RE: Harris at the Spa Six Hours: PH Blog

RE: Harris at the Spa Six Hours: PH Blog

Tuesday 23rd September 2014

Harris at the Spa Six Hours: PH Blog

After three years and three DNFs, Chris wasn't holding out much hope in 2014 - here's the story



The heaving crowds around garage 42 at Spa occasionally checked their Twitter feeds to feign interest in the F1 qualifying, the WEC in Texas and the GT3 race in Germany, but really all they came to see was the #24 Ford Falcon Sprint's triumphant return to the Spa Six Hours.

Uphill bits easy in Falcon, stopping it less so
Uphill bits easy in Falcon, stopping it less so
'They' were in fact just one creaky old Belgian spitter attempting to flog me a 100W bulb, and he didn't seem to have a mobile communications device handy, but it's impossible not to feel a bit special at Spa. Like you're at the centre of the motorsport universe even when you're plainly not - because Spa is the greatest modern track of them all.

And the Falcon truly is a special car: homologated back to under 1,200kg, pushing 450hp through its 289ci V8, it is the finest four-hour car ever to enter a six-hour race. In fact if there were a four-hour category in the Spa Six Hours, we might have been the car to beat for the last three years. Sadly the officials have never created, and still see no reason to create, a separate class for teams who would prefer to only complete two-thirds of the total race distance. Therefore Team Frankel-Harris has, since 2011, been categorised most unfairly in the results pages with the nastiest acronym of them all: DNF.

Andrew Frankel all smiles before the off
Andrew Frankel all smiles before the off
To recap: the first year it was the chassis - just a minor hiccup as a front wheel detached itself into Les Combes in the middle of an Andrew Frankel stint. Of course we all tried to blame him for kerb abuse, but the onboard footage sadly didn't support the accusation. Not that we didn't call him Robin for a few months after the event.

After an extensive 12-month development program during which we identified 400hp being far more than either the chassis or the brakes could handle, we returned in 2012 with a new upgrade package, as devised by a crack team of experts. This included a 450hp engine, no changes to either the brakes or the suspension, some beefier hubs and back-to-back dinner bookings at the local Fondue house. Belgian fondue rocks. Three cheese; two beef.

This engine was quite something. It would rev to 6,400rpm with spiteful zip and, if the driver was feeling idiotic enough through Eau Rouge, would allow this super-heated paving slab to out-drag some of the semi-lightweight E-Types up the Kemmel Straight. At which point they would brake neatly for Les Combes and the Falcon driver would find religion.

A monster of a car, monstering the field
A monster of a car, monstering the field
As if to acknowledge the deep pain it was causing its fellow components, the engine did the decent thing and released them from purgatory by committing hari-kari itself, at the end of the third hour. We humans retreated for extra fondue. Three cheese; three beef.

Days later the car wasn't delivered to Woking for its 2013 upgrades work. Driver feedback suggested power be returned to the 400hp mark and the braking system from an A380 be fitted, so we went for the same power and some slightly less fragile rockers and vowed to 'use the brakes less'. But the crowds were once again left desolate as the forlorn Falcon failed to scream into the race's fifth hour due to a melted clutch. And we'd only been using 6,200rpm this time. More fondue followed.

As the contracted third driver, this triple failure to enter the final phase of the race left me in the curious position of never having completed a full race lap in the Spa Six Hours and, after the race, wearing the face of a beleaguered, beaten Scottish politician I offered my resignation from team Harris/Frankel on grounds of bringing to it the luck of a Voodoo doll in the shape of a black cat. Perched under a ladder.

Uh-oh, there's a braking zone at the end of this...
Uh-oh, there's a braking zone at the end of this...
This resignation was considered over the winter recess and, when Emerson Fittipaldi became unavailable at the last minute, was rejected by the Frankels. And that's how we found ourselves at Silverstone three weeks ago, shaking down the big Ford after its winter wind-tunnel sessions - used primarily to judge how much chrome falls off at 145mph, one doesn't want to be disqualified for being underweight; if indeed one actually finishes.

We made some set-up changes, muttered with surprise that the middle pedal appeared to actually do something and were about to pack up when the motor dropped to seven and we found another broken rocker.

This time I had been driving, neatly spreading the balance of blame these past four years across all three pilots. But, joy of joys, there was no further damage found and after fitting a set of rockers clearly made from NASA-spec alloy, we headed to the land of warring Walloons and Flems for our fourth attempt at Belgium's premier endurance race for old snotters.

