Rounds 2 and 3 - Sunny Snetterton

Race Report

Arriving at the circuit in reasonable time on Friday night allowed us time to set up the awning and marquee, ready for the Saturday night festivities (with my bros help we had offered to feed the thousands with a lamb smoke off!).

Making a pleasant change from Cadwell, the night was warm and we awoke to sunshine for qualifying. I have never got on particularly well with Snetterton as it favours the brave (which I am most certainly not!). It really needs guts to hurl into turn one with nothing but a dab on the brakes to get things lined up and nerves of steel to carry speed into the left hander at the end of the back straight. As such, I qualified a little dissapointingly, in 12th. We had the rest of the day to check over the cars and sort things out for the evening, whilst the Fun(?) Cup did the rounds for 5 hours. A visit from the 'sticker police'(!) saw number 23 lose it's mojo somehwhat with the covering of those knashers with a Gaz sticker... we pushed on regardless (they're the sponsors after all!). The race loomed. Gathering my thoughts in the holding area I decided that nothing but the best of starts would do to give me a chance of gaining on the front pack.

I got a good start and made up two places off the grid, by turn two I had made another, things were going well. My heart sank coming into the chicane when Jo Polley spun ahead and a split second decision to go behind bared fruit and a minor exit onto the grass was all that ensued, Pete Bonas narrowly missed Jo behind me and took to the grass aswell allowing me to pull ahead slightly. Several good tows from Steve Miles moved us up further and I found myself fighting for 7th/8th for quite some laps, with Steve, Ade and Pete Bonas. I held good until the last lap (no last lap board... do they bother any more..!?) when disaster struck and I made a mess of the exit from turn two onto the back straight. Steve, Ade and Pete all passed me by the end of the straight relagating me to 9th. It was worrying to see Jo Polley in my mirrors at the end, having caught up after her earlier spin. A really good close race though and I finished higher than I started - which I guess is the aim.


 The smoke off

Prize giving followed, with the usual banter/arguements etc - it was great to see James Lyford collect his second ever Winners trophy, well done James! The smoke off followed. My little ..(!).. bro had been slaving over red hot coals for most of the day to get the chow ready (or maybe lounging around with a can of cider whilst occasionally topping up the charcoal would be a better description..). The crowds arrived and the beer flowed - thanks to the Lyfords. It never ceases to amaze me how everyone just gets on with it all - bringing, food, cakes, tables, alcohol, tents, and veggie burgers that look like small goats p00s (you know who you are). Loads of people thanked us for the get up but it wouldn't have been possible without the usual Mightys spirit, everyone chipping in to get it kicked off.

I got some great footage for the end of year DVD during the evening (I never knew Alex Comis was so interesting...) - you have been warned! My bro collapsed into his tent about 1.30 am, leaving Orange Barry and Derek Danger to fend for themselves alone in the dark.... (confused? - click the pic right).




 

Hangover had diminished by about midday which was good stuff as race 2 wasn't far away. The car checked, we headed for the grid. Finishing 9th yesterday meant that I would start there today. Another good start meant no loss of position and at the end of the back straight I spotted an opportunity as Steve Miles, out wide, braked early, and I made for the inside of the left hander. Unfortunately, Pete Bonas, on the far outside had also made good ground on Steve and came across forcing Steve to jink to the left and we made contact. Luckily, I simply pushed Steve round damaging his door (and my wing) and we both managed to continue, although a few places behind.

I fought off a very close David Rumbellow for a few laps and looked to be gaining on the group I had lost in the incident. Coming out of turn two I had just got it straight when.. BANG!  A slight feeling of control loss from the rear and lots of grey smoke, I immediately came to the (wrong) conclusion that a rear tyre had gone and pulled off onto the grass on the right, resigning myself to defeat. Once it was clear I jumped out and hopped over the barrier only to see a marshal legging it over with a fire extinguisher. I turned round, but nothing, the car was fine. He told me that they had seen flames from under the car as it headed towards them. I watched from the side lines as the rest of the field enjoyed the extended 25 minute race. I'm still amazed at how the leaders (Lyford, Morgan and Coombes) managed to continue to brake so deep into the corner at the end of the back straight... and it was great to see Jo Polley hounding Louise Inch for the final few laps, good work on Louises behalf to hold position.

Going back to the car after the race...... no damaged tyres...... oh dear...... something more serious then..... It wouldn't go into gear..... oh dear. Towed back to the paddock. Bonnet off...... Lots of oil everywhere..... oh dear..... grill off....... more oil........ and....... A MASSIVE hole in the front of the gearbox casing........ oh very dear! (see gallery for pic). I think the slight loss of control, mentioned earlier, could have been caused by the gearbox locking up as the conrod decided to see if it could help with finding fourth! Whatever, you know when you get something in your head and you are certain that it couldn't have been anything else...... well, it could, and it could be a lot worse!

In nothing but the most outstanding show of comerardery (spelling?), within five or ten minutes I had received two offers of manual labour to help sort if all out, one offer of a new gearbox casing and one offer of a complete engine and box. Wow, I was really gobsmacked. I mentioned it to my old man and he said, 'Humf, just like the old days, you're lucky with that lot, it wouldn't happen anywhere else'!

I think he's probably right.




Gallery - sorry no Super piccys, Races too close together.....

Videos..... Shown in 10 minutes or less bursts, youtube doesn't let you do any more in one go!!!

Race 1 - Rear facing

See below for the BIG BANG!