Castle Combe from No 6
Discussion
Well, yes, ummm, an interesting day....
Another new track and with no testing I only had practice to learn my way around. Quarry worried me: there is a crest on the left hand kink, just where you want to be on the brakes. And it is the fastest place on the circuit - Tuscans arrive there at about 160mph.
I had a couple of sideways moments there and that should have told me I wasn't getting it right, and to slow down until I did.
Unfortunately I didn't think in this measured, logical way, went in too fast, and as I came over the crest the back of the car was still squirming about as I got onto the brakes. The already unstable back end broke away and I span 180 degrees. Heading backwards down the track with all four wheels locked up was NOT GOOD, especially as I was on a diagonal and heading for the tyre wall!
I hit the tyre wall pretty hard - back end in first and spinning round so that I wrecked the whole rear end, scraped the driver's side, broke the bonnet and pushed in the offside front wheel. My head took a bit of a whack against the roll cage, but the padding worked and the seat and roll cage stopped my head moving too far and causing any neck damage. I was told to report to the medical centre for a check up, but everything was fine. Just a stiff neck this morning.
When the car finally arrived back at the paddock it didn't look good. There was hardly a panel without some sort of damage, the suspension was all over the place, the rad and oil coolers pushed back and the steering rack shaped like a curly wurly. (Mind you, Ben's car put mine in the shade later on!!)
There was no way we were going to get the car out for qualifying, but Steve, Lee, Keith, my Dad and Natalie all worked incredibly hard to get the car back in one piece for the Sprint Race, where I would line up at the back (19th).
We put 4 new tyres on the car (not scrubbed in, which worried me a bit!). A good start put me up to 15th. I got a reasonably good run out of Quarry (which I was now treating with the utmost respect) and closed the gap with Hugh Marshall. I took an inside line, intending to then back off and follow him through the chicane and have a proper go at the next corner. However, as I braked I locked up all 4 wheels - Hugh lost speed far more rapidly and much to my regret, I sailed straight into the back of him, taking us both straight on over the grass. We both rejoined, having lost a couple of places.
I then found I was really struggling with the car. It had so little grip - understeer and oversteer in every corner. The lap times were fairly consistent for the first 5 laps, but it was getting more and more difficult to control the car. I couldn't make any impact on the guys in front and started losing places - and having lost the places I simply couldn't keep up.
It was not fun at all and I backed off, hoping the gap between me and Bob Ross might be enough to retain my position. I was now lapping 3 or 4 seconds a lap slower, but still struggling to control the car.
I finished 15th and got out of the car feeling pretty low. First the tyre wall, then hitting Hugh, then the appalling handling - to be honest I wasn't keen on getting back in the car for the Feature race.
It got worse. We then found that the two (brand new) front tyres were for only fit for the bin. One had a big chunk ripped out of it down to the canvas - I must have run over some debris. The other had a very odd 'split' around about half the tread of the tyre - It was almost like someone had taken a knife to it. The bodywork hadn't fouled it - so quite what caused it, we don't know, and I want Dunlop to have a look at it. That tyre had gone up to 40psi in the race - way too high, and explaining some of the grip problems.
Jamesc helped me out with some used slicks (thanks!!) and so we started off the Feature race with yet more patchwork on the bonnet.
I stalled at the start (DOH!!), but quickly restarted and didn't lose too much time as the pack bunched and slowed up through the first corner.
The car felt entirely different, was back to how it felt at Thruxton and my confidence increased. I had a good race - some clean overtakes and moved steadily up the field. I had a battle with Peter Wheeler for a couple of laps (his car is very wide!) and ended up 9th. Very enjoyable and my enthusiasm for racing was restored!!
We now have 4 weeks until the last race at Brands Hatch to thoroughly check the car over and do some comprehensive bodywork repairs. Unfortunately it looks like being a full respray....
A couple of people to mention, other than the team who worked so hard. The first are my sponsors, David and Lisa from International Metal Recyclers Ltd (IMR) - whose enthusiasm and support is much appreciated.
