Kris!
Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2008
- Messages
- 311
So this weekend saw rounds 6 & 7 of the Nippon race series take place at Silverstone, and a very wet and slippery Silverstone at that. With finances low we opted to miss testing so trundled up Friday afternoon to set up camp. Luckily camp was two full size pit garages supplied courtesy of the boys at Performance Autoworks to house their 5 supported cars so getting wet wasnt going to be an issue thankfully.
The night passed without incident although the sight of ten grown men with moustaches sleeping on the garage floor besides their cars, empty beer cans and half eaten burgers was quite a sight.......proper little sleep over I tell you.
Saturday morning saw pouring rain and a very wet and water logged track. The yellow flag didnt stop waving in the qualifying sessions before ours so everyone went out and tip toed around the track for the opening lap and I think I hit a top speed of about 22mph. Every corner was like ice and there was absolutely no grip or visibility what so ever so progress was very slow.
Lap 2 and the brakes were feeling very soft but I put this down to temps being too low so pressed on, but on lap 4 the pedal went straight to the floor coming out of Brooklands and I span luckily missing the gravel and other cars. I came into the pits with a soft pedal but decided we didnt have time to do anything so went out and tried again. Unfortunately I had zero confidence so came into the pits another 2 times for advice but by that time qualifying was over and I had not managed a fst lap.....gutted!
On closer inspection, we realised that the problem was down to where we had swapped the pads around to even out the wearing, and the wet conditions had meant that I hadnt bedding them back in properly causing them to overheat at the top of the disc where the only bit of pad was touching. Swapped them back over and all was well ready for race 1.
Results came in and I had Qualified 14th with Dixon Cheng (GT250) qualifying 6th and Andre severs (GT250) in 8th place.
Not good but not bad considering I only did the first 3 laps with brakes.
Race 1
Managed an ok start considering the conditions but wasnt long before the spray from the front runners meant I was driving blind down the pit straight and wondering where the hell Copse corner was. As everyone bunched up into Copse the 2 front running Scoobies starting to spin which meant cars were going in all directions and finding an opening was pretty hard. Once through the corner I settled down into a steady drive with survival being my only aim. Over the next 3 or 4 laps I managed to claw my way through the field, but this was made harder as Vaughan in the scooby clinic was snapping at my heels and if he wasnt sat on my bumper, he was showing me that he could still keep up with me even when he was drifting sideways and eating an apple. We were then closed down by Eliot in the other Subaru who was flying and determined to make up for his spin at Copse, and it wasnt long before he was passed and making off in the distance. Luckily for me, Eliot kept his promise to entertain and a drift into the complex sent him sliding backwards across the grass and the lack of grip meant he couldnt get back on track quick enough so let me and Vaughan back through.
Shortly after I crossed the finish line to finish a respectable 5th overall and 2nd in GT250 so more than happy considering the conditions.
Race 2
Conditions were better with no rain and the standing water dissapearing fast, but this gave everyone false hope as the greasy conditions made driving harder than in Race 1.
A better start this time but Dixon closed the door quickly which meant the 4wd boys took charge at the front of the field, and even when Eliot slid wide at Copse he rejoined infront of me halting my charge on Dixon and keeping me behind them both through the next section and onto the back straight. Vaughan made light work of getting past shortly after and the next few laps saw me on my own and unable to catch Dixon due to understeer. My driving got worse as my dissapointment grew at not being able to close the gap and this showed as the race went on, but it was a small price to pay considering the carnage that had been unfolding elsewhere on the track.
I kept a close eye on Dixon in the hope I could make up ground but he drove his socks off and there was nothing I could do, so finished 6th overall and 2nd in GT250......Definately time to work on an aero package for the future!
All in all a great weekend with all cars coming home pretty much in one piece with some great results in hand. A great drive by Michael Clarke taking 2 x 3rd places in GT250 especially after being hit off at Copse in race 2 and pretty much starting in last place, cracking stuff!!!
As always I wouldnt be competing if it wasnt for the help, support and endless favours from Richy and Simon at Performance Autoworks who have maintained the car and made it as good as it could ever be, aswell as storing, transporting and running the car at each and every race meet which is an absolute godsend, not to mention supplying the pit garage that kept us all dry and warm throughout.....Cheers guys!
