves the weight distribution.
In return for a substantial discount I have got some stickers for the car.

I have also got Spirit Automotive to replace the cross bar section of the roll bar. The scrutineer at Silverstone requested it and I don't want to risk failing scrutineering.

So, all ready to go again, with instructions to watch the oil temperature carefully. Snetterton here I come.

Danger! Slippy when wet! - Silverstone 18th August 07

So, off to Silverstone with my newly repaired Westy. The forecast is rain so I'm a bit nervous, but it has to be done.

Actually the morning was ok weather wise. A bit dull, but at least it was dry.
I did my usual and made sure I was able to follow some of the quick cars during qualifying. I have driven the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit before, but never the national circuit so it was quite literally a steep learning curve! So after a 15 minute session I wasn't expecting much. I did manage to keep up with one of the leading class C cars for a while so maybe I was learning something.

Anyway, in the end I did a best lap of 1m 07s. The leading class A car was doing just over 1m02's so I was nearly 5s a lap off the leading pace. But I was 14th on the grid, out of 28 which I didn't think was too bad. I reckon I can improve on that time given a bit more track time, but that was not going to happen in the wet!

My friends Joe and Barbara turned up after practise to offer some moral support. Thanks guys! And thanks for the push starts - another new battery needed I reckon!

I thought at one point after the morning session that the rain might actually hold off, but by about 2pm that hope was crushed. Oh well! It's all experience isn't it!

So I'm half way up on the grid. We have a warm up lap, presumably so that we can guage to some extent what grip there is and to warm up the tyres a bit. All it did for me was scare me half to death. There was so little grip it was like driving on ice. It was pretty hard keeping the thing on the track on the straight, never mind trying to go round a corner. On top of the rain, the fastest corner was covered in oil from the last race. Oh yeah, and you can't see a thing except for the light of the car in front. But apart from that it looks like fun!

When the race starts I immediately have about 4 cars come straight past me. I let them go (as if I had a choice!). I'm thinking that my strategy is to stay out of trouble and you never know, I might be the only one left by the end! Unfortunately that plan started to go wrong on lap 2. I spin at one of the slower corners. Fortunately I stay on the track and get going straight away but I have lost a couple of places.

The next couple of laps start to get quite enjoyable. I manage to catch my nearest class A rival, Julias, and overtake him, and get past one other slower car. I'm then out on my own as the main pack has pulled out some distance. After I'm not sure how many laps I can see the back of the pack up front so I reckon I must be gaining on them. If only I hadn't spun I could still be up for a place. There were a few casualties on the side by now so I must have gained a few places by default.

Then, as if to put me back in my place, I am overtaken on the straight by the leading car who had lapped me. I can't beleive how fast he is going. How does he do that and stay on the track?!
Rather stupidly, I try to keep up with him for a few moments. I then realise that I am heading into the fastest corner of the track going far too quickly and with no braking power whatsoever!
The spin was so graceful, I really wish it had been captured on film. I did a compete 360 and ended up sideway across the middle of the track at the end of the straight. It gets worse. In my panic I have pushed the clutch pedal so hard it has got stuck. I can't get it free. Bugger! I'm sitting there like an easy target for 20 cars screaming down the straight at me in the wet! I'm going to die!!! And the marshals are all watching it happen (presumably they don;t want to die themselves, but need to know where to collect the body from!). Anyway, in that respect at least, luck is with me, and everyone passes without a problem.

So once again, my inexperience costs me a race finish, but I can put it down to experience.
To cap it all, I actually got a telling off for not being in control under a yellow flag. I'm almost the slowest car on a track with no grip, and they tell me off for going too quickly!!

There are some video clips here.

Next race is Snetterton in September. Watch this space for the next exciting installment.

Preparing for Silverstone

Ok, on to the next one.
I was hoping to get to Snetterton last month, but the late discovery of damage to the chassis rather delayed things. I had the car checked out by the guys at Spirit, but apart from some minor spanner work, couldn't find anything wrong. I then sent the car to PDQ for a major check over of the engine and to try to solve the cut out problem.
Well PDQ did a great job. They found the cut out problem - a loose connection on the fuel pump which amazingly was coming loose on a left hand corner and then dropping back on again - making it very difficult to find. They also put the car on their rolling road to get the mixture right and stop the flaming problem. It was only when on the rolling road that they found the source of my wobble at Mallory (which I had thought was a puncture). The problem was a broken chassis rail at the front (it was a clean break at the weld, and only showed when the car was stressed, making it difficult to find). So the car went back to Spirit to be welded. Whilst the front end was being taken apart I thought I would get the shocks refurbished, which I knew would need doing soon. I suppose unsurprisingly, what is turning out to be typical of my racing experience so far, this turned out to be rather expensive. The shocks couldn't be refurbed and were shot. So a new set of shocks and springs all round.
Big bills all round. I have done my budget already and only done 2 races! Still, if nothing else goes wrong I might just get away with doing the next 2 or 3 races. We'll see!

