Croft - Hit, Spin and Maybe...

Having finished the official season, we were invited to take part in an additional race at Croft.  It's near Darlington and became the longest distance we travelled for an event.  It didn't come cheap but with the promise of Qualifying and two races, it was not a chance I was willing to miss.  Croft is a great circuit and I've been a few times to watch the BTCC - and Croft has had serious problems with locals regarding noise complaints.  How is it that someone who moves into the area complains and the circuit (which had been there for some time before the complaining resident), can successfully alter the way the circuit operates to such an extent, it nearly closes...?

Anyway - I was really keen to race at this excellent, and vulnerable, circuit.

It is with regret, that our faithful tow-car, is up for sale.  The SAAB has proven an excellent companion and has driven faultlessly - to circuits around the country and to the Nuerbergring, but the arrival of a new car for my wife means it's an un-necessary expense.  Therefore, and by a stoke of timing fortune, my new fleet Zafira was used to tow the car and trailer up to Darlington.  Any worries about the drop in power and torque were quickly dispelled as the car completed the journey with minimum fuss.

Joining us on the journey were 'The Other' Claire and Ian - so it was a bit of a road trip, too.

Qualifying was an interesting affair - out of the twenty Academy drivers who entered this event, I think only one person had taken the opportunity to complete a track-day at the venue.  Therefore, with the skies grey and a damp chill in the air, we set out to achieve a time to determine our starting positions.  The early couple of laps were tentative as I tried to remember my route, tried to remember the notes in my Circuit Guide and tried to remember the You Tube videos I'd studied.  A mistake here could result you ending up in the local farmer's field...  Rachel Horgan with the picture below.

I got quicker through out the session and just as I thought I could set another couple of quick laps, the flag came out to end the session.  The result was pretty good - 6th on the grid meaning if I could stay in touch with the leaders, I had a good chance of a top-5 finish (I even dared to think a podium was possible...).

The green flag lap...

Having relaxed for the rest of the morning and the start of the afternoon, our first race took place in cloudy but dry conditions.  I'd changed the front brake pads after Qualifying as the pedal felt long and soft - a problem I'd had since Brands Hatch and should have been dealt with a while ago - so knew my braking performance would be much improved.  A reasonable start helped me keep a decent position - in 4th - and safely through the tight first section.

'Tower' is the first major braking on the circuit and with my new confidence in stopping, I made a move up the inside into the corner.  I was approaching the corner a bit quicker than other cars and when Chris Bingham chose to try and block me at the last second, I had nowhere to go.

I hit him in the rear.  I don't really know what he expected to happen or how I would avoid him but the nose crunched against the back of his car.  He slid a little wide at the corner and I made it past him.  As I drove away from the bend, I looked in my mirrors and found everyone else was coming round.  Then I looked ahead and all I could see was Wes Fox up ahead.  It took a couple of seconds to register that I was in second place.

Sadly, my good position was short-lived.  Having negotiated the fastest part of the circuit, I approached 'Sunny In' quite quickly - the braking needed to be done in a slight curve.  My new brakes dug in but the rears weren't quite as secure and the front slowed more rapidly than the rear - I wasn't able to get my foot over and blip the throttle and the rear simply overtook the front of the car.

I spun 270 degrees and across the racing line - thankfully everyone passed me safely (a massive thank you to all for that!) but I'd gone from 2nd to 20th in one incident.  But I had nine and a half laps to go...

The rest of the race was exciting.  The laps went really quickly as I continued to pass other cars.  By the end, I'd made it back up to 11th place!  A good result considering the first lap.  I'd start the second race from where I finished the first one.

Next day (following a nice curry with some of the other Academy drivers and their other halves), we didn't race until the afternoon so we didn't get to the circuit until midday.  Having watched some of the other racing, I was looking forward to the race.

A steady start had me lose a couple of places and it turns out it may have been a good thing...  On the exit of the first section of the circuit, Tim and Bev bounced off each other leading to Tim's retirement form the race.  As they recovered, I drove between them and made my way towards Lee Furness.  It took me a few laps to get ahead of him (having been put off the circuit in places and Lee using more of the track than might ordinarily be allowed...) and along came Dave Symanski with me.  Dave passed me into Tower on the last lap but I was able to get the position back at 'Sunny In' - the same corner as I spun the previous day.

So I finished in 7th - but the result counts for nothing and I had a great couple of days racing.  I got to race for position and have battles with people throughout the races.

If this is what next year might bring, I'm looking forward to it already.

A final thank you to the Wymers - there were twelve of us covering three generations at Croft and every one of them helped in one way or another.

A massive THANK YOU to Team Racing 13

My Wife, Claire - she helped with the build of my car, and everything since. Not least, she's been to every event and followed the races up and down the country. Additionally, she's had to put up with me stressing about everything... I love that fact that she's been a part of this - it wouldn't have been the same without her support.

My Mum and Dad - have also followed me to all the events and have supported my racing financially (race gear isn't included in the price of the car...) and without their help, it would have been impossible to do my racing.

My Brothers and their families - who have been to events and made sure I'm well supported. They helped do any of the necessary lifting, carrying and general sorting stuff out.  They also make me laugh.