I'd also like to thank Julian at Rare Rims | Rota Wheels UK for sorting me out a few sets of Rota Clubstars and a big thanks to Andy and Alison at www.VtecDirect.Com for their ongoing help and support for this season which is greatly appreciated
A few random pics to get things started but more and vids to follow................
The night passed without incident although the sight of ten grown men with moustaches sleeping on the garage floor besides their cars, empty beer cans and half eaten burgers was quite a sight.......proper little sleep over I tell you.
Saturday morning saw pouring rain and a very wet and water logged track. The yellow flag didnt stop waving in the qualifying sessions before ours so everyone went out and tip toed around the track for the opening lap and I think I hit a top speed of about 22mph. Every corner was like ice and there was absolutely no grip or visibility what so ever so progress was very slow.
Lap 2 and the brakes were feeling very soft but I put this down to temps being too low so pressed on, but on lap 4 the pedal went straight to the floor coming out of Brooklands and I span luckily missing the gravel and other cars. I came into the pits with a soft pedal but decided we didnt have time to do anything so went out and tried again. Unfortunately I had zero confidence so came into the pits another 2 times for advice but by that time qualifying was over and I had not managed a fst lap.....gutted!
On closer inspection, we realised that the problem was down to where we had swapped the pads around to even out the wearing, and the wet conditions had meant that I hadnt bedding them back in properly causing them to overheat at the top of the disc where the only bit of pad was touching. Swapped them back over and all was well ready for race 1.
Results came in and I had Qualified 14th with Dixon Cheng (GT250) qualifying 6th and Andre severs (GT250) in 8th place.
Not good but not bad considering I only did the first 3 laps with brakes.
Race 1
Managed an ok start considering the conditions but wasnt long before the spray from the front runners meant I was driving blind down the pit straight and wondering where the hell Copse corner was. As everyone bunched up into Copse the 2 front running Scoobies starting to spin which meant cars were going in all directions and finding an opening was pretty hard. Once through the corner I settled down into a steady drive with survival being my only aim. Over the next 3 or 4 laps I managed to claw my way through the field, but this was made harder as Vaughan in the scooby clinic was snapping at my heels and if he wasnt sat on my bumper, he was showing me that he could still keep up with me even when he was drifting sideways and eating an apple. We were then closed down by Eliot in the other Subaru who was flying and determined to make up for his spin at Copse, and it wasnt long before he was passed and making off in the distance. Luckily for me, Eliot kept his promise to entertain and a drift into the complex sent him sliding backwards across the grass and the lack of grip meant he couldnt get back on track quick enough so let me and Vaughan back through.
Shortly after I crossed the finish line to finish a respectable 5th overall and 2nd in GT250 so more than happy considering the conditions.
Race 2
Conditions were better with no rain and the standing water dissapearing fast, but this gave everyone false hope as the greasy conditions made driving harder than in Race 1.
A better start this time but Dixon closed the door quickly which meant the 4wd boys took charge at the front of the field, and even when Eliot slid wide at Copse he rejoined infront of me halting my charge on Dixon and keeping me behind them both through the next section and onto the back straight. Vaughan made light work of getting past shortly after and the next few laps saw me on my own and unable to catch Dixon due to understeer. My driving got worse as my dissapointment grew at not being able to close the gap and this showed as the race went on, but it was a small price to pay considering the carnage that had been unfolding elsewhere on the track.
I kept a close eye on Dixon in the hope I could make up ground but he drove his socks off and there was nothing I could do, so finished 6th overall and 2nd in GT250......Definately time to work on an aero package for the future!
All in all a great weekend with all cars coming home pretty much in one piece with some great results in hand. A great drive by Michael Clarke taking 2 x 3rd places in GT250 especially after being hit off at Copse in race 2 and pretty much starting in last place, cracking stuff!!!
As always I wouldnt be competing if it wasnt for the help, support and endless favours from Richy and Simon at Performance Autoworks who have maintained the car and made it as good as it could ever be, aswell as storing, transporting and running the car at each and every race meet which is an absolute godsend, not to mention supplying the pit garage that kept us all dry and warm throughout.....Cheers guys!
I'd also like to thank Julian at Rare Rims | Rota Wheels UK for sorting me out a few sets of Rota Clubstars and a big thanks to Andy and Alison at www.VtecDirect.Com for their ongoing help and support for this season which is greatly appreciated
A few random pics to get things started but more and vids to follow................