Oulton Race 1 report.
The day started early as usual, with the pre race poo No1, I like circuits in the early hours, seems unreal somehow, all quiet and nobody about.
Anyway time for a smoke and a cup of tea, whilst watching people arrive whilst trying not to wake James, who was asleep in his car, all wrapped up like a hibernating hamster.
The lads started to arrive, long driver Mike and camper Nick (take that how you will).
Car was basically done, as I had been there the day before, but no testing for me.
Scrutineering was fine, signing on not so good, tried to present last years licence!! oops quick panic, but Helen was to the rescue, she had already got it out for me. Men
.
Quali was interesting, the car wanted to go off on it's own every time I turned in, left or right, I put this down to changing the tyres around, and not being bedded in.
Red flag after one lap, great, not what I needed, or anybody else I would suspect. But it was due to Mr Addison's 106 going bang, which was a shame, as it would have been nice to see it in full flight.
Quite happy with 6th considering the amount of times I'd left the black stuff.
The line up was familiar, me sat behind James and Ian. Lights out and I got a blinder of a start, and nipped in front of the other two and sat behind the Saxo, boy that thing is rapid, but chasing him had given me a small gap on the other two Clios.
Line up.
My little gap.
Tried to settle into a rhythm, but I could now see Ian gradually gaining bit by bit and I couldn't push the car any harder.
Ian made a good move on me at Lodge corner, fair enough. Whilst following Ian, for some reason the brake pedal was going very solid, still working, but needing a lot of pressure to do so.
Now James was behind, but not close, but when I had to brake slightly early for Shell I looked into the mirror and all I could see was smoke, tyre smoke.
James was on full lock up, and there was only one place he was going to end up, in my side, bang! the impact must of flung my arm out, because when I tried to pull off the grass, the car just died, balls, no pushing of the start button would bring it back to life, "it always starts" I think, then looking around, I notice the ecu switch was in the off position??? A quick flick of switch and we are away, while all this was happening I saw at least 4-5 cars go by, so now the chase was on.
Kev in the Clio 200 didn't make it easy (why should he) but got past in the end, now I could see James and a Mr2 up ahead, managed to pass them both as we were going under Warwick Bridge right on the last lap.
Catching up
Done it.
7th overall wasn't too bad seeming it was an interesting 15 mins.
James was very quick to apologise after the race, but I guess I was a little hard on him at the time, as I was well miffed and he knew it.
Dingers boy's Paul and James + Nick and Mike gave the car a good bashing with hammer's and a BIG crowbar (thanks Russ), luckily my new door after Cadwell wasn't damaged, this stopped me from exploding.
Another check around, found the the rear wheel bearing having some play in it after the impact. James kindly offered me his spare disc, and seeming he wasn't doing race 2 because of a bad gearbox leak ( this had caused the lock up before the accident) I gladly accepted.
Trying to sort brakes