Discussion
I had a cracking time this year. A gearbox failure cost us an hour and a few places, leaving us 19th out of 26th. I was happy though - the car pulled strongly and I had plenty of fun dicing with other cars which is what it's all about after all. I ended up by pure chance with "Team Badgaroo" - a great bunch of people.
I'll post some pictures up at the weekend.
I'll post some pictures up at the weekend.
megamaniac.... yup... that was me.. on the graveyard bloody shift!! After racing the caterham early on during the day, up at 6:30am to sign on at 7:15 etc etc then race at 12:30 I was pretty knackered when I started in the bloody safety car! Had a great time with the marshalls, listening to the ongoing and highly amusing commentary that the marshalls say about us guys racing..... didn't realise quite how cutting they can be ;-)
30 mins before my shift was supposed to end, after tuning in god knows what radio station, got bored with playing with all the buttons in the M3, got the language controls in some weird language for the next safety car driver, planned whatever else I could do to annoy... the bloody fog turned up! Entering the circuit with you fools all around driving blind was interesting!! By the time we got down the Revett straight we couldn't see marshalls posts.. by the time we entered Coram I couldn't even see the bloody side of the track! Thanks for all being nice and patient while I ensured Mr Palmer didn't have a 2cv shaped dent in the boot of the M3...apparently he gets quite precious! Anyhoo... 6 hours of waiting was slightly tedious... I believe....I may have fallen asleep in the safety car...to the amusement of various marshalls and photographers... we did enquire whether we could 'accidentally' start the car and turn on the lights... just to watch the reaction on your teams faces.... but were told under no circumstances could we do that... or I'd be facing a beating when I left the circuit! Anyhow... was great fun caning the M3 through the esses and into bombhole and coram.... Cold tyres, lots of grunt and me wanting some fun meant I went through there about 20mph quicker than I had in the Caterham the previous day... My observer looked slightly nervous! We'd parked and I was already heading to my bed before you lot went by ;-)
however.... I sssoooooo wanna have a go next year!!!!!!!
30 mins before my shift was supposed to end, after tuning in god knows what radio station, got bored with playing with all the buttons in the M3, got the language controls in some weird language for the next safety car driver, planned whatever else I could do to annoy... the bloody fog turned up! Entering the circuit with you fools all around driving blind was interesting!! By the time we got down the Revett straight we couldn't see marshalls posts.. by the time we entered Coram I couldn't even see the bloody side of the track! Thanks for all being nice and patient while I ensured Mr Palmer didn't have a 2cv shaped dent in the boot of the M3...apparently he gets quite precious! Anyhoo... 6 hours of waiting was slightly tedious... I believe....I may have fallen asleep in the safety car...to the amusement of various marshalls and photographers... we did enquire whether we could 'accidentally' start the car and turn on the lights... just to watch the reaction on your teams faces.... but were told under no circumstances could we do that... or I'd be facing a beating when I left the circuit! Anyhow... was great fun caning the M3 through the esses and into bombhole and coram.... Cold tyres, lots of grunt and me wanting some fun meant I went through there about 20mph quicker than I had in the Caterham the previous day... My observer looked slightly nervous! We'd parked and I was already heading to my bed before you lot went by ;-)
however.... I sssoooooo wanna have a go next year!!!!!!!
megamaniac.... yup... that was me.. on the graveyard bloody shift!! After racing the caterham early on during the day, up at 6:30am to sign on at 7:15 etc etc then race at 12:30 I was pretty knackered when I started in the bloody safety car! Had a great time with the marshalls, listening to the ongoing and highly amusing commentary that the marshalls say about us guys racing..... didn't realise quite how cutting they can be ;-)
30 mins before my shift was supposed to end, after tuning in god knows what radio station, got bored with playing with all the buttons in the M3, got the language controls in some weird language for the next safety car driver, planned whatever else I could do to annoy... the bloody fog turned up! Entering the circuit with you fools all around driving blind was interesting!! By the time we got down the Revett straight we couldn't see marshalls posts.. by the time we entered Coram I couldn't even see the bloody side of the track! Thanks for all being nice and patient while I ensured Mr Palmer didn't have a 2cv shaped dent in the boot of the M3...apparently he gets quite precious! Anyhoo... 6 hours of waiting was slightly tedious... I believe....I may have fallen asleep in the safety car...to the amusement of various marshalls and photographers... we did enquire whether we could 'accidentally' start the car and turn on the lights... just to watch the reaction on your teams faces.... but were told under no circumstances could we do that... or I'd be facing a beating when I left the circuit! Anyhow... was great fun caning the M3 through the esses and into bombhole and coram.... Cold tyres, lots of grunt and me wanting some fun meant I went through there about 20mph quicker than I had in the Caterham the previous day... My observer looked slightly nervous! We'd parked and I was already heading to my bed before you lot went by ;-)
however.... I sssoooooo wanna have a go next year!!!!!!!
