I've been asked why there's no picture of me grinning with my trophy and car, as there has been after the two other rounds so far ... Iain did a "Great Sorprendo" act with it and hid it in the truck within seconds of me getting it out of Parc Ferme! I was still trying to get camera and transponder off it as the taillift was rising! He was driving out of the paddock in the truck with both cars about 10 minutes later. He deserved the early get away - I'll 'mug up' an appropriate photo later!
I'm seem to have been largely invisible to the pro-photographers so far this season, but at least HSCC snapper Charlie Wooding has got some nice shots, you can find his gallery here http://charliewooding.co.uk/v/photos/92206nxd/C127738202 I am car No. 37 of course.
Elva
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Monday 27 May 2013
Brands - other stuff
It was good to see a few people from the Insurance market, some come to see me (thanks for coming!) and some racing themselves. Amongst the latter group, Paul Latimer, racing his MGB in Gentlemen Drivers, and finishing I note, hope you had a good race Paul. Also Jeremy Cooke, racing several cars, hope you also enjoyed your weekend, I haven't had time to trawl through all the results yet to see if you how you went, but if you will race that many cars ...!
Always good to see my ever-supportive brother David, and his two young daughters, hope you tired them out "just enough".
I was hugely disappointed not to see my hero Brian Johnson, of AC/DC, I saw his car a lot, and I saw him in it in the assembly area getting ready to go out, but that's hardly the point at which I was going to approach him! I never saw him in the outer paddock at all.
As I pulled into Parc Ferme after today's race, one of my 'supporters' was waiting there, with another fellow; I assumed they were together, but no, the other chap was an artist, he'd been at the meeting yesterday, taken some pictures of me at Druids, and gone home to paint the picture! He brought it round to show me (well, "sell to me" to be honest). And I really liked it, all the proportions are accurate, and the car is clearly 'in motion', plus it's clearly a particular race, as the car is shown without the rear bodywork, as it ran yesterday, and only yesterday. I bought it! My daughter Emily liked it too, so he said if we send him a photo of her he'll do a painting of her too, for free. He was a nice chap!
I shall leave you with a comment from my Mum, who be 84 this week, and came with us this weekend. She's been around racing cars since the 50's, and has a very good idea what's going on ... So to be told by her, after qualifying: "I couldn't help noticing Dear, but you seemed a bit slower than the others, you know, round that left hander onto the bottom straight". Gee, thanks Mum, you know how to boost my confidence! Glad you enjoyed your weekend.
Always good to see my ever-supportive brother David, and his two young daughters, hope you tired them out "just enough".
I was hugely disappointed not to see my hero Brian Johnson, of AC/DC, I saw his car a lot, and I saw him in it in the assembly area getting ready to go out, but that's hardly the point at which I was going to approach him! I never saw him in the outer paddock at all.
As I pulled into Parc Ferme after today's race, one of my 'supporters' was waiting there, with another fellow; I assumed they were together, but no, the other chap was an artist, he'd been at the meeting yesterday, taken some pictures of me at Druids, and gone home to paint the picture! He brought it round to show me (well, "sell to me" to be honest). And I really liked it, all the proportions are accurate, and the car is clearly 'in motion', plus it's clearly a particular race, as the car is shown without the rear bodywork, as it ran yesterday, and only yesterday. I bought it! My daughter Emily liked it too, so he said if we send him a photo of her he'll do a painting of her too, for free. He was a nice chap!
I shall leave you with a comment from my Mum, who be 84 this week, and came with us this weekend. She's been around racing cars since the 50's, and has a very good idea what's going on ... So to be told by her, after qualifying: "I couldn't help noticing Dear, but you seemed a bit slower than the others, you know, round that left hander onto the bottom straight". Gee, thanks Mum, you know how to boost my confidence! Glad you enjoyed your weekend.
Brands - Race Two
Another bright sunny day ... Quite breezy, but has summer finally arrived??
Race 2, scheduled for 10:45 this morning, but we actually went off a bit early. Quite a stressfree morning, relatively speaking, had time to chat with a couple of mates from the insurance market who'd come down to spectate, and also to go off with Nic and the kids so that Freddie, who'll be 3 on Wednesday this week, could show me a new trick ... He has a small trike called a Scuttlebug, and when they were wandering around yesterday he found one of the grassy banks to launch himself down, quite steep it was too. He loved it, rushing down to be collected, hopefully pre-crash, by Mummy. Emily, 6, loved it too!
I made it to the assembly area in good time today, and lined up in 16th spot. To be honest, my race was a little lonely, initially I held off Serge Brison for a couple of laps, but he came by eventually and gradually pulled away. My only aim was to finish the race, a finish today would mean second overall for the weekend, and a solid points haul to add to my total. I backed off 500revs at the top, and drove well within my limits. Today's best was 0.3secs off yesterday's qualifying, but more than 2secs off last year's best - I need to look and see whether most people were slower this weekend, due to track conditions or something, or whether it was just me! Nevertheless a finish was what I wanted, and I got there ... After failures on each of the last three times i've taken this car to Brands Hatch, the Hoodoo has been shaken off! Although it was a close run thing of course...
