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Gav's report... **full
results here**
What a break we'd had, 5 weeks since Mondello and
were getting restless - keen to see if we could build on our great
start to the season of seven wins out of eight.
Having not had a good completely dry race weekend
as yet at Rockingham this year the team were anxious to see what
our new set up would be like on a dry warm track, whilst we knew
we'd be there or thereabouts we were sceptical as to whether the
success would continue and best guesses were three top five finishes
- possibly the odd win.
We are getting a bit fed up now of 'Poodles' trying
to shake off the last minute dot com tag he's had since start of
season although with five weeks since Mondello I don't think he
would have lived it down had the car not been ready with at least
a day to spare, anyhow come Wednesday night everything was loaded
ready to go but wait for it ….he was after a day off on Friday -
fair play I suppose.
The boys arrived at the track about 9.00pm and prepared
themselves for start of play, I turned up about 9.00am the next
morning and went through some final checks with the boys in advance
of our practice session due at just after 11.00. As the morning
unfolded we were surprised and disappointed to learn that Richard
Grindrod would not be racing at the meeting considering the good
season start he'd made reflecting in him chasing us for first position
in the championship….we hope he will be back soon.
Practice
Pit lane opened for practice and I went out and
did a few exploratory laps before winding up for a mid session push,
it quickly became evident Poodles had again done the business with
set up as we started setting low 40 second laps with reassuring
consistency, although the feel was quite loose it got tighter with
each lap. By lap 9 spotter Dale had had enough and was telling me
to ease up having just turned in a 40.242 a full half second quicker
than anyone else, we decided on no more banzai laps and would just
settle the car in on the new set up. Having achieved more than expected
we decided to park up and de-brief to try and determine what could
be done to improve the looseness that had occurred early on in the
run and if it was possible to dial it out without compromising too
much the late race pace. With the session complete it was good to
see Richard Novell and Pete Stevens in the top six.
Race One
Having made minor changes to the set up from practice
and with fingers crossed we were ready on the grid for a start in
usual reverse grid of championship order meaning Phil and Simon
just ahead with the rest in front of them Poults and John Mickel
just behind, finished the warm up laps and 'green green green' Dale
was shouting. Soon got into a rhythm picking off one or two at a
fairly steady pace whilst trying not to force any issues and keeping
an eye open for any early incidents that might collect us.
At the 3 lap stage we were
not really pressing hard as we knew with the set up hot laps early
on would hurt us towards the end, however with Dale doing his usual
sterling job in the earphones we soon made steady progress to the
front without incident, at this point we knew the car would be good
for several laps so decided to make a break for it. Surprisingly
no one was able to stay with us and we progressed to a fairly comfortable
lead with the rest struggling amongst themselves for position and
not really threatening and as we had thought the set up lasted for
the rest of the race and was still solid at the end allowing me
to take it steady completing a fairly comfortable win with Dancey
second and Poults third, much much better than we had hoped, the
playing around with set up since practice had really paid off -
well done Poodles….
Fastest Lap Pete Stevens 40.441
Quick check over to ensure no major probs and decided
to make our way to the hotel for dinner.
After a good nights sleep arrived back at the track
about 9.00 a.m to - surprise surprise a car ready to race and all
in one piece…poodles must have found something in his bed to have
been up that early and all after a couple of halves of lager too,
not bad considering there had still been a bit to do when we left
the track. Had a chat with him and the boys about set up and in
view of the pace Saturday evening thought set up should be left
as for race 1 and the car should be in the top 5 at least.
Race Two
After what seemed like an age 11.40 came around
and shockingly Barbara Howard one of the event co-ordinators informed
us the whole programme had been brought forward and we were now
on track in 20 mins as the programme was well ahead of schedule,
anyone who knows Pickups will know that was a first.
Soon onto the grid and lined up in 13th position
which was a nice change given that we should have been 19th due
to the reverse grid rule - at least 6 cars had either not finised
race 1 or disturbed scrutineers seals meaning under the rules they
would be starting behind me. Completed the warm up laps with Dale
reminding at least six times think of the big picture and try not
to collect anyones accident (yeah right) I thought pity he never
thought about that driving back to the hotel last night !! With
Phil fighting for the championship and having shown good pace in
practice and race 1 till he had an oil leak, I had a feeling he
was the one to follow through….not for long though. As we approached
half way through turn 4 on lap 3 with Phil and I following Buzz
Dawkins and Richard Novell Phils car seemed to twitch a bit which
resulted in us both touching after which a fairly major accident
happened. When the dust had settled and coming round to pick up
the pace car I could see Rob Butterfield and John Stant sidelined
and thought how unlucky they had been. After a few pace car laps
the restart was welcomed with Dale giving it the green, green, green
- we tried to hook up with Simon for a few laps but it made the
car feel fairly loose so I dropped back in behind him and sure enough
he started to get loose and I managed to slip by again and consolidate
my position with some 40 second laps again….
The rest of the race was
uneventful again the car feeling stronger for each lap right to
the end allowing us to get to the flag with two seconds over Dancey,
Nic in third. Second race win in the bag and Dale was looking forward
to big picture racing and no stress in race three !!
Fastest Lap Simon Carr 40.298
After we got the car back from Parc Ferme having
had tech inspecting all over it to check everything was in compliance
with the rules Poodles had noticed some unusual wear on the outside
front which leading him to believe something was not quite right,
however, on further investigation all was deemed ok and minor adjustments
were made to account for the warmer track temperature compared to
the previous evening. I am glad we found something as poodles may
have thought he got it absolutely spot on like he did last night
and I couldn't cope with him doing that two races on the trot.
Race Three
On the grid position 15 thought I am definitely
going to take it steady this time after race two did not want to
chance being at the scene of the accident…..Phil went off like the
proverbial rocket and by lap 6 was in what looked like a comfortable
lead me in 5th. Car felt really strong again I thought perhaps its
not just Poodles as the engine seemed like it was the quickest we
had ever had and I could not resist the opportunity when it came
to slip past Pete Stevens, John Mickel and Phil on lap 7 which we
managed to make stick dropping in nicely behind Wilkie… Sat there
for a few laps watching temps which were up and down and managed
to struggle past Pete lap 10 and was able to pull a bit of a lead
in a few laps. The rest was much the same as races 1 and 2 with
the car remaining consistant as the race went to the chequered Dale
having counted off the laps perfectly three out of three and well
done Pete Stevens 2nd and Dancey 3rd.
Fastest Lap Gavin 40.551
We still had a bit of a sweat on with the engine
builder having been asked to be present in scrutineering however
after one and a half hours we brethed a sigh of relief and patted
each other on the back.
Full marks to the team Poodles, Dale, Justin, Tim
and Richard without whom the performance would not have been possible.
Catch you at Donington.
Gavin
I feel tired all of a sudden……….
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