A Baptism of Fire
Discussion
So it was my first weekend of racing on Saturday and boy was I in for a rollercoaster of a ride.
The sum total of my experience with motorsport before the weekend was the odd 4 hour endurance karting event for work, Palmer Sports Corporate Days, a handful of track days and the odd fast lap with a pro at other business events. I have never raced anything seriously before, but thought from the experience I had got to date that I knew what was coming up.
I asked on a previous thread what the best car was for me and received some helpful advice. I agonised for quite some time over this but opted for a Renault Clio 182 which had been run for the 750mc Clio 182 Cub and duly entered the Silverstone International round on the 22nd of August. The main reason for the Clio is the wide number of championships I can enter it in for, it is reasonably slow, reasonably cheap to buy, spares are abundant, front wheel drive (I thought it would be easier) and it came with a another Clio 182 to boot!
I arranged to meet Stuart (the previous owner) with the car on Saturday morning for a handover at the track and for him to help me through the day with all of the organisation and details. So I hire a trailer, pack up the motorhome with stuff and head out to Silverstone on the Friday night with great excitement.
I arrive at the circuit at about 9pm and it was already rammed to the gunnels with massive marques, Lorries and such like with no room to spare anywhere near the garages. Being dark at this point and having never been there before I found some space on an access road not too far from the paddock, park and set up for the weekend. Could I get to sleep? Not a chance.
So 6am comes around eventually after probably only 2 hours sleep, I shove some food down (expecting it to be a busy morning) and go to pick up my car. Stuart is knowhere to be seen, but fortunately he has left the car with some friends of his and they are expecting me so I pick up the car and drive it around to our “base”, it is about 7:30 at this point. As part of the deal Stuart had put a new set (I find out a ‘set’ means a axle set, not all 4) but on rims which were not on the car. So I change the tyres (putting them on the wrong way around I subsequently find out) check the time. I then realise I haven’t signed on! So I quickly head to the signing on office and the people in there are very friendly. Couple of signatures later plus some numbers and a piece of paper I have no idea about I head back to the car. As I walk past I can see most of the Clios are in or have scrutineered by now so shove my kit in the car and take it down.
I meet Stuart in the queue for scrutineering and thankfully he joined me through the process. I can only describe scrutineering as the most manic MOT you have ever had done. The guys are really busy getting through everything in double quick time and as a result you are commanded to do various things they want to check, whilst being hassled to move your car forward as it is in the way. Fortunately I had no issues other than some tie wraps here and there and swapped my mysterious bit of paper for a card. I also payed £2 to get a sticker for the helmet which luckily someone leant me as I didn’t have any money on me.
So with that out of the way practice was fast approaching so I headed back, got suited and booted and then headed out to the assembly area. Seeing everyone out of the car chatting, I opted to do the same, exchanging nervous conversations with my fellow competitors. Then before you know it, engines are fired up and people are leaving! Queue much faffing with hans, helmet, glasses, seat belts and out I go on the circuit, a little flustered. This sense of flusterment only got worse when I realised I hadn’t put on my gloves as I emerged from the pit lane… what a noob.
The next few laps I will not forget for some time to come. When I exited the pit lane, the first cars were already coming around for their second lap and at full racing speed. I can only describe the next few laps as utterly terrifying. Cars come from everywhere, all going at full chat, I was swamped from all sides and directions and having never driven the car or track had no idea what was what. After a couple of turns I tried the tactic of just trying to follow someone at vaguely the same speed as them, but they soon disappeared given their much higher apex speed than I achieved. I get my gloves on and then try to settle in to a rhythm and vaguely stick with the last person who has overtaken me. I complete the out lap, then the next lap and by mid-way through the third, going faster than I ever thought possible I entered Stowe (a really difficult entry) pretty fast with a competitor right behind me….
If I may cut off for a moment here… I was always quite dismissive of FWD cars as they are full of understeer and pretty ‘safe’. Let me assure you with sticky fronts, competition suspension and a car set up for racing this is not the case. The lift off oversteer is just incredible on these things. Getting them balanced through bends is really hard and I was very quickly learning that to be anything but 10 seconds off the pace, each corner is completely on the limit. So this Clio had epic front grip, no rear grip, super sticky tyres and an inexperienced driver at the wheel.