A double win for David Methley at the front, he's very very quick .... He also seems very relaxed, rumour has it that having not done much recent car preparation it might be that when he opened the engine cover for the scrutineers they found a power extension lead that he'd been looking for!
Double win for John Delane in my class, completely untroubled by anyone in the class, but enjoying a good race with some other competitors, especially yesterday. Class A for Italian engined front engine cars was won by Daniele Salodini, Class B by Andrew Tart in the front wheel drive Bond, Class D was won by John Chisholm, racing his rear-engined Gemini this week, rather than it's front-engined older sibling which he had at Pau.
Great to see Kim Shearn get out on track, he was granted 3 'sighting' laps running with someone else's qualifying session this morning, and was then allowed to start from the back of the grid, I know that both he and the car are quite quick, but nevertheless I was a bit disappointed to see him hove into view quite so quickly, breeze past and head off into the distance! He completed the race to finish second in class, but having not run yesterday he's not eligible for an 'overall' result. He's now driving down to Monza for next weekend, then we reconvene at Dijon in 3 weeks, I can see he's going to be trouble!
So, another Trophy, and more points to add to the total; despite my expectations, and a near-game-ending issue yesterday, we move on to Round 4 with me still heading the Championship. I wonder how much longer this can last ...
Race 2, scheduled for 10:45 this morning, but we actually went off a bit early. Quite a stressfree morning, relatively speaking, had time to chat with a couple of mates from the insurance market who'd come down to spectate, and also to go off with Nic and the kids so that Freddie, who'll be 3 on Wednesday this week, could show me a new trick ... He has a small trike called a Scuttlebug, and when they were wandering around yesterday he found one of the grassy banks to launch himself down, quite steep it was too. He loved it, rushing down to be collected, hopefully pre-crash, by Mummy. Emily, 6, loved it too!
I made it to the assembly area in good time today, and lined up in 16th spot. To be honest, my race was a little lonely, initially I held off Serge Brison for a couple of laps, but he came by eventually and gradually pulled away. My only aim was to finish the race, a finish today would mean second overall for the weekend, and a solid points haul to add to my total. I backed off 500revs at the top, and drove well within my limits. Today's best was 0.3secs off yesterday's qualifying, but more than 2secs off last year's best - I need to look and see whether most people were slower this weekend, due to track conditions or something, or whether it was just me! Nevertheless a finish was what I wanted, and I got there ... After failures on each of the last three times i've taken this car to Brands Hatch, the Hoodoo has been shaken off! Although it was a close run thing of course...
A double win for David Methley at the front, he's very very quick .... He also seems very relaxed, rumour has it that having not done much recent car preparation it might be that when he opened the engine cover for the scrutineers they found a power extension lead that he'd been looking for!
Double win for John Delane in my class, completely untroubled by anyone in the class, but enjoying a good race with some other competitors, especially yesterday. Class A for Italian engined front engine cars was won by Daniele Salodini, Class B by Andrew Tart in the front wheel drive Bond, Class D was won by John Chisholm, racing his rear-engined Gemini this week, rather than it's front-engined older sibling which he had at Pau.
Great to see Kim Shearn get out on track, he was granted 3 'sighting' laps running with someone else's qualifying session this morning, and was then allowed to start from the back of the grid, I know that both he and the car are quite quick, but nevertheless I was a bit disappointed to see him hove into view quite so quickly, breeze past and head off into the distance! He completed the race to finish second in class, but having not run yesterday he's not eligible for an 'overall' result. He's now driving down to Monza for next weekend, then we reconvene at Dijon in 3 weeks, I can see he's going to be trouble!
So, another Trophy, and more points to add to the total; despite my expectations, and a near-game-ending issue yesterday, we move on to Round 4 with me still heading the Championship. I wonder how much longer this can last ...
Sunday 26 May 2013
Brands - Race One ....
Sorry I had to leave you all hanging there, but I had to get the BBQ and kit out to feed the kids, something else I don't think Lewis Hamilton has to think about!
So when we left it, we had a much depleted Class, and Iain had the gearbox in pieces. My gearbox has a hard life and for that reason it comes to pieces after most weekends; we therefore know that it goes back together like a Lego kit ... Doesn't it ... So we were still not concerned even when we were told that the race could be called early... But this time it didn't want to go back together. Iain swore at it, and dug some bigger hammers out of his toolbox, I stressed, but kept away! The clock ticked down, the race was called ... We heard them go round on the Formation lap to the grid... I had got changed (as much as anything to show confidence that Iain was going to get it back together; although I thought the confidence could be misplaced!)
