Cadwell Park 9 May 1999.
29 April 1999.
TESTING
8 May 1999 - Cadwell Park
Snetterton 22 August 1999.
The power increase, compared to last year’s engine, was obvious even with the reduced rpm. In qualifying we were placed 20th which reflected a prudent approach to this session.
At the start of the race we passed four cars to move up to 16th. Over the next four laps a further six cars were overtaken thus moving us to 10th overall and fourth in class. A reasonable result given the need to restrict the rpm to 5,500 maximum. The next event is the invitation races at Spa Francorchamps. Before that, however, we will be running the car further and finally setting the engine up for optimum performance.
Spa Francorchamps
10/11/12th September 1999.
We were entered in two races this year. The usual British Sports and Saloon Car Challenge and, new for 1999, the Trophee Saloon Car Ardennes. Scrutineering and signing on for both these events took place on Thursday which left Friday free for washing and polishing cars and practising on the daunting but fantastic circuit.
Although our championships run on Dunlop D84 treaded race tyres most of my fellow competitors chose to race on either slicks or Yokohama race tyres (these being non-championship races) which offer higher performance than the Dunlop tyre.
Practice - Trophee Saloon Car Ardennes.
I had suffered a small amount of oil surge during this practice, which I attributed to the faster cornering speeds resulting from the more powerful engine.
Race - British Sports and Saloon Car Challenge.
At the rolling start I decided to let the race settle down before attempting any overtaking manoeuvres from my lowly forty-fourth position. Being such a long circuit that meant waiting until half way around the first lap. By lap two I had gained three places and so it continued until lap six, by which time I was in twenty-fourth position. Tim Clarke in his Dolomite Sprint kept a close eye on my back bumper but was unable to pass. Despite a magnificent charge on the final tour he finished one place behind me. The race was won by David Carrington Yates in his Mustang.
I was the second finisher on Dunlop tyres.
Race - Trophee Saloon Car Ardennes.
All-in-all this event is a great way to spend a motorsporting weekend. All concerned are looking forward to next year.
PRACTICE
Then it rained.
RACE
During the formation lap I noted the areas of the track which were still wet but there was a dry line. It would make overtaking difficult but it was the same for everybody. The lights went green and…………. my wheels just spun as eight cars overtook me. When I eventually got moving I was 19th. I passed three cars into the first corner and found myself surrounded by XR3is, RS2000s and Golf Gtis. All nimble cars and ideal for tricky conditions.
The beauty of the Group 1 regulations lies in the class system. The class D cars, which I was now racing against, were outgunned in the dry. In these conditions they were more than a match for the power of my car. One by one I passed them until I caught up with Stacy Vickers in the widest Gti Volkswagen ever built. I finally passed him on the outside of the hairpin on the last lap to finish 10th overall and fifth in class.
Next week on 2nd October we go to Castle Combe. I am hoping for an improvement. Although if I have as much fun as this week I may not want to move up the finishing order!!!!
CASTLE COMBE 02 OCTOBER 1999
Arriving in the paddock I noticed an awful lot of grass which, considering the weather would make moving car and trailer difficult at the end of the day. With the car unloaded and leathered off it was time to attend the Clerk of the course’s meeting that is mandatory for new drivers. I have been racing for some years but this would be a whole new experience for me. Racing lines and driving etiquette were the main subject of discussion, so when we went out to practice I was still none the wiser as to the best way to tackle this circuit.
During the day the weather changed from dry and sunny to squally showers. About ten minutes before we assembled for the grid, the heavens opened and I changed to wet tyres. I thought it would only be a shower so only softened the suspension by ten percent. Unfortunately, the rain came back as we set off on the green flag lap and did not stop until about lap 8.
RACE TEN LAPS
On a positive note. I was very competitive and although I didn’t finish, I kept a grin on my face for the rest of the day. The BARC/CSCC Group 1 championship had given me some seriously good fun at a truly difficult circuit. I look forward to returning next year.
Our replacement engine is being built up at Boxbridge Engineering but it won't be ready in time for the race. Fortunately we have a spare available so the race is still on. We have a test planned for 8 May at Cadwell Park so the new gearbox will be run in before the event.
We arrived at the circuit in mixed weather conditions, rain, sun, rain. Our afternoon was split into three half-hour sessions. With the delays to the arrival of our new pistons the race engine was unfinished. Boxbridge loaned us a spare engine, which was an unknown quantity. We were to limit the revs to 6500 max. which is some 500 rpm below the norm. In addition our new gearbox required running in before raceday on Sunday.
The test went very well. There were no engine problems and times, which although not the fastest were consistent. The only glitch was a puncture in the nearside rear tyre. The team replaced the tyre and we completed the afternoon without major drama.
RACING
The weather for practice was warm and dry. Unfortunately due to an uncooperative driver the lap times were about 2 seconds slower than our capability. We qualified thirteenth out of twenty-four, which in reality should have been seventh.
