I must admit that the first word which came to mind after competing at the Great Western Sprint at Castle Combe on Saturday was "bored". One practice run in the morning, no timed runs until after 3pm for us. Only two timed runs. A total of around 10 miles for £135. At least there was good 4G coverage so I could watch Australian GP coverage on Sky Sports!
The event was very well run by Bristol MC. The organisers hit many problems, mainly due to people crashing and the single seaters breaking down. It was entertaining watching the fastest car on track lose its rear wing on the way in to Quarry then having a huge spin. At least he missed the wall.
I swore not to do any more Sprints after experiencing similar at other Sprints last year - lots of hanging around, low level of seat time for the money, the same "course" every time.
Yesterday (Sunday) I competed on the Javalin's Jumbo Targa Rally at Wethersfield Airfield (in my Endurance Rally spec Rover 214). Sixteen tests, at least 25 miles of driving, each test different, for £50. We had four tests spread around the airfield and four loops of the four tests, each test modified and/or run in the opposite direction for each loop. I then also navigated for the person who navigated for me in his car (MG ZR 160), so I had the event again from the passenger seat. Yes, a day of driving and navigating for £50. We started at 9am and ran almost non-stop until 5pm, with just short stops for lunch and to modify the courses. Certainly no time to get bored.
Gravel, mud, broken concrete, clean tarmac, constant changes of direction and a dependance on the navigator to guide you round the cones. No videos I'm afraid as they're not allowed on this status of event and it's on MoD land. M&H Photography will have some pictures however. I use these events to use up old tyres I wouldn't dream of using elsewhere - four rims liberated yesterday, ready for the next batch of old tyres! Good cheap fun in all areas.
There were a few Clios out yesterday, I must look at getting another more modified Clio for this type of event, my 172 is the shopping car as well. Having said that, many standard cars compete on these events, but I like to attack - my Rover is built for rough events so is heavy and slow, but I can hit almost anything flat! My 172 is set up for Autosolos and shopping. As Pete mentioned I'd also go a lot stiffer if I was going to do more Sprinting or track days - the front end dive under braking and resultant loose rear end was "interesting", especially coming in to Quarry.
So I think that's my last Sprint. I will be out on the Bristol MC Autosolo later in the year, but I'll be doing that to chase various Autosolo Championships. I can't do the Sprint at LLandow as I'm out on the Hughes Clubman Rally, going for the hat trick of overall wins on the event.
Each to their own. I'm from a rallying background so like varying surfaces, constantly playing with the attitude of the car and not always knowing where I'm going. I'm also used to driving a stage/test, then immediately on to the next, all day, with just a little down time for service and to eat. I found that I'd just woken up after a run at the Sprint, was ready for more, but then had to wait again, go off the boil, wake up again, ...
Congrats on your win Pete, a great drive. I don't believe you'd been to Castle Combe before. Good luck for the rest of the events and I'll see you on the Autosolo.
