For me the brands hatch round of the RGB championship last weekend race filled the complete weekend, I signed up for the allcomers race on the Saturday so I had some time on the track and some time to test out our fixes for the engine misfire that limited the points from the last round at Castle Combe.
It turned out to be very valuable as for both of the Allcomers sessions I had reoccuring misfire issues. The first 2 laps of the allcomers qualify were fine and then it returned. We changed the battery, carb rubbers and remounted the airbox between qualify and the race but the same issue persisted. It did however give me a chance to learn more about the circuit all be it at a reduced pace – in fact at about the same pace as a hot hatch as I raced with a few of them for the entire duration!
Saturday evening was full of head scratching but Andy (AB Performance) took the carbs apart and found some dirt in one of the primary jets which we are associating with the earlier fuel pump failure. A quick test before dinner seemed to show it as resolved but we had thought that before of course!
Sunday dawned nice and bright and the midday qualify for RGB would be the true test. Well I am more than happy to report that the car was back on true form. In fact right back to the same as I had at the start of the season. I was able to post a lap time 52.64 which was good for pole in class and 3rd overall. In fact I was able to post 4 laps that would have given me the pole time, my closest competitor being John Cutmore with a 53 second deal. The main change over last year (and its about a 1 second improvement I think?) is down to a smoother driving style. I have continued to analyze the videos from last year, highlighting the actions that seem to unsettle the live rear axle and waste acceleration and build that into my preparation for the track. Still running the same setup for each track though which is interesting in itself.
The aftertnoon race would be in three parts as we unsuccessfuly tried the first two starts whilst making an unimpressive show for the marshals when show red flags.
Attempt 1 –
I had a rather poor start, using too many revs and not blocking the inside into Paddock Hill bend and was down to 3rd in class. Gordon span part was down the hill through paddock hill bend and cars when everywhere. I tagged on the back of John's tail and overtook Mike into hairpin and then just about to make a move on John Cutmore down the back straight when we both saw the red flags and slowed. The cars in front slowed quite a bit and by the time that concertina had rippled back a few rows, we have cars flying past us manically trying to slow down. Unsuprisingly I dont think the marshals were too impressed with that show.
Attempt 2 -
Gordon missing from the grid, with some front end damage from the first race start so in front of me was Rob all alone. I altered the starting revs based on too much wheelspin from first start and got a good start, all be it not as good as Cutmore. I defended into turn one and got a good run through the rest of the lap to give a bit of a gap and as we came around to the start finish line there was another red flag. Yet again a few of the mid field cars went in all directions to try and slow down in time after a slightly delayed reaction to seeing the flags
Attempt 3 –
After a big talking to from the clerk of the course we were allowed to restart the race as the last of the day. Originally planned to be 18mins as first defined but it turned out to be just 13 + 1lap which would be a shame for me. Third attempt at the start and this time I got a good start, into turn 1 in the lead in class and off for the first few laps sprint to get clear of the pack. All was going very well, the car handling good as usual with cold tires, I was able to attack well into Paddock Hill, holding a slight slide over the crest and keeping it straight at the point of compression. I tweaked the brake bias a little over the first couple of laps to get a better balance between stopping from wheel lockup at the hairpin and not causing too much rear effect into Graham Hill and the entry to Clearways. The gap was building when Steve Robinson in the Class A Genesis came up behind. There was no point in racing him and loosing time to the Class C pack so I opened up the door into the Hairpin by staying wide and braking early. Steve went for the inside as offered to him and then just as I was turning into the corner, expecting him to slip through, he came straight at me and barged me off into the gravel trap. I immediately grabbed second gear and planted the accelerator whilst trying ease the car around to the right and execute a 180deg turn without getting stuck. Engine screaming and a massive spray of gravel existing from the rear wheel as I slowly headed back to the black stuff and the field came screaming through.
By the time I was back on the track and trying to shake off the worst of the gravel off line, I was almost at the back of the field with a lot of work to do. I knew the car was going well and lap times were good so I put the off to the back of my head, and set about catching everyone up. The tires took a lap and a bit to come back but I soon started to catch up the field, closing nice and quickly so as not to give much opportunity for other drivers to defend. I very much agree with the train of thought that you should attempt to overtake immediately on closing up on another driver rather than settleing in on their speed. The most successful overtakes taking place into the hairpin after a good run through Paddock Hill and then again into Clearways after a good run through the chicane. I kept a very close eye on the lap times, concentrating on bring them down lap after lap, especially on the very rare occasions when I did not pass another car in a lap, and watching the time count down on the very handy timer at the end of the pit exit. Desperate to catch the leaders before it came down to zero. Of course, without a pit crew you never know the gap forward to the next car or the leaders but I was heartened by the consistently low lap times which I doubted the leaders would be able to equal if they were in a battle which thankfully they were. As I came around to a couple of minutes left in the race, I could see Mike Atkinson, Paul Rogers and John Cutmore at the front and new I had the leading pack in my sights with few other cars in the way. I was then able to concentrate on the clearways exit, trying to manage the tire heat buildup on the passenger rear. As we came around for the last lap I was less than a second behind John but ran out of time to make a move, if only it was an 18min race rather than just 13!
I was heartening to see that my fastest time on lap 11 of a 52.79 (almost identical to my pole time) was faster than anyone else’s who completed the race, including Class A and some 7 tenths of a second faster than the quickest class C time of John Cutmore’s. So as it has turned out I got 3rd place which means 10 points + 1 for fastest lap which was quite a save after being taken out. Later in the paddock in discussions with Steve it would seem he locked up the rear wheels under braking and hence was not able to turn into the corner, which is a pity but an understandable mistake I guess. Whats interesting is that I made a mistake in the last of the brands races last year and sent David Wale into the gravel at Clearways. That incident which was totally my fault, require me to present my case to the clerk of the course and could have resulted in points on my license. Seems to be less of an issue this year! Steve actually went on to record his first ever race win, after Gordon spun, taking Rob out on the exit of paddock hill bend and James retiring due to a chassis / steering failure.
So although I came away with the thought in the back of my mind that I should really have returned with Pole, Win and Fastest lap, the fact that the car is now fixed and back on speed as well as getting some good points and remaining in the championship lead is actually quite a result. I also have a new found fondness for the Kent circuit. Amazing how different results can leave you with different impressions of the same circuit. I must admit I really enjoyed that race, a race that was probably as hard as any I have completed so far but boy did I have a grin on my face at the end!
All is set now for some minor checks and off back to Mallory in 2 weeks where I will attempt to recreate the success of the first race this season once again.
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