Castle Combe – 28th May
If you are a regular reader you’ll know that the last meeting didn’t quite go to plan, well I say didn’t quite go to plan it was a complete disaster as I only managed 2 laps. On the plus side I did get the start of my life and was running in 2nd place…all be it for about 2 minutes. I knew what the problem was the new front diffuser that was fitted before the meeting. In hindsight I should have booked a test day before hand to make sure everything was ok. Alas I didn’t and we all know what happened next.
A few days spent in the garage working on modifying the front diffuser and we are ready for a test day. Yes I did book one this time. As usual I asked Neil Cox from Corinium Motorsport to come along and help me set the car up. For a change the weather gods looked favorably on us. Also with only a few cars booked in plenty of track-time was assured. First thing to do was to get the car through the noise test, it was as silenced day so it meant that the car had to be under 105dB. The week before the car registered 103dB so I was confident that I wouldn’t have any problems. The first noise test and the car registered 108dB…ok back to the pit and repack the exhaust. Try again and its improved….107.4dB! off we go back to the pit and repack it again….this time 109dB. Well this is fun I thought, one last try (Merlin Motorsport were doing well out of this if nothing else!). Yeah! we finally scrap in with a 104.8dB. Annoying thing is that the car is so quiet on drive-by it makes the static tests redundant. But according to Combe’s rules which are laid down by the council the car has to pass the static test before going on track….anyway I could moan about this for days so I’ll button it for now.
Back to the testing, the first step was to go out with the modified diffuser to see if that had improved things. Within a lap or two the vibration was back but only at v-max going upto Avon Rise. This is promising as it shows we are on the right road this time. Next step was to increase the spring rate on the front slightly, Neil set about taking the shocks off while I trundled over to Merlin and added springs to my running bill (exhausting packing being the most common item on there). Having Merlin on site is a godsend when testing, and the chaps there are always happy to laugh at me…er….I mean help out where they can! So with the new springs fitted and a slight adjustment to the ride height I go out on track again, this time the vibrations are gone and the car is starting to feel like her old self again. However I was getting a lot of oversteer on the exit of Quarry, to be honest I was quite enjoying coming out of the corner with a large amount of opposite lock on. However Neil kept reminding me it wasn’t quick (he didn’t seem to share my "but its fun" view of it). On returning to the pits I mention to Neil the lack of rear grip, at this moment he points to my rear tyres and says "that’ll be because its got no rubber left" and sure enough all the wear makers had gone..oops. Luckily this was my old set so I banged on my current tyres and went out again. That’s better, no more sliding just nice fast exits. The rest of the day was spent going through all the lines at Combe and seeing where I could improve. As I almost had the track to myself I was able to do what I wanted (bar going around the other way) which helped me learn a few new lines, some of which worked and others that just plain scared me. The last session of the day we put the timer on to get a base line. Times were about the same as the last meeting so that was also positive.
Right then, the race day. What is it with the weather at the moment, I can guarantee that if its been dry and sunny on the weeks up to the race meeting the weather on the day will be complete poo! The GT’s are third out for qualifying which means we are on track at 9.30am, didn’t even have time for a bacon buttie. The track was dry in places but generally damp and slippery everywhere. I decided to stick on wet tyres as the last time I used slicks at Combe in the damp I didn’t manage a lap before firing it into the barley (something my nephew constantly reminds me of even now). For some reason I can’t get the car to work properly on the wets or in damp/wet conditions. This is something we are going to have to work on, so I took it reasonably steady in qualifying, but the sight of one of the 360’s bearing down on me got me to put my foot down a bit harder and I knocked a couple seconds off my time. Although not the greatest time in the world it put my 11th on the grid (out of 27 cars). My mate Simon (Tilling Motorsport) managed to plonk his Prosport on the pole spot, which was a bit of a surprise (only kidding). We were sharing Simons awning at this meeting which was great. The banter kept us amused while the rain fell of which there was a lot (banter and rain). By noon the rain had eased right off and everything was starting to dry out. We set the car back to full dry setting and put the slicks on. There was still rain in the air when we formed on the grid but it was mainly dry and hopefully it will remain this way for the whole race. I spend the green flag lap getting heat into the tyres/brakes and readying myself for the start. On the grid I am waiting for the lights to come on….then off again. When they do I get another blinding start gaining a number of places. Firing into Quarry on the opening lap is a exhilarating experience. I get past Shane Marshall in his Mallock P21 on the run down to the Esses and slot in behind Nick Williamson in his scary quick Escort Cosworth. I nip past Nick on the brakes into Tower and sit up behind Simon and into 4th position. The next few laps are brilliant, both Simon and I swap places a couple of times. I manage to outbrake Simon going into Quarry and then Simon got his own back with a very "positive" move going into the Esses. Brilliant fun. Soon the both of us are up with the second place man, Guy Woodward, I am breathing down Simon’s neck and Shane is breathing down mine. On lap 5 the little Toyota Starlet has a big blowup going through Folly and covers the track with oil. Luckily for both Simon and I we see the blow up so know about the oil on the next lap. Unfortunately some others drivers aren’t so luck and end up in the infield. We are now ploughing though the slower cars and everything seems to be going ok. When the 4 of us come up fast behind one of the Ferrari 360’s he doesn’t see Simon on his left and pushes him off the track. Simon’s car takes some considerable damage and almost collects me as he returns to the track. Soon after this the safety car comes out so the marshals can clean up some of the oil left by the Toyota. Racing resumes with 4 laps to go. I get the whole shot on Shane over the start line and lead him upto Avon Rise. I get slightly caught up with a gaggle of back markers and Shaun gets the advantage back. As we all pile into Quarry I make the brave decision to go around the outside. It pays off and I overtake all bar one car….I did chuckle to myself. The power of Guy’s Jade pulls away from me again into the Esses. I am currently sat in 3rd place with Guy in front and Shane behind. On the run down to Camp I am suddenly aware of a red car on my left hand side…Shane! This put me off my rhythm slightly and Shane powers past…excellent move! So I am back to 4th with 3 laps to go. The power of Shanes Mallock gets past the Jade on the way up to Avon Rise. I am soon on the rear of the Jade as well looking for a way past. On the exit of the Esses the Jade misfires causing the car to slow right down….just what I need when I am stood on the loud pedal….just managed not to ram him. The Jade is starting to sound a bit rough and Guy is being defensive. However on the exit of Bobbies I power past him and continue my pursuit of Shane. I’ve got 2 laps to make up 4 seconds…good game…good game! The penultimate lap the rains falls again and things started to get loose…however this is the lap where I smash my PB lap time by 0.5seconds, I blame the Redbull. I am gaining on Shane but not as quickly as I’d like. By the last lap the gap is down to 2 seconds and I am trying my best, I misjudge the speed of one of the back markers going into the Esses which costs me time. I stick with it but Shane has done enough by now. I cross the line 3rd with a big cheesy grin….what a race! I am completely knackered but really happy. The car is going/handling really well but we need to improve the wet setup. Or just pray for sun before each meeting. All the time and effort that everyone has put in on the car has finally been worth it. Big thanks has to go out to everyone involved, wouldn’t be where I am now with out their help and support.
The next meeting is the 23rd June and I’m really looking forward to that one.
