Donington 30th June - not all fun!
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:32 pm
This was the rescheduled race planned for March that got snowed off. It was one of our 45 minute races with Roadsports, same format as Snetterton. Good weather again - suits me. I don't mind driving in the wet, but I hate all the sitting around and getting the car ready on the wet. Decent turn out from SR>, with two Cobra's, GT40, Kougar, Lotus Europa, two newcomers with very hot MGBGT V8's and myself.
Practice was fine, the car really enjoying the undulating sweeping bends at Donington. My first time on the Grands Prix circuit that includes the Melbourne hairpin behind the paddock. The chicane off the back straight onto that part of the circuit was brilliant. Brake late, turn in early and almost take it as one corner with two twitches of the wheel instead of a deliberate left - right. Got into the 1:59's and was 16th place on a 22 car grid. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the race.
Had another reasonable start, but not quite as good as the last two, and got ahead of a Boxster that was just in front of me on the grid. Kept him there through the first lap until we are heading down the back straight to the aforementioned chicane. He's maybe 30 feet behind me and as I start to line of for braking into the chicane I see him go to the left as if to dive up the inside into the chicane. One of those slow motion times. I'm thinking he can't believe he's going to try and beat a 500kg sports car through there in a 1200kg road car. But he does - try, anyway. Moron. He leaves his braking too late so I have to cut the chicane to miss him, then he loses it coming out of the corner and wallops my left hand side with his rear end. No guessing who loses the most. The passenger door loses all of its rivets as the ally side gets bent way out of shape and ends up in the passenger seat space, held thankfully by the check strap. The car otherwise seems OK so I pit straight after to check it. It looks ugly but hopefully all just bodywork, and the exhaust tail pipe is loose. Cheng helps me to cut the door loose and I head out again. Car seems to be running OK and I exit the pit maybe 100 yards (and one lap) behind same said Boxster. Naturally I get the bit between my teeth to catch him. 3 or 4 laps later I'm getting close and we get yellow flags that allow me to get even closer. But just as the yellow clears they bring the safety car out to clear a dead car. Pretty much the same time the pits open and I go in to do my mandatory 1 min pit stop. I head out after the minute but the exhaust sounds odd. I guess that the manifold is maybe cracked after the impact. But after another lap its clear there's more amiss. At best a broken manifold, so I come in for good. So, my first real DNF. Had to happen sometime. Shame it was mainly because of moronic driving. Maybe a great driver can get a Boxster up the inside of an Eleven and make it stick, on the first lap. But Chris Valentine (said driver) is clearly less than that and just deluded about his or his car's abilities. Speaks volumes that several of the Roadsports drivers were called to race control for disciplinaries, and none from SR>. Naturally Mr. Valentine did not come over to apologise or even check I was OK. Arse.
On the bright side SR> cars took the first 3 overall places, with John Dickson winning in his Cobra - and it was his birthday.
Got the car home having not been in the mood to look closely at the circuit and it turns out the noise is in fact the head gasket, and not the manifold. Blowing out between 3 & 4 on the plug side. Just coincidence that it happened just after the knock?
So, head has to come off and check no other damage to the engine. Hopefully two laps has not eroded either the head or block where the leak is. Then lots of ally bashing to get the car useable for Rockingham. I doubt Westfield will be able to supply new all panels before then so it won't be pretty. The chassis rails are OK, and I guess that's part of the job of the ally side panels. Got several comments on how entertaining the car was to watch, from both drivers and spectators. Good to know it looks as good from the outside as it feels from the inside.
Will keep you posted on the repairs...
Practice was fine, the car really enjoying the undulating sweeping bends at Donington. My first time on the Grands Prix circuit that includes the Melbourne hairpin behind the paddock. The chicane off the back straight onto that part of the circuit was brilliant. Brake late, turn in early and almost take it as one corner with two twitches of the wheel instead of a deliberate left - right. Got into the 1:59's and was 16th place on a 22 car grid. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the race.
Had another reasonable start, but not quite as good as the last two, and got ahead of a Boxster that was just in front of me on the grid. Kept him there through the first lap until we are heading down the back straight to the aforementioned chicane. He's maybe 30 feet behind me and as I start to line of for braking into the chicane I see him go to the left as if to dive up the inside into the chicane. One of those slow motion times. I'm thinking he can't believe he's going to try and beat a 500kg sports car through there in a 1200kg road car. But he does - try, anyway. Moron. He leaves his braking too late so I have to cut the chicane to miss him, then he loses it coming out of the corner and wallops my left hand side with his rear end. No guessing who loses the most. The passenger door loses all of its rivets as the ally side gets bent way out of shape and ends up in the passenger seat space, held thankfully by the check strap. The car otherwise seems OK so I pit straight after to check it. It looks ugly but hopefully all just bodywork, and the exhaust tail pipe is loose. Cheng helps me to cut the door loose and I head out again. Car seems to be running OK and I exit the pit maybe 100 yards (and one lap) behind same said Boxster. Naturally I get the bit between my teeth to catch him. 3 or 4 laps later I'm getting close and we get yellow flags that allow me to get even closer. But just as the yellow clears they bring the safety car out to clear a dead car. Pretty much the same time the pits open and I go in to do my mandatory 1 min pit stop. I head out after the minute but the exhaust sounds odd. I guess that the manifold is maybe cracked after the impact. But after another lap its clear there's more amiss. At best a broken manifold, so I come in for good. So, my first real DNF. Had to happen sometime. Shame it was mainly because of moronic driving. Maybe a great driver can get a Boxster up the inside of an Eleven and make it stick, on the first lap. But Chris Valentine (said driver) is clearly less than that and just deluded about his or his car's abilities. Speaks volumes that several of the Roadsports drivers were called to race control for disciplinaries, and none from SR>. Naturally Mr. Valentine did not come over to apologise or even check I was OK. Arse.
On the bright side SR> cars took the first 3 overall places, with John Dickson winning in his Cobra - and it was his birthday.
Got the car home having not been in the mood to look closely at the circuit and it turns out the noise is in fact the head gasket, and not the manifold. Blowing out between 3 & 4 on the plug side. Just coincidence that it happened just after the knock?
So, head has to come off and check no other damage to the engine. Hopefully two laps has not eroded either the head or block where the leak is. Then lots of ally bashing to get the car useable for Rockingham. I doubt Westfield will be able to supply new all panels before then so it won't be pretty. The chassis rails are OK, and I guess that's part of the job of the ally side panels. Got several comments on how entertaining the car was to watch, from both drivers and spectators. Good to know it looks as good from the outside as it feels from the inside.
Will keep you posted on the repairs...