Andrew Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 3 minutes ago, New display name REQUIRED said: They’ve sourced a bottom end and have 3 hours to get the engine built and in… Bags of time... 🤞 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinten Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 Heh, by sheer coincidence I have been watching you qualifying from the Porsche experience centre... Good luck on the race today! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 13 minutes ago, New display name REQUIRED said: They’ve sourced a bottom end and have 3 hours to get the engine built and in… Calling @Mark (smokey mow) to the pits please, he only needs two minutes: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 10 minutes ago, Scott Young (Captain Colonial) - Club Secretary said: Calling @Mark (smokey mow) to the pits please, he only needs two minutes: I should be quicker on a mx5 as there’s lots more room under the bonnet than a Westfield. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 Well, I'm guessing you started last on the grid Russ? It wasn't mentioned in the commentry.. Looks like you made good progress, and I bet you enjoyed it. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAFKARM Posted May 21, 2022 Author Share Posted May 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Andrew said: Well, I'm guessing you started last on the grid Russ? It wasn't mentioned in the commentry.. Looks like you made good progress, and I bet you enjoyed it. 👍 I actually started, last from the pit lane. I was suited, booted and strapped into the car ready to go while it was still on stands and the engine hadn’t run. Talk about close. Ended 23 out of 33 which I’m taking as a win! Biiiiiiig smile on my face! The bad news is, no go pro footage 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 1 hour ago, New display name REQUIRED said: Ended 23 out of 33 which I’m taking as a win! Biiiiiiig smile on my face! bl**** well done Russell old fruit! 😎 1 hour ago, New display name REQUIRED said: The bad news is, no go pro footage Dam and blast! 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingster Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 Fantastic result! Starting from the pit lane in your first ever race and finishing anything but last would be a result, but to go on to pass 10 cars is outstanding! Well done mate 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Waterfall Syman84 Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Kingster said: Fantastic result! Starting from the pit lane in your first ever race and finishing anything but last would be a result, but to go on to pass 10 cars is outstanding! Well done mate 👍 Chris you have provided training for russ everytime he gets to overtake you on a trackday, so some of today's success is down to you. 😁 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXRORY Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Well done for pursuing your dream and what a first race day, drama a plenty 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingster Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 10 hours ago, Simon Waterfall Syman84 said: Chris you have provided training for russ everytime he gets to overtake you on a trackday, so some of today's success is down to you. 😁 Thanks mate - I always try and do my best to help by being super slow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Good start Russ🏆 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAFKARM Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 Now the adrenaline has dissipated I should probably tell you about my first race.... BRSCC MX5 Clubman Championship supporting the C1 24hr weekend. I've not been on track at Silverstone before, and the GP circuit is pretty long so I decided to do the test day the day before racing. It'll just be a like a track day right? Sure its raining, but I'm half decent in the wet so it'll be fine, right? Testing was in sessions - I pootled out ready to get up to speed. What followed was an absolute assault on the senses. Getting passed on the inside and the outside at the same time, while i'm trying not to fall off and learn which was the track goes. Mildly terrifying. After a couple of laps, I had a word with myself and decided to send it. The rest of the session was much better and I was a lot more comfortable, although I suspect this may have been that the fast guys had gone past so I was settling in with the drivers who were around my pace. As the day progressed, it dried out and I got happier and happier. Much more comfortable being in very close proximity and it was all good. Ready for race day. Didn't sleep, obviously. Got to the circuit around 730, scrutineering resulted in a couple of small jobs for the team. Very impressed with the scrutineers. I thought they'd be terrifiying ogres but he was so helpful - they really want to get you out there and keep you safe. Drivers briefing - dont remember much, surprised at how short it was and they basically said "guys, you have to stop crashing into each other". Next up, 15 mins of qualifying. Which to me, seemed pretty much like an actual race but with a rolling start. It was awesome, I didn't find myself with much space and probably should have backed off to get some, by the time I'd thought this it was half way through the session and I didn't want to sacrifice any laps (bearing in mind, its probably only 4 flying laps for quali). All going well, big smile on my face, I've almost done my first qualifying session! Then smiles turned to tears - the car lost power down the Wellington Straight and I could hear the distinctive noise of big end bearing failure. Gutted. In to the pits to lament. I qualified 19/33 though, which I was really pleased with. Catastrophic engine failure aside. Race 1 was in less than 2 hours. This was not looking good. The team didn't have a spare engine, even if they could get it swapped in time. Luckily, they 'obtained' a bottom end from somewhere and the plan was to put the old head on the new bottom end and get that in. It was clear race 1 wasn't going to happen for me, so got out of the way, let them get on with it and did what i do best - a cup of tea and a sausage butty. Race 2 was scheduled for 1640. Time was ticking... I'd have to start race 2 from the back of the grid, pretty disappointing but race 2 was looking less and less likely anyway The team told me to get suited up and get in the car. Its still on axle stands at this point and the "new" engine hasn't run. I'm strapped in, the other drivers are already in assembly. One of the lovely race people (?) is on the radio giving control updates, while I'm stressed AF. Engine starts, straight off the stands and round to assembly. Yes! I'm going racing!! Of course I got lost on the way to assembly, but figured it out after a wrong turn. They are making some checks on the car while we're waiting for green flag - a coolant leak is spotted...tools are dispatched, but its too late. The rest of the guys head for green flag lap and I'm stuck in assembly. I'm gutted, my racing dreams are over for today. . . . . . . . . Or are they? Jubilee clip tightened and the car is good to go, they'll let me start from the pit lane. I high tail it over to the pits from assembly, the nice flag man explains he'll turn the light green for me when the pack are through turn 1. Excitement building now, lights go green and off I go! Getting onto the track as the pack head through Maggots and Becketts, I think I'm about 3s behind the guy who is next to last. Engine seems strong though. I needn't have worried, I was on the back of them pretty much immediately and managed to get past 4 in the first lap. I was into my stride, this is so much better than track days. Trying to leave racing room, but passing on the inside and the outside. Managed to get on the power early, get a couple of overtakes on the long long straights and on the brakes. The short 15 min race was over in a flash. It was actually cut short to 13.5 mins because of delays earlier in the day. I managed to bring it home 23/33 which tbh I'm over the moon about considering the circumstances (racing driver excuse #72). I am still buzzing and absolutely hooked. Next outing Oulton Park on 23rd July, which I'm expecting to be different to silverstone but I cannot wait!!! ETA - I'd post a video, but the gopro fail 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Excellent write up Russ. 👍 Better luck for Oulton. 🤞 What's the score with the lost race? Are you getting one credited to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAFKARM Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 11 minutes ago, Andrew said: Excellent write up Russ. 👍 Better luck for Oulton. 🤞 What's the score with the lost race? Are you getting one credited to you? "that's motorsport" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.