September 2022
26Sep
Blyton FTD Success
So the triple header started off exceptionally well, with a new British record, a Run Off win, and FTD on Saturday on the Eastern circuit. (Thats my third FTD for the Eastern layout). I recorded a 59.85s and beat Matt Hillam by 3/100ths of a second, scoring 26 points. Sadly it then rained heavily and I took a conservative approach, as I needed a finish, so that was another score to be dropped later. On Sunday on the Outer circuit, I had a new PB of 55.55s, and on the first run off, the clock had a glitch and I had the same time as Pete Goulding 55.36s, which then suddenly changed to a time 0.7s slower, which is baffling. Again, how are we supposed to do our best when timing systems keep throwing up no time, or spurious times? Anyway, on the final run off, I recorded another 55s time, and I was in first place until I was beaten by a very determined Matt Hillam, some 1.3s faster, placing me second with 24 points. There was a long oil patch left on the track, dropped by John Loudon's Force that lost its oil filter, and I hit the patch and had the rear end step out on that run, forcing me to come off the throttle. Had that oil not been dropped, I would definitely have beaten the class record to earn a bonus point. As it was, that went to Pete with his 55.36s run. Pete went slower in the afternoons final run due to a front wing issue.Anglesey coming up. I had no issues with the car, didnt take a spanner to it all weekend and I'm looking forward to this weekend's trip. Terry Holmes overtook me to take first place on Saturday, and after the points scored this weekend I am 7 points behind Terry, and I can still beat him with some more good results at Anglesey and Castle Combe. I just need to keep beating him.
22Sep
Triple Header
This weekend I'm at Blyton Park for two days. The weekend after I'm going to Anglesey, and then the weekend after, the finale takes place at Castle Combe on October the 8th, followed by a visit to Curborough the day after for the long course sprint. Busy busy busy. The car and driver, are both ready :D13Sep
No more Knockhill :(
Desperately sad news today, that we will no longer be using the famous Knockhill circuit. Probably the best venue on the calendar, the circuit owners are now demanding extraordinary amounts of money for us to run on the circuit, which would make the entry fees in the thousands. What future is there for the British championship with so few circuits left?12Sep
Coming Up
My next event is the Nottingham Sports Car Club sprint weekend at Blyton Park driving centre on the 24th and 25th of September. I took FTD at the event in May, and had some great points scored, which I'm hoping to do again to keep Terry Holmes at bay in 3rd place. After Blyton we're off to Anglesey, then its the finale at Castle Combe in October. Just ten rounds remain...This is a short video of two of my runs from Knockhill. The first one is the first run off, on wets, and as you can see it certainly wasn't wet enough for wets. I granny started the car to avoid issues in the narrow pitlane. The second run is the qualifier run in the afternoon, where I finished 2nd, just 0.17s behind Terry Holmes.
6Sep
Aintree success
A busy weekend started with the trip up to Aintree near Liverpool on Saturday morning. A very quiet journey over to Aintree, with a decent weather forecast, the prospects for some good points were high. On the Avon fronts and older pirelli rears, I had two practice runs, and my second practice time was my best of the morning (40.74) which was slower than my PB set in 2021 (40.11). Frustratng as the time shown on the scoreboard as I crossed the finish line was 40.00 so I was thinking I'd got a new PB. Alas the times on Resultsman showed a 40.74. The competitive timed runs quickly commenced, and after two runs, I took the class win, and dismantled the car to put it back on the trailer. I was thankful that I could get away for 12:30 for the trip over to Knockhill in the afternoon.My biggest concern during the morning, was the dreadful condition of the circuit. The long dry spell over the summer, has made the two right hand turns very bumpy indeed, and I was struggling for traction particularly around the first right hand turn. Although I managed 150+ MPH over the finish line, with minimum aero, which was pretty exciting, it was just a shame I missed out on a new PB and FTD, which went to a well deserved Glynn Sketchley (also from Leicester) with a good 39s run. Well done Glynn. I didnt stick around to collect my class award, hopefully someone picked it up on my behalf.
So that was phase one done, now on to the British Sprint round at Knockhill the following day.
Knockhill Anti-clockwise, round 19 and 20 (New PB)
Arriving at Knockhill at 5pm on Saturday, I was able to unload the car and van straight in to the garage, then park the van and trailer over behind the paddock. The weather was rapidly deteriorating, and heavy rain set in, a sign of things to come. On Sunday morning, we were out at 8:30, in pouring rain, and I was a little too enthusiastic on my practice run, depositing the car in the gravel trap at the chicane. My fault, I should have stayed off the painted kerbs.
Photo: Flatout photography
Photo: Flatout photography
Back in the garage, I removed the gravel, and repaired the plastic skirts where the pop rivets had failed, and the first timed run was far better, more controlled, and I set a reasonable time. at 12:20pm, the first run off came, and the weather had continued to improve (it hadnt rained for over an hour), everyone was on wets, which was the wrong decision. Setting off from a wet pit lane without launch control I realised there was a drying line, and I finished 4th behind Terry Holmes, Simon Bainbridge, and Stephen Miles, netting 22 points.
Photo: Flatout photography
The weather continued to improve, so the new ultrasoft slicks came out, and I was the second fastest qualifier on the third timed run after lunch, just 0.17s behind Terry who I had firmly in my sights. Terry even came over to say well done. On that run I was also chasing the class record, which I was closing in on. I did record a new PB, 91.14s, which was satisfying, but with the lack of dry runs we were all a little off the pace compared to the previous year, and there were still puddles hiding around the edges of the track ready to snare anyone daring to touch them.
Photo: Flatout photography
The forecast was for more rain at 5pm, but it didnt come, the sun was out with a strong breeze blowing, and at 5pm on the final run of the day I monstered the car around on what was still a green track following all the rain, and I was soon back in the paddock and out of the car, and took my helmet and gloves off. I'd driven the car in forwards in to my garage spot, which was still muddy from cleaning the gravel from the car in the morning. I was then told to get back in again as I had no time recorded! WTF! Oh great. My tyres were now filthy and covered in crap. OK, so one more go. I lined up, got a great launch, but I was a little slower, but still managed to finish 3rd behind Steward Robb (V10 Pilbeam) and Terry Holmes (V8 Lola), and 1.5 seconds ahead of fourth placed Steve Miles, scoring 23 points.
So with drop scores coming in to play, I'd dropped a 20, and I've gone up to 408 points in total, to maintain my lead in the championship. The class record should have fallen to me, but the lack of runs on a dry track showed, and I wasn't using as much of the kerbs as maybe I should have been. I have three more 20 point scores to drop, which hopefully will be replaced by higher scores and bonus points on the return to Blyton Park Driving Centre in three weeks time.
After packing everything up, I set off from Knockhill at 6:30pm, to arrive home just after midnight, covering 690 miles in total. I had to stop twice for fuel. I estimated 25 litres would give me the range I needed to get home, but the VW trip computer hadn't factored in the trailer behind me, so I had to stop a second time to add another 10 litres to make sure I got home. At £2.01p a litre, you put as little in as possible on the motorway, that was my man logic anyway.
I had no issues at all with the car. My Cousin helped me on Sunday, and took some great video's and I'll post them up later. A class win Saturday, a podium and a new PB on Sunday, so in all, it was a great weekend.