Just a brief report from me as I had a brief day.

As I mentioned on a another thread somewhere, at last week's Lydden track day I had a coming together with a Clio Cup race car which destroyed a wheel and knocked out the geo. Then the gear lever sheared off in my hand.

Not a big problem, the suspension adjusted back to where it was meant to be and a shiny new quaife quick shift was ordered and fitted.

The only problem I did have was, because of the lost wheel, I didn't have a complete set of dry tyres. I run two sets of CR500s, a worn down set in the dry (they're best when almost bald), and a set with a lot of tread for the wet.

We put some dries on the front and wets on the back so unsurprisingly I had a lot of oversteer in the first practice session, lots of fun but not very quick. I also struggled with the new gear shift for a while so it wasn't the best of sessions.

No worries though, it doesn't take that long to wear the rears down and I soon got used to the new shift, in fact it's ace

The second practice session was going a bit better and I was starting to find a lot more speed round one corner in particular, paddock.

Then it happened.

I got over confident with the corner and decided to see if I could get round with just a lift instead of the usual dab on the brakes. I couldn't.

As soon as I turned in I knew it was going to go wrong.

I remember very clearly the sequence of thoughts in my head:

Oh sh*t, this is way too fast, it's going to run wide. Oh well, may get away with two wheels off the circuit and ease it back on. Oh sh*t, it really is running wide, it'll be a spin. Oh sh*t, all four wheels are in the gravel and that tyre wall is coming up very quickly. Is this going to hurt?

Wallop.

Thankfully it didn't hurt, there was just a strange 'hanging in the air' sensation for a moment. I've never been in an impact like that before so it was an interesting experience but I'm no in rush to repeat it

The car didn't get away so lightly, it's a chassis job so that means a strip down and return to it's maker.

There's not much of the front suspension that hasn't been effected in some way, I've already totalled over

 

Bad luck Graham. Hope you get the car sorted soon and it doesn't hurt your wallet too much.

 

There was lots of damage - I think I counted at least 4-5 "long fronts" (i..e front chassis), a couple of engine explosions (oil everywhere), another 2-3 buried in tyres, and various other smaller prangs.

It was a slippy day for some reason - really greasy. In the in-car video footage you can see my car sliding everywhere - even at the start i get a rear end twitch.

Fingers crossed it's in one piece again for brands, and like I said if there's anything I can do to help....

 

As I was 1st on sight and had a full view of G's fun and games and knowing he is perfectly well after it I feel I can quite comfortably say



I'll put a better post up later but this really reflects the day

 

Yeah, thanks Chris










I suspect Jesus thinks I'm a twat too, and he'd be right

 

Oh, and Chris isn't wrong.

 

Bad luck Graham :-( These things happen and whilst it's damage and money at least the Caterham is easy (and cheaper) to repair compared to a saloon car!

Matt

 

Unlucky Graham.

Sounds like you've taken it with a solid chin and I hope you get back on the track soon.

 

The racing was pretty good this weekend in general but there did seem to a LOT of offs. So G's comments about it being a stackfest was right on the money. I am sure there aare some wallets that were suffering on Sunday morning.

For me it didn't really feelthe same as the grid is so wide with cars ranging from the slower engined ones like G and Jo all the way to R400s and CSR260 (is it that a 240 ?!?). What it really mean s is that there becomes little races within the racefor a comparison. To see the straight line acceleration of some of the cars at the front of the grid compared to those near the rear is untrue. It is also testament to "buying" a quick lap. Even then, Ga nd Jo are doing well with lower spec'ed cars and proving they are actually better drivers - well except for this weekend eh Graham

Any here are a couple of vids - the first is Mr Ewings during qualifying and the second is Jo in the first race of the afternoon.

Graham

In car with Jo

 

They're brilliant babe thank you

You can see 2 other casualties during that race on the left hander

The power thing is getting a little bit frustrating now - towards the beginning there's a black and red westie that comes around the outside of the long right hander - that's a 1.5 busa engine with about 260-280bhp, the yellow 7 I'm chasing from about half way through is a bike engined westie with 130bhp at the wheels and its lighter than us. I beat it in the next race, but it weighs less and iut's got more power (I was 130bhp about 2 years ago at the flywheel I think) but so far th driver is less experienced (won't last long!!)

It wasn't the same without Graham to battle with

Still, I think we are driving better, we've had some comments from other drivers about how well we're doing to get the laptimes we are getting, with our cars