Our first week has involved a lot of car preparation, a lot of driving and a
very large amount of partying.
On
arrival we got straight to work on Martin (Atwell)'s car - our sister car out in
the Caribbean. Two days later a new MegaBird fired up and screamed through
scrutineering along with the carbon car from England.
Onto a few nights of partying before preparing for the Rally Sprint at the
Vaucluse Raceway. Saturday saw the two Lotus 7 Replicas venture out onto the
track for the first time. A steep learning curve, especially as it was my first
ever run on a loose surface but all seems to be going well.
The crowds come out in force on the Sunday for the event itself and
qualifying begins. I got drawn against Graham Manning (the Manning's being the
Bajan equivalent of the Schumacher bothers). Lining up to go out and the heavens
opened! We were held up for what seems like hours before Martin was let out onto
the damp track for his heat. Still raining I got out on to the mud and it's was
absolute hell - lock ups, understeer, snap oversteer at every touch of the
throttle - nearly put it into the wall twice - and I get comprehensively beaten
by the Mk2 Escort! To add to annoyance a large rocks flicked up and took a very
large section out of my right rear wing. Should we be here?
Then the sun came out, the track hardened and I decided to go out for my
second run. The track and car felt twenty times better, controllable slides,
still riding the bump stops down the straight (meaning I have to brake before
the jump!) but all felt well. I came home ahead of Manning this time!
A quick glance at the times woke me up a little - Martin was 6 seconds down
the road and the fastest rear wheel drive car. I was in third with Martin
Stockdale in front.
For the final qualifying round they decided to put me up against Martin. So,
the only two 7 replicas were in the Caribbean, side-by-side on the grid for a
rally sprint. How completely bizarre.
By
far and away one of the most exilirating experiences of my life - Martin and I
trying to out rev each other, thousands of spectators watching the overseas guy
trying to beat the local, waiting for the lights, they go green, I bog down and
Martin gains a few metres then the engine really picks up and I haul him in and
overtake into the first corner. Sideways for what seems like the whole lap I get
to the outside hairpin and yank it round. I see this yellow sevenesque kit-car
on the inside hairpin, throwing rocks at me and realise just how insane this all
is. I actually start to laugh!
The
Quaife sequential box is certainly helping With the sequential dog-box,
clutchless shifts in the blink of an eye mean that gears can be grabbed
instantly. I could even shift is mid corner without unsettling the car allowing
me to continue the nice smooth power slide - great fun! Can't imagine what this
would have been like with the old h-pattern synchro box.
Martin crossed the finish line three seconds in front of me. Well, he did
have six and a half inches more ground clearance, more shock travel, better
suited rubber and is of course a very, very talented driver. This was my first
ever run on the loose. Top fun though, and I want to go again.
For the heats, Martin was lined up against crowd favourite - Stockdale in his
BMW M3. I was against Farmer in his Starlet. If we both won we should both be in
the final (other heats are easier). Martin smoked Stockdale from the lights
(start is tarmac), seemed to have it in the bag but then made a mistake at the
back inside hairpin needing a snatch/crunch into reverse. He then drives like a
madman and they cross the line centimetres apart... but it goes to Stockdale.
I
had a relatively smooth run against Farmer and make it through to go up against
Stockdale. Martin ran down the pits to tell me to take caution into the inside
hairpin. I was slightly distracted as there was a bus full of women on a bridal
shower chanting "
" (sadly, it was for Graham
Manning not myself!). As the lights went green, I got to the first corner ahead
of Stockdale and was feeling confident. On the second lap at the hairpin neck
and neck with Stockdale but I had the shorter distance to go and a stretch of
tarmac to come, locked a front, headed straight on and had to virtually stop and
watch as the BMW carried on sideways to the finish. I nailed it but I had lost
too much time and Stockdale carried on through to win the class. Damn, damn,
damn, damn, damn!.
Third
place battle saw me back against Graham Manning who span out and did donuts
while I continued on oblivious to claim third. Not a bad result really. On times
Martin's was the fastest in a rear-wheel drive car and I was second fastest. It
was both the cars' first outings, both our first runs on the Vaucluse track and
my first ever run on a loose surface. Fantastic fun, without a doubt the most
challenging learning curve I've ever had to take up!
The after-party starts, the prizes are given out and we continue on to
Harbour Lights straight from the track. The Fluke Motorsport lads put in a good
show on the swording front.
Now it's time to finalise the pace notes and get settled for this weekend's
big event - the Texaco All Stage Tarmac Rally. Over 100 competive miles on the
slippiest tarmac I've ever experienced (we're getting wheelspin in 4th gear in
the dry). With Sky Sports and RPM following our every move, full works WRC cars
behind us and already a reputation for sideways driving it's going to be serious
fun. I think I shall go and settle the nerves with a rum and coke.....
Wish you were all here, this is exactly how motorsport should be!
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