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A nice easy start to the day.
Only half way around the M25 and signing on at 10.00.
I had never been to Brands before, track day or race. So a careful approach to the day.
See the nice clean tarmac... lovely.
It would be a hot day at 32 degrees C. The dry sump system kept the oil below 100 degrees C at all times.
15 minutes was all we had for qualifying and then a 14 lap race. Not much track time to learn a new circuit.
After qually the tyres were on the pain treshold to touch ~ 60 degrees C and that was having cruised round back in to the Paddock.I desperately needed the signature on my licence as a 2nd circuit on the way to my 10 races and a NatA licence.
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One of my first goes at Paddock Hill. Not a corner you just approach and do right from the outset. Here my line is to tight.
Later on I learned to keep out more, brake later, apex and come upto the line on the exit.
The compression in the dip is fantastic, up Hairwood hill to Druids steep. I had to push my helmet up a little so that I could see up the hill under my sun visor. That has never happened before.
I am still a long way from committing to the corner at anything like full speed. I need more laps.
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| Paddock Hill, respect and exhilarating at the same time |
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Nice pic Phil. You might even get good with the digi camera too.
Next time round I pushed late braking in to Druids a bit too far, snatched a brake and left a trail of smoke. The resulting flat spot gave me some worring vibration on the steering at higher speeds but wore off after a few laps. Martin Brundle has talked of the F1 boys doing just this....
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| Digi pic of the day, Up Hairwood hill into Druids |
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Approaching Graham Hill bend. It took a few goes to get the right line in. I found myself on the fairly unforgiving rumple curb a couple of times, a real speed loser. Adjusting the line and a little slower in meant much better traction out and up Cooper Straight. Settle the car for Surtees and flick left and right.
Clearways was a challenge to find the apex. Once the grippy line was found it became clearer.
I qualified 19th out of 30.
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| Variety of machinery. Field of 30 |
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Phil the mechanic come photographer, is now in the woodland area by Hairwood Hill and Druids bend for the race.
I got a good start (slightly fewer rpm than the last bad start at Lydden) and every one was sensible. Here I am battling with a 1400 K series. My lack of experience at Brands, lots of traffic and cautious approach at the start kept us together for the first few laps. After settling down I had pulled out a 12.5 second lead by the end of the race. The 1400 is a quick car but the VX grunt, slicks over ACB10 and my AP brakes were evident.
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With so many cars and such a variety of speeds, keeping out of the way up and being held up a bit is all part of the fun. I got bottled up behind a Triumph Vitesse through Clarke Curve and the Sierra following me got the considerable power advantage down along Brabham straight and got me by Paddock Hill Bend.
Not to worry I am later on the brakes due to considerable weight advantage (the car, not the driver)
and could slide up the inside at Druids. Druids was my favourite overtaking spot... I finished in 15th place.
So, 10th race completed. 9 signatures that count so far...
The 10th signature could be a marshalling. I plan on trying this anyway at some time to see the other side of the barrier.
Lydden 7/9 here we come.
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| or is this the digi pic of the day? Who can brake latest into Druids? I can! |
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