This is when I lost the back end… another noob mistake I made is when I felt the rear go, I steered in to it (correct) but took my foot off the accelerator (wrong). This just made the slide worse, so many more turns of oppo I caught the slide, yey! ***BANG*** I get t-boned from the guy right behind me, get spun around to face the right direction but then had no steering. Whilst uttering many many swear words, I pull over to the side of the road next to a marshals post and then climb out with the pissed off racing driver look you see on the telly so many times. I then turn around to see a sea of cars spinning off the track in front of me and another car joined me having stuck it in the wall. It turns out that ‘Mr T-bone’ had carried on from our little love kiss and trailed his whole radiator over the track to the pits, causing at least 6 cars to spin off. I then spent the next 10 minutes, still really cross with myself and the state of the car, swapping accident stories with my fellow compatriot wondering if my weekend was only going to be 2.5 laps long.
The recovering people arrive and tell me to jump in and drive it back to the pits. It did steer vaguely but the wheels were completely out of alignment and scrubbing all the way down the road. Back in to the garage now I see the state of the car which hit me. The whole front of the car was completely caved in, radiators smashed, cross members bent and it was a right state. I then saw the driver getting out the trailer straps and positioning the car to start bending it back in to shape! We shook hands and there was no hard feelings, just one of those things.
What followed next was truly amazing. The whole paddock seemed to help me find a solution to the rather bent car I now had. A quick assessment of the damage it looked like a new steering arm and the use of a hammer was in order. I then ask the guys from http://goracingmotorsport.uk/index.html to give me a hand and they set about one of the most frantic hour of bodging I have ever seen. Luckily they have a spare steering arm but on further inspection the shock was also bent and I needed a new one of these. Asking the whole paddock know one had any spares so I opted to try my luck with effectively no suspension on one side…
When they were just about to finish I went over to race control to see if I could get in to the race and if I had done enough laps. I thought to qualify you needed to do 3 laps, but assumed the 3 were at racing speed. The timekeeper told me I had done 3, 1 timed and that I was in for race #1!! What utter joy after the pits of despair.
http://www.theresultslive.co.uk/750-motor-club/sil...
Then I had to run back, drive the car back to the Motorhome, stick some fuel in it (didn’t fancy running out) and made it to the assembly area again, just in time. As I park up, it is time for the green flag lap, so yet more panicked flapping with helmet and this time I remember gloves!
For the race, I had zero expectations other than to make the finish. It is something else to find yourself on the grid to start a race. Epic just doesn’t seem to do it justice, especially since I had been working so hard to achieve this dream for so long. After the off I kept a healthy distance from the pack knowing I wouldn’t be overtaking anyone and wanting to stay out of trouble. So for my 4th ever racing lap I was soon left behind and spent the rest of the race learning the track, leaving my break points and turn in points later and getting used to the Clio. It will come as no surprise I ended up last and lapped by the leader.
Still some way to go then…
http://www.theresultslive.co.uk/750-motor-club/sil...
Now I had 4 hours until race 2 and was able to relax, get some food and try and make sense of what has happened over the last 3 hours. I stick some fuel in to me and the car, have a lay down and prepare for race 2, being more confident about the car and the circuit.
For the second race I am much more prepared for. I am the first in to the assembly area and don’t get out of the car, but strapped myself in and sat there with all of my gear on. This made me very hot, but I got comfortable with the car, the belts, position and more prepared for the onslaught to come.
Race two started and I made another great start, (narrowly avoiding someone who had blown their engine up on the grid) and this time stayed with the pack. Then something weird happened, I started to catch the person in front! I almost couldn’t believe it, corner after corner I got closer and closer… I might even have to do an overtake!!! (it is racing after all). Being incredibly daunted by this prospect I was somewhat relieved but also worried when they did the same through Stowe as I had done during qualifying. Fortunately I managed to avoid the car and not t-bone them and had completed my very first competitive overtake. Then it was as per the first race, I was 6 seconds back now and got my head down and continued to learn the circuit. It is really hard to judge if you are gaining or losing with someone so far in front but overall I felt a slight gain overall, but only marginal. The times also back this up.
http://www.theresultslive.co.uk/750-motor-club/sil...
What a day. I am completely humbled by the whole experience. I had always thought that amateur racing was a small step up from track days and that I was a reasonably fast driver. Forget it… racing is a different league. I was flat out every corner and 3 seconds off the pace. I need to think about every single aspect of my driving and improve in every possible area in order to even think about becoming more competitive. I have also a deep and profound respect for anyone in any high level motorsport arena. It looks easy on the tele. It is not.