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!

My First Ever Race

Sunday 20th May.

I've got to be honest - I hardly slept on Saturday night. I'm absolutely brickin' it!!

I get to Brands about an hour earlier than I really need to but I'm glad. There's lots to sort out - sign on - drivers briefing - get to scrutineering - get wheels balanced - check pressures....

I also take a little walk around the paddock to meet a few fellow competitors. Everyone is very friendly and willing to offer advice. I am put at ease a little by everyone telling me -just enjot it. Good advice I reckon.

Here's a pic of my rig! All ready to go to practice.

So off to practice.

I end up near the front of the queue in my eargerness not to be late. So I'm sitting there in the pit lane with 3 of the most experienced guys in front of me, and the entire field of 25 other cars behind me all ready to swamp me at the first corner!

It wasn't nearly as scary once the green light went on. I even kept up with the leaders for a bit (whilst they warmed their tyres anyway!).

It was great to have someone to follow. I start to get a feel for just how hard I could push.

Only one or two cars overtake me during practice - so I'm thinking this isn't too embarrasing.

I end up having done a best lap of 54.6s.

That's about 1.5s off my best time on Friday. I was well chuffed.

I was also 20th on the grid out of 28.

I'm not last! -even better!

So flushed with a little more confidence I relax a bit more. A chance to watch some of the other racing.

My wife and daughter arrive to watch. No pressure then!

So finally the time comes to assemble for the race. We have to get into 'formation' in the assembly area. At this point I am feeling so nervous again I can hardly breath, but also elated that I am finally going racing.

Onto the grid. I start to think, hang on - I have never done a racing start in the car. I'm not sure I know how to. Do I rev the nuts off it an just dump the clutch, or set off slowly to get some grip and then boot it?

Come the light I try the former. The car immediately behind me comes straight past me like I was standing still - which I was pretty much - in a cloud of tyre smoke. Bugger!

Anyway, turms out it was for the best. I'm on the defensive into the first corner and up front is utter mayhem. A big crash was going on and I thought - ok stay out of trouble - I might do ok out of this. Indeed after Druids I am at least 5 cars further up than I started due to their default rather than my skill - but I'll take what I can get.

Trouble is - the whole race is red flagged. Back to the grid to start again.

Oh well. At least I get to practice my start again.

I will get another chance as it turns out. The race is stopped a second time after more crashes.

This time we are taken off the circuit. We are all marched off to the headmaster's office for a severe bollocking! (nothing to do with, me I'm thinking, I was at the back minding my own business!).

Our race is moved to the end of the day (obviously all they could do in practice but is was a bit like staying back for detention!)

So come the re-run I feel a bit happier with my start technique. I gain a place this time off the start and get into a pack into the first two corners. I try to keep up through Graham Hill bend but that cut out problem is still there and I lose a bit of momentum. I gain down the main straight though as my car has the power advantage over the class c cars up front.

This is fantastic. I have never carried so much speed into Paddock Hill at the end of the straight. I can't beleive that I got away with that. Must go faster next time!

I am really, really enjoying this. I am reaching limits of the car that I don't think I have got near before on track days.

More crashes - I notice that the two leading class A cars have taken each other off at Paddock Hill. Hey! That means I'm definitely not last!

Actually I can see another class A car behind me - the one that came past me at the first start - I feel determined to beat him. I'm also having a bit of a dice with another Westy. He take me into Druids, and then he loses it a bit around Clearways so I take him back and stay ahead down the straight. He get me back at Druids again. Bugger! I must take that quicker next time.

The chequered flag comes out all too soon before I can get that Westy back again. Maybe next time.

I can't tell you how elated I am to have finished at all. To not be last was even better.

My wife and daughter meet me in the paddock. They had a great time watching all the crashes!

And I was definitely not last.

I was asked to come to the presentation at the end. A brief welcome from the championship organiser for me which was nice of him, and then, unbelievably, I was presented with a cup. I had won 3rd in class!

