Donington Race Report 15-09-2010
Whilst at the Mallory race I noticed that the rear brakes where at different temps after qualifying and also after the race. When home did a quick check and the offside rear still turned when standing on the brake pedal. Two weeks before Donington decided to get all four callipers off and sent away for a refurb. The front pads were starting to get wedge shaped after each time out too.
Was a close call but got the callipers back on the Wednesday before the race and all fitted and working by Thursday. On checking the Cup over found a bit of play on the near side track rod, couldn’t see the ball joint moving but pushing and pulling the rod could feel and see movement near the rubber gator. Will get this replaced over winter – was too late to do anything about it then.
Everything checked and loaded time for some track revision and sleep. Arrived Donington at 7am, met up with Tony, Nick and James, then proceeded to finish of some little jobs on the Cup, cutting the rear bumper to avoiding rubbing for one. Time soon sped on and it was nearly time for sign on and scrutineering . After comparing front ride heights with James’s and Burpspeed’s car decided to raise the front’s two turns (with the 205’s and 25mm spacers things stick out quite a bit). In my rush to get done I actually lowered by two turns..doh. After pushing the car around the paddock for an hour, gave up and started the engine and drove back to the trailer to then raise the front by four turns.
Frustrated, I get in the car to drive off to the assembly area for the start of the qualifying session. After arriving in plenty of time, pushing the car and the chaos around sign on and scrutineering seemed to have upset the balance somewhat.
Qualifying started good, Jay came past at the start and led me round for a few laps – then a car came off at Craners and the safety car was deployed to recover. Did 4-5 laps, came in to hand over to Sam. Glad I had a lead from Jay as he showed me some lines into corners and I also made a few mistakes, once at Coppice and Redgate so had some idea on things to pass on to Sam.
My qualifying session
Sam was stuck in the pits some 6 mins so for warned off she went – set the fastest time on her last lap to get us on the grid in 31[SUP]st[/SUP] place, 1min 30 secs. Sam quickly settled down, only the track is new and nothing has changed in the Cup, so all was well with no major dramas, apart from the rear being a bit loose.
Sam's qualifying session
Back to the pits, check of tyre pressures, found a bit on the low side so inflated to give 28 hot rear and 29 hot front. Then whilst looking under the car found the rear brake callipers were leaking brake fluid – Hmmm. Quick look in the reservoir showed that a small amount had leaked – small enough so I didn’t feel the need to top up. After wiping, found the leak to be from around the handbrake operating lever. Wiped the inside of the wheels and left it – not a lot I could do really. Monitored it for the time up until the race and all though concerned didn’t feel the need to bring it to any one’s attention, least of all Sam. It dripped but still only a small amount gone from the reservoir. None of the piston seals were leaking, that I could see, so race still on.
At the assembly point I get one of the members of “Team Chase” to give the brake pedal a few pumps with the engine running, to see if anything untoward happened with the rear callipers – noticed no further increase of fluid appearing – presumed that it probably wouldn’t get worse or be much of a problem.
Grid line up took an age – I was already nervous, the formation lap was a joke – more like an M25 traffic jam on a hot day. Didn’t get a chance to test the brakes that hard, lined up on the grid again watching the board and then the lights, they go off and I …..wait?? Then pull off, messed that up and get behind Team Chase and pass them on the inside of Redgate – for the amount of cars on the grid things seemed to go quite ok and was surprised to see the red flag waved at Coppice - Brakes ok – so far.
First start - red flagged
Another formation lap later again lined up on the grid, whilst reading the start board or not being able to, realise I didn’t have my contacts lenses in!! I even thought about going off to get them then though that was a bad idea. Watching the lights, they go off and so do I, get a cracking start, no wheel spin, bogged down or anything, make up four places then get caught in the first corner jam. I stay on the inside as think that’ll leave me less work to do for the next few corners just have to keep my foot in.
2nd Race start
Get settled down and forget about the brake issue and looking in the rear view see James is making good progress. I give him a bit of room at Coppice then get on the back of three\four cars ( Mark No 10 Clio, 74 purple Alfa, Ktec clio and forget the other). Sat on the back of Mark for bit and clocked him going into corners a bit too fast and over cooking on the exit (laughing he said to me later he was trying to out run me) pass Mark then whilst passing number 74 on the straight to the Esses\Chicane I out brake myself and do a little track detour. Every one passes, a costly mistake. It’s not long after that the Safety car is deployed for an incident at the Esses. I get on the back of the pack and wait – relieved that my mistake has been redeemed and lap cars held in the pits. I should have come in the pits after the safety car. Sam calls me in on the next lap after, was in 11[SUP]th[/SUP] when Sam called me in and 15[SUP]th[/SUP] when she went out. 40 secs driver change over bit longer as I held Sam whilst I looked at the rear brakes – drip still there but not masses of fluid so sent her on her way. Watching the pit monitor Sam was 1min 31sec for 5 laps so give her a “get a move on” sign from the pit wall and she was soon running 1min27’s. Sam had a good session and enjoyed herself though disappointed the race ended when she had got on the back of Team Chase to try and overtake .2 of a sec gap on the finish line…finished 21[SUP]st[/SUP].
Another good day at the races……
Just seen Sam was held at the pit exit for minute on her qualifying session so there's a bit of forwarding to do on that video