Anyway, leaving reverse and first gear out of it meant that the rest of the bit fitted again (!), with I was told to strap in just as I heard the cars go round again on their Green Flag lap. I'm then told to fire it up and be gone ... No matter that some of the gears are in the tray, and there's no rear bodywork, and no heat etc. With a busy paddock you cannot rush through for fear of taking out a toddler! Ironically I'm following the Faccioli which has only just got going too. As I exit the tunnel the cars are going down the back straight on lap one... And I really don't know what the rules say about me starting the race now ... I enter the deserted Assembly area to find the big gate shut and no marshals, but there's a small gate open, I reckon it's about the width of an Elva 200, and those marshals are looking the other way 'cos there's a race on! So I nip through... now I'm tootling down the pitlane, at the end there's an official on a radio, waving at the control tower and pointing at me ... Please don't stop me, not even briefly, there's a hill and I haven't got first gear even in the car ... As I get there he waves me through ... I'm racing! Still no heat in anything, and a lap or so down, but I'm racing! Considering the situation I decide it's pointless to 'push on', the gearbox was thrown together in a hurry, and my mental state and heart rate are probably not perfect, I might as well take it a bit easy, use less engine life, keep out the way of the fast guys, and hope we get to the chequered flag!
I never got to see the chequered flag ... But I did finish the race. It was red flagged close to the end because of a shunt round the back of the circuit, Dietrich Merkel coming off at Westfield, and having the huge misfortune to hit another car stranded there after an earlier 'off', neither car will play any further part this weekend. A race of high attrition, quite a few cars failing to finish. For my efforts I end up second in class C2 - just for the record that is also last! But with these races scored over an aggregate of the two races at each event, it means that if I finish tomorrow then I can qualify for a result and points. Funny old game.
Kim's car did get released by customs and is now here, ready for tomorrow.
Super sunny afternoon at Brands, Iain takes the gearbox to pieces again, whilst I go off with the kids. Nice evening BBQ with a couple of beers (more excellent beer from Brother-in-law, Phil's, highly recommended Longdog Brewery.) Ready for bed, I'm exhausted!
More tomorrow!
So when we left it, we had a much depleted Class, and Iain had the gearbox in pieces. My gearbox has a hard life and for that reason it comes to pieces after most weekends; we therefore know that it goes back together like a Lego kit ... Doesn't it ... So we were still not concerned even when we were told that the race could be called early... But this time it didn't want to go back together. Iain swore at it, and dug some bigger hammers out of his toolbox, I stressed, but kept away! The clock ticked down, the race was called ... We heard them go round on the Formation lap to the grid... I had got changed (as much as anything to show confidence that Iain was going to get it back together; although I thought the confidence could be misplaced!)
Anyway, leaving reverse and first gear out of it meant that the rest of the bit fitted again (!), with I was told to strap in just as I heard the cars go round again on their Green Flag lap. I'm then told to fire it up and be gone ... No matter that some of the gears are in the tray, and there's no rear bodywork, and no heat etc. With a busy paddock you cannot rush through for fear of taking out a toddler! Ironically I'm following the Faccioli which has only just got going too. As I exit the tunnel the cars are going down the back straight on lap one... And I really don't know what the rules say about me starting the race now ... I enter the deserted Assembly area to find the big gate shut and no marshals, but there's a small gate open, I reckon it's about the width of an Elva 200, and those marshals are looking the other way 'cos there's a race on! So I nip through... now I'm tootling down the pitlane, at the end there's an official on a radio, waving at the control tower and pointing at me ... Please don't stop me, not even briefly, there's a hill and I haven't got first gear even in the car ... As I get there he waves me through ... I'm racing! Still no heat in anything, and a lap or so down, but I'm racing! Considering the situation I decide it's pointless to 'push on', the gearbox was thrown together in a hurry, and my mental state and heart rate are probably not perfect, I might as well take it a bit easy, use less engine life, keep out the way of the fast guys, and hope we get to the chequered flag!
I never got to see the chequered flag ... But I did finish the race. It was red flagged close to the end because of a shunt round the back of the circuit, Dietrich Merkel coming off at Westfield, and having the huge misfortune to hit another car stranded there after an earlier 'off', neither car will play any further part this weekend. A race of high attrition, quite a few cars failing to finish. For my efforts I end up second in class C2 - just for the record that is also last! But with these races scored over an aggregate of the two races at each event, it means that if I finish tomorrow then I can qualify for a result and points. Funny old game.
Kim's car did get released by customs and is now here, ready for tomorrow.
Super sunny afternoon at Brands, Iain takes the gearbox to pieces again, whilst I go off with the kids. Nice evening BBQ with a couple of beers (more excellent beer from Brother-in-law, Phil's, highly recommended Longdog Brewery.) Ready for bed, I'm exhausted!
More tomorrow!