I'm filling up here - 3rd in class in my first ever race - I can't believe it.

Yes, I know there were only 4 left in class A after all the incidents, but hey - if you want to finish first, first you have to finish - as they say, apparently.

I was actually 13th on the track, out of about 20 finishers, and 28 starters. I had done a best lap of 54.4s. Only 0.9 seconds off Oliver's best on Friday. Mind you, all of the top 10 cars are doing better than 53.5 so I have a long way to go.

My daughter, Kristin, getting a feel for it too!

So I'm hooked now. Maybe if I give up holidays I could afford a whole season? What do you think, Darling?

Here are some more pics (taken by Snappyracers.com).

Flamin' eck - is it supposed to do that?

In the thick of it!

Just coming through one of the many 'incidents' of the day.

That's a class A car that I'm in front of!

Thank you fans. Autographs later.

Time to go racing.

If you have read my blog last year I did a few track days and ended up thinking that, whilst I love track days, I feel that I need to move on. The problem is that I have no idea whether I am actually improving my driving because there is no timing allowed or any element of competition.


I think I need an element of comptitiveness to make things more interesting.

So it's time to go racing!




First problem - the cost. How do you go racing with no money?

Well, the short answer is you can't. But I might be able to do a few rounds of a relatively cheap series for the same budget as a season of track days.





Well I am writing this having jumped in at the deep end.


I have done my ARDS test so I have a licence.


I have bought all the gear (suit, helmet etc etc...)


I have had the car sorted out to make sure it holds together.


I have joined the 750 Motor Club and entered the Road Going Bike-Engined car series.


So several thousand pounds poorer, I am ready for my first test day.





I have lots of things not exactly in my favour in this venture - lack of money, talent, spare time to name a few, but I do have one card up my sleeve. My nephew is Oliver Bryant. Unless you read Autosport every week from cover to cover you may not have heard of him but check out his web site - oliverbryant.com. He is only twenty and already in his 2nd season of the British GT series. He is a serious talent and I'm not just saying that because he's family. He will win Le Mans one day you just watch.


Anyway, for some reason Oliver is happy to help his old uncle with a bit of guidance, and if you happen to be reading this Olly, I can't thank you enough.





So Olly agreed to come on a test day at Brands, on Friday (my first race is on Sunday).








So we turn up at Brands. Amazingly the car get through the noise test no problem - I was a bit worried about that - and Olly suggest that I take the car out first to bed in the brakes and find my way round (I have never driven at Brands before).


Olly runs the stopwatch on me.


The brakes are a bit spongy after it had all new disks and pads, and I haven't a clue about the right braking points and how hard I can push it. So I'm not expecting too much to start with.





I do about 10 laps or so, and then Olly takes over.


My best lap was 56.1.


Olly goes straight out and does a 54.


Actually I didn't think that was too bad!





We asked around the paddock. There were a few other cars in the same series as me testing as well. Another Westy with a fireblade engine (900cc and a class below me) was doing 52's! We found out that a good lap for a 'busa should be in the 51's. That put me in my place!





Anyway, Olly rekoned that the brakes were not at all right so we had to bleed them. Of course I didn't have any of the kit to do that, so we started asking around. It has to be said that everyone is so friendly and willing to help out (not that I'm much of a threat to them!).


We also had an electical problem. The starter button fell apart and shorted whilst Olly was driving. He didn't know what had happened exept that there was a cloud of blue smoke, as the car still ran, but as soon as we went to swap drivers we noticed the button hanging off. So we had to borrow some wire and a soldering iron (actually a very kind chap did the repair for us).





I finally got some more laps in with some firmer brakes, but we had developed an odd problem where the engine seemed to cut out under hard left hand corners. Despite checking as many connections as we could, we couldn't find the problem.


Anyway, even with that problem, Olly went out and did a 53.5.


I did most of the last session of the day. I was just starting to get braver with my braking, and work out the lines a bit better. After what I thought must have been some real improvement I came in to see my times. My best of the afternoon was a 55.9.


I was really dissapointed. I thought I would have knoocked at least a second off my earlier times, but in fact it was only about 2 tenths.





Olly talked me through a few areas where I can probably improve.


I reckon in the heat of a race I should be able to improve.


Well we'll see - the race is Sunday. Watch this space!

