Race Update
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Surrey
Race Update
Just for those that have a vague interest 
I started racing with the Caterham Graduates this year. A very intimidating prospect - they have 3 classes (classics, supers and megas) and with my existing car the only class it would go into was Mega's - the quickest class and a lot of experienced drivers
First race was this weekend at Silverstone (National) - testing Friday, qualy Saturday, double header on Sunday.
It went really well - learnt lots! It's quite an experience to be in a grid of about 30 cars all the same
Race 1 was a bit of a washout for me - got a terrible start, bogged the car down (it's more difficult to launch compared to last year), lost about 3-4 places which I only recovered 1 place
Spent most of the race out on my own. The thing about Silverstone is, if you don't get a tow from someone you find the rest disappear quite quickly as they get tows from other people.
Race 2 was more fun - still lost a couple on the grid but then got engaged in a 4-way battle for most of the race. Eventually I had a bit of contact with another car which knocked us both back from the pack, and then a couple of laps later he span in front of me and it was a bit close!
I don't think there's a lot of damage (possibly the tracking knocked out) from the tap, so hopefully it'll all be sorted for Mallory next month
Lap time-wise, our class lap record is a 1.06 something, and I was in the 1.07's in the second race which is pretty good
I started racing with the Caterham Graduates this year. A very intimidating prospect - they have 3 classes (classics, supers and megas) and with my existing car the only class it would go into was Mega's - the quickest class and a lot of experienced drivers
First race was this weekend at Silverstone (National) - testing Friday, qualy Saturday, double header on Sunday.
It went really well - learnt lots! It's quite an experience to be in a grid of about 30 cars all the same
Race 1 was a bit of a washout for me - got a terrible start, bogged the car down (it's more difficult to launch compared to last year), lost about 3-4 places which I only recovered 1 place
Spent most of the race out on my own. The thing about Silverstone is, if you don't get a tow from someone you find the rest disappear quite quickly as they get tows from other people.Race 2 was more fun - still lost a couple on the grid but then got engaged in a 4-way battle for most of the race. Eventually I had a bit of contact with another car which knocked us both back from the pack, and then a couple of laps later he span in front of me and it was a bit close!
I don't think there's a lot of damage (possibly the tracking knocked out) from the tap, so hopefully it'll all be sorted for Mallory next month
Lap time-wise, our class lap record is a 1.06 something, and I was in the 1.07's in the second race which is pretty good
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Leigh-On-Sea
Didn't see this before I replied to your email 
First nudge of the season already, nice work
Some of the chaps at Lydden on Saturday were asking how you were getting on.
I'll try to get along to support you and generally get in the way at some point.
Missed my first race of the season Saturday, I'll post up what's been going (or not going on) eventually.
First nudge of the season already, nice work
Some of the chaps at Lydden on Saturday were asking how you were getting on.
I'll try to get along to support you and generally get in the way at some point.
Missed my first race of the season Saturday, I'll post up what's been going (or not going on
) eventually.
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,291
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From: Nottingham
i think you will learn more quickly racing against more experienced drivers. you get to watch their lines and how they approach things and pick bits up from that. i did one of these endurance kart things once (i know it's not the same but the principle is there ) and when i was behind one of the faster guys i was picking up on his lines and watching where he braked etc, my times where quicker because of that.avoid the contact
don't watch Graham, he goes sideways everywhere
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From: Surrey
Slow in fast out
I got horrendous amounts of understeer part way through the first race - I *think* I slightly overcooked my front tyres, but also got a bit carried away and started carrying too much pace into the tight left handers.
G compared to last year my setup is totally different - last year I ran the 2nd stiffest setting at the back (can't remember the front) but this year I'm on the middle bar at the front and the rear completely disconnected. So far anyway! But without the LSD it is harder to get the power down, hence softer rear end (at least I think that's what the theory is) plus springs are different this year.
Results.. errr well:
Race 1
Finished in 24th place (of 30 starters). Started on the grid in 24th.
Race 2
Started in 23rd place (of 30 starters), finished in 25th place. But a much better race with more "action"
Doesn't sound massively impressive I know, but I keep being told to be pleased by the result due to beating more experienced people, and in the 2nd race I might have finished acouple of places higher if we hadn't had that tap. By the 2nd race I wasn't far off pole (lap times), and I saw o/t opportunities that with a bit more experience I would have taken.
It was a completely different experience to last year - the first few laps with the main pack before it splits out into "mini packs" is quite something! Because Silverstone is so wide you can go into the first corner 4-5 abreast and someone has just got to yield. However generally pretty well behaved, and the contact was a mistake - I think I had the overlap on the inside but the guy just didn't see me (just one of those things!)
Some pics to follow
I got horrendous amounts of understeer part way through the first race - I *think* I slightly overcooked my front tyres, but also got a bit carried away and started carrying too much pace into the tight left handers.
G compared to last year my setup is totally different - last year I ran the 2nd stiffest setting at the back (can't remember the front) but this year I'm on the middle bar at the front and the rear completely disconnected. So far anyway! But without the LSD it is harder to get the power down, hence softer rear end (at least I think that's what the theory is) plus springs are different this year.
Results.. errr well:
Race 1
Finished in 24th place (of 30 starters). Started on the grid in 24th.
Race 2
Started in 23rd place (of 30 starters), finished in 25th place. But a much better race with more "action"
Doesn't sound massively impressive I know, but I keep being told to be pleased by the result due to beating more experienced people, and in the 2nd race I might have finished acouple of places higher if we hadn't had that tap. By the 2nd race I wasn't far off pole (lap times), and I saw o/t opportunities that with a bit more experience I would have taken.
It was a completely different experience to last year - the first few laps with the main pack before it splits out into "mini packs" is quite something! Because Silverstone is so wide you can go into the first corner 4-5 abreast and someone has just got to yield. However generally pretty well behaved, and the contact was a mistake - I think I had the overlap on the inside but the guy just didn't see me (just one of those things!)
Some pics to follow