Brands - Sunday
Qualifying this morning went ok. The gearing was a bit high, so I was running out of revs at times. The new brake shoes were an improvement, but occasionally snatched to one side of the other which was disconcerting, new clutch slave cylinder is also a big improvement. 17th out of 32 runners, second in Class C2, but the attrition in my class continues... Peter Knoefel was unfortunate to break his gearbox, Pierre Guichard's Faccioli was refusing to run.
Kim's Lotus had landed overnight so headed off to get it cleared from customs ... Sunday on a bank holiday weekend ... Good luck!
After Parc Ferme Iain set about changing the gear ratios ...
Look for the next thrilling instalment ... Motorracing can be stressful....!
Kim's Lotus had landed overnight so headed off to get it cleared from customs ... Sunday on a bank holiday weekend ... Good luck!
After Parc Ferme Iain set about changing the gear ratios ...
Look for the next thrilling instalment ... Motorracing can be stressful....!
Saturday 25 May 2013
Good news ... Bad news
Good news is that Iain did get the car back together, it's fully scrutineered and sitting beside us in the paddock.
More good news, the kids seem to be sleeping despite some noisy mopeds zooming round the paddock!
Bad news ... Aussie Kim is here, but his car isn't. Having let him down badly the shippers agreed to airfreight it, but it is only due to land tonight at Hesthrow. He's been promised that it'll be cleared by customs by midday, but that's too late in any case. If very lucky he may get to race on Monday, let's hope so, it's a long way from Melbourne!
Time for some sleep, after Freddie's 3rd birthday party today we are all ready for sleep! Qualifying tomorrow morning and race 1 early afternoon. Here's hoping for another good weekend!
More good news, the kids seem to be sleeping despite some noisy mopeds zooming round the paddock!
Bad news ... Aussie Kim is here, but his car isn't. Having let him down badly the shippers agreed to airfreight it, but it is only due to land tonight at Hesthrow. He's been promised that it'll be cleared by customs by midday, but that's too late in any case. If very lucky he may get to race on Monday, let's hope so, it's a long way from Melbourne!
Time for some sleep, after Freddie's 3rd birthday party today we are all ready for sleep! Qualifying tomorrow morning and race 1 early afternoon. Here's hoping for another good weekend!
Friday 24 May 2013
OMG!
I think that's the expression younger people might use ... I've just been onto the Brands Hatch website to find the link I just posted and I've seen that we have a MASSIVE celeb racing this weekend ... no less than Brian Johnson, front man of AC/DC, is racing a Mini.
Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a huge AC/DC fan!!
How do you think my sponsors and supporters will take it if I miss my racing altogether because I'm camped out at the back of his pit garage like some teenage groupie?! Maybe best if Iain hasn't got my car back together after all!
Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a huge AC/DC fan!!
How do you think my sponsors and supporters will take it if I miss my racing altogether because I'm camped out at the back of his pit garage like some teenage groupie?! Maybe best if Iain hasn't got my car back together after all!
Brands Hatch - The meeting
We have 33 cars entered for this weekend, including 6 Class C cars, only 2 of which are from the UK. American John Delane who won the class at Hockenheim is back, having missed Pau. Peter Knoefel is over from Germany in the Emeryson, Pierre Guichard (who I don't know, but I assume he's french...?) running a car I don't know called a Faccioli; and I'm looking forward to seeing good friend Kim Shearn who's arrived from Australia. Hopefully Kim's Lotus 18 has shown up too ... he emailed me about a week ago to say that the shippers had left his container on the dock in Singapore, but then texted me a couple of days later to say that he'd kicked up such a stink that they had now agreed to fly the car and other stuff over - that's going to have cost the freight forwarders a lot of cash... Of course, I know Kim's Lotus well, because Kim lent it to me to race (initially successfully, then not so ...) at Phillip Island (Aus) last year, it was mighty quick compared to my own car, and now it's been repaired Kim reckons it's going better than ever! If he's going well I'm unlikely to trouble him, but it'll be interesting to see whether he can take the fight to John Delane.
The Lurani round is on the Sunday and Monday of a 3 day meeting called The Masters Historic Festival, day one is just on the short Indy circuit, days 2 & 3 on the Grand Prix circuit. It's a big meeting, with all three of the FIA Historic Championships here, ourselves, Historic Formula One and the new Historic Sports Car Championship. Lots of big grids. The Brands Hatch website is here http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/calendar/2013/may/masters.aspx and The Masters website is here http://www.themastersseries.com/event-information.
The Lurani round is on the Sunday and Monday of a 3 day meeting called The Masters Historic Festival, day one is just on the short Indy circuit, days 2 & 3 on the Grand Prix circuit. It's a big meeting, with all three of the FIA Historic Championships here, ourselves, Historic Formula One and the new Historic Sports Car Championship. Lots of big grids. The Brands Hatch website is here http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/calendar/2013/may/masters.aspx and The Masters website is here http://www.themastersseries.com/event-information.
