Update 22 - Woodstock week 4 and Castle CombeWoodstock week 4On Woodstock this week, the engine bay was painted black and using other parts from the package from Mulfab the front suspension and brakes have been rebuilt.
Castle Combe - Last race and season clincher
So down to the last race of the season... five entrants only, including Missprint and myself. The other three entrants are people who are beatable given the seasons trend. So it's all to loose.... such a straight forward task!!??
So having been watching the weather all week... it went from lashing rain, wind to extremely cold yet sunny.
All is going well... an early loading up in the dark as what happens usually for Castle Coombe and this year even later in the year.
Looking at the car temp sensor... it's showing only 1.5 degrees, this is going to be extra chilly.. though it's dry which is a relief.
Having reached the track, we broke the car down in to racing trim and got through scruitineering. First runs were delayed due to a spin and tea (warm drinks) needing to be taken out to the track marshalls. The sun was out but it was not heating up much. It was clear that the best runs were going to be just after lunch when maximum heat was about.
The Class 7 target time was 96.12 - Missprint had the potential to come 4th and I would be able to clinch the Championship having a whole race in hand. 8 points of more would secure 1st overall.
Missprint's first run put in a run 10 seconds off target, which is her usual opening salvo and plenty of potential to reduce. My opening run was 97.14 plenty close enough to trim a little time to get under the target time calculated last season from my Class 3 time. One observation both Missprint and I had was the lack of general grip and also the high entry speeds our car now has!!
Second run out saw Missprint chop a whole heap of time off her lap, now it was down to me. I set off from the start cleanly and rocketed down through Camp, Folley and taking a nice straight line through Avon Rise arrived at Quarry. Onto the brakes slowing and then a little lock-up. Off and on the brakes but now too deep - need to make the turn. Turning into Quarry increasing levels of understear set in and slid off the circuit at the start of Farm Straight. Across the small grassy run-off area and into the tyre wall.... @$%!%^ ensued and that was the day's racing over. Head in hands really disapointed in myself!
After a quick chat to the track doctor who I have to say was great, the car was trailerd back to the paddock...
Not too bad from the drivers side:
But then as you go round the car.. not so great.....
ouch... much pride dented... there goes the championship before any real timed race ensued on the day. Missprint didn't get the chance to complete her runs so she missed out and I really feel for dad who's put so much time in on the car.
Donations were offered....in jest, but serious offers of time and effort were greatly welcomed... expect a working party at some point early next year to remount the body onto a new chassis.