'The Other' Claire and Ian - both have travelled to events to support me and brought their enthusiasm for racing as well as food and drink. Their gazebo has proven useful and Ian performed as Racing 13's D.O.P.E (Director of Precipitation Engineering) - he carried the umbrella...

Darren (and his gang) - my neighbour couldn't keep away from the car while I was building it and looked after all the fibre-glass (including all repairs). His experience in looking after racing motorcycles certainly paid dividends.

Paul Darbyshire - He provided the van and the driving to collect my kit from Caterham and I would never have got the engine in without him. Incidentally, he's now a very busy (and excellent) plumber.

Tim and Agnes - who have offered advice and support. But the day at the Nuerburgring with you was a highlight in my life as much as a highlight of the year.

Ron - in the Isle of Man but love getting the texts and e-mails of support. I hope you get to come to see a race at some point.

Simon Cox - him and his family have been very supportive. Simon's company Get Embroidered provided all my team-wear which gave us all a very solid and professional appearance at the races.  He's also been willing to offer advice about marketing my racing and has provided some useful contacts.

Steve Robinson - Signs and Graphs.  He did the vinyl-work on my car: the bonnet stripes and Racing 13 stickers.  If he got himself a website, I'd quote it on here!

Caterham - for being relaxed enough to let me call you and ask for anything; professional enough to assist in a way that kept the car going.  Special thanks for Angie (at Caterham Midlands) and Kim (the Academy Co-ordinator).

The Academy Drivers and their families - for making this a year to remember.  Particular thanks to Wes Fox and his crowd from the first day I started building, Mike Linzey and his team for the food and set-up work (cheers Matt), and anyone else who has helped in any way.

My Wife - again.  I love you so very much.

A fraught day at Mallory Park

The last race of the Pistonheads.com Caterham Academy 2010.  It's all gone so quickly and with my Wife and Folks with me yet again, I was looking forward to the finale.  In fact, I have recorded the level of support they've given throughout the year by naming them as my main sponsors in the race programmes.

I'd had a track day and test day at Mallory so was confident of a decent day on Sunday, 19th September 2010.  A good result would see me take 6th in the Championship - a poor one would see me finish 8th.  I was joined by many of my family and friends which was a great boost - while driving round the circuit, I could see them every time and it spurred me on.

Qualifying took place in the morning and having recognised the need to keep close to other cars in order to gain from their slipstream, I stuck with one of the quicker cars early on.  However, Mike Hart was trying to make room for himself behind slower cars and I kept finding myself alongside him along the back straight and slowing both him and myself.  I decided to try and use two or three cars in a lap to aid my progress.  Sadly, this didn't work either as passing cars around a lap compromised my line.  At this point, I spotted Jon Mortimer in my mirrors and slowed enough for him to catch me.  As he approached, I increased my pace and dragged him round for a couple of laps.  I hoped he'd recognise this and repay the favour.  I let him past me and I followed in his wake in order to set a competitive lap-time.

The result was I took 4th place on the grid (my best of the year) with Jon just behind me.  For the race, I'd have an unimpeded view of the circuit to the first corner - a benefit resulting from the staggered formation of the grid.

Rachel Horgan got this shot on the grid...  That's me on the right.

At the start, I gained on the leader and found myself alongside the pole-sitter, Merlin Edwards (who was now in third) but this compromised my line round the long right-hander of Gerrard's.  Having to go the long way round, gave following cars the opportunity to stay close and their advantage in the slipstream was obvious as I approached the Esses - I fell to 7th.  On the approach to the hairpin, I stayed tight to the inside and tried some later braking.  It came to very little but I recognised it may prove an advantage later in the race.

This leading group of seven or eight cars remained consistent and jostled for the lead for a few laps.  I never saw the front but knew that if I could stay in touch, I'd have a chance of getting something from the race.  I traded blows (literally!) with other cars - a bent front wing-stay, a couple of cracks to the rear wings (including getting a shove which smashed the lower rear of my right-hand wing) but the racing was good.  At one point Mike Hart forced me onto the grass as I tried a pass but it was half a lap later that the ultimate incident took place...

On the approach to Gerrard's, I found myself approaching very quickly in the slipstream of Mike again.  I tried to stay on his outside but ended up on the less used (and dirtier) part of the track.  I slid wider and touched the grass.  Next thing I know, I'm sliding noisily into the gravel.  Dreams of 6th in the championship were carried away with the dust cloud.  As soon as I came a halt, another problem, I need to finish the race to get an upgrade signature on my licence.  If I could tease the car out, I'd get to the finish and get a point and the appropriate squiggle.  I restart the engine, and try to move out of the stones.  As soon as I start moving, the tyres spin and I start to sink...

I'd had a similar problem in the snow the previous winter so tried the same technique to get myself free...  I put the car in reverse to drive up the hole the rear tyres had made in the gravel - then put the car in second so that as the car moved forward back into the hole, built some momentum and moved on.  It worked and with a wave to the marshalls, I continued on my way.

Sadly, despite gaining a second a lap on the cars in front, the gap was just too big and I finished last.  I needed another car nearby to drag me round.

So I finish the season in 8th and I've had a great time.  It has been a great experience - not a day goes by without having to think about racing or deal with something.  It is all-absorbing and for that, I'm thankful to my ever-present (and super-tolerant) Wife, Claire.