Round 3 - Brands Hatch
This weekend is Round 3 of the Championship, the sole UK round, held on the wonderful Brands Hatch GP circuit, not too far from home. As I look out now at torrential rain, I really want to believe the latest BBC weather forecast when it says that Sunday and Monday will be dry ... it's still single digit- temperature over here, and the central heating is still on ... where has spring got to??
I say Brands is a wonderful circuit, it is great to drive, but it hasn't been a happy hunting ground for me in this car, I've had troubles of one sort or another the last 3 times I've been there. We've done a good deal of work on the car since of course, so I'm really hoping that the good fortune that I've been blessed with at the first two rounds continues this weekend. Dry weather would certainly be good for a start!
Talking of the work that has gone into the car ... Iain has been winding me up this week ... we both use a Motorsport Internet Forum called 'Ten-Tenths', well a couple of days ago he posted a photo of my car in his workshop in what we might call a significant state of disassembly ... engine on one trolley, gearbox on another, rear suspension hanging off like broken limbs ... something of a surprise to see the car undergoing such major surgery between Pau and Brands, but I've been busy at work and the few times I've had a chance to call I've not managed to catch him ... this afternoon he posted another shot, in the latest the engine is back in, but the gearbox is still sitting beside the car, and Iain's sitting in a chair behind the car having a cup of tea ... I'm pleased to see he's relaxed about it! Iain has 2 other FJs he's running this weekend too...
We've got other things to concern ourselves with anyway, it's our son, Freddie's 3rd birthday party tomorrow morning, 20+ youngsters at the local soft play centre. Should be fun, will definitely be exhausting! Back home for lunch but essentially just family only, then I need to head off to Brands with the motorhome mid-afternoon, to meet Iain and my re-assembled (?!) car for signing-on and scrutineering tomorrow evening ... it can be done Sunday morning if anything's gone at all haywire.
I say Brands is a wonderful circuit, it is great to drive, but it hasn't been a happy hunting ground for me in this car, I've had troubles of one sort or another the last 3 times I've been there. We've done a good deal of work on the car since of course, so I'm really hoping that the good fortune that I've been blessed with at the first two rounds continues this weekend. Dry weather would certainly be good for a start!
Talking of the work that has gone into the car ... Iain has been winding me up this week ... we both use a Motorsport Internet Forum called 'Ten-Tenths', well a couple of days ago he posted a photo of my car in his workshop in what we might call a significant state of disassembly ... engine on one trolley, gearbox on another, rear suspension hanging off like broken limbs ... something of a surprise to see the car undergoing such major surgery between Pau and Brands, but I've been busy at work and the few times I've had a chance to call I've not managed to catch him ... this afternoon he posted another shot, in the latest the engine is back in, but the gearbox is still sitting beside the car, and Iain's sitting in a chair behind the car having a cup of tea ... I'm pleased to see he's relaxed about it! Iain has 2 other FJs he's running this weekend too...
We've got other things to concern ourselves with anyway, it's our son, Freddie's 3rd birthday party tomorrow morning, 20+ youngsters at the local soft play centre. Should be fun, will definitely be exhausting! Back home for lunch but essentially just family only, then I need to head off to Brands with the motorhome mid-afternoon, to meet Iain and my re-assembled (?!) car for signing-on and scrutineering tomorrow evening ... it can be done Sunday morning if anything's gone at all haywire.
Monday 13 May 2013
Sunday 12 May 2013
Pau - Sunday
Race One
Really nervous this morning, street circuit part of it, but part of it was wanting to convert the class pole position into some solid points today... It then wasn't helped at all by finding the clutch proving trick on the formation lap to the grid, a few times the pedal went to the floor but still the gear would not disengage ... Stress levels mounting! I muddled through by changing slightly less often, and a little cautiously, clearly slower, but we need to see the chequered flag!
I seem to be getting better starts at least, and gained one place on the run to the first corner, but it was Andrew Tart in the slow-starting Front-wheel drive Bond, and he's otherwise very quick, so I let him past easily later on. Had a bit of a dice with John Chisholm in the front-engined Gemini, eventually got back past him, but then made a mistake and ran wide on the long right hander through Beaumont, putting me out of shape into Foch ... I'd been warned that this circuit punishes mistakes, and I was lucky to get away with a tank-slapper and was looking straight at the Armco for a time, but we muddled through, however I exited the corner somewhat 'flustered'(!) and in the wrong gear so when John went up the inside on the next corner I decided I'd let him go as he wasn't in my class. John Dowson who was in my class was close behind early on, but fell a little behind at the end, so I got a class win. At the front Jonathan Hughes won, from John Fyda and Patrick Buhofer.
So I'm half way to a Class win ... The nerves build again!
We get two races at each Lurani round, but they are scored as one race on cumulative times, so I beat John Dowson by 7secs in Race One, so in race two if necessary all I had to do was to stay within 7secs of him if he got by...
