Thats a bit strong
Everyone has a run of bad luck from time to time
Speaking of luck, how did you get on today Chris, manage that elusive top 10?
David
Did’nt even manage 10 laps
I had a crankcase oil seal go yesterday after 3 practise laps in testing,
worked all night removing engine an box to repair, and then had same problem after only 6 qualifying laps this morning (still qualified 11th though)
I could have risked it but there was a chance of a fire (had a small one when it went in testing) or serious engine damage, in the end me and Martin Edwards decided to toss a coin to decide.
First flick said no so we had best of 3 then best of 5 and it was still a no.
To say i was gutted is an understatement, but it was not to be
Sorry to hear that I am sure you have a run of luck coming!
[image]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/sc_jones/Russ.jpg[/image]
![http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/sc_jones/Russ.jpg[/image]](http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/sc_jones/Russ.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
So what happened to our other unlucky race driver?
Russ was doing fantastically well and up to 2nd, then machanical failure. Similar story in the handicap.
Typical Lotus really - developing the car during the race. In the first one we had a supercharger belt problem again which could be one of a number of issues we are working through. The second race it was fuel pressure - within two laps of the start we were getting an alarm on the Pi and it was game over - at least we got back to the pits. To take a positive from it - the car is a bit nippy when working properly and we will get these issues sorted, the main one being that the length of flame was not sufficient.
As usual, big thanks go out to the Edwardz boyz & girlz, Dad, Tony Pearman (who has been awarded a permanent VVR shirt for services rendered - where is that pic?)and everyone else who came to shelter under our tent.
Also big thanks to Paul G and the LoT boys for another cracking event, long may they continue.
What a stupid comment - How many races has Russ finished this year?
It was a light hearted commentyou fool!
However it was also perfectly feasible given Russ’s Pace if you actually watched the race.
I suggest you get a sense of humour whom ever you are - Simon?
Big congrats to Tarmac Teerorist, who once again won Class A
Rumour has it that the organisers have now asked him to go on a “pie only” diet for the next month
He will need to eat a lot of pies - his car already weighs a lot more than some of the class A guys, being a lardy S2.
He will need to eat a lot of pies - his car already weighs a lot more than some of the class A guys, being a lardy S2.
I didn’t say the request was justified
Its was a GREAT race and Gavin pipped my own humble but overweight VVC S2 pie-mobile to the post by a small insects privates :up
Its was a GREAT race and Gavin pipped my own humble but overweight VVC S2 pie-mobile to the post by a small insects privates :up
Great to see everyone and see all the boys doing well (despite those unfortunate DNFs ). As for Gav,…well done mate top effort
The VVR Chariot don’t half shift when it gets hooked up. Once it is reliable it will be a force to be reckoned wth
Spent most of today processing all the images from the event - just finished and dispatched them to Tap…gallery should be up tomorrow.
Cheers Guys, full report tonight when i get in…Was a walking zombie yesterday.
And what are the unemployed meant to do until then?! Here I am having got through my list of jobs, watched the previous race on MotorsTV, got a date to get the car fixed and I’m now trying to enjoy my last fortnight of liberty with no race reports or pics! I might have to go over and look on SELOC…perhaps I’ll do my toe nails first.
Ian
So the series finally headed north and into familiar territory. Oulton Park is as close as it gets to ‘my back yard’ and has been one of my favourite stomping grounds for the last few years on the trackday scene. After qualifying further down the grid in the first 2 rounds, I was somewhat hoping to be sitting at the very pointy end of our class for the start of the scratch race (I knew that quite a few of the class A drivers had never even been there before…). One thing this weekend definately taught me though is not to count my chickens too soon…
I simply had no time to look at the car over the last few weeks what with heavy work commitments, so I still had all the problems with the brakes from Snetterton. No worries I say, its only a new set of front pads and discs - I can fit them on Friday test day between sessions… Yeah right!! Problems trying to remove two front wheel bolts (f’ing stupid lotus star thingy) didnt allow me to fit them until after the test session had finished, so I had to suffer with the brakes as they were and it meant new discs and pads to be ‘bed-in’ in the morning qualifying session.
