Post by jxr242 on Aug 22, 2008 13:33:16 GMT
Got my licence back after the closing date. Immediately entered and was initially told I was entry No32 and would be racing only to be told later that I was entry No33 and first reserve. Frustrated but I guess any racing would be a bonus given I did not expect to get my licence back so quickly.
Thanks to Ian Fletcher for handing my car back (largely undamaged).
Tested on Friday, used the first session just to refamiliarise myself with the car and the track, got quicker through 2nd session and was lapping in the high 57s / low 58s for most of the rest of the day
Qualifying on Saturday, session red flagged early but later on got some clean laps in getting a tow from Nick, had a 57.7 on my timer but was given a 58.2, 1.1 seconds off pole and 9th on grid, 6th ST. 34 cars qualified and with the circuit only able to race 32 I needed some help to get on the grid. Steve Papworth only managed 1 lap and I thought this would mean he would not be allowed to race but apparently not. His car was however completely dead and if he could not fix it I was still in with a chance. Also if he withdrew, rather than simply not making the start I would take up my grid slot as opposed to starting from 32nd. Steve had until 30 minutes before the race to withdraw. Sadly for me but good for him, he got his car going and I was still 1st reserve.
The race, all 34 cars made it to line up in the holding area and the first 32 made their way on to the grid. I lined up in the pit lane with Joanne Eason the 2nd reserve behind me. The only way we would get to race now was if a red flag came out in the first 3 laps. Not a nice way to get on the grid but beggars would not be choosers. Sure enough, after 1 lap race red flagged. Keith Chapman had binned it at Paddock. Also Steve Papworth’s “fix” had only enabled him to do about 30 mph and there was a chance he would come into the pit lane. Sadly for me Steve chose to form up on the grid (but would only make half a lap of the restart) and Keith was pulled out of the gravel and allowed to form back up in his original grid position !! I still don’t understand that rule as it strikes me that if anyone has a bad start, all they need to do is bin it in a dangerous position, wait on the red flag, and then drive back round to the grid again
Anyway this left me fuming in the pit lane and after 3 laps had passed I was directed back to the paddock where I was left to watch race one from the sidelines. When “Destruction Dave” rolled at Paddock later in the race, my chances were looking better for racing on the Sunday.
Qualifying on Sunday went out near the front of the pack and put in a solid 58.5 then waited on someone to tow me round, let Nick past and was following him for half a lap until he pulled into the pits with a problem, then hooked up with Rich Kemp and put in a 57.9 for 8th on the grid, 6th ST and 0.6 off pole. Destruction Dave had reappeared in a borrowed car so my participation in the race was still uncertain. The uncertainty was cleared up when Alex the new championship co-ordinator said she had spoken with the clerk and with David Nye changing cars he was now 2nd reserve and I was in ! Not only that with the Sunday qualifying session I would be starting from that position and not 32nd.
Race – start 1. Got a flyer and was alongside and past Nick who had qualified 6th way before Paddock. Couldn’t get all the way across to the inside and Nick came past as we went side by down PHB. Slotted in behind him and running 7th (?) and was all over his bootlid until lap 2 when coming along the back straight after exiting Graham Hill Bend he suddenly slowed I just, literally just, managed to avoid running in to him. It was then I noticed the red flags and I also slowed. Two cars had gone off at Paddock. We formed back up on the grid and waited.
Race – start 2. Didn’t get a good start and lost a couple of places but was unchallenged for 10th (?) and running at the end of a train of cars when again the red flag came out. This time exiting Clearways we were met with 4 or 5 badly damaged cars at the start of the main straight. David Nye’s borrowed car was one of them and it looked bad as did Stephen Brown’s. Clerk of the course then informed us that we were to leave the grid and return to the paddock and our race would be run at the end of the day if there was time, before the 6.30 curfew. We were to be told at 5pm.
5.30 came and went and we were still not sure if we were racing, then the announcement came at just before 6 – we were on ! and we had to get to the holding area straight away. Looks like I would get a race after all!
Race – start 3. Got alongside but not past Nick and slotted in in 8th right on Phil Simpson with Rich Kemp right behind. The front 9 cars were pulling away but I couldn’t get past Phil who was defending stoutly but fairly, also had to defend a little from Rich who was as close behind me as I was behind Phil. Existing Clearways halfway through the race I lost a bit of grip and had to lift off for a split second. This let Rich Kemp drive straight past and I was down to 9th where I stayed for the rest of the race again unable to get past Phil. 3 seconds covered 5th to 9th at the end of the race.