The second are Neil and Vanessa, the raffle prize winners from Pistonfest. The day was rather more hectic than I had intended (I don't normally crash twice in one day!!) - so I'm sorry we didn't get more time to spend with you. Hope you enjoyed the day!
Thanks also to Simon Roper from The Arylington in Bath, for providing the raffle prize.
Another new track and with no testing I only had practice to learn my way around. Quarry worried me: there is a crest on the left hand kink, just where you want to be on the brakes. And it is the fastest place on the circuit - Tuscans arrive there at about 160mph.
I had a couple of sideways moments there and that should have told me I wasn't getting it right, and to slow down until I did.
Unfortunately I didn't think in this measured, logical way, went in too fast, and as I came over the crest the back of the car was still squirming about as I got onto the brakes. The already unstable back end broke away and I span 180 degrees. Heading backwards down the track with all four wheels locked up was NOT GOOD, especially as I was on a diagonal and heading for the tyre wall!
I hit the tyre wall pretty hard - back end in first and spinning round so that I wrecked the whole rear end, scraped the driver's side, broke the bonnet and pushed in the offside front wheel. My head took a bit of a whack against the roll cage, but the padding worked and the seat and roll cage stopped my head moving too far and causing any neck damage. I was told to report to the medical centre for a check up, but everything was fine. Just a stiff neck this morning.
When the car finally arrived back at the paddock it didn't look good. There was hardly a panel without some sort of damage, the suspension was all over the place, the rad and oil coolers pushed back and the steering rack shaped like a curly wurly. (Mind you, Ben's car put mine in the shade later on!!)
There was no way we were going to get the car out for qualifying, but Steve, Lee, Keith, my Dad and Natalie all worked incredibly hard to get the car back in one piece for the Sprint Race, where I would line up at the back (19th).
We put 4 new tyres on the car (not scrubbed in, which worried me a bit!). A good start put me up to 15th. I got a reasonably good run out of Quarry (which I was now treating with the utmost respect) and closed the gap with Hugh Marshall. I took an inside line, intending to then back off and follow him through the chicane and have a proper go at the next corner. However, as I braked I locked up all 4 wheels - Hugh lost speed far more rapidly and much to my regret, I sailed straight into the back of him, taking us both straight on over the grass. We both rejoined, having lost a couple of places.
I then found I was really struggling with the car. It had so little grip - understeer and oversteer in every corner. The lap times were fairly consistent for the first 5 laps, but it was getting more and more difficult to control the car. I couldn't make any impact on the guys in front and started losing places - and having lost the places I simply couldn't keep up.
It was not fun at all and I backed off, hoping the gap between me and Bob Ross might be enough to retain my position. I was now lapping 3 or 4 seconds a lap slower, but still struggling to control the car.
I finished 15th and got out of the car feeling pretty low. First the tyre wall, then hitting Hugh, then the appalling handling - to be honest I wasn't keen on getting back in the car for the Feature race.
It got worse. We then found that the two (brand new) front tyres were for only fit for the bin. One had a big chunk ripped out of it down to the canvas - I must have run over some debris. The other had a very odd 'split' around about half the tread of the tyre - It was almost like someone had taken a knife to it. The bodywork hadn't fouled it - so quite what caused it, we don't know, and I want Dunlop to have a look at it. That tyre had gone up to 40psi in the race - way too high, and explaining some of the grip problems.
Jamesc helped me out with some used slicks (thanks!!) and so we started off the Feature race with yet more patchwork on the bonnet.
I stalled at the start (DOH!!), but quickly restarted and didn't lose too much time as the pack bunched and slowed up through the first corner.
The car felt entirely different, was back to how it felt at Thruxton and my confidence increased. I had a good race - some clean overtakes and moved steadily up the field. I had a battle with Peter Wheeler for a couple of laps (his car is very wide!) and ended up 9th. Very enjoyable and my enthusiasm for racing was restored!!
We now have 4 weeks until the last race at Brands Hatch to thoroughly check the car over and do some comprehensive bodywork repairs. Unfortunately it looks like being a full respray....
