Leaderboard

So back to work today to discover one of my customers picked today to be an absolute world-class anus (the details are unimportant to the story). Fuming, I turned to a colleague and said, "That man is the very definition of a (c-word)." He calmly turned to me and said, "Not quite." "Why do you say that?" "He can't be a (c-word) because he has neither the depth nor the warmth." He was right.

Sally’s scribbles (non technical): Having risen bright and early (4.45am) Stephen and I arrived at Aintree at 7.25. John Loudon and Garry Bunn were already there and Stephen signed on getting back in time to get the car ready for scrutineering. Lee Smith and John Williams were further down the paddock together. The loos were locked and there were only four portaloos by the office. Fortunately the loos opened around 9am. The weather was brilliant. Fabulous sunshine all day and just a head wind down Railway Straight. Deciding to have exercise Stephen and I walked round the course taking in the damp patches – which would dry- and new patches of tarmac which weren’t quite on a level with the old. There were three in John Loudon’s 2A class, six in 2B with Stephen, Lee and John W. and two in Garry’s 3G. I was taught to remove the battery from Garry’s car and take it the least distance possible to wait for him to come round and pick it up again. Enjoying a bacon bap and coffee after P1 we spotted the only other WSCC member, Andy Lowe in a Megapin, being towed back into the single seater paddock. Stephen’s enquiries ascertained that Andy had broken his drive shaft on the first corner. So that sadly was the end of his day. Considering there were 136 cars including the Caterham Academy there were very few off’s and P1 and P2 progressed smoothly. Lee Smith discovered that his 5th gear produced an ‘I’m falling apart and disintegrating noise’ which was somewhat disconcerting. He ended up going from 4 -6th gear. John Williams did his personal best but with a target time of nearly 9 seconds less he felt he had rather a lot to overcome! At 11.30am the timed runs started with a very efficient commentary which wasn’t interrupted by the big equestrian event going on the other side of the Melling Road. The only real stop was just before 2A and 2B set off. The Course car went round with water for the Marshalls. Stephen, Lee and John W, all had a new PB whilst John L. broke his own class record with a 46.18. Stephen stayed in front of Nigel Fox in his Caterham – an important challenge. John L. had a look at Lee’s car and agreed that a tooth had probably fallen off 5th gear. He would have to continue with 4th – 6th. Unfortunately the car bogged down after leaving 4th and crawled slowly back up to speed. After T1 there was a forty minute break for lunch and there was a convivial gathering round Garry’s trailer. All went smoothly for T2. Garry, John W. and Lee did their best runs whilst Stephen, John L. and Nigel Fox didn’t. T3 produced a PB for Stephen as did P4. Sadly Garry developed a wiring problem with his flappy paddle gear change between P3 and P4 and was unable to do the last run. The runs finished around 5pm. John L. broke his previous lap record from 46.51 to 46.18 Garry got first in Class with 46.10. Stephen received first in class. It had been a fabulous day with personal bests all round and with great weather – a bit too great at times! – minimum hold ups and once again brilliantly organised by the Liverpool Motor Club.

Had a fantastic drive out today, despite a few gremlins, taking in some of my old biking haunts in Northumberland. The main reason it was so memorable was that I had a chance to take a close friend out with me who has been diagnosed with MND. I was hoping to do this before it was too difficult for him and so was relieved that the weather held up and that he was up for it. The best part was near the end after an hour around the twisties when I asked what he thought. He just said "well, I haven't stopped grinning from the moment we left, and it has been quite a while since I've had something to smile about". Job done. Made my day.

On a clear day I can hear the race from my house. I'll be enjoying the red arrows on Saturday.

You can have a virtual kick in the balls if you would rather?!?!?

Possibly up for that depending on family commitments and where you're all meeting. Can't promise the tappet noise will be sorted though (I don't hear it over the sound of the exhaust)!

My car was a bit wayward likes yours when I bought it. 'Tigger' and 'Pete g' helped me out and it was the simple things that cured it's stability at speed, 1deg. toe in at front 0.25deg. toe at rear, correct chassis height front & back, level front wishbones. Tigger's website http://westfield-world.com/suspension.html will help you out for free.

i should be going - jet ranger from Sywell and BRDC for lunch

Thanks for all the kind words folks - wasn't expecting so many virtual 'pats on the back' - just had a really nice time with my mate and felt like sharing

brought up to date like this wheels have changed to cxrs and carbon half doors

Are you on commission? I appreciate the enthusiasm but I'm booked in with Javelin for the rest of the year and I don't have the time (or funds!) for a separate series. I only posted this up originally as I thought there might be a bit of interest in something different. Last time round I had a great battle with a chap in a rally-prepped Mk1 Escort who I'm rather looking forward to battling with at Croft (especially as I've now got a set of SG R888s )

Morning Julie. The Vulcan was brilliantly noisey and was greT to see over the bay. Few near scraps though over parking bays as was very busy. You have picked a great day to go walking. I passed Chesterfield at 5.00am and the sun was shining and absolutely glorious. Rather be with you in the lakes than going to work.

Thanks for that, it should hopefully have an orange wire

I'm near Stamford

Sally's Scribbles blog now posted!!

place a jack under the track rod end if your undoing it. they some times need some pressure to stop them turning

Results http://www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/files/2015/06/Final-Aintree-Results-27th-June-2015.pdf Looks like I was fastest Westfield and 8th overall

I'm in. See you at SQF - carpark at the Hawes Inn? Matt

Well done Chris, shows how much fun these are if it can make someone facing such a cruel thing smile. I've been sulking about with my car not road worthy, but when you hear of people facing things like that it really does make you realise how lucky we are to have good health, and stupid things like the DVLA etc should not bother us!!!

Buy a plate, cable tie it to grill and remove after test.