Of course, over a five hour bike race, there is quite a bit of opportunity to make up for a slow start. In a 12 minute sprint race, not so much. The good news is that, unlike in mountain biking, its probably something I can fix fairly easily since its mostly a mind thing.
So why am I telling you all this? Well, because it was made abundantly clear to me during the race day this past weekend.
We had finally rotated to the top of the program again which put us first up for qualifying at 8am and had our races at a decent 10am and 2pm. Much better timing now that it was fully summer and the sun was getting up early again.
I caught up with Ant at the set of traffic lights just before the track where he was causing some traffic chaos owing to a blown fuse. He seemed to have things in hand so I headed on and parked up in my pit. I collected my paperwork and headed off to scrutineer. By the time I got back to the pits Ant had arrived and was busy tracing the source of his blown fuse. By now qualifying was rapidly approaching so we all suited up and rumbled off to the holding grid.
I was trying a new tactic for qualifying. I usually start as close to the back as I can owing to my aforementioned slow starting. This time I was going to try starting a little higher up the order and was determined to throw the preverbal caution to the wind. I figured its far better to spin off during qualifying than during the race itself. The plan of starting higher up the field was to try and get a few more clean laps in before the front of the field arrived on the scene and messed things up.
The whistle blew and we were waved onto the track. It was fairly cold still, but I did a bit of tyre warming for half a lap and then set to things. My plan seemed to work as I managed around six clean laps and second on the grid in class D. I was pipped to pole by Paul in the R8 who was showing a slightly indecent turn of speed for the day. It was a sign of things to come for Paul as he seems to be getting issues on the R8 slowly sorted.
Ant also managed to score a decent qualifying time, but then Ant is a pro at getting out of the blocks at a full sprint.
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| Ant in action. Photo curtesy of Dieter |
We now only had a couple of hours to wait before our first race so we headed to the club house for the ritual breakfast roll and coffee.
Soon it was race time and we dutifully lined up on the holding grid. We had 19 cars racing with only two Harpers and three members of class D in attendance. Craig was getting ready to head off up North and race in Zimbabwe while Haydn was still finalising his new engine after letting all the smoke out of his old one. Class D comprised myself, Hennie in his every trusty Lotus 7 and Paul in the fabulous R8. Sadly Alan, in the only other Harper, had done his gearbox in during qualifying so was forced to sit the first race out while his crew frantically dismembered his car.
We finally rolled up to the start and, as usual, by the time we arrived on the main straight the field was in full flight. My grid placing put me on the outside going into turn 1. I had Hennie on the inside just behind me and Paul up front.
Which brings me neatly to the issue of starting slowly. Hennie does not have this problem at all and neatly slotted his Lotus between me and the inside of turn 1. I was then further distracted by Cyril in his Porsche, who had qualified badly, and was behind us again. His car has considerably more urge than ours and he was elbowing he way between us going into turn 2. I don't care much for his colour scheme and did not really want any of it on my car so I gave him some room. By the time the frenzied activity of the first two corners was over Hennie, Paul and Ant where some way up the track. Eventually, after around 5 laps, I was starting to get my times down into the early 25's and had halted the rampantly widening gap between myself and the rest of class D. I then slowly managed to start reducing the gap, helped in no small way by the fact that Ant and Hennie were locked in battle. Paul and the R8 were nowhere to be seen.
The race ended with Ant taking Hennie and me not quite getting close enough to be anything of a challenge. Paul's R8 turbo's had clearly enjoyed the cooler air, with him posting a handful of 23's that effectively shoved him into class C for the next race day. He would, however, finish the day with us in class D leaving Hennie and I to fight for the lesser placings. Round one was to Hennie then.
Our next race was scheduled for 2pm so it was time for an early lunch. Around this time Paul of the burning GT40 fame arrived and we chatted about his resurrection plans. He is pretty much totally rebuilding his GT40 and, while everything is in bits, he's making a few changes. He was a bit cagey about the changes, but assured us he would be ready for next season. We are all looking forward to the reappearance of the grand old lady of racing. The car that is, not Paul.
We spent lunch having a fascinating chat with Gunther from G&A Promotions (local supplier of all things racing). He has just finished building a V8 Masters car and gave us some interesting insight into these amazing one make machines designed by the late Owen Ashley.
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| A V8 Masters car |
I wandered back to the pits and had a stern chat with myself about getting going from the word go. No more Mr Nice Guy or waiting for "things to settle down". It was time for a little more gung and a little less ho(hum). I had draw pole for race 2 and really needed to make the most of this little gift.
However, turn 2 was a case of serious deja vu as both Paul and Hennie strolled past me on the inside. I was so busy cursing and swearing into my helmet that I failed to notice the large black Corvette driven by new comer to Sports & GT, Hennie Bosman, starting to fill up my mirrors. It was clearly the jolt I needed. There's nothing like a big black car bearing down on one to focus the mind. In no time I was clocking early 25's and was right on the tail of Hennie's Lotus. Something that surprised him almost as much as me, considering my previous results. I briefly mused on being the filling to a Hennie sandwich before setting about rear of the Lotus in all ernest. Hennie is a seasoned campaigner and can really pilot his car. It's amazing how wide he can make a little Lotus 7 appear to be! He is quicker than me on the twisty bits, but I have the edge on the straights. My grunt advantage is somewhat offset by Hennie's ability to brake virtually as he starts turning in. Eventually, however, I was placed close enough to take him down the main straight. He slowly wandered across the track leisurely taking the racing line. I ducked left and passed him on the inside then, remembering Craig's advice of making the other driver work for his place, cut across onto the racing line for turn 1. We swung though turn 1 and blasted up to turn 2 where I took my usual line. Needless to say Hennie simply ducked inside me and took the corner. It was the second time at the same corner in the same race that I was cursing and swearing into my helmet, but mental notes were been made.
I managed to mostly stick with him all the way around the back of the circuit and coming out of turn 5 I was ready for his cross circuit amble. I held left and, as soon as there was enough space, blasted past retaking the racing line for turn 1 as before. Again we slithered through turn 1, but this time I dived right into the middle of turn 2 and slowed up enough to keep control. Hennie had no choice, but to follow me though. The rest of the race was rapidly consumed by determined attacks from Hennie and equally determined defences from myself. It was all out racing.
By the time the chequered flag fell I was breathing hard and sweating a lot more than the mildly warm day demanded. Round two was to me! Hennie pulled up next to me as we coasted to park ferme and gave me the thumbs up. It was by far the best race I had been involved in to date. Its a real pleasure to race with somebody like Hennie who races hard, but clean.
Final results had Paul, in his last outing with us class D mortals, taking first while Hennie took second and myself third overall. We now have one more race day left this season, the last race of which counts for double points. With only 12 points separating the two of us, this season is going down to the wire! Slow starting is not going to be an option.
Personally, I would not have it any other way!
