45 replies to this topic

[Foxy]

OMG Talk about rude awaking!!!

Snetterton at the weekend was awesome - in many ways, not just the amount of rain that fell on Saturday!

One of the things that caught me off guard was how close the cars are when in position on the grid - I really wasn't ready for that! It has beed said before, but no number of trackdays can prepare you for your first race experience!!


Being my first meeting the anticipation had been building for quite sometime, and I have to say that I was pretty pissed off by Saturday afternoon – partly because of the postponement of the races (owing to the bad weather), but mostly because I wasn’t happy with my qualifying performance for the first Kumho race. I was nearly 4s down from my best time during the LoT trackday the previous week (1'30.0 v 1'33.8)– just goes to show how much difference the pressure of a race situation can make and how important it is to have the right mental attitude.

Things didn’t really improve on Sunday morning – I must have been half asleep… The starter held up the five-minute board after the green flag lap and I was sitting there quietly composing myself – then everyone buggered off without me! Of course, I know it really said five seconds but I was so far back I could only see the ‘5’!!! I did pass my ARDS test, honest!

From this point on things just got better – the racing was superb and I had some great ding dong battles with a few people – must have swapped places with Cotterill atleast 5 or 6 times in one of the races!

Came away with some great video footage – got Partridge being narrowly missed by Kidman (?) in a cloud of smoke when he decided the grass was greener on the inside of the circuit then the outside so reversed across in front of most of the field. He’s so brave!
Later on, Cotterill’s car decided (all by itself) that it agreed with Partridge and parked on the lovely green grass on the inside of Sear.
When I work out how this Archos thing works I’ll see if I can get some clips up.

In the end Neil and I were well chuffed with our performances in the Milltek races:
Neil got 11th from 23 (started18th)
I got 15th from 23 (started at back of grid - just the luck of the draw! )
In the Lions Den Kumho races -
I managed 21st of 26 (started 22nd)
Neil also got 21st of 25 (starting from the back of the grid - he hadn't qualified because of the weather)

Here's looking forward to Oulton on the 24th which should suit the 318 much more.

[Mick43]

keep at it Foxy just shows it's all about getting experience and races under your belt... I haven't yet done a competitive race event... but analogy is same for any competition... I can knock a tennis ball real good during a friendly... come to a match and it's so hard to relax.. and get in the groove....

[speedyK]

Foxy, it must be fantastic to have such ding-dong battles for places. Just friendly fun at Hock. is a great laugh, so this must be ace! And, having seen your performance at Hock. (and your rating from the course instructors), I would wager you will move up the field once you've settled in

[Whiteboy]

Nice one foxy, you are one brave man.

[Foxy]

I'm not brave - I never got anywhere near Thorney!!


Thanks for the support guys It will be interesting to see if we do any better in the 318 at Oulton.

Hopefully get some pics and vid sorted soon...in the meantime here is the motley crew!

Doesn't JT look a the part

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[Foxy]

Not sure if this will work, but here are the drivers with their cars...

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•  Drivers___cars_group_shot.jpg   17.18KB   0 downloads

[Mick43]

check if JT is wearing mandarin or color co-ordinated Y-fronts next time... very pro.....

[earlystock]

My daughters really enjoyed the day, and loved the fact that they got a wave from some of the drivers at the end (largely due I think to me clapping like a large clapping thing). JT had a slow start in race 2, and I was surprised to see he still had a bumper when he pulled in (that estate was interesting to watch). Some great support races for a 44 year old, with cars from my youth (Rover SD1, Capri's Jags, Escorts and even Renault 5s). I will be there ass often as possible

[Foxy]

I will be there ass often as possible

Was good to see you Chris Oulton on the 24th??

[Mick43]

I would have been there to Chris... but had a long drive back from Wales and then an evening party... catch you at next local'ish round...

[Thorney]

Never let the actual results get in the way of a good story

Race 1 results:

1 Alan WILEMAN
2 Jeremy CLARK
3 Simon LAMBERT
4 Martin DOWER
5 Craig JAMIESON
6 Dave MULLENDER
7 Andrew BUSBY
8 John THORNE
9 Andrew PARTRIDGE
10 Andrew COTTERILL
11 Neil FOX
12 Adrian BEARD
13 Michael KIDMAN
14 Tim MEDHURST
15 Richard CORMODE
16 Nigel INNES
17 Julian NEWMAN
18 James KNIGHT
19 Tony DOE
20 David BIRD
21 Alan STUART

Qualified 10th and finished 8th.

