Another day, another sprint in the bag.
There was a fairly small entry of just 36 and whilst there were 6 entrants in my class, one was a no-show and my nemesis in the Astra hadn't even entered!
So, it was me against the big boys!
The weather started great - blue sky and fairly mild. First practice kicked off at 10am and I was in the first batch as car number 4. I took it nice and easy to get warmed up and posted 107.38secs - pretty good compared to my last outing at Kames. I decided the car was a wee bit twitchy so I took some air out of the tyres in the hope of getting a bit more heat in them.
Second practice run came up very quickly (because of the low number of entrants). I gave it some welly round the first corner and was on a flyer. Discovered that I was hitting the rev limiter just beyond the corner approaching the hairpin so I knew I had to think a bit about the gears for my next run. I got back to the paddock and discovered I had posted a new personal best time of 104.12 secs - around 1.5 secs faster than my last outing. I was super duper chuffed.
I was so pleased with my run that I ran about telling every Tom, dick and harry (well, only Tom who had arrived to watch) about how I was the fastest MX-5 ever at Kames.
Pride comes before a fall, they say. They are right!...........
My next run was my first proper competitive run. That is, it actually counts (remember this - its important). I was convinced I could get under 104 secs and I knew where to do it - on the right/left combination before the hairpin. I knew that if I could get third gear through this combo, and maintain the momentum, I'd be flying towards the hairpin.
Anyway, all went to plan from the start - the lights went green and I got a nice clean getaway with just the right amount of wheelspin. Up to second and flat on the floor through the first corner - all good. Up to third on the straight and a dab on the brakes before turning in for the off-camber right hander. The car squirmed a bit but I was still on the black stuff. Flat out now round the left-hander and I'm rapidly approaching the hairpin. Boy, was I flying or what. On the brakes.............. what's that smoke?........why's the car not turning?......... why's that marshall laughing?............ thump..........I'm not on the track anymore..........at least I've stopped.
I had left my braking a wee bit late, locked up and slid straight over the hairpin on to the extended track.
I limped back to the paddock, head held in shame. I should point out at this stage that this was the first time in 7 years of track driving that I have ever left the black stuff. It had a profound effect on my confidence.......
I had the whole lunchtime to ponder my error and came out after lunch a bit wary. By this time, my fan club (as one of my fellow competitors called you) had arrived and doubled the crowd - thanks guys
I managed to post a run of 106.01secs - not far off my times from April.
Then the heavens opened and with the rains, my chances of an award were washed away down the drains of despair. You see, my new Nemesis - Paul in the Peugeot - had posted 104.51secs on his first timed run. I knew I wouldn't be able to match that on a wet track. Best I could do was 107.89secs. First in my class went to the 190bhp Rover 200 (a real sleeper car BTW), with 98.28secs.
So, I came third.
Which was also last of the people who actually got timed runs.
But I had the consolation of knowing I could have been second
and I've set a new personal best (albeit in practice).
I'm sorry that the folk who made the effort to come and watch spent most of their time in the 'canteen' avoiding the weather and I'm sorry I couldn't win an award for you all. But thanks for coming and I promise, I'll do better next time..........
Next sprint is at Three Sister near Wigan on 5 August. Before that, I get to practice my braking at a Llandow trackday on 28 July.