30 mins before my shift was supposed to end, after tuning in god knows what radio station, got bored with playing with all the buttons in the M3, got the language controls in some weird language for the next safety car driver, planned whatever else I could do to annoy... the bloody fog turned up! Entering the circuit with you fools all around driving blind was interesting!! By the time we got down the Revett straight we couldn't see marshalls posts.. by the time we entered Coram I couldn't even see the bloody side of the track! Thanks for all being nice and patient while I ensured Mr Palmer didn't have a 2cv shaped dent in the boot of the M3...apparently he gets quite precious! Anyhoo... 6 hours of waiting was slightly tedious... I believe....I may have fallen asleep in the safety car...to the amusement of various marshalls and photographers... we did enquire whether we could 'accidentally' start the car and turn on the lights... just to watch the reaction on your teams faces.... but were told under no circumstances could we do that... or I'd be facing a beating when I left the circuit! Anyhow... was great fun caning the M3 through the esses and into bombhole and coram.... Cold tyres, lots of grunt and me wanting some fun meant I went through there about 20mph quicker than I had in the Caterham the previous day... My observer looked slightly nervous! We'd parked and I was already heading to my bed before you lot went by ;-)
however.... I sssoooooo wanna have a go next year!!!!!!!
You'd best contact me through my profile then and i'll try and get you a seat in a decent car,(i know ,i know).
I never thought we'd win not after the 10pm engine change(the 2nd for the team in half an hour) for a burst oil feed pipe but that was the only thing that broke in 24hrs not bad for a 25 year old car.
Thanks for volunteering for the safety car,we need guys like you supporting us and i know everyone appreciates you all giving up your time.
Cheers
Paul
I never thought we'd win not after the 10pm engine change(the 2nd for the team in half an hour) for a burst oil feed pipe but that was the only thing that broke in 24hrs not bad for a 25 year old car.
Thanks for volunteering for the safety car,we need guys like you supporting us and i know everyone appreciates you all giving up your time.
Cheers
Paul
10 points for marshalling is ten points ;-) and... locks me into a battle for fourth overall in the championship I hope.... lol
Seriously... the guys in orange really do a fantastic job, in all weathers.. The caterham graduates encourage us all to go and do a days marshalling to give something back... and ensure that clubbie meets are supported... I just got lucky in that I got a seat in the safety car for the evening! Had a great time racing the caterham, spectating during the day and watching you guys a) hurl a bean can round a race circuit, b) repair the cars in extraordinary times!
Well done to all of you guys for finishing! Thanks to team fineprint for the coffee early morning when I was flagging... and Edd Straw for the general chat!
Now..... I shall be in contact regarding a race seat next year, I think a few of the Graduates racers might be interested in having a giggle and trying an endurance race.. Will be interesting to see the difference front wheel drive, low grip, low power and needing to maintain momentum as well as drive 2 hours plus quickly and consistently while saving the car is!!! (I think we'd be terrible - mainly as I managed to break a wingstay in less than 5 laps in my race hopping kerbs..thanks to the old red mist after being spun out of fourth place!)
I'd be interested to know the level of budget one needs to bring along................
Seriously... the guys in orange really do a fantastic job, in all weathers.. The caterham graduates encourage us all to go and do a days marshalling to give something back... and ensure that clubbie meets are supported... I just got lucky in that I got a seat in the safety car for the evening! Had a great time racing the caterham, spectating during the day and watching you guys a) hurl a bean can round a race circuit, b) repair the cars in extraordinary times!
Well done to all of you guys for finishing! Thanks to team fineprint for the coffee early morning when I was flagging... and Edd Straw for the general chat!
Now..... I shall be in contact regarding a race seat next year, I think a few of the Graduates racers might be interested in having a giggle and trying an endurance race.. Will be interesting to see the difference front wheel drive, low grip, low power and needing to maintain momentum as well as drive 2 hours plus quickly and consistently while saving the car is!!! (I think we'd be terrible - mainly as I managed to break a wingstay in less than 5 laps in my race hopping kerbs..thanks to the old red mist after being spun out of fourth place!)
I'd be interested to know the level of budget one needs to bring along................
Drives are usually £1000 to £1500 + damage .It depends on the team and what else is included. Some include food others it's extra.You would be better looking for a drive before christmas as the championship cars get full very quickly(they are usually the most competitive)and next year is our 20th anniversary race so will be more popular.
Paul
Paul
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