Race two, didn't go quite so well, insofar as I went backwards in the race, dropping 4 places, the clutch had been sorted, but I was finding it a bit slippy in places, and rather than make any more mistakes I was perhaps a bit over cautious. Early on I could see John Dowson in my mirrors, and he got close a couple of times but then dropped away a bit, so when I was attacked by a few guys who were suddenly going a bit quicker, I tended not to put up a fight as they weren't in my class. Delighted to see the chequered flag ... A Class Win! Fantastic, I'm chuffed to bits - worth remembering that I've been a little blessed by the misfortunes of others, but I'm sure the tables will be turned at some point during the season.
We got all six cars plus tools and stuff, loaded into truck and trailer quicker than we imagined, enabling Iain and Mike to knock off a few hours of the drive home. I get about 4 hours sleep before an early start to Toulouse Airport, I need to leave about 0400...
So I leave Pau very happy, and with none of Hockenheim's heavy-scorers taking points away from here, I think I currently lead the championship. It's early days, let's not get too excited, although I may allow myself a bit of a grin when I walk into the office in the morning!
Huge thanks to Iain and Mike for their support this weekend.
Saturday 11 May 2013
Pau - a lap!
Follow this link and you should find my fastest qualifying lap this afternoon at Pau.
http://youtu.be/_Uo_WR3ejJ8
http://youtu.be/_Uo_WR3ejJ8
Pau - Saturday - Part Two
Unusually for us, especially for Iain, we actually had just a few moments to sit down this afternoon, unheard of...
Quite a late qualifying session, nerves building nicely ... But despite some leaden clouds passing overhead the track has stayed dry all day. Qualifying went very well, a full 3.5secs quicker than this morning, on a 1.40.2; giving me 11th on the grid (of 25 surviving cars ...) and 'class pole' by nearly 1.5secs - frankly I'm a bit surprised. But still there's no points or prizes for today's efforts ...
With the cars having to go into Parc Ferme for an hour, Iain (who'd qualified 7th on 1.36.6), Mike and myself went to the bar in the paddock for a well-earned beer! An hour later we collected the cars, and set about re-prepping for a very early Race 1 at 0840 tomorrow. So that was refuel, give each car a battery recharge, check over and in my case another tweak on the front brakes and a set of new spark plugs.
Followed by a quick pizza, and off to hotel to blog and YouTube!
Going to be a big day tomorrow, and a long one - another like today would be great, but there are no chickens being counted here ...!
Quite a late qualifying session, nerves building nicely ... But despite some leaden clouds passing overhead the track has stayed dry all day. Qualifying went very well, a full 3.5secs quicker than this morning, on a 1.40.2; giving me 11th on the grid (of 25 surviving cars ...) and 'class pole' by nearly 1.5secs - frankly I'm a bit surprised. But still there's no points or prizes for today's efforts ...
With the cars having to go into Parc Ferme for an hour, Iain (who'd qualified 7th on 1.36.6), Mike and myself went to the bar in the paddock for a well-earned beer! An hour later we collected the cars, and set about re-prepping for a very early Race 1 at 0840 tomorrow. So that was refuel, give each car a battery recharge, check over and in my case another tweak on the front brakes and a set of new spark plugs.
Followed by a quick pizza, and off to hotel to blog and YouTube!
Going to be a big day tomorrow, and a long one - another like today would be great, but there are no chickens being counted here ...!
Pau - Saturday - Part One
Free practice this morning went ok for me ... Got red-flagged early on with a broken car stranded in a difficult position on the hill, then as the red flags came out there was an unfortunate collision between two cars on the main straight, one slowing quickly having seen the flags, caught by the faster car who hadn't yet seen the flags. Sadly both cars are out for the weekend, which is terribly unlucky. Also suffering continuing misfortune after his bad luck at Hockenheim, is my class competitor Charles Cook, who's oil pump failed, causing quite a bit of engine damage - the oil pump was pretty much new... again very unlucky.
For me, I found the circuit, fortunately dry, to be no more daunting than I had feared. I need more bravery on certain sections, but ... And it's a big 'but' ... This not a circuit where you'll get away with making mistakes at all ... Amongst all the advice I've had, that from John Fyda: "drive well within your limits" rings very true. That's what I did, so I was surprised to find myself 12th overall, and first by a minuscule margin in my class - but it's only free practice and counts for nothing; it's left me feeling a bit nervous ... In yacht-racing it is never done to win the practice race at a big regatta, and I kind of feel that's what has just happened. Of course it wouldn't have happened without Charles Cook's failure. But I was just 0.1secs quicker than John Dowson; this weekend, rather than driving his faster Class E Brabham, he has elected to bring his Elva which is identical to mine, and similarly BMC powered; John has done quite a bit of racing already this year, having ventured down under, returning with a few trophies too, and he's raced here before, so it's heartening to be ahead of him. As I say though, what we've done so far counts for nought, the real competition starts later.
More brake fettling, bleed the clutch, and re-prep and we are now ready for qualifying. Still dry...
