Stotfold: 2010 BRCA National Series
Now I’ve cleaned, repaired and tested my cars from the punishment they got at Stotfold, I thought it better time I blogged that.
Friday
Mark and I travelled up on Friday evening, later than usual, so it was dark when we arrived at Stotfold. I managed o find it without Sat Nav, result!
We were clearly the last people there, and the caravanners had left us a tiny gap at one end next to the toilet. Awesome! No, really, it was fine, just the right size.
A bit of a chat and then off to sleep, the chuckle bus rolling with two single beds, and a pile of car stuff and bags down the middle. Cosy.
Saturday
I hadn’t slept well, far too excited, but I was surprised to see folk walking the track at 6am. Nutters.
We were of course in Heat 1, so booking in was done, and out on to the track for practice. But, it was rather damp. I chose to miss the first practice session.
Why? Wrong tyres. We only found out that everyone uses Schumacher Greens in the wet at Stotfold. We niaively thought it was Ballistic Greens…
We got some tyres glued up for the second practice, and boy was it a slippery track, the rain not falling, and the track was greasy as hell. But only in certain areas, depending which way the astro was running.
Okay, fair enough.
Drivers briefing was illegible, Mr. Worseley, use the commentators microphone? Yardy also offered to take our stuff to the Euros. Nice, but unecessary, it’ll be many years before we’re good enough to go.
Round 1, first heat out, oh joy, the car was fine, going around happily. But then it decided to go straight on at one corner, but then okay again. It did that a few times.Until I finally put it in the fence. Next to Rasey’s feet, of course. “Crabby, we need to have words.”
Turns out just a stripped servo horn. No worries.
Round 2, that was uneventful, the car went fine, I finished the run.
Round 3, ahh, yes, it all happened. Just before Heat 12 of Round 2 the heavens opened, and all play was stopped. By the time we hit the track it was rather puddlesome, despite the fine brushing skills of (mainly F1) drivers.
My car bundled round enjoying the grip that the rain gave (how does that work?) until it stuttered to a halt. Water in the somewhere.
Round 4, and would you believe it, the heavens opened once more. The brushing was this time less thorough, leaving lots of phat puddles, and my car didn’t last too long this time, again stuttering to a stop.
I spent some time with WD40 and bluetac, in an attempt to get it dried out.
But, all to no avail, I was 2nd from bottom. Not my best performance ever, then…
The finals came about, and just 2 people showed up for the 4 car L final. Graham Blitzboy Smith was the only one with a working car though, as mine failed to get to the end of the straight, my electrics still failing to perform.
Oh well, never mind. All eyes were on the A final, Tom Cock was sat marshalling, and he needed Ellis to come 2nd, and when Kev Lee brought home the bacon, Tom was relieved, and hands were clapped.
Awesome result Tom, you got it done!
Barbecue and general drying out happened on Saturday night. Along with a little Durango preparation for Sunday. The forecast was dry.
Asleep by 11pm!
Sunday
Awoke 5 minutes before the alarm, a glorious night sleep!
Slightly nervous about running a brand new car for the first time at a National. I didn’t even have a shell, but Jimmy had kindly oOpled me one, thanks!
Out in heat one for Practice again.
The Durango was just superb, seemed very similar pace to Mark’s 511. It needed a few setup tweaks, and the track was drying quickly.
Round 1, I ran Schumacher Greens, and the car was flying. Until the commentator started saying I was quickest in heat, then I got the shakes, and made a few mistakes. But, amazingly I was quicker than Mark with his 511, which is unheard of, Mark is a quicker driver than me, always has been.
Round 2, track dry now, so I was onto a nice new set of yellows. I didn’t drive too well though, all quite ordinary. Popped a ball cup off a few times, replaced it just in case.
Round 3 the car was great, and Round 4 too. Nothing to report!
A the end of Qualifying I was squeezed to K1, by Mark in J10! How close! And amazingly, I’d had a 76th in one of the rounds, which was quite shocking, I’ve never been in double figures before.
So I was loving the Fandango by now.
Final came, and I was on pole. Buzzer went, but my car didn’t. Shit. Before we knew it a B44 was in the back of me. The B44 didn’t come off well, the Durango had a tiny scratch.
But, the Durango didn’t work again. I’ve no idea what happened, it was fine on the practice lap, and then just had zero power on the line. Ouch.
But no matter, I love the Durango, it’s so quick in the corners, so responsive, and I think it suits my slow thumbs, as it reacts quickly, catching up with my inputs!
Mark had a storming run in the J final, qualified 10th, he was quick and careful and ended up finishing 2nd! Awesome drive!
Something happened in the other finals, I’ve no idea what really. We shot off after the 2nd leg of the A final, amusingly Simon Moss took the win using Nathan Ralls Cat! A hard charging Neil Cragg didn’t give him a moment peace, but all credit to Si, he didn’t put a wheel wrong.
The drive home took ages, we spotted traffic on the M3, so came off and took a different road.
The weekend was ace in the end, the Saturday rain left me feeling a bit damp, but the Durango pace left me full of hope. When’s the 2wd coming out?
[Pictures to follow.]
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