Rockingham 2014

After the trials and tribulations of the winter, it was time to get the cobwebs off #4 and go for a blast.
A cheap test day came for offer on the Friday before race day, so off we went.

The car felt very strong through all the gears, so thanks to Dan at 519automotive for that, and the new roll centre correction kit felt good too, def turned in quicker.

But I think I disappointed James a little when I said I couldn’t really tell the difference with it on. Just remember I hadn’t driven the car since October!! So it was hard to tell straight away.

Only did a couple of sessions, just to get back into the swing of things, no point in wasting fuel and tyres by going round and round.

Race day.

We are a standalone series this year and a new name too. Tricolore Trohpy. Car flew through scrutineering, and for once, noise check was a breeze. I treated the car to a complete new Janspeed exhaust system over the winter and it seems to have done the trick.

We have a few more cars this year, and it’s made things interesting indeed, a couple of quick 205’s and a very quick Saxo!

Quali put me in 5th (must try harder), but I can live with that, as there is no point in binning it before a race, well that’s my excuse anyway.

I think Russ enjoyed me showing him around, and then pipping me at the post (Mr Sneaky ).

Race 1

We all seemed to get a good enough start, but it was quite obvious, well to me anyway, that one of the 205’s and the Saxo were going to shoot off, Russ gave hot pursuit and just tagged along for the ride.

I was having a tussle with one of the 205’s, when suddenly a cloud of oil/coolant mixture shot out everywhere, it’s hard to stop yourself from putting the wipers on, but I would’ve never been able to see out the screen.

This left me in 3rd place, and with Russ and the Saxo gone up the road and nobody behind, I literally cruised round in 5th gear just keeping one eye in the mirror, a safe 3rd is better than a non finish. I forgot to bring my camera so there’s no footage from race 1, I managed to borrow one for race 2.

Race 2

Again, we all got away to a good start, just bit of a bun fight into the first corner/hairpin, but no bumping or bashing and we all got through safely plus I managed to block out the remaining 205 on the exit, so just two ahead now.

At the end of lap 1, Russ got a little excited and out braked himself going into the hairpin, so the gift was taken (thanks).
I spent the next 10 minuites or so chasing the Saxo with no success, all this with Russ and the 205 snapping at my heels.

 

I had to make a decision, keep chasing the Saxo and risk going wide or missing a braking point, if i did this, I would lose 2 places, or spend the last 3-4 laps defending, and secure 2nd place?

I chose the latter, how wide can you make a Clio? very wide if you ask Russ. I could feel their pain by looking in the mirror, they were both bobbing about everywhere, but sticking to a crafty line and parking it on the apexes, I survived the day, and 2nd was mine. Great to be back out there again, and meet all the Track Attacker’s, who’s silly talk and banter I’ve missed.

Thanks as always to Mike and Nick who give up their spare time to help me out and eat my food .

Heres the race 2 video, it was all happening behind me so you will have to use some imagination.

 

 

 

Donington Park 2013

A triple header winter series event.

A 2nd, a win and a 3rd. Not a bad day. Light was fading in race 3, it was almost a night race.

So the end of  great season, my first with the TARC, back for more next year.

 

 

 

 

 

Oulton Park 2013

Oulton Race 1 report.

The day started early as usual, with the pre race poo No1, I like circuits in the early hours, seems unreal somehow, all quiet and nobody about.

Anyway time for a smoke and a cup of tea, whilst watching people arrive whilst trying not to wake James (#12), who was asleep in his car, all wrapped up like a hibernating hamster. The lads started to arrive, long driver Mike and camper Nick (take that how you will).

Car was basically done, as I had been there the day before, but no testing for me. Scrutineering was fine, signing on not so good, tried to present last years licence!! oops quick panic, but Helen was to the rescue, she had already got it out for me.

Quali was interesting, the car wanted to go off on it’s own every time I turned in, left or right, I put this down to changing the tyres around, and not being bedded in. Red flag after one lap, great, not what I needed, or anybody else I would suspect. But it was due to Mr Addison’s 106 going bang, which was a shame, as it would have been nice to see it in full flight.

Quite happy with 6th considering the amount of times I’d left the black stuff.

The line up was familiar, me sat behind James and Ian. Lights out and I got a blinder of a start, and nipped in front of the other two and sat behind the Saxo, boy that thing is rapid, but chasing him had given me a small gap on the other two Clios.

 

Tried to settle into a rhythm, but I could now see Ian gradually gaining bit by bit and I couldn’t push the car any harder.
Ian made a good move on me at Lodge corner, fair enough. Whilst following Ian, for some reason the brake pedal was going very solid, still working, but needing a lot of pressure to do so.

Now James was behind, but not close, but when I had to brake slightly early for Shell I looked into the mirror and all I could see was smoke, tyre smoke.

James was on full lock up, and there was only one place he was going to end up, in my side, bang! the impact must of flung my arm out, because when I tried to pull off the grass, the car just died, balls, no pushing of the start button would bring it back to life, “it always starts” I think, then looking around, I notice the ecu switch was in the off position??? A quick flick of switch and we are away, while all this was happening I saw at least 4-5 cars go by, so now the chase was on.

Kev in the Clio 200 didn’t make it easy (why should he) but got past in the end, now I could see James and a Mr2 up ahead, managed to pass them both as we were going under Warwick Bridge right on the last lap.

 

7th overall wasn’t too bad seeming it was an interesting 15 mins.

James was very quick to apologise after the race, but I guess I was a little hard on him at the time, as I was well miffed and he knew it.
Dingers boy’s Paul and James + Nick and Mike gave the car a good bashing with hammer’s and a BIG crowbar (thanks Russ), luckily my new door after Cadwell wasn’t damaged, this stopped me from exploding.
Another check around, found the the rear wheel bearing having some play in it after the impact. James kindly offered me his spare disc, and seeming he wasn’t doing race 2 because of a bad gearbox leak ( this had caused the lock up before the accident) I gladly accepted.

Trying to sort brakes

 

Race 2

Car bashed out, new rear disc and bearing (thanks James) ready to go again.
There were some gaps on the the grid this time, James was not running and the Suzuki Swift was again starting from the back.

I forgot to angle the car on the grid at the gap in front, this caused a slight hindrance getting off the line as I need to turn right as well as go forward, welcome wheelspin. I really needed to tuck in behind Russ, as I didn’t want him to get away, Adam Lockwood got in the way, and it was a little early to have a go into Cascades ( although I should have done), Ian had gone round the outside, but had a wobble on the kerb, and Russ slipped in front.

Adam squeezed past Ian going into Old Hall, so I locked onto my old mates tail, I think they call it Hunting in packs lol, poor old Adam had me and Ian swapping places and zig zagging about behind him for the rest of the race, some of it was REALLY close, but we all managed to avoid each other, I almost made it past going into Brittens chicane, but thought better of it which was a bugger, as Adam had seen me and left me room, but it was too late I had already backed out, damm!!

All this was so frustrating as we could see Russ up ahead within spitting distance, but just unable to do anything about it at all.

During all this the car was getting a little warm, I did see 103 on the dash at one time, but you could have chucked a hat over all three of us at times. Nothing more to say really, as that’s how it ended, we just couldn’t find a way past Adam, hat’s off to him for that, as it couldn’t have been easy with us two behind.

Great race, good, clean and fun, shame we couldn’t catch Russ and give him a hard time. Another day maybe. 6th overall and 3rd in class, got something from the weekend.

Thanks for all the help from everybody and of course the usual suspects

Helen
Mike
Nick.