Things I wish I knew before hand:
- Everyone in the 750mc Clio 182 is very friendly and welcoming.
- Drive the car on a track day before you race it (this one is perhaps obvious and I knew I was not preparing in the best way).
- Drive the track before you race it (ironically I can’t make any track days for my next two races before hand)
- Don’t slow too much for yellows, I was way too cautious.
- Be organised and be early for everything.
- Expect it to be flat out from the first corner of every session. No gradual build up, just **wham** flat out.
- A ‘set’ of tyres is for an axle, not the whole car.
- £2 for a helmet sticker is required.
Can’t wait for the next race at Donington Park in the TinTops run by CSCC, hopefully a more competitive, accident free weekend!
The sum total of my experience with motorsport before the weekend was the odd 4 hour endurance karting event for work, Palmer Sports Corporate Days, a handful of track days and the odd fast lap with a pro at other business events. I have never raced anything seriously before, but thought from the experience I had got to date that I knew what was coming up.
I asked on a previous thread what the best car was for me and received some helpful advice. I agonised for quite some time over this but opted for a Renault Clio 182 which had been run for the 750mc Clio 182 Cub and duly entered the Silverstone International round on the 22nd of August. The main reason for the Clio is the wide number of championships I can enter it in for, it is reasonably slow, reasonably cheap to buy, spares are abundant, front wheel drive (I thought it would be easier) and it came with a another Clio 182 to boot!
I arranged to meet Stuart (the previous owner) with the car on Saturday morning for a handover at the track and for him to help me through the day with all of the organisation and details. So I hire a trailer, pack up the motorhome with stuff and head out to Silverstone on the Friday night with great excitement.
I arrive at the circuit at about 9pm and it was already rammed to the gunnels with massive marques, Lorries and such like with no room to spare anywhere near the garages. Being dark at this point and having never been there before I found some space on an access road not too far from the paddock, park and set up for the weekend. Could I get to sleep? Not a chance.
So 6am comes around eventually after probably only 2 hours sleep, I shove some food down (expecting it to be a busy morning) and go to pick up my car. Stuart is knowhere to be seen, but fortunately he has left the car with some friends of his and they are expecting me so I pick up the car and drive it around to our “base”, it is about 7:30 at this point. As part of the deal Stuart had put a new set (I find out a ‘set’ means a axle set, not all 4) but on rims which were not on the car. So I change the tyres (putting them on the wrong way around I subsequently find out) check the time. I then realise I haven’t signed on! So I quickly head to the signing on office and the people in there are very friendly. Couple of signatures later plus some numbers and a piece of paper I have no idea about I head back to the car. As I walk past I can see most of the Clios are in or have scrutineered by now so shove my kit in the car and take it down.
I meet Stuart in the queue for scrutineering and thankfully he joined me through the process. I can only describe scrutineering as the most manic MOT you have ever had done. The guys are really busy getting through everything in double quick time and as a result you are commanded to do various things they want to check, whilst being hassled to move your car forward as it is in the way. Fortunately I had no issues other than some tie wraps here and there and swapped my mysterious bit of paper for a card. I also payed £2 to get a sticker for the helmet which luckily someone leant me as I didn’t have any money on me.
So with that out of the way practice was fast approaching so I headed back, got suited and booted and then headed out to the assembly area. Seeing everyone out of the car chatting, I opted to do the same, exchanging nervous conversations with my fellow competitors. Then before you know it, engines are fired up and people are leaving! Queue much faffing with hans, helmet, glasses, seat belts and out I go on the circuit, a little flustered. This sense of flusterment only got worse when I realised I hadn’t put on my gloves as I emerged from the pit lane… what a noob.
The next few laps I will not forget for some time to come. When I exited the pit lane, the first cars were already coming around for their second lap and at full racing speed. I can only describe the next few laps as utterly terrifying. Cars come from everywhere, all going at full chat, I was swamped from all sides and directions and having never driven the car or track had no idea what was what. After a couple of turns I tried the tactic of just trying to follow someone at vaguely the same speed as them, but they soon disappeared given their much higher apex speed than I achieved. I get my gloves on and then try to settle in to a rhythm and vaguely stick with the last person who has overtaken me. I complete the out lap, then the next lap and by mid-way through the third, going faster than I ever thought possible I entered Stowe (a really difficult entry) pretty fast with a competitor right behind me….