Snetterton, August 9th

Well I have just got back from another track day. Snetterton this time.
I've had a two month gap since Silverstone. Another case of real life getting in the way. Had the builders in at home, and a 3 week family holiday taking priority.
My attempts to find a suitable track day sharing friend have failed miserably so far. I started a bit of a thread on Pistonheads but mostly people said I must be mad to consider sharing my car. To be honest I think they are right. Anyway, I'm planning to do a few more track days regardless.
So, as I say, just got back from Snetterton. I have driven this track a few times now and I love it. It's a real challenge and I always come away thinking I have learned something. I know I've said this before, but this Westy I so unbelievably quick and is such a thrill to drive. It really comes home to me when I'm out on the track behind some seriously expensive road cars like Porsche GT3's. There was a whole gaggle of them there (what is the collective noun for Porsches?) and not one of them could keep up with me. I don't mean top speed obvioulsy, but I could put a good few seconds between me and then on a whole lap.
Let me try and talk through a lap (bare with me!) to give you an idea of why I enjoy track days.
Starting as I cross the start line from the out lap, this is a short straight where I can just about get into top as I scream up the gears past the pit straight. The sound bounces off the pit wall and sends shivers down my spine! At the end of this straight is a right hander. After a few laps I have learned that this can be taken much quicker than you might at first think (although the rubber lines dissapearing into the countryside reminds me that there is a limit to this!). The trick is to stay out wider as there is a double apex, and you want to clip the second one. If I've got it about right I can get into 5th again for a few yards before setting myself up for the next right hander. This is an almost 90 degree corner which leads into a mile long straight. This is my favourite corner. Each lap I think I can go a bit faster next time. There is enough run off here to risk getting it wrong so I can afford to turn in a bit quicker than I think possible. The car turns in but starts to feel light. I give it a bit more gas and the car starts to drift so I turn a tad more and gradually give it more gas. The rear end comes out beautifully and I can dial up a pretty extreme angle by applying more gas. Not the quickest way round the corner, but great fun. When I get that right I get this rush of adrenaline that is unbeatable.
The straight is quite boring really. Once in 5th I just sit there for 30 seconds or so. This gives me a few moments to glance at the dials to check I have oil pressure and not overheating (at least that's the idea but I do forget sometimes). It's odd, but outright speed is not really what thrills although the accelleration in getting there is fun. It's more interesting to challenge myself over how late to leave the braking into the 's' bend at the end of the straight. There are marker boards showing 300, 200, 100 yards to the bend. I noticed that the GT3's were braking at about 250. I left it to about 150 and still kept thinking I could leave it to 100. This is so scary. I am betting an awful lot on those brakes working! (in fairness there is a good run off area here so I suppose the risk isn't that great, but it still feels scary). Having braked hard and turned in there is an opportunity to strighted up, dab the brakes again before turning into a sharp right hander. Again, get the entry speed right and the car can be drifted round on the gas.
The next corner is one of the most difficult for me. It look like an easy right but the track dips dramatically right on the apex (it's called 'the bomb-hole') so on the exit the car goes light and drifts over to the edge of the track. Too quick and you're on the grass and into the barrier (I noticed a highly modified Alfa did just that). The next bend is a long right hander. This is really deceptive as it goes over the brow of a hill and you can't see the whole bend as you enter it. But after a few laps I realise that I can keep it flat out all the way through. If I go too quick the car will drift before anything dramatic happens so it is quite safe. Mind you, get it wrong and there is only grass between the track and an expensive meeting with the armco so there is always a sense of caution. Coming out of this bend the track is going downhill, into a very tight chicane. Heavy on the brakes again and slow right down. I love this chicane. If I get the entry speed right I can boot it on the way out and get it plenty sideways. There's usually plenty of people standing watching at this point which only encourages me! There was always plenty of traffic at this point and it is a great place to get past the slower cars. Even the GT3's seem slow coming out of here. The low speed accelleration of this car is just awesome and makes everything elso go backwards very quickly. This leads back up the short straight past the pits and into another lap.
So I love the personal challenge, and I love being in amongst the serious heavy metal like the Porsches. There was even a DB9 there (beautiful road car -crap track car..either that or the bloke was too scared of bending it to give it some welly, and what is the point in that!).

OK, that's the good stuff. The trouble is I have some real reservations about track days. See my next post for my thoughts on what I want to do next.

Anyone interested in sharing a track day?