First thing out of the pits on race day and I had totally forgot about the new brakes until I touched them and realised I actually had some again… Doh!! Got to bed them in you idiot… Ok, 2-3 laps on them steady but firm and I’ll start to give them some welly and try bang a few decent times in. That was all going to plan until I got to Knickerbrook chicane on lap three and ran wide on the exit and over the rumble kerb quite hard. As I tried to accelerate up the hill it just started to die on me, luckily I managed to get to the top and pull the car into a safe spot behind the barriers before it came to a halt…
I knew exactly what the problem was, it was the interia switch that cuts the feul supply in the event of a big knock. Where the switch was located though was another matter… I didnt have a clue?? So there I stood watching everyone go past thinking ‘that’s the end of that gravy boat then’ as I knew the three laps I did were well off the pace…
My first ever towed return to the paddock confirmed it. 7th in class, 22nd on grid and 4 seconds off last years MESC pace… Mick Edwards, my closest rival had poled with a good time followed by Hans about a second(±) adrift off his pace in 2nd place. I knew that If Mick were to get away well and put some quick laps in early he would be a hard man to catch. He would of pretty much had a clear track in front of him (the next fastest cars being considerably faster than us) and I would have heavy traffic to contend with…The mission breif was pretty clear as to what was needed to be done then!!
Seemed like ages from qualifying till the first race (hang on a minute, it was!!), then it seemed to take even longer to rack ourselves up on the grid to get underway what with doing almost two formation laps. Finally the 5 second board was shown, red lights come on, (wait for it, wait for it…) there out!! A blinding start, even if I do say so myself, saw me getting past a couple of the guys in front before the first corner. Tucked it in nicely and back on the power for the exit when I see a yellow Elise about 40 yds in front spinning on the grass and heading back onto the track in an uncontrolled fashion. [censored]!! Brakes please… Which way? Which way? Ibble obble black bobble… left looks good… Phew made it Unfortunately the very loud crunching sound I heard just over my right shoulder as I went past meant that some poor soul had not been so lucky and a quick look in the side mirror confirmed the carnage .
Keep your foot on the gas Gav, there are no reds out yet and Mick and Hans are just ahead look!! As it was the reds never appeared and it left me free to chase down the lead pair. On the second lap around the dust had settled and the damage was clear to see stacked up against the barriers on the first corner, not a pleseant sight, really bad luck guys. But nothing I could do about that and just had to get on with doing waht I was suppose to be which was trying to win the race…
Mick fell first but for the life of me I cant remember where I overtook him (heat of the moment stuff) and then a few laps later Hans was reeled in as he cocked up Cascades (sorry but you did Hans ) and gave me the better run into Island. There on in it was pretty much trying to hold both of them off my arse as they were all over it. They swapped places behind me a couple of times which gave me a bit of a breather but they were both catching me so much on the brakes and through the chicanes and tight stuff that all I could do was make sure I placed my feet perfectly as one mistake would see them both going past in one foul swoop.
A comfortable gap from them both then appeared in the form of Christian as he made his way back up the feild from the first corner incident. I believe that Hans also made good of him going past as he slipped in front of Mick to then take second and hold it until the end of the race. A problem looming for me though as Christian gained ground on me… Our paths crossed on the very fast left hand kink just before Druids and neither of us wanting to give ground contact was eneviatble. The bang was loud and I was unsure what damage had been done so I was somewhat cautious diving into druids but it seemed OK and the back straihgt into deer leap the car was still going straight and hauling off speed ok so I got on with it however it jolted me enough to allow Hans to catch up to the back of me again…
Luckily the next lap the flag came down and although I had Hans swarming like a fly he was still behind …Ahhhhh, victory was mine once again.
The Handicap race was pretty good as it saw me and Mick line up on the front row of the second group with Hans 10 second infront in the first drop. The flag man was doing his best to confuse thing though… he raised the flag, held it for a second then began to drop it only to stop his down stroke about 2" into it!! I was away only to have to stop and wait for him to drop it properly… Not very well doner if you ask me… Do they dick around flashing the red lights before the start of the race to bluff people? No!! they are either on or off! should be the same for the flag, its either being raised or being dropped one or the other.
Besides that, Mick and I were pretty much at each other throats like a pair of walrus fighting over the birds. It was great… After a couple of attempts Mick managed to get past me going into the first corner with some very late braking indeed (his first try just falling short). I clung to him though and a few laps later he made teh same mistake as Hans and got it a bit loose going through cascades and I had the drive into island…
Well done guys really enjoyed teh racing we had at the weekend, one to remember.
Sorry waffling will shut up now.
Now that�s a proper race report, top job Gav, cheers!
David
Cheers Gav.
So, your contact, much damage?
Ian
Rubber off each others wheels on the respective arches. Not even a smidge of paint (like 100 mph rubber)
After the race in I went straight over to Cristians car to look at the damage before I even looked at mine. Although tbh and as I said to Cristian before I even walked back to my car …
The whole front end could be hanging off for all I care …I won!!
Good job, luck on your side too!
Ian
Ok, rather random LoT related question…
Does anyone know if you’re allowed to adjust brake bias during the race �F1 stylie� (assuming you�ve got the kit of course); no particular reason, just wondering…
David