If I may cut off for a moment here… I was always quite dismissive of FWD cars as they are full of understeer and pretty ‘safe’. Let me assure you with sticky fronts, competition suspension and a car set up for racing this is not the case. The lift off oversteer is just incredible on these things. Getting them balanced through bends is really hard and I was very quickly learning that to be anything but 10 seconds off the pace, each corner is completely on the limit. So this Clio had epic front grip, no rear grip, super sticky tyres and an inexperienced driver at the wheel.
This is when I lost the back end… another noob mistake I made is when I felt the rear go, I steered in to it (correct) but took my foot off the accelerator (wrong). This just made the slide worse, so many more turns of oppo I caught the slide, yey! ***BANG*** I get t-boned from the guy right behind me, get spun around to face the right direction but then had no steering. Whilst uttering many many swear words, I pull over to the side of the road next to a marshals post and then climb out with the pissed off racing driver look you see on the telly so many times. I then turn around to see a sea of cars spinning off the track in front of me and another car joined me having stuck it in the wall. It turns out that ‘Mr T-bone’ had carried on from our little love kiss and trailed his whole radiator over the track to the pits, causing at least 6 cars to spin off. I then spent the next 10 minutes, still really cross with myself and the state of the car, swapping accident stories with my fellow compatriot wondering if my weekend was only going to be 2.5 laps long.
The recovering people arrive and tell me to jump in and drive it back to the pits. It did steer vaguely but the wheels were completely out of alignment and scrubbing all the way down the road. Back in to the garage now I see the state of the car which hit me. The whole front of the car was completely caved in, radiators smashed, cross members bent and it was a right state. I then saw the driver getting out the trailer straps and positioning the car to start bending it back in to shape! We shook hands and there was no hard feelings, just one of those things.
What followed next was truly amazing. The whole paddock seemed to help me find a solution to the rather bent car I now had. A quick assessment of the damage it looked like a new steering arm and the use of a hammer was in order. I then ask the guys from http://goracingmotorsport.uk/index.html to give me a hand and they set about one of the most frantic hour of bodging I have ever seen. Luckily they have a spare steering arm but on further inspection the shock was also bent and I needed a new one of these. Asking the whole paddock know one had any spares so I opted to try my luck with effectively no suspension on one side…
When they were just about to finish I went over to race control to see if I could get in to the race and if I had done enough laps. I thought to qualify you needed to do 3 laps, but assumed the 3 were at racing speed. The timekeeper told me I had done 3, 1 timed and that I was in for race #1!! What utter joy after the pits of despair.
| What | Time |
|---|---|
| Pole lap | 1:20.38 |
| 2nd from Last | 1:27.80 |
| My lap (last place) | 1:33.13 |
http://www.theresultslive.co.uk/750-motor-club/sil...
Then I had to run back, drive the car back to the Motorhome, stick some fuel in it (didn’t fancy running out) and made it to the assembly area again, just in time. As I park up, it is time for the green flag lap, so yet more panicked flapping with helmet and this time I remember gloves!
For the race, I had zero expectations other than to make the finish. It is something else to find yourself on the grid to start a race. Epic just doesn’t seem to do it justice, especially since I had been working so hard to achieve this dream for so long. After the off I kept a healthy distance from the pack knowing I wouldn’t be overtaking anyone and wanting to stay out of trouble. So for my 4th ever racing lap I was soon left behind and spent the rest of the race learning the track, leaving my break points and turn in points later and getting used to the Clio. It will come as no surprise I ended up last and lapped by the leader.
| What | Time |
|---|---|
| Position | Last |
| Fastest lap | 1:21.28 |
| My fastest lap | 1:25.53 |
Still some way to go then…
http://www.theresultslive.co.uk/750-motor-club/sil...
| Lap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:43.24 | 1:37.12 | 1:32.18 | 1:31.29 | 1:30.63 | 1:29.46 | 1:26.29 | 1:25.63 | 1:26.37 | 1:25.53 |
Now I had 4 hours until race 2 and was able to relax, get some food and try and make sense of what has happened over the last 3 hours. I stick some fuel in to me and the car, have a lay down and prepare for race 2, being more confident about the car and the circuit.
For the second race I am much more prepared for. I am the first in to the assembly area and don’t get out of the car, but strapped myself in and sat there with all of my gear on. This made me very hot, but I got comfortable with the car, the belts, position and more prepared for the onslaught to come.
