stephendell wrote:Post race report please!
OK then, if you must.
Qualified 11th out of 19 and 1 second faster than my previous attempt last October so quite happy about that. Have done a brief analysis of the results and notice that all the cars running slicks qualified around a second slower than the October session which was very similar weather conditons (sunny/ cool). The big difference this weekend was the dust on the track left over from last weekends ERC rallycross championship round held in dreadfull conditions. The mud had been cleared but not the dust. So all in all my time being faster than October was a good sign that maybe I have found at least a second over the winter.
As for the race itself the start was an organisational disaster. the driver of the car alongside me on the grid opened her door and began waving to warn the start marshall that she had a problem, I saw this and selected nuetral. with that the whole field went, no start lights or flags just went! Most of us saw the problem so expected a red flag, it didnt come so we just pressed on, passed a couple of cars on the way to devils Elbow, still not fully commited as I still expected that red flag. I turned in at the elbow only to find a car there so ran a bit wide and into the grass and crap on the outside of the corner but carried on after most of the field went past me, I was still not that bothered as I was confident of a red flag still.
It soon became evident that the race was not going to be stopped. I began to reel in the car infront, a Evo 4 but after a lap or so behind him he began spewing out smoke so I backed out of it expecting oil so was again slowed. I passed the evo on the run up to the hairpin and set my target on the next car, the 106 rallye I had such a great dice with last time out, At the hairpin I came up behind another failing car, the ginetta who was indicating to pull into the pits so I kept right but at that very moment the Mini that caused the problem at the start was past me on my left and blocking the Ginettas path to the pits so he pulled back infront of me so once again I was slowed as I had to stand on the brakes to avoid hitting him. I then set after the mini and the pug once more and was definatly reeling them in, I passed some backmarkers ( a BMW I must have passed about 5 times!)
On about the 10th lap though the engine cut at Devils Elbow, the old fuel surge problem and I should have known better having had the same issue on my first ever sprint lap here a few years ago. You just cannot run a Spider here on less than a 1/4 tank of fuel and I pushed the limit just too far. race over for me.
Still have a hot start issue though as the car refuses to turn over when really hot, Its a new starter motor and not a charging issue as a jump pack does not make any difference, give it 30 minutes to cool and the starter will crank the engine as normal..... but while sorting this issue someone pointed out a cracked top engine mount so I decided to scratch from the second race. A bit of a disapointing day really but with some signs to be optimistic about.
So many other cars had issues, Mitchell Perry blew his 182 clio engine when the cambelt went during the sprint, the evo in the race that smoked infront of me blew its clutch and the ginetta a fuel line. A 1975 vintage March race car (in ELF colours) was pretty much destroyed and hospitalised its driver in the single seater race.
Must admit that I was glad this was not my first race event as it may have put me off coming back for more...but the October event was so great and I am now, 24 hours later, looking forward to May 19th, next race at Lydden.
by eastlmark » Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:24 pm 
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as long as you enjoyed it Mark.