By now both rear tyres had been replaced and this would cause a problem later in the race.
The start was dramatic with two cars failing to make the first corner. We were in a train of five cars fighting over seventh place. On lap 9 we overtook the Mitsubishi Starion for third in class. The track temperatures had increased dramatically during the afternoon and this put additional strain on the “new” rear tyres. Without warning the rear tyres “went off” and lost all adhesion at the Gooseneck. The car swapped ends flat out in third gear and skidded sideways up the bank, coming to rest against the tyre wall.
Fortunately the only thing dented was pride although some minor body damage will need repairs before the next outing.
Our new engine is due to be completed by the end of May, so our next event is at Pembrey in July. This will give us ample time to test.
At last our replacement engine was completed and having undergone an initial start up and "run-in" on Shaw and Upton’s rolling road, there was a positive feel to this weekend. Boxbridge Engineering prepared the car and it was presented for scrutineering early on raceday morning. With nothing amiss it only remained to check the tyres pressures, oil and water levels. The day would be interesting because although the engine had run for two hours on the rolling road we decided that we would not push it to its maximum capability and so we were limited to 5,500 rpm maximum which is approximately 1500 rpm below maximum.
Once again it was time to pack the summer/winter and autumn clothing and head to the Belgian Ardennes for a weekend of intense racing and even more intense fun. This year the weather could not have been better. Hot sunshine from the time we arrived.
Our new engine had been run-in at Snetterton so although revs were limited to 6000 rpm for I qualified 34th out of 58 cars. I was also the second fastest Dunlop tyred runner. Surprisingly, even though I was limiting the revs, I still beat my best previous time by three seconds.
Practice - British Sports and Saloon Car Challenge.
Unfortunately the aforementioned oil surge problem manifested itself almost immediately during this practice. I therefore completed only four laps and qualified 44th and third Dunlop runner. Although I was being cautious I managed to equal my previous best time during these four laps.
The sun and the mist was just rising as we arrived at the circuit on the Saturday morning. The race start was 08.30 am so we were lined up in the collection area at 07.30 am. The weather was cool but clear and the quality of light served to emphasise the contours of this magnificent facility.
Here we are. The Classic Saloon Car Club drivers with their trophies.
The start of this race was set for 18.55 hrs which left the entire day to shop for wine in Stavelot, wash and polish the car and generally relax. The day was even hotter than the Friday so when we lined up for the rolling start I was already sweltering in my race suit. We were surrounded by slick shod cars from French various classic saloon car championships so improvement would be difficult. And so it proved. The high grip levels offered by slick tyres meant that out braking into corners was virtually impossible. My opponents had so much more grip! After three laps I had overtaken seven cars only to be re-passed by a Mustang and therefore I finished 28th. Not as impressive as the previous race but I had the satisfaction of being the leading Dunlop runner.
MALLORY PARK 26 September 1999
Starting from home to travel to the Leicestershire circuit at 7.45 am in drizzle, we hoped for an improvement in the weather for the main part of the day. Thus we set out for our fifteen minutes practice session in fine warm sunshine. Its over 14 months since I last raced here so braking points and lines needed to be re-learned. The resulting times on my pitboard didn’t seem to be that good. However after practice I found myself 11th on the grid. Three seconds behind the pole-sitting Jaguar XJS. Sixth in class only 1.3 seconds behind the class pole position man, Doug Forbes in his Mitsubishi Starion. The car was running well which meant that apart from checking tyre pressure, oil and water, there was little to do until the race some four hours later.
We were race six so we sat in the car listening to the European GP on the radio. Good result for Stewart Ford and Johnny Herbert in particular! Meanwhile the rain carried on until race four when it stopped. I therefore took the gamble to remain on dry tyres and settings.
Setting off at 05.45 am an Saturday morning in what can only be described as torrential rain, is not the best introduction to racing at this ex-airfield circuit. Not having the pleasure of even spectating at this circuit before, I was uncertain as to what I could expect.
PRACTICE
I decided to follow Martin West whom to date has always been about two seconds a lap faster than me. He had raced here many times before. After practice we found ourselves twelfth and thirteenth with about four tenths of a second between us. I had noticed that he was slower than I out of the tighter corners but had made little of this during practice.
I made a good start and with two cars spinning off at the first corner I was up to 9th. This became 10th when Ian Drew passed me at the second chicane. From then it was a case of avoid the spinners and go as fast as I could. I moved up to 8th with a pass on the outside of the last corner and kept it until the next lap when I spun back down to twelfth. I made it back to 7th on lap seven when the slightly hard rear end bit me. I was in top gear at about three quarter’s power when I hit some water that sent me spinning into the infield. Unfortunately this time I was unable to re-start the car and therefore retired.
