Rather than continue to spam up Moggy & Fieldl's thread, I'll start my own.

This weekend, in a departure from the normal SEMSEC Lydden Hill/Brands Hatch meetings, I had my first race in a another series at a different circuit - Snetterton.

The Magnificent 7s races are open to any 7 type car and are run over 40 mins with options of 1 car 1 driver (with mandatory pitstop), 1 car 2 drivers and 2 cars 2 drivers. I was in a two car team (the only one in fact) with a fellow SEMSEC competitor Andy.

We went testing on the Friday and I didn't have a great start. The starter motor packed up as I was about the put the car on the trailer, cue some of the worst language I've heard from my brother in a while and a lightening fast swap to the spare.

We got going with plenty of time to get there for the first session only to find part of the A11 closed due to an accident so we missed it after all

The testing itself wasn't brilliant, I was getting some quite severe understeer and had a couple of offs. This was initially put down to the tyres not getting up to temperature, a damp track and me not adjusting to the difference in power from the last time I drove Snetterton, but eventually found a joint had come loose in the steering

I think it was a combination of all three but I'm not experienced enough yet to know how bigger part each problem played. It'll come. I hope.

On to the races.

I qualified reasonably well and put us 19th on the grid out of 38 cars, first in our class and ahead of a couple of the next class up.

We decided that Andy would start, I had no preference and he tends to get off the line better than me so it makes sense.

There was a huge smash on the start line which caused a red flag and a restart but luckily Andy wasn't involved. When it got going again, he got a very good start and made up a few places

As I was waiting in the pits I mentioned to someone that it's a good job Andy's gone first as he's much less likely to have an off and throw it away for both of us. I then looked up at the Russell chicane to see him pirouetting

He got going again and it's a 40 minute race with pitstops so not the end of the world. Before I knew it my time came. Andy came in, we waiting for the mandatory minute and I set off, on cold tyres, not knowing what the hell was going on.

It didn't take long to get in the swing of it and I started to pick off some of the slower cars and some of the not so slower cars. There was a lot of position swapping going on, slip streaming, cars spinning off and wings all over the track.

It seemed to be going very well for me until I had very high speed spin about 3/4 of the way round Coram and ended up on grass on the inside. I lost a lot of places but got going again and started to make my way back through the pack but not long after it ended.

Apparently I'd got up to 13th before coming off and putting us back down to 19th, finally finishing in 18th.

This meant a 3rd in class, but we really should have won it with our power advantage

At the end of the race, all the cars had to go to parc ferme and all the drivers were called into the scrutineering bay for a bollocking.

This is getting too long, I'll split it up...

 

The clerk of the course was not happy about driving standards, apparently there was a lot of bumping going on and excessive use of the kerbs.

Whilst he didn't exactly say it, it didn't appear to be aimed at the regulars but at some of the newcomers to the series who he asked not to return with that standard of driving!

The official Caterham series (Roadsports, R300s etc) have got a meeting at Snetterton next weekend and there were a lot those guys doing the race presumably for a bit of practice.

They are a lot more competitive, aggressive and have bigger budgets than your average club racer. It seems some of them brought that along with them and it wasn't welcome.

I missed most of it by doing the second half when the grid had separated more, but judging from the debris on the track and talk in the paddock afterwards there were some naughty goings on. Andy suffered a damaged rear wing and one of the other SEMSEC chaps left the race early with what looked like very broken front suspension.

That aside, it was interesting having that lot there. One of the Roadsports' best times was half a second off mine. I've got grippier tyres, bigger brakes, an LSD and a 60 odd bhp advantage on a track with the longest straight in the UK

They have got newer cars on the run by professional teams but even so....


More to follow....

 

Half a sec quicker than you, or slower?

 

We also entered the 'Sports vs Saloons Challenge' race but this time as individuals.

As it sounds, it's open to sports cars and saloons with the classes split on engine capacity only. Rather odd as this puts a Honda Integra in the class as a Caterham R400

Still, it was a bit of fun.

I hadn't been able to get a clean lap in qualifying but eneded up 13th on the grid out of 39, alongside Andy and without some interesting stuff around us like a 2litre 205 gti, a few Tiger caterfield things and a 6.6 litre Camaro up ahead.

I got a reasonable start and after a few laps made up a couple of places putting me 1st in class.

Before long the grid started to thin out and I found myself catching the Camaro coming into Sear

I was just about to go round the outside of him with the intention of getting past him on the straight with my much higher exit speed when he straightened up, planted it and made me feel like I was going backwards.

The difference in straight line speed was so ridiculous I actually laughed out loud, within seconds he was a tiny spec on the horizon. Bear in mind I've got about 350bhp per tonne and I'm going much, much faster than him at that point.

But...

The Camaro is a big old lump and, err, not particularly good on the brakes or in the corners so by the time the bomb hole comes up I've got him back in my sights. I gradually close the gap all the way around Coram and am in a position to outbrake him for the chicane.

I get past and start pulling a gap up the pit straight, but then he straightens up and goes past like I'm standing still again

It then repeats so I'm 2mm away from his bumper through Sear and he straightens up.

This went on for the rest of the race, with me outbraking myself at one point and straight lining the chicane (the grass is quite smooth there isn't it Jo? ), and quite a few sideways moments.

I got ahead again on the run to the chequered flag but he got past in the end, completely ridiculous race but not one I'll forget in a hurry

Brilliant day all in all, great to drive another circuit and a great series. I think I've almost made my mind up for next year.

 

Slower, thank god

 

So what is the red jelly baby deciding to do next year?

 

nice

 

It's looking very much like a combination of CSCC Mag 7s and SEMSEC.

I am also considering being a different jelly baby for each event. I'm going to see if Bassetts are interested in some form of sponsorship.

 

Glad to you had a good day. I will update our thread with how we got on. Your results where good for the first time out. I think we were in the only race on Sunday which didn't have the safety car out

Personally I really enjoy racing the CSCC a good bunch. Shame on you all for the driving standards.

We are yet to do a Sports and Saloons race but am looking forward to entering. Its a cheap extra 15 minutes racing isn't it.

I guess it's the same for the coffins the budgets are bigger as there are no eligibility regs.

Be good to see you about next year. I did try to get hold of your number to call when was enroute.
You were lapping quite a bit quicker than us

 

It's always Caterhams who get into trouble for driving standards ;-)

Well done Graham, at this rate if you ever join Mega's you'll crucify me !