Right here we go.
The start of 2013 season. New series. French Trophy.
Decided to go up Fri eve, so as not to rush about in the morning. Bloomin heck it was cold and frikken windy!!
Anyway, got a place to set up camp, but so many people come over to talk to you, and say hello, welcome to the series etc, it took me about 3hrs to get the car off the trailer etc,etc. By this time it was pitch black, so that was it.
Sat.
After not much sleep (2hrs)
, due to wind rocking the van all night and me actually being a little nervous lol. Mr Nick say's eta 20mins.
After the little test on Monday, and the car being very twitchy, I decided to lower the car all round, so while the wheels were being changed, I wound everything down 2 turns,(it might work?).
Car flew through scrutieering and off we go to qualifying and noise check. A massive queue had formed and unbeknown to me our session had already started.
'Your cars too loud mate, 106.4db!!', well it was only 97 on Monday, ' alright I'll try again, 102?'. During all this, I missed 2-3 laps ffs.
Luckily came onto the circuit right behind Ian Collins, a fellow TT Clio, so tagged onto the back of him the best I could seeming I had cold tyres, I knew he would be one to watch in the race, so just tried to match him for pace. Blink and it's over, car barley warm session ends, bollox, that went well.
Get back to paddock, and shock of shocks, qualified 7th overall in 1:45 with Ian in 8th 1:46, both surrounded by some big Jap stuff
.
We celebrated with sausage sandwiches and a cup of tea (thanks Helen). Checked the car over, topped with fuel (hadn't used much),
and waited for race1.
Oli (Cub) turned up, and we had to beat him off the sausages
, closely followed by 519 Danny,who always looks like a good meal would do him good,(only kidding), then Mark (Northloop) with Richard turned up. So we had a good old chinwag until 11.30, time to go.
At least with the green flag lap I managed to get everything warmed up and I'm sat on the grid right behind a Nissan Skyline,2 Impreza's,, Celica GT4 ,200sx and a Swift GTI.
Lights change, there is a gap'ish and I go for it, made it and we are off down into Turn 1 heading towards Deane with cars everywhere, and not knowing how anybody behaves, somehow we all make it, look in the mirror and Ian is one car behind me, good.
Lots of nip and tuck, and it was nice not see a Teg disappear into the distance, with Clio's holding their own with bigger Jap stuff, good fun was had and even pressured a Scooby to out brake himself at Deane.
Still having Ian on my tail , I was happy with that, as that meant I was leading French Trophy car, another glance in the mirror and Ian is sideways and gone, (grass tracking), I had to tell myself to leave the other Impreza alone and just finish, 9 laps soon go and cheq flag was out.
Back to paddock again, 6th overall 1st in class best time 1:43. Hello!!
More consumption of tea was required along with lot's of cake. The car seemed to have survived the quick thrash, so another quick check over and some more fuel, I decided not to change anything as it seemed to be more planted, maybe lowering the 2 turns did the trick after all.
Race 2
Very much the same as race 1 start, these Turbo's are slow of the line, but once they get all spooled up, they come at you from all angles, once again settled down nicely trying to keep up with the Impreza in front with Ian nipping at my heels.
This continued for a few laps, and then my chance came, got him, took a gamble that he had seen me, thankfully he had. I was so pleased with myself, and actually pulling a small gap on him and Ian, I braked a little late for Deane, WHOOPS, go wide, onto grass and thankfully back onto the circuit, unfortunately letting Ian and the Scooby through, more bollox!!
Hung onto the back of Ian for the next couple of laps, but didn't really fancy making a lunge, not on me old mate anyway, so cheq flag once again comes out, god these races are short, or seem short compaired to TT anyway.
Pick up Nick and Oli and go back to paddock 6th overall and 2nd in class. (Ian beating me this time) best time 1:43 again, not bad for an old fella.
So what do I think of French Trophy series, GREAT i would say. Very friendly, very laid back anything goes attitude. I shall be doing more with this lot, and already booked the Silverstone race on the 27th April.
Thanks to
Nick
Oli
Danny for wicked engine building skills
Mark and Rich (putting windscreen sticker on straight'ish)
.
Was a great day, should have had 2x1st's, but hey ho, came home still in one piece ready to fight another day.
