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24th June - Snetterton Race: |
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With the race weekend at Belgium's
SPA circuit postponed until next year (very disappointing), it's been a
six week gap since we last raced. That might not sound like a long time
but it certainly feels like it when you get back into the car and need to
be ready to go out and qualify. Added to this unfortunate time lag, an integral part of the Team, namely my wife Jan, was unable to attend today as school commitments involving both of our children had to take precedence. So I set off early for the 3 hour trip to Snett' as we had a fairly early qualifying session, with our race straight after the lunch break. Although I'd really been looking forward to this race after how well we'd done here six weeks ago, I was finding it difficult to focus on the day ahead. Still, qualifying should get me back in the groove and my aim was to get down to the 1 min 12.5 secs area. The weather was looking a bit dodgy but with no rain as yet, we were able to go out on slicks to qualify. I was just beginning to pick up my pace on the fourth lap as the tyres came in, went through Riches quite quickly and lined up hairpin. Just on the apex as I was about to turn onto the straight, the car lurched forward rather more than I was expecting! I hit the brake and could smell burning rubber and then began to see clouds of tyre smoke behind me. Something was clearly not right and as I released the brake pedal again the car lurched forward on full chat. I flicked the gear stick into neutral and the revs went off the scale, the throttle had stuck full on and I had no option but to hit the cut out switch and ease the car to the grass verge it had been heading for at great speed. A little disconcerted to say the least, my qualifying session was over after just 3 proper laps and a disappointing time of 1min 17.3 secs. Fortunately my time was good enough to put me 5th on the grid. The weather had improved by our race time, albeit punctuated by the odd shower along the way and my throttle cable fixed - hopefully. Red lights out and off we go...Well for 100 yards until I had to break hard and avoid Tim who clearly had a problem and pulled in to the right in front of me. Yet again, Graham and Marc were both able to get me as my start was interrupted and I'd need to play catch up quickly. I squeezed my way past Marc on the inside of turn two and set about chasing Graham down. On the straight just after the hairpin at turn two I past on the very next lap and expected to put some space between us. I couldn't seem to get my lap times out of the 1min 17secs area and noticed Graham still right behind me after another 4 disappointing lap times. I'd only pulled 1.5secs ahead of him. I was really cross with myself and determined to wake up. I forced myself down to 1min 16secs and then stayed around that time for the next 6 laps. I was getting really frustrated with myself but just couldn't seem to feel the grip in the same way as when we were here last. Eventually I managed to get a 1min 15.3 secs lap as my quickest of the day and right towards the end of the race. To my amazement, the marshalls pulled me into the 2nd place slot. Apparently Darren had been disqualified for his timing transponder not working and in my annoyance with my performance, I'd completely forgotten that Andy had pulled up with another head gasket blown, leaving me in second place. I felt it was very undeserved and the whole race was a strange event, including the fact that my radiator suddenly emptied its contents a we got back to the awning. That did at least explain why during the last two races my windscreen kept getting sprayed with an oily water, I could barely see out this time! I guess, as is the case with all sports, you can have an off day and certainly I left Snett' feeling disappointed with my performance. |
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