Race two started and I made another great start, (narrowly avoiding someone who had blown their engine up on the grid) and this time stayed with the pack. Then something weird happened, I started to catch the person in front! I almost couldn’t believe it, corner after corner I got closer and closer… I might even have to do an overtake!!! (it is racing after all). Being incredibly daunted by this prospect I was somewhat relieved but also worried when they did the same through Stowe as I had done during qualifying. Fortunately I managed to avoid the car and not t-bone them and had completed my very first competitive overtake. Then it was as per the first race, I was 6 seconds back now and got my head down and continued to learn the circuit. It is really hard to judge if you are gaining or losing with someone so far in front but overall I felt a slight gain overall, but only marginal. The times also back this up.
| What | Time |
|---|---|
| Position | 2nd from llast |
| Fastest lap | 1:21.26 |
| My fastest lap | 1:24.50 |
http://www.theresultslive.co.uk/750-motor-club/sil...
| Lap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:39.43 | 1:28.85 | 1:29.25 | 1:25.34 | 1:25.69 | 1:24.81 | 1:25.64 | 1:24.52 | 1:24.57 | 1:24.50 | 1:24.67 |
What a day. I am completely humbled by the whole experience. I had always thought that amateur racing was a small step up from track days and that I was a reasonably fast driver. Forget it… racing is a different league. I was flat out every corner and 3 seconds off the pace. I need to think about every single aspect of my driving and improve in every possible area in order to even think about becoming more competitive. I have also a deep and profound respect for anyone in any high level motorsport arena. It looks easy on the tele. It is not.
Things I wish I knew before hand:
- Everyone in the 750mc Clio 182 is very friendly and welcoming.
- Drive the car on a track day before you race it (this one is perhaps obvious and I knew I was not preparing in the best way).
- Drive the track before you race it (ironically I can’t make any track days for my next two races before hand)
- Don’t slow too much for yellows, I was way too cautious.
- Be organised and be early for everything.
- Expect it to be flat out from the first corner of every session. No gradual build up, just **wham** flat out.
- A ‘set’ of tyres is for an axle, not the whole car.
- £2 for a helmet sticker is required.
Can’t wait for the next race at Donington Park in the TinTops run by CSCC, hopefully a more competitive, accident free weekend!
Nice little write up there, i assure you the personal admin side of things gets easier and soon it will become second nature. I can still remember my first race 15 years ago.
I've worked with a lot of drivers over the years and helped a lot of guys ( and girls) through their first race. It can be very daunting with all the bits of paper, and getting everything ready in the right place at the right time..
To any of you guys looking to start I's always see if you can get another racer to babysit you through your first race it really takes the pressure off, and makes sure your always in the right place and ready strapped in the car with your gloves on ! before you suddenly have to go on track..
otherwise there is quite a lot to learn ( besides the actual driving) and just having someone there to guide you will let you concentrate on just the driving... being flustered by something you've forgotten at the last minute takes your eye off the ball a bit, although it sounds like you came through it fine :-)
If you dont know someone you can ask, talk to the series co-ordinator before the race weekend, they will usually find someone to help you through. I know in our Championship a we all make a point of helping out and making sure there is someone to guide you. Its not that is difficult just a lot to remember all at the same time, whilst being a bit nervous about your first race too..
Best of luck in the future
G
I've worked with a lot of drivers over the years and helped a lot of guys ( and girls) through their first race. It can be very daunting with all the bits of paper, and getting everything ready in the right place at the right time..
To any of you guys looking to start I's always see if you can get another racer to babysit you through your first race it really takes the pressure off, and makes sure your always in the right place and ready strapped in the car with your gloves on ! before you suddenly have to go on track..
otherwise there is quite a lot to learn ( besides the actual driving) and just having someone there to guide you will let you concentrate on just the driving... being flustered by something you've forgotten at the last minute takes your eye off the ball a bit, although it sounds like you came through it fine :-)
If you dont know someone you can ask, talk to the series co-ordinator before the race weekend, they will usually find someone to help you through. I know in our Championship a we all make a point of helping out and making sure there is someone to guide you. Its not that is difficult just a lot to remember all at the same time, whilst being a bit nervous about your first race too..