So I'm thinking, I want to do lots of track days because there is no buzz like it ( well not that I've tried anyway!). Problem is they are expensive. So I'm thinking, why don't I share the cost with someone? Obviously my prospective sharer would need to be reasonably competent behind the wheel, and mechanically sympathetic, but I reckon there are lots of petrolheads out there who would be interested in driving my car given the chance. I know I would have been before I bought one!
So I've worked out that I could afford to offer a single session at even the most expensive tracks like Silverstone and Donington for about £150, and maybe as little as £90 at an airfield circuit.
If anyone reading this is interested please leave me a message. I have listed below some possible dates :

May 24th (Wed) - Rockingham
June 10th (Sat) - Barkston Heath (airfield nr Grantham)
June 21st (Wed) -Silverstone
Aug 9th (Wed) - Snetterton
Aug 20th (Sun ) - Rockingham
Aug 24th(Thurs) - Silverstone
Aug 31st (Thurs)- Brands Hatch
Sep 6th (Wed) - Silverstone
Sep 28th (Thurs) - Donington
Sep 30th (Sat ) - Rockingham
Oct 4th (Wed) - Silverstone
Oct 15th (Sun ) - Rockingham
Oct 18th (Wed) - Snetterton
Nov 1st (Wed) - Silverstone
Nov 12th (Sun) - Rockingham
Nov 15th (Wed) - Donington
Dec 2nd (Sat) - Silverstone
Dec 3rd (Sun) - Rockingham
Dec 9th (Sat) - Brands Hatch

Silverstone May 06

First track day of 2006. Silverstone. The full Grand Prix circuit. This is my first time so I'm a bit tentative. I have arranged for a mate from work and I have invited someone from the Westfield Sports Car Club to come along for the ride. First time out I have to remind myself that the tyres need warming up, so the first few laps are a bit slow, following the slower other cars (stuff like Ginettas, Lotus Elises etc). Then I make a complete prat of myself. The first quick lap I do, with no one to follow, I get confused as to where the track goes in the complex and end up in the gravel. No damage, except to my ego. It takes me at least an hour to get all the gravel out from every nook and cranny the car has. By the time i'm ready to go my work mate turns up. So I do a few laps with a passenger for the first time since putting a passenger seat in the car. It feels a tad slower, but not much. We easily pass some really interesting cars like Porsche GT3's, BMW M3, Lotus 340. I think my passenger was quite impressed! God this car is quick!
Later Charlie from the WSCC turns up. I get a few more sessions in with lots more interesting stuff on the track. I had some fun moments following a Ferrari 550 who was trying hard but ended up in the gravel 'cause he ran out of grip. I can't help getting a huge sense of satisfaction from being clearly quicker round a track than some cars worth 10 times what my car is worth ( not that I wouldn't rather have a Ferrari, but that's not the point ).
I really feel as though I'm getting to know this track now. Mind you, on reflection, there are lots of places where I reckon I should be pushing harder next time. Can't wait!

One man's advertures with a racing car..the story so far.

So having hit the big four-0h, I decided to buy this car. Its a Westfield Megabusa. It is a super light car (only 470gk - that's about the weight of 5 of me!) with a Suzuki Hayabusa engine in it. If you don't know, that's about the fastest motorbike you can get. It is modified a little to produce about 195 bhp. That works out at 415 bhp per tonne. There aren't many road cars with that sort of power to weight ratio. Maybe a Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Zonda? Anyway, you get the idea, it's awesomely quick. Also, because it's so light, it brakes quickly, handles beautifully and is generally a joy to drive.
I bought the car in serious race trim. No passenger seat, full roll cage, cut out switches etc and set up with about 4cm clearance to the ground. I decided to fit a seat ( which meant removing part of the cross bracing on the role cage) and raised the ride height a bit.
I did a few track days last year. First time out was Snetterton. That was a steep learing curve! I hadn't even put it in gear before that ( I trailer it to the circuit). First time out I couldn't believe the accelleration. I've driven a few reasonably quick cars in my time but nothing in this league. The gear change takes a bit of getting used to. It's the sequential box as on the 'bike. You just push the stick forward for first and then pull back for each up change to 6th. At first you want to push the stick forward when in second to get to third, but that means you get 1st again, and your doing about 70mph! Not healthy! So I've learned to be careful when first out in it now.
Other circuits so far are Mallory Park and Goodwood, and most recently Silverstone.
One of the main limitations on where I can go is the circuit's noise limits. My car is bang on 105db. Lots of tracks have a lower limit than that so I am limited in where I can go, but Donington and Rockingham are on my list.