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Gav's report... **full
results here**
ROCKINGHAM ROUNDS 3 AND 4
Saturday testing was always going to be run of the
mill, with tyres to be scrubbed in and brakes to be bedded. We left
pit lane and proceeded onto the oval we had decided to run 12 lap
stints starting off with four new tyres then coming in to change
the outside two so that all six where scrubbed and race ready. We
set some good times but as we not sure how much they would grow
in turn changing cross weights we took it fairly easy. Once all
was done we went back to a set of last years tyres which we knew
when on the car would give us the desired setup. With only 3 minutes
on the clock remaining time was tight, we had a clear lap and got
within a tenth of the leader Steve Dance. Dancey showing he still
had the speed from last year.
RACE 1 - After a brilliant start to the season at
Brands we knew we would have a low grid for race 1. With Dance and
Grindrod on the front row what I didn’t want to happen was for them
two to hook up and pull away so a good start was needed. With the
track wet and everyone on the desired tyres we went green. I was
following Richard Grindrod into turn one and we found a high line
- what a surprise hee hee. But on the exit of turn one everyone
wanted the high groove so we went low into two and passed a few
more - I think they were all holding each other up… By the end of
lap one we went from 17th to 3rd and Steve and Nic were now in sight.
On lap 2 we passed Steve and lap 3 saw us pass Nic - the truck felt
really good despite conditions not letting up. To be honest the
rest is quite boring. We pulled away and made a gap of 4 seconds
but as any driver will tell you enough is never enough. With 5 laps
to go Nic started reeling the Nimbus truck in but trying not to
think about that is what saved us. By the last lap at turn four
Nic was within half a second but by then we were home and dry.
RACE 2 - This race was always going to be full
of surprises, with the track drying and the powers to be calling
it a wet race the possibilities were endless. Some had wets some
had intermediates some had both some even had slicks. We took the
safe bet!!! - Intermediates. With all the Trucks lined up the pace
car or pace truck I should say led us away. Needless to say we were
at the back - you all know the score. On the warm up laps I could
see we had made the right choice as in turn 2 and 3 a lot of water
was still around. With us all in line Stuart pulled down pit lane
which left John Mickel on pole to set the pace. Green, green, green
we were away I said to Dale I would take it easy and surprisingly
I actually did for once. I just hung back and picked them off one
by one. I could see the guys who went on slicks were struggling
by lap 1. We were 7th - told you I took it easy. At the end of lap
2 we were 2nd now following #22. My truck felt so good so I decided
to see where I was quicker and it turned out it was everywhere so
on lap 6, on the exit of turn 1, I went high and as we started to
nose up alongside the 22 it turned out his spotter called Nic clear
but didn’t in turn tell him he wasn’t when he realised just how
much more speed we were carrying. I came right off the throttle
but he was coming quick and it turned his nose into the wall. It
wasn’t too bad as we were so close to the wall we didn’t have far
to go. With the possibility of us both having damage I decided to
follow Nic for a few laps just so we could both have a breather
after what could have been a nasty exit to the race for both of
us. I recomposed myself and I was happy the truck was 100% so I
started chomping at his heels and we then passed him within half
a lap. The gap we were pulling was visual and for me a big confidence
builder. The track was still slick and the boys on dry tyres were
still struggling. The next 25 laps saw us pullout a lead of 7 seconds
on 2nd place. Dale was warning because we were still quick so we
backed out of it a bit for the last 4 laps and brought the Nimbus
truck home for its second win of the weekend which meant 5 in a
row for the team.
I would like to thank all the team for there hard
work on the truck, with out u guys this couldn’t happen, I would
also like to thank our sponsors Nimbus motorsport for their continued
support. Gav
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