For me, I found the circuit, fortunately dry, to be no more daunting than I had feared. I need more bravery on certain sections, but ... And it's a big 'but' ... This not a circuit where you'll get away with making mistakes at all ... Amongst all the advice I've had, that from John Fyda: "drive well within your limits" rings very true. That's what I did, so I was surprised to find myself 12th overall, and first by a minuscule margin in my class - but it's only free practice and counts for nothing; it's left me feeling a bit nervous ... In yacht-racing it is never done to win the practice race at a big regatta, and I kind of feel that's what has just happened. Of course it wouldn't have happened without Charles Cook's failure. But I was just 0.1secs quicker than John Dowson; this weekend, rather than driving his faster Class E Brabham, he has elected to bring his Elva which is identical to mine, and similarly BMC powered; John has done quite a bit of racing already this year, having ventured down under, returning with a few trophies too, and he's raced here before, so it's heartening to be ahead of him. As I say though, what we've done so far counts for nought, the real competition starts later.
More brake fettling, bleed the clutch, and re-prep and we are now ready for qualifying. Still dry...
Friday 10 May 2013
Pau - Friday
After my long day yesterday I overslept a bit this morning, so it was all a bit casual. After breakfast in my hotel I strolled down to see whether my car was here yet, and to find out what goes on here. Just a short walk, but the town sits quite high over the valley, where the paddock is, so I took the funicular railway down, meeting Aussie chum Don Thallon on the way. Eventually found my way into the paddock, found Iain and my car, tucked up in it's marquee/garage.
Iain has brought 5 cars down here, 4 FJs and one Formula Ford - so he's going to be busy keeping us all going (and usually he keeps half the rest of the grid going too!), especially as he's racing himself. Mate Mike Bell has come down to help out, and he has an HGV licence too, so was able to share the miserable wet 12 hr drive down through France yesterday.
We all got signed on, and scrutineered, eventually, although no problems for me this time. So set about cleaning, prepping the cars, applying the event sponsors logos etc.
I enjoy the atmosphere before any race meeting, catching up with people you've not seen since last time, chatting and the general buzz as the paddock fills up, everyone keen and enthusiastic. Here the town has really taken to it, next weekend they have modern championships racing on the same track, so for about 10days Motorsport takes over the town, and there are automotive-themed presentations, shop window displays, and flags / banners all over. It's great ... Such a shame we can't have a historic Grand Prix round Guildford...
Iain has brought 5 cars down here, 4 FJs and one Formula Ford - so he's going to be busy keeping us all going (and usually he keeps half the rest of the grid going too!), especially as he's racing himself. Mate Mike Bell has come down to help out, and he has an HGV licence too, so was able to share the miserable wet 12 hr drive down through France yesterday.
We all got signed on, and scrutineered, eventually, although no problems for me this time. So set about cleaning, prepping the cars, applying the event sponsors logos etc.
I enjoy the atmosphere before any race meeting, catching up with people you've not seen since last time, chatting and the general buzz as the paddock fills up, everyone keen and enthusiastic. Here the town has really taken to it, next weekend they have modern championships racing on the same track, so for about 10days Motorsport takes over the town, and there are automotive-themed presentations, shop window displays, and flags / banners all over. It's great ... Such a shame we can't have a historic Grand Prix round Guildford...
Pau - The Circuit
I've done two laps so far ... The first one on foot with Iain and Mike, and then the second one on Iain's mountain bike. The first thing I've realised is that the YouTube clips I'd seen don't give an accurate impression of the ascent and descent. The start line is down in the valley, opposite the railway station, after the first right-hander the circuit goes uphill in quite a big way, initially straight up a tree-lined boulevard, before a hairpin left under a bridge and then a very tight hairpin right which marks the top of the hill. Speed up into a long sweeping left past the casino, before an even longer right round the park.
Of course on street circuits you are close to the barriers so these long corners are blind as you are unsighted ahead, but they are normal road, with typical camber, so if you stay out wide for better visibility ahead then you end up on less helpful (or worse!) camber...
We then start dropping downhill through a nasty looking section across what is normally a roundabout, then down to a hairpin right, which at the gentle pace i tookmit on the mountain bike seemed fast enough. Then sweeping left, still downhill into a tricky looking chicane, then it opens out for a fast-as-you-like run to the finish line, followed shortly thereafter by a right 'kink' which everyone has told me to look out for ... A little wide here and you'll be thrown off by the camber...
Inevitably, as a Pau debutante, I've had a lot of advice from a lot of experienced people, all of it very good, but they rarely seem to mention the same sections, leaving me with the feeling that it's all hair-raising!
The good news is that at the moment there's a reasonable chance of the weekend staying dry all the way through - that would be great, so fingers crossed!
Of course on street circuits you are close to the barriers so these long corners are blind as you are unsighted ahead, but they are normal road, with typical camber, so if you stay out wide for better visibility ahead then you end up on less helpful (or worse!) camber...