What a weekend, the highs and lows of Motorsport. Felt great to be back and good to be on the pace. Roll on Anglesey !!
Thanks to Colin for the trackside support.
Thanks to Ian Fletcher for handing my car back (largely undamaged).
Tested on Friday, used the first session just to refamiliarise myself with the car and the track, got quicker through 2nd session and was lapping in the high 57s / low 58s for most of the rest of the day
Qualifying on Saturday, session red flagged early but later on got some clean laps in getting a tow from Nick, had a 57.7 on my timer but was given a 58.2, 1.1 seconds off pole and 9th on grid, 6th ST. 34 cars qualified and with the circuit only able to race 32 I needed some help to get on the grid. Steve Papworth only managed 1 lap and I thought this would mean he would not be allowed to race but apparently not. His car was however completely dead and if he could not fix it I was still in with a chance. Also if he withdrew, rather than simply not making the start I would take up my grid slot as opposed to starting from 32nd. Steve had until 30 minutes before the race to withdraw. Sadly for me but good for him, he got his car going and I was still 1st reserve.
The race, all 34 cars made it to line up in the holding area and the first 32 made their way on to the grid. I lined up in the pit lane with Joanne Eason the 2nd reserve behind me. The only way we would get to race now was if a red flag came out in the first 3 laps. Not a nice way to get on the grid but beggars would not be choosers. Sure enough, after 1 lap race red flagged. Keith Chapman had binned it at Paddock. Also Steve Papworth’s “fix” had only enabled him to do about 30 mph and there was a chance he would come into the pit lane. Sadly for me Steve chose to form up on the grid (but would only make half a lap of the restart) and Keith was pulled out of the gravel and allowed to form back up in his original grid position !! I still don’t understand that rule as it strikes me that if anyone has a bad start, all they need to do is bin it in a dangerous position, wait on the red flag, and then drive back round to the grid again
Anyway this left me fuming in the pit lane and after 3 laps had passed I was directed back to the paddock where I was left to watch race one from the sidelines. When “Destruction Dave” rolled at Paddock later in the race, my chances were looking better for racing on the Sunday.Qualifying on Sunday went out near the front of the pack and put in a solid 58.5 then waited on someone to tow me round, let Nick past and was following him for half a lap until he pulled into the pits with a problem, then hooked up with Rich Kemp and put in a 57.9 for 8th on the grid, 6th ST and 0.6 off pole. Destruction Dave had reappeared in a borrowed car so my participation in the race was still uncertain. The uncertainty was cleared up when Alex the new championship co-ordinator said she had spoken with the clerk and with David Nye changing cars he was now 2nd reserve and I was in ! Not only that with the Sunday qualifying session I would be starting from that position and not 32nd.
Race – start 1. Got a flyer and was alongside and past Nick who had qualified 6th way before Paddock. Couldn’t get all the way across to the inside and Nick came past as we went side by down PHB. Slotted in behind him and running 7th (?) and was all over his bootlid until lap 2 when coming along the back straight after exiting Graham Hill Bend he suddenly slowed I just, literally just, managed to avoid running in to him. It was then I noticed the red flags and I also slowed. Two cars had gone off at Paddock. We formed back up on the grid and waited.
Race – start 2. Didn’t get a good start and lost a couple of places but was unchallenged for 10th (?) and running at the end of a train of cars when again the red flag came out. This time exiting Clearways we were met with 4 or 5 badly damaged cars at the start of the main straight. David Nye’s borrowed car was one of them and it looked bad as did Stephen Brown’s. Clerk of the course then informed us that we were to leave the grid and return to the paddock and our race would be run at the end of the day if there was time, before the 6.30 curfew. We were to be told at 5pm.
5.30 came and went and we were still not sure if we were racing, then the announcement came at just before 6 – we were on ! and we had to get to the holding area straight away. Looks like I would get a race after all!
Race – start 3. Got alongside but not past Nick and slotted in in 8th right on Phil Simpson with Rich Kemp right behind. The front 9 cars were pulling away but I couldn’t get past Phil who was defending stoutly but fairly, also had to defend a little from Rich who was as close behind me as I was behind Phil. Existing Clearways halfway through the race I lost a bit of grip and had to lift off for a split second. This let Rich Kemp drive straight past and I was down to 9th where I stayed for the rest of the race again unable to get past Phil. 3 seconds covered 5th to 9th at the end of the race.
What a weekend, the highs and lows of Motorsport. Felt great to be back and good to be on the pace. Roll on Anglesey !!
Thanks to Colin for the trackside support.