Best of luck in the future
G
Well you are a complete nutcase. What were you thinking? That's an utterly superb story of derring do and well done for getting through it 
I hope you don't mind me saying, but that's not an example of how to go racing. For one, I'd never trust a race car from someone else that hasn't been prepped and spanner checked.
Hey all's well that ends well and all that. Good luck for the next race and don't forget to prep the car properly beforehand.
Bert
I hope you don't mind me saying, but that's not an example of how to go racing. For one, I'd never trust a race car from someone else that hasn't been prepped and spanner checked.
Hey all's well that ends well and all that. Good luck for the next race and don't forget to prep the car properly beforehand.
Bert
In the areas of motorsport I inhabit, a set of tyres usually means a car set rather than an axle set.
Even F1 uses it ( 25.2 c: A set of tyres will be deemed to comprise two front and two rear tyres all of which much be of the same specification)
Lots of people go testing or track days in advance all adds to the cost though, others do their research using youtube videos and playing reasonably accurate computer sims in way that you would drive a real car, unlike the fast way of driving computer sims.
I'd recommend taking a friend whose job is simply to shepherd you to the right place at the right time.
Even F1 uses it ( 25.2 c: A set of tyres will be deemed to comprise two front and two rear tyres all of which much be of the same specification)
Lots of people go testing or track days in advance all adds to the cost though, others do their research using youtube videos and playing reasonably accurate computer sims in way that you would drive a real car, unlike the fast way of driving computer sims.
I'd recommend taking a friend whose job is simply to shepherd you to the right place at the right time.
Fantastic write up. I race in the Civic Cup (was also racing at silverstone on the weekend) and am also in my first year. I have to say you have absolutely nailed many points that I also felt on my first race weekend. I was never getting overtaken on trackdays, I felt like a hero overtaking porsches and ferraris in my civic, but the standard in a competitive club series is extremely high, and I can safely say I had never truly pushed a car hard until that first race at Donington. The friendliness and helpfulness of people runs in almost all club series - certainly the same in the Civic Cup.
Massive well done for taking the plunge - all I can say is as your pace improves and you know that on the right day you could challenge the leaders you will become irreversibly addicted. I'm now 5 races in and so hungry for a result, just need to get everything right one weekend and it will come!
I hope to see you at another 750MC weekend - I drive the #3 'One Light Racing' black and green civic!
Luca
PS - Clios were carnage on the weekend. They aren't always like that haha!
Massive well done for taking the plunge - all I can say is as your pace improves and you know that on the right day you could challenge the leaders you will become irreversibly addicted. I'm now 5 races in and so hungry for a result, just need to get everything right one weekend and it will come!
I hope to see you at another 750MC weekend - I drive the #3 'One Light Racing' black and green civic!
Luca
PS - Clios were carnage on the weekend. They aren't always like that haha!
Great post describes how it is for your first race and how quick people are going it's not easy to be at the front of any 750mc series.
Glad to see you got patched up and back out in the races.
I was racing at Silverstone in the Stockhatch series and it's the same story you described, hard racing but lots of help once back in the pits if you need it.
Anyone joining for a first time then 750 mc is a great starting point whatever series floats your boat.
Glad to see you got patched up and back out in the races.
I was racing at Silverstone in the Stockhatch series and it's the same story you described, hard racing but lots of help once back in the pits if you need it.
Anyone joining for a first time then 750 mc is a great starting point whatever series floats your boat.
slippery said:
Brilliant post OP! As someone who would love to have a go at racing some day, even though at 44 I know I'm probably too old to start, I really enjoyed reading your story and wish you all the very best in your future endeavours! 
Mate of mine started at 70! So plenty of time chap
A great post, Richard, and sums up the thrill, confusion, and terror of a race weekend really well. Plenty of track day heros will never experience what you have so well done. Sounds like you are already addicted like the rest of us. Believe me I have come last a few times but it it is still very exhilarating and far better than track days. Sorry to hear of your impact, hope it gets sorted out easily.
One thing, in my opinion, a "set" of tyres should definitely be all 4.
One thing, in my opinion, a "set" of tyres should definitely be all 4.
Great write up and well done, it sounds like you had quite an eventful weekend!! I did my first race earlier this year with a mate in Tintops and I fully agree on it being completely terrifying; we didn't help ourselves by racing Brands Indy as our first so the fast boys lap you very quickly... Much like yourself we just kept out of harms way to finish. Enjoy your next one!
R
R
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