We then start dropping downhill through a nasty looking section across what is normally a roundabout, then down to a hairpin right, which at the gentle pace i tookmit on the mountain bike seemed fast enough. Then sweeping left, still downhill into a tricky looking chicane, then it opens out for a fast-as-you-like run to the finish line, followed shortly thereafter by a right 'kink' which everyone has told me to look out for ... A little wide here and you'll be thrown off by the camber...
Inevitably, as a Pau debutante, I've had a lot of advice from a lot of experienced people, all of it very good, but they rarely seem to mention the same sections, leaving me with the feeling that it's all hair-raising!
The good news is that at the moment there's a reasonable chance of the weekend staying dry all the way through - that would be great, so fingers crossed!
New-fangled contraptions..
Why are modern cars so complicated...? Those nice people at Avis decided to give me a free upgrade, so I have a Mercedes something-class 220, with under 400kms on the clock. Very nice ... but modern cars baffle me ... Once I'd found out how to start it, it then took me a minute or so to find what they'd done with the Automatic gearbox controls, several more to work out the satnav to Pau etc., so by the time I actually pulled out of the carpark in Bordeaux it was nearly 10pm. A very good clear run, punctuated by more bemusement courtesy of the Merc - auto wipers I'd anticipated, auto-dipping headlights was a new one on me 'how?', but the biggest annoyance was trying to work out the cruise-control, for ages all I could get it to do was set speed limit, initially 110kmh, but every time I fiddled with it it dropped another 10kmh ... I kid you not, by the time I worked out how to switch it off I was down to 50kmh! All these gadgets and yet it 'couldn't read' my iPhone for music ... Bah, humbug!
I got to Pau about 2330, so the satnav had done a good job, but then it tried to direct me straight through the pedestrianised square ... Err, no ... Sorry the last 250metres took me about 15 minutes, several three point turns and culminated in 'having' to drive the wrong way down a one-way street. Sorry Pau.
I got to Pau about 2330, so the satnav had done a good job, but then it tried to direct me straight through the pedestrianised square ... Err, no ... Sorry the last 250metres took me about 15 minutes, several three point turns and culminated in 'having' to drive the wrong way down a one-way street. Sorry Pau.
Wednesday 8 May 2013
Round Two - Pau
Off tomorrow for Round Two, around the streets of Pau. I have typically tortuous logistics to minimise the time I am out of the office, flying into Bordeaux then hiring a car, should get there about midnight; then I need to check out of the hotel about 0330 Monday morning to drive to Toulouse for the flight home, hopefully arriving in time to meet my new boss...!
The street circuit in Pau has been used since the 1930's. Nowadays it is used for two consecutive weekends, one for Historic cars and one for modern championships. See the website at http://www.grandprixdepauhistorique.com/for more information.
I have never been to this meeting, but have always wanted to go, although ideally I wouldn't make my debut here as a Championship round ... I have only ever raced on one street circuit, in Porto 2 years ago. The Armco barriers seem very close, there are manhole covers and kerbs worth avoiding, odd track cambers, it's narrow ... I've found some in-car footage on YouTube and it looks a bit "unforgiving"!
The car is in Iain's truck with 4 others, crossing The English Channel as we speak, they drive down tomorrow. Friday is scrutineering, paperwork etc., and a chance for me to take a look at the circuit, although it's still public road at that point - two years ago Iain and I did a lap of the Porto circuit on bicycles whilst it was still road, to follow the racing-line as much as possible that meant going the wrong way round roundabouts, and up a dual-carriage way on the wrong side against the traffic!
There are 33 FJs entered, from more than 10 countries, 5 in my class this weekend.
The car has been fettled again after Hockenheim, especially some work on the brakes. Fingers crossed for a good weekend.
The street circuit in Pau has been used since the 1930's. Nowadays it is used for two consecutive weekends, one for Historic cars and one for modern championships. See the website at http://www.grandprixdepauhistorique.com/for more information.
I have never been to this meeting, but have always wanted to go, although ideally I wouldn't make my debut here as a Championship round ... I have only ever raced on one street circuit, in Porto 2 years ago. The Armco barriers seem very close, there are manhole covers and kerbs worth avoiding, odd track cambers, it's narrow ... I've found some in-car footage on YouTube and it looks a bit "unforgiving"!
The car is in Iain's truck with 4 others, crossing The English Channel as we speak, they drive down tomorrow. Friday is scrutineering, paperwork etc., and a chance for me to take a look at the circuit, although it's still public road at that point - two years ago Iain and I did a lap of the Porto circuit on bicycles whilst it was still road, to follow the racing-line as much as possible that meant going the wrong way round roundabouts, and up a dual-carriage way on the wrong side against the traffic!
There are 33 FJs entered, from more than 10 countries, 5 in my class this weekend.
The car has been fettled again after Hockenheim, especially some work on the brakes. Fingers crossed for a good weekend.
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