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Thanks Paul - too kind. I think the low entry and relative lack of 'quick' cars flattered us Westy guys a little, but can't deny it's nice to be up there with the regulars and makes all the development work seem worthwhile Coming into the Speed Series has been a pretty interesting experience really. Despite having had quite a lot of seat time and some competition driving experience previously, the prep the cars need and the mentality to drive them in this format is quite different, which I think is what caught me out yesterday. Despite the power and weight differences between the cars, I hoped to be able to challenge John H but it wasn't to be, he was just too quick! I knew I had Terry beaten all day, I was just teasing him, honest My findings as a newbie but not a newbie... It felt very strange to launch a car so frequently (never done it in the Westy before and we'll only do it twice a weekend in racing!) and be required to go to the limiter in every gear straight from the off. Looking back at the vids and data, I was short shifting on the first straight by around 1000rpm and 0-60 times are diabolical compared with what the car should be capable of. Being able to wring the car's neck from the line consistently and with reasonable mechanical sympathy really takes some doing; I under-estimated how difficult it would be, kudos for those who do it regularly (without cheating electronics )! The braking requirements are also completely different to how I've previously used the car (track days and road) - normally you have the luxury of getting everything stable temperature-wise before pushing on, but going out cold is something that proved quite tricky to get my head around as the braking effort required by your leg changes through the run. In my case, the combination of pads also meant brake bias would shift dramatically as the fronts heated up, which caused extra issues! I found myself riding the brakes for a few extra metres into the first corner to try and help with this - can't figure out if was quicker overall to do this or not, but it reduced the chance of a rear lock up into the Wiggler on the first lap! The tyres are awesome though, mega grip from cold, huge thanks again to Dave Cleaver for sorting me out with his old set to use John also mentioned a few bits to me which were interesting, just simple things to cut down drag or weight which you wouldn't really be able to do on a car that can still be used on the road, which goes to show how specific the leading cars are, even in 'road going' class. I had a few conversations about this sort of thing yesterday and it's an interesting debate (and one for a different thread!). As I mentioned to a couple of people on the day, I've probably done nearly 1000 (thousand) laps round Blyton before, and I think this is the bit that you sprint guys deserve the most respect for - there is no way I could go balls out having only been round the track 4 or 5 times a year! For anyone thinking of giving it a go, do it - the atmosphere in the paddock is great and it's just as much about the social aspect as the driving. Specialist car preparations are virtually nothing if you have a car that's been used on track before, and the feeling of seeing a new personal best time on the clock when you come over the line is brilliant (when you've been told where to look for it, haha) You WILL get this at least one or twice a day as well. Back to topic... Good work on the roll pin Craig, hope you're all sorted in time for this coming weekend. Sorry about the clutch Howard, still feel bad about that, I hope it's an easy / cheap fix! Good to see you and your car out again too Garry, a few tweaks and you'll be flying by mid-season I'm sure. Great work David on your improvements over last years times, definitely makes things interesting at the front of Class A! John (shaggy), driving to the event was awesome and I'd really like to do the same sometime, it's what budget motorsport should be about IMO! Everyone else I forgot to mention... Thanks again and see you soon I'm sure

Wow.... dead chuffed with the lardy car's times compared with the big boys

Great to see all the Westie supporters. Felt like a Westies playing at home meet.

finally the case was found in my favour but took the full 75 days. so I can start buying again on ebay :d hope the toe rag gets what he deserves

I have entered both

just entered 23 th may

Thanks gents all PM'd

Chuck a sickie, obviously

A late write up but I have been unpacking after my holiday. We were tootling along on the way to Blyton when there was a sudden 'oooh' from the drivers seat. Don't worry Glen the car is not broke, I had seen 3 TVR's and an AMG in my mirror. I can't say much more on a public forum, but oh boy, they sounded well, and when we got to Blyton there they were. A friendly bunch from the SYTVRCC (South Yorkshire TVR car club), hope to see you again! After that good start we went on to have a whale of a day at Blyton, we met loads of new people and learnt a bit along the way. I picked up one of Terry's wheels and his bonnet with ONE hand. I have to sort of monkey a wheel on by steadying and lifting it with my feet, then wiggling it onto the wheel studs because they are that heavy for me. I hope we were not too distracting by asking questions when you guys are busy, but you know so much and you are so interesting. I hope John (123standish) and his dad found the day useful, there were certainly lots of different cars to look at and it was lovely to meet you both. I have got loads of pictures and will try and put them in the gallery but here are a couple for you. The competitors lined up. The spectators lined up. A great turnout of cars, Tricky and Matt came in their convoy, Marcus and Robin in their convoy, Martyn and Sue travelled for 2 hours! and Ian and Rose(VX220) travelled for....5 minutes to get there. Thank you to everyone for coming.

2.44 caught my eye. Bob

Thanks Adam... some of my development is certainly down to your input with Set Up and driving. Cooler brakes and tyres on the first lap of my last run are my excuse for getting the Wriggler wrong and leaving the black stuff giving me a DNF (shame they put it on T4, a 145 lap, when it happened on T5 at 155) I was well chuffed with times and general consistency in the lardy car (155bhp / 615kg) ! I suspect Aintree on Saturday will be totally different as I've never been there before and I've been told it's more of a power circuit.

Some good comments Adam and I agree that sprinting does focus your mind when you have never driven that course before and the scenery goes by very quickly! My "BEST" time was 131.67secs but like an idiot I opted for a rerun and went slower!!!!!!

Well the new Public Relations management at Cadwell has made a great difference. Padock parking all sorted, with no over spill even down to class within the championship parking. Scruitineer shook my hand and introduced himself by name! pretty unheard of in Racing. As for the racing well I bagged a class win on Saturday and a second on Sunday by 0.5 seconds. Just used the GoPro for the first time, pretty impressed - videos to follow

I get increasingly and extremely p*ssed off at the incidence of tailgating, for whatever reason people do it. It's rife. Even in the wet. Stopping distances obviously are no longer mentioned in driving lessons/tests. The wife hates it when there's one behind me and I touch the brakes - but even that's a waste of time 'cos they're always too dumb to catch on.......

I'm in for this one as well Cheers Barry