Diversity of the field helps liven things up
Diversity of the field helps liven things up
The plan was simple. Drive the car as little and as gently as possible until the start of the race. Accordingly, the rev limit was dropped to 6,000rpm and we each ran one flying lap in the test, then three flying laps in qualifying. Goals for the weekend were set high and translated into a complicated algorithm running though race data software to manage our performance. Yep, my MacBook had a post-it slapped on the screen which read 'Just Fecking finish. Please'.

We qualified an impressive 68th from 107 starters on a 3min 9sec lap. If this was a handicap event with reverse grids it would have compared very well with the 3min 4sec we clocked in 2012.

Our specialist starter A. Frankel took the first stint and was immediately impressive, jumping many stragglers on the opening laps and navigating both safety cars and a classic, surprise Ardennes thunderstorm to drag us up to 39th after 90 minutes. At this point another safety car period began because drivers had been accurately responding to messages from their pit boards to 'Drive like complete knobheads and do everything they can to injure themselves and damage their cars'. Really, it wasn't a great advert for well-heeled types driving nice cars in the rain. Many of them should just have parked up and had a cuppa.

At least the brake *lights* worked...
At least the brake *lights* worked...
No matter: in a brilliant move we actioned a quick pit-stop, swapping Frankels and sending the intrepid Falcon on its way. Ross Brawn would have been staggered by the tactical cunning on display as we emerged in 85th place, at the back of the safety car pack.

Richard then used the changeable conditions to his advantage and launched our second strike on the leaderboard - the places tumbled like the intermediary rounds of the final fight in Rocky IV - into the 70s, then the 60s, then the 50s and up into the mid-40s before he pulled triumphantly into the pits to ensure the fondue restaurant was going to stay open late enough. This left two and a half hours to run, potentially possible with a safety car and me with a point to prove.

The fuel stop was slick - well, as slick as a fuel stop can be when you sit and wait on what looks like a normal petrol forecourt, then fill the bloody car yourself, faff with the belts and generally make a balls-up of the whole thing.

The oil tanker seems to have left a slick...
The oil tanker seems to have left a slick...
I have no idea what position we rejoined in, but I popped out behind another Brit-run Falcon that had dusted us in qualifying and set about chasing and passing him. That took a lap and a half and then, braking into Rivage a corner later, the already long brake pedal suddenly sank another two inches, my Nomex underwear changed colour and the car struggled to stop. The next left was a problem too and into Pouhon it was clear that the brakes were not coming back - furthermore, there was smoke billowing out of the rear of the car, so I dawdled it back to the pits and parked up. Quelle fromage.

You really couldn't make it up. But, on the positive side, I had at least completed one lap in the race! The mental Belgians who always have a garage next to us dived in to help Team Manager Vernon - but only after we'd extinguished the small fire pulsing from the right rear brake line. The shoe had worn through and then caused general mayhem. To add assistance another, even bigger thunderstorm dumped inches of water on the track, so the car was wheeled into the garage and we ended up simply blocking off the right rear drum and went back out, after 40 minutes, with just the three brakes. To be honest, the car doesn't really feel like it has much in the way of brakes at the best of times, plus the track was now wet, so this wasn't much of a problem.

Four terrible brakes become three...
Four terrible brakes become three...
The lights, however, were. The tri-xenon, gadzillion watt laser spots we'd spent time developing over the winter were sadly a figment of my imagination. Instead I had a pair of damp candles hidden behind misty, murky, half-century-old glass. I never thought I'd be thankful for a huge electrical storm, but lightening really does help spot the turn-in point for Blanchimont.

These were slightly silly conditions, but the Falcon was hilariously sideways and I had a truly memorable 90 minutes trying to distract other drivers with silly angles in most of the corners. With 15 minutes to run the rain was so heavy intense that the track began to flood again, and the race was red-flagged.

And they've finished!
And they've finished!
And this meant we had finished the Spa Six Hours. Yipee! A four-year odyssey had finally lead to the ultimate goal - classification in the finishing order. If you'd offered me the chance to nearly spanner myself in zero visibility around Spa, in a 50 year-old saloon car, and added that 75th overall would be the final prize, I might not have leaped at the opportunity. But that last stint was huge fun, and as you can probably guess, the Spa race weekend with the Frankels is about as much fun as a race weekend can be - with added fondue.

I can now state publicly that I will not drive a Ford Falcon at the 2015 Spa Six Hours. Which probably means I will be driving a Ford Falcon at the 2015 Spa Six Hours.

Chris

 


Lead photo: Romain Wilmet/Petrolistes.com
Race photos: Frozenspeed
Additional photos: Harris

   
   

 

Author
Discussion

Crazy Don

Original Poster:

76 posts

208 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Brilliant story Chris, felt I was there. The mark of a great journalist.