Race 2 results:

1 Simon LAMBERT
2 Alan WILEMAN
3 Martin DOWER
4 Jeremy CLARK
5 Robert SADLER
6 Liam CRILLY
7 Tim MEDHURST
8 Andrew BUSBY
9 John THORNE
10 Craig JAMIESON
11 James KNIGHT
12 Nigel INNES
13 Andrew PARTRIDGE
14 Adrian BEARD
15 Simon FOX
16 Andrew COTTERILL
17 Michael KIDMAN
18 Richard CORMODE
19 David BIRD
20 Alan STUART

Drew 18th, finished 9th.

[Foxy]

Race 2 results:

1  Simon LAMBERT     
2  Alan WILEMAN     
3  Martin DOWER     
4  Jeremy CLARK   
5  Robert SADLER     
6  Liam CRILLY     
7  Tim MEDHURST     
8  Andrew BUSBY

Watch this space! 
   
9  John THORNE     
10  Craig JAMIESON       
11  James KNIGHT       
12  Nigel INNES       
13  Andrew PARTRIDGE      
14  Adrian BEARD     
15  Simon FOX       
16  Andrew COTTERILL     
17  Michael KIDMAN     
18  Richard CORMODE     
19  David BIRD       
20  Alan STUART

[Pidgeon]

You aspire to eighth Simon? Mine end a few places (well, eight actually) higher. If we wish to examine a few facts, let us look at best laps. In the Kumho race 1, John's car, 1.29.434, mine 1.31.527. In kumho 2, 1.29.289, 1.30.639. In Milltek, 1.32.953 against mine of 1.31.543, in race 2 1.31.133, 1.31.193. OK so in Milltek John has a .06 faster lap, yet in Kumho I am 1.35 seconds behind? Why would that be? Next year I will have a fully rebuilt engine (like John has now) instead of my wheezy 250K miler and may have Leda's (like John has now)

[earlystock]

Seriously considering having a go at this next year. Any advice?

Thought this would fit the bill.....wonder if I could keep the aircon in.

>HERE<

[Foxy]

Hummm...318 Touring - worst of both worlds!

Advice?? Yes - keep clear of Partridge and Thorney!

Then read this: Quick reference guide

@ Partridge - my first aspiration is to beat you or Thorney The rest can wait!

[andycot]

You aspire to eighth Simon?  Mine end a few places (well, eight actually) higher.

If we wish to examine a few facts, let us look at best laps.  In the Kumho race 1, John's car, 1.29.434, mine 1.31.527.  In kumho 2, 1.29.289,  1.30.639.

In Milltek, 1.32.953 against mine of 1.31.543, in race 2 1.31.133, 1.31.193.

OK so in Milltek John has a .06 faster lap, yet in Kumho I am 1.35 seconds behind?  Why would that be?

Next year I will have a fully rebuilt engine (like John has now) instead of my wheezy 250K miler and may have Leda's (like John has now)

Ermmm...don't forget that there was an ARDS instructor driving Thorney's car in the Kumho's!!!

I think that may have made a slight difference!!

[andycot]

Oh and also JT was complaining that his Knob kept dropping off!!!

[Thorney]

ooooh we're getting serious now are we Yes, in the Kumho the car was driven by Pete Smith who has 7 years of race experience latterly in Legends where he was a championship contender, is he a better driver than both of us - no sh*t he is So i hardly think comparison between us is that fair (yet). In race 1 my gear knob came off on lap 2 this meant that I couldn't shift from second to third or third to 4th (or down again) without holding it on, indeed if I took my hand off the gear knob it would rattle off so I drove most of the race one handed. As a result you caught up, however couldn't get past (despite you hitting me up the arse at the chicane - whichI belive would be considered 'unnecessary contact' and worthy of a complaint - which of course I didn't In race 2 I got held up by Nigel in the estate and then he stuck to my arse once I got past meaning I had to drive defensive lines everywhere to maintain my place, as a result you caught up again, however once I overtook James Knight I then pulled away hence the gap between our places. Racing isn't just about laptimes, its about overtaking people and not being overtaken if its purely times you're after then go sprinting, for me racing is about dicing with other drivers

[Foxy]

Racing isn't just about laptimes, its about overtaking people and not being overtaken if its purely times you're after then go sprinting, for me racing is about dicing with other drivers

Amen to that

[Thorney]

And why am I suddenly the target of your ire.....I haven't said anything in this thread except post the results? You've not seen me ranting on about how good/bad I was have you. Calm down and by the way, we don't have a 'rebuilt engine' we have an engine with a new top end as the crank was fcuked. However nice to see you're developing into a race car driver, quick to criticise, quick to lose your temper, quick to complain about other drivers equipment and quick to leap down the throat of others - class.