The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Qualified 15th with 1:17.7
Race 1
Lap 1: Jarrod gets off to a delayed start on the inside, that boxes Kevin in. Kevin gets tapped by Emil. For some stranger reason I am great-granny-shifting as I line up for an inside approach to Redgate with Robert on the outside. Willie plans on making it 3-wide on my inside. I ease up to give us all room and drop to 19th. Up ahead Philip taps the back of William on the approach to Old Hairpin. Both go off the grass on the right with William coming back across the track and into the gravel. Philip is able to come back on the track just inside the Old Hairpin, but this causes a great jam up. Philip slows up waiting and wondering, “Where’s William?”. This leaves me in 17th.
Lap 2: Fair gap ahead to Willie, Rhys and Robert running in a pack. Jarrod’s a little closer and I’ve got Timothy and Neil gaining on my tail. Jarrod spins up on the curbing out of McLean’s. Rhys is sitting up against the tires at Goddards thanks to a tap from Willie. Rhys has to wait for everyone to come around before he can get going again. I pass Willie while he waits for Rhys, giving me 14th.
Lap 3: Timothy is pressuring me.
Lap 4: Timothy makes a good run up to McLean’s and I’m making minimum gains on Robert ahead.
Lap 5: Timothy pits. It’s now Neil’s turn to put pressure on me. Robert is running away.
Lap 7: Now in 12th as I pass folks in the pits. I will be pitting this lap for 2 rear tires.
Lap 8: Come out of the pits in 16th, but that won’t last long as Abdul is on my tail. I let him by coming up to Goddards.
Lap 9: 14th
Lap 10: 12th
Lap 11: Robert is slowly gaining on me and Claudio is not that far ahead of me. Up ahead in position 6, Matthew loses the rear coming out of the Craner Curves and ends up on the gravel. Claudio takes evasive maneuvers as Matthew enters the track at Old Hairpin. I slip by both approaching McLean’s. I mess up my approach to Goddards allowing Claudio to drag race me to Redgate. Valor says he’s going to have the better line on approach (it’s wet after all), so I concede.
Lap 12: I’m now in 11th and pass Abdul who is riding in the gravel just before Old Hairpin. Pass Kevin who is in the gravel at McLean’s. Pass Ryan who is not having any fun after getting punted into the run-off at Goddards by Brandon. I pass Brandon on the straights while he waits for Ryan.
Lap 13: Now 8th and Robert is still back there. Pass Keith who over-cooked Old Hairpin.
Lap 14: 7th and now it’s Abdul on my tail after passing Robert who had gone wide at Redgate. This time I make Abdul earn the pass!
Lap 15: Which he does at Redgate. I’m now 8th and Robert is slipping back further being held up by a lapped car.
Finish 8th behind Abdul (won’t get to say that very often).
Best time 1:16.775 on lap 4
Now the Bad & Ugly
Race 2
Waiting for cars to line up on the grid. Where is everyone? Oh, crap! I’m number 1 (who made that rule?). Waiting for the lights to go out – the screen flickers and I make a false start. Finally the lights are out and I miss a couple of gears on the start and slip back to 8th. Mess up braking on approach to Old Hairpin to avoid the gaggle ahead. Get off track sideways and slip back onto the racing line in front of Neil. Since I have to do a Stop & Go, I try to find an empty spot before Goddards. Drop to 11th. Serving Stop & Go – Calm Down!!!.
Lap 2: Come out 21st and pass Will who had trouble at Goddards.
Lap 4: 19th and trying to gain on John. John over-shoots entrance at Goddards and I almost follow him, only I impact the tire barrier sustaining front left suspension damage. Now I have a stock car that doesn’t want to turn right.
Lap 6: Trying to ride it out until my planned pit stop. Pass Willie (lag?) but he is back by on approach to Goddards. Since I am pitting, I let him go. 2 rear tires and repairs. I come out 18th.
Must have worn the left front tire somewhat with the damage as it still doesn’t want to turn right like is use to. Now I just concentrate on allowing the leaders by without wrecking anyone.
Lap 10: Pass Timothy who went wide off course and McLean’s to let Abdul by. Now in 16th.
Lap 12: Time to pressure Neil who slips wide exiting Coppice.
I finish 15th, 1 lap down.
Fastest lap 18:367 on lap 13.
Overall Finish 9th
Sorry about the start of Race 2 folks….. My brain just started short-circuiting --- must have been all of the damp I have been running in all week....