Bruski11

63 posts

163 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
And some of us enjoyed a very entertaining few corners following the Falcon at Silverstone a few weeks back. I didn't know you could take Luffied and Copse sideways, all the way, sideways. Hey, everyday is a school day.

oldtimer2

728 posts

132 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Lovely write up - enjoyed every word.

moskvich427

227 posts

174 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Great article Chris!

Spa really is a stunning track - must return there soon...



matrignano

4,345 posts

209 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Haha, what a great read!

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Nicely written and an enjoyable read smile

Speed_Demon

2,662 posts

187 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
No doubt I'll be accused of having my nose up your bum Chris, but that was a brilliant article. Had me cracking up on several occasions, could really feel your passion for it.

DaveL485

2,758 posts

196 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Really enjoyed that, very reminiscent of my trials and tribulations in my racing Fuego! biggrin

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Wonderfully, atmospheric report Chris, I could almost smell the cheese... of is that brake pads?

There is something wonderfully British and abit European about taking the wrong kind of car racing in the wrong kind of weather on the wrong kind of track with the wrong kind of preparation fueled by enthusiasm and a history of failure.

I salute you for standing around in a damp forest occasionally driving a car that sometimes works- would give my right arm for the experience.

Henry Fiddleton

1,581 posts

176 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Rarely comment, but that was an excellent read. Sounds like great fun.

HF

HorneyMX5

5,306 posts

149 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Watched you guys fail last year, missed it this year, we'll be back for 2015 to see you guys break into the top 50!

Porkie

2,378 posts

240 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
One of the funniest and best things I've ever read on here!

congrats on result

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Porkie said:
One of the funniest and best things I've ever read on here!

congrats on result
Top one Chris, congrats on the finish.

My anual Spa6 blog here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Falcon competition:

Well done Bart Deenik: P71, 2nd Falcon in and the quickest around Spa in a cracking 3:03.

As always a handfull pics every day - and guess what: the one corrupt file out of 400 ... is #24 sideways through LS. I'll try and rescue at least the preview of my ORF. Bummer!

Picture this ...

... but then in the wet and in OL.

Graham

16,368 posts

283 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Sounds like your Spa History is even better than mine. at least I have a 50/50 finishing record although last time i was there I started with a hard top car and finished with a much shorter open car !!

still the best circuit in the world, especially if you like rain...

LA167

897 posts

185 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Cracking blog, best PH article I've read in a long time!!

High flier

1,089 posts

176 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Great read! We took one of our customers down there, for his first attempt at the 6 hours. Unfortunately, his friend, managed to bin it, and damaged the steering. It took 2 hours to repair, and then it only went out for 1 lap, as it became apparent that there was a fair bit more damage than they'd thought.
The number of crashes was a joke though. Although having said that the rain was pretty spectacular! This E-Type made me wince when I saw it (the cause of the pit lane fuel spill in Chris' photo at a guess...), I've never seen so much fuel pouring out of a car frown


Koen De Beer

2 posts

114 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Great article, just makes it worse I wasn't able to attend this years' 6 Hours. Ever since my first visit back in 2009, for what has become Belgium's biggest independent automotive website, I have dreamed of one day being able to participate. I am still not one step closer to succeeding, but one should keep dreaming.
Enough about me, the real reason I'm replying to this post, is to try and get in touch with the the 'Monkey and the other PH crew members and hopefully talk you people into an interview when you're visiting the world's nicest track next year in september.
Would you be willing to share a few thoughts with our readers?

Thanks in advance,

Koen
censored

ETA

Deemed as an advert.

Edited by Big Al. on Tuesday 23 September 20:44

Acquah

527 posts

171 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Ah! This would probably explain all the decent metal I encountered yesterday in Belgium on the way back to and on the ferry at Dunkirk. Agree with the above; a good read.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
thumbup


graemel

7,017 posts

216 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Great read Chris and glad you broke your duck
It ended up being a few firsts for both of us last weekend.
First time you have finished the race.
First time we have ever met (Spa - Balmoral after the race in the bar. Where else ). That means more to me than you as I am an avid reader and video watcher of all of your exploits.
First time for me in the Spa 6 hour.
First bloody race this year.
The first race for our 2.0 litre 911. FKJ 27C just behind you in one of the pictures.
Our mission like most was just to finish. At 4 hours we were running 19th overall and then lost the light bar. Lost time fixing the lights and ended up 29th overall and 10th in class.
It funny how it goes from just hoping to finish and then a P2 or P3 in class looks possible. Then dissapointment and copious amounts of beer soon follow.
Hope to see you next year at Spa smile