A couple of people to mention, other than the team who worked so hard. The first are my sponsors, David and Lisa from International Metal Recyclers Ltd (IMR) - whose enthusiasm and support is much appreciated.
The second are Neil and Vanessa, the raffle prize winners from Pistonfest. The day was rather more hectic than I had intended (I don't normally crash twice in one day!!) - so I'm sorry we didn't get more time to spend with you. Hope you enjoyed the day!
Thanks also to Simon Roper from The Arylington in Bath, for providing the raffle prize.
griff2be said:
Well, yes, ummm, an interesting day....
We now have 4 weeks until the last race at Brands Hatch to thoroughly check the car over and do some comprehensive bodywork repairs. Unfortunately it looks like being a full respray....
mmm. me thinks that after some patching and a shed load of gaffer tape the body will be good enough for Brands - if you run out you could always borrow some from one of the Hwathorns cars they alway seems to be wearing at least 4 rolls of the stuff each !!
Save the respray until the off season and ensure a nice bright shiny car for next season
d_drinks said:
Well, yes, ummm, an interesting day....
We now have 4 weeks until the last race at Brands Hatch to thoroughly check the car over and do some comprehensive bodywork repairs. Unfortunately it looks like being a full respray....
mmm. me thinks that after some patching and a shed load of gaffer tape the body will be good enough for Brands - if you run out you could always borrow some from one of the Hwathorns cars they alway seems to be wearing at least 4 rolls of the stuff each !!
Save the respray until the off season and ensure a nice bright shiny car for next season
Andy, I have to agree with Darren's advice!
James
jamesc said:
What a weekend! Not a bad result after the off! Did you get some good "in car" footage; I saw Ed fiddling with a camera? Oh yes! lunch is on you at the Kentagon!
regards
James
Watched it early this morning... came out well. Have got Sprint race only as the gremlins struck the battery supply before the feature. (looks like heat was the issue in fact)
Can know imagine whats it like in the heat of battle... made meel fell a bit uneasy actually !
Ed
Ed - I reckon it was more likely to be vibration. I only had a look at how the camera was secured when I was in the collection area - when it was too late to change it!! The camera bag will have been thrown around quite violently - it needed some gaffer tape round it to stop it moving around. Hopefully the camera is ok though?
It would have been interesting to have seen the Feature Race with the camera in the more central position we were going to try. I think it will give a better impression of what it is like, as you can then see how much steering input is required (especially the opposite lock!!).
It would have been interesting to have seen the Feature Race with the camera in the more central position we were going to try. I think it will give a better impression of what it is like, as you can then see how much steering input is required (especially the opposite lock!!).
d_drinks said:
...but then No 58 or No 8 will win the concours competition at Brands!!!
Ah but when people see your car in the paddock area with all the gaffer tape they think seasoned racer rather than newbie either that or oh my gawd make sure you never park near that guy !!!!
'Seasoned racer' as in with salt, pepper and a bit of oregano?
We'll see what needs to be done to make it look presentable for Brands. The bonnet will need to go back into a mould and the rear section needs to be reattached. By the time we have finished patching it all up with glass fibre it is going to look a bit of a state....
griff2be said:
...but then No 58 or No 8 will win the concours competition at Brands!!!
29 I don't know about concours, concord, yes, that, I understand. Did you see how quick PW and for that matter fourbonnets, where off the line? Christ, I thought I'd stopped as peter passed me, traction control !!!!!, nah, it was better !!! more like a greyhound bunny with a afterburner up it's bum superglued to a railway line, come to think about it, I'm sure i saw a pair of long fluffy ears protruding from No:8's crash helmet.........was it a two way deal with Loony tunes???
Glad you enjoyed it Neil and Vanessa - a pity we could not make it more sociable, but we had a bit of super-gluing to do on my car!!
No29:
I'm afraid I didn't see No8 on afterburners at launch. I was too busy waving to No5 and reaching for the starter button after my afterburner fizzled out....
No29: I'm afraid I didn't see No8 on afterburners at launch. I was too busy waving to No5 and reaching for the starter button after my afterburner fizzled out....
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