Nervous yet excited..
Discussion
Next weekend, i'll be mostly cr@pping myself waiting for the start of my first race at Silverstone on Sunday. I'm in the Mono 1800 class and whilst i've spent more years than I care to remember in speed events, this is the first time i'l line up on a grid. If any PHers are visiting - i'll be No. 61 (at the back I expect) If not, i'll be the guy who cleaned up Lewis Hamilton style..
taffyracer said:
It's a great feeling, i was on a high for weeks after my 1st race, as mentioned just finish and leave the heroics for your 2nd race! Good luck mate
Thanks. I'll try to take that on board - I find that even in testing, the old red mist comes down and playing the long game doesn't enter my head. I guess that's too many years on one lap only! Still, my starts ought to be good - had enough practice at those.
Well, first race over with - what a rush! Qualifying was a bit hectic - 42 cars on track at the same time and no incidents - although I spent more time looking in my mirrors than at the track in front. Managed to qualify 19th out of 25 and 3rd in a class of 5, so not too bad for a first effort.
I had a good start - after 16 years of hillclimbs, I was expecting this. What I wasn't expecting was the amount of debris that hits you from the leading cars - I thought I was being shelled! The other thing I wasn't expecting was the amount of oil that gets deposited on you - after about 8 laps I couldn't see much (have made a note to buy some tear offs).
The track started getting very greasy and whilst I was on new tyres, I decided not to be too heroic and not get tangled up in any silly battles. Not having much experience with fuel consupmtion, I thought I'd have enough in the tank to complete 20 minutes of the Silverstone National circuit - unfortunately I only had enough for 18 minutes - doh.
Anyway, I had a cracking day and the car is in one piece, albeit covered in someone else's oil and I still got my licence signed. Next race is Castle Combe on 7th May - can't wait now!
I had a good start - after 16 years of hillclimbs, I was expecting this. What I wasn't expecting was the amount of debris that hits you from the leading cars - I thought I was being shelled! The other thing I wasn't expecting was the amount of oil that gets deposited on you - after about 8 laps I couldn't see much (have made a note to buy some tear offs).
The track started getting very greasy and whilst I was on new tyres, I decided not to be too heroic and not get tangled up in any silly battles. Not having much experience with fuel consupmtion, I thought I'd have enough in the tank to complete 20 minutes of the Silverstone National circuit - unfortunately I only had enough for 18 minutes - doh.
Anyway, I had a cracking day and the car is in one piece, albeit covered in someone else's oil and I still got my licence signed. Next race is Castle Combe on 7th May - can't wait now!
Everyone seems to be too excited at Lewis Hamilton's driving, or pissed at the press coverage, to give real accessible motorsport any credence at the moment but I wanted to say well done, good effort, glad it went well.
I take it you had to park up with a lap or so remaining due to fuel starvation? A real shame.
Still you obviously enjoyed it, kept it going in the right direction and in one piece, and I'm sure the bug has well and truly bitten!
I'm treating this as a timely reminder that spectating at a club event is far more fun than watching the GP circus, and I'm in sensible driving distance of Silverstone, Donington, Combe and Mallory - no excuses.
Once again well done mate, maybe I'll see you at a meeting this season. Keep up the race reports, it's good to hear from people getting into the thick of competition rather than pontificating from their armchair!
I take it you had to park up with a lap or so remaining due to fuel starvation? A real shame.
Still you obviously enjoyed it, kept it going in the right direction and in one piece, and I'm sure the bug has well and truly bitten!
I'm treating this as a timely reminder that spectating at a club event is far more fun than watching the GP circus, and I'm in sensible driving distance of Silverstone, Donington, Combe and Mallory - no excuses.
Once again well done mate, maybe I'll see you at a meeting this season. Keep up the race reports, it's good to hear from people getting into the thick of competition rather than pontificating from their armchair!
^^ Went to the Rallycross on Easter Monday, best M/sport event I've been to in years.
There's something untangibly romantic and exciting about a track that's just some tarmac in a field with a car park for a paddock.
EDIT: Oh yeah, congrats on your first race
There's something untangibly romantic and exciting about a track that's just some tarmac in a field with a car park for a paddock.
EDIT: Oh yeah, congrats on your first race
Edited by MrKipling43 on Tuesday 17th April 10:04
Thanks guys
I echo the spectating thing - I've been hillclimbing for years and the thrill I get from standing 6'from a screaming Gould off the start as a spectator far outweighs snoozing in front of the box with F1 playing to my closed eyelids...
Not everyone wants to get involved in motorsport as it isn't the cheapest hobby - but there are things to go and watch almost every weekend somewhere in the country. We have a speedway track nearby and that provides a great evening out and you can have a few beers whilst savouring the smell of Castrol R!
One thing I would say about F1 is that from an armchair it's very easy to say that such and such is a poor driver or being the expert in the pub about who should have done what. Now I've got a race under my belt, I'd have to take my hat off to anyone who has made it onto an F1 grid.
I echo the spectating thing - I've been hillclimbing for years and the thrill I get from standing 6'from a screaming Gould off the start as a spectator far outweighs snoozing in front of the box with F1 playing to my closed eyelids...
Not everyone wants to get involved in motorsport as it isn't the cheapest hobby - but there are things to go and watch almost every weekend somewhere in the country. We have a speedway track nearby and that provides a great evening out and you can have a few beers whilst savouring the smell of Castrol R!
One thing I would say about F1 is that from an armchair it's very easy to say that such and such is a poor driver or being the expert in the pub about who should have done what. Now I've got a race under my belt, I'd have to take my hat off to anyone who has made it onto an F1 grid.
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