Here we go again!
1st event at a damp 3 Sisters it was clear from the forcast that rain was on the way so the pressure was on to make the first run count.
Over the winter Doris had undergone some restoration work and what I though was a few bubles on the paint work turned into 2 new sills rear quater rebuild and a £2K bill!
In addition to that I have sacked the Hi Spec brakes and gone to Renault Clio 16V front brakes. They have a much softer feel but do stop the car a definite improvement!
As I said pressure on so I messed up the exit of the tight hairpin and ran onto the grass on the exit and was just 0.36 behind the lead time of Paul Edwards in his Clio Sport. Considering he doesnt have a limited slip diff that was a stunning performance. he has a background in rally driving and was relishing the greasy track.
I was thrown a lifeline when the organisers decided to run another timed run before lunch whilst the weather held. In the event the rain started as I was in the queue for the start. At the back of the line for the class I had to sit there praying that it held long enough for my run as all my competitors had first crack at improving their times.
I managed to put a clean run in to take the class with a 52.92 whilst Paul and Keith Minshull DEAD HEATED! on 53.25 Paul taking 2nd on his better second fastest time. I have never seen that happen before.
So as opposed to last year when I went home on a trailer with a droped valve and 3rd place this was a much better start to the year!
Here is a video of Paul enjoying the rain, when he fits a diff he is going to be mega!
Handbrake fail
He hand braked the tricky uphill hair pin and this was the only time he over cooked it.
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Originally Posted by Trevhib
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After that excursion my 1st practice time put me 9th (technically it was a foul run as all 4 wheels left the track). Paul Edwards led the field with a 53.18 Ian was way back on 55.59. Into the timed runs and Fishy Herring put in a stormer 51.91 but he might have cut the chicane ala Lewis Hamilton. He always like to minimise the track length and I noted that a "Judge of Fact" was appointed to monitor the lines cars take through the chicane. Ian said he was going to take the kerbs but I warned that it could knock you way wide. He was on 52.57 and 4th! not happy. I managed 52.90 to be just behind Keith on 52.82. I tried all I could diferent tyre pressures damper setting even holding 3rd gear into the last corner and reving the nuts off Doris in the process but the best I could manage was 52.68 to come 7th 3 hundreths behind Keith. Ians best was 52.20 and 4th. Paul took the honours with a last run 51.79. Last year with no brakes I had managed a 51.77 so Im suffering somewhere.
