2010 season

[stylussprinter]

JUST GOT THE FINAL RESULTS --

FTD 1998 VANDIEMAN 81.11 SEC'S
ESCORT 1998 ABOVE 2 lap practice 205.15sec's 1st run (102.24sec's) 2nd run 104.32sec's
SSC STYLUS 1998 (mine) 2 lap practice 189.35sec's 1st run (95.48sec's) 2nd run 95.99sec's

[stylussprinter]

Just received the final instructions for ABINGDON which shows me in Class 11 , number 144 and pitted in paddock B , along with WESTY ROTARY , DARRION T9 , ANGLIA XE , JUNO SSE - CN , EVO 5 , MG 6R4 , MGB V8

The JUNO is a shock and I know the Darrion is quick enough to beat me by 0.5 sec last time here in 2008. The EVO and both MG's will be on slicks and very quick so it looks like a fight for 5th place between me , Brian's crazy Rotary Westy and Rod's XE Anglia h,mmm

See you there anybody

[stylussprinter]

Well the day was dry and sunny which is always a bonus The JUNO as expected won the class , the Darrion of Colin Early was 2nd ----- the twin rotary Westy was awesome , especially as it wasn't really set up properly and was 3rd . I then thought I'd be 4th even though 3rd was in my mind but the MGV8 on huge slicks pipped me by 1/10 th sec on the Abingdon course and 1 sec on the Bentley course
That made me 5th from 8 in class by 1.11 sec's over the two combined courses but a quite pleasing 26th overall from the 150 entries. I did beat the MG 6R4 BY 4.1 sec's over the combined courses which surprised me . The AngliaXE I beat by 8 sec's then the EVO 5 by 1/2 sec on the Bentley and it didn't get round the Abingdon course so ended last.

I managed to beat my previous best in 2008 by 1 sec on the Abingdon course and 2 sec's on the Bentley course . 47.89 sec's (A) 52.49 sec's (B)
Didn't enter in 2009 due to the repairs

[Antnicuk]

nice one rob. brian (westty) will be pleased. I have been talking to him recently about turboing his car but it sounds like he doesnt need it.

Does he run full slicks? I assume you are still running 888's or similar. Is it difficult to be fair if some are running full slicks and other arnt?

[stylussprinter]

nice one rob. brian (westty) will be pleased. I have been talking to him recently about turboing his car but it sounds like he doesnt need it.

Does he run full slicks? I assume you are still running 888's or similar. Is it difficult to be fair if some are running full slicks and other arnt?

He's got some VERY wide tyres , could be slicks -- not sure but to be fair to Brian he can really pedal a car well He was 2 secs quicker than me on the BENTLEY and almost 1 sec quicker on the ABINGDON .

[stylussprinter]

I said previously that I was only entering Goodwood events plus Abingdon and not chasing ACSMC Championship points . Well that was definitely the plan until I got the points standings so far for 2010 and it appears that I'm leading Sports Libre by 20 points
That's probably because I made Goodwood my ' joker ' event in April and others have named Eelmoor as their ' joker ' . A 1st in class gives you 10 points and naming that particular event before the season starts as a ' joker ' will give you 20 points for the win

Eelmoor holds a few ' ghosts ' for me and very expensive ones too , so I've looked through the calender that's left in 2010 and there's still LYDDEN , BRANDSHATCH , DEBDEN & EELMOOR
I haven't competed at Lydden since 2005 and Debden since 2004 . Brands , I've never competed at ever nor spectated The car running 2nd in the Championship at present is a 6R4 and he does well in the wet but I beat him at Abingdon which surprised me.
SO --------- I'm entering Brands and Debden . Brands will be the 12th Sept and Debden the 3rd Oct. I've done well at Lydden before but it's a damn long drive from here plus it means an overnight = £££
So I'm now like a pig after ' truffles ' for a pot once more

[stylussprinter]

Just downloaded an entry form for the TWMC Sprint at Brands Hatch and noticed the fee is £165
Now you know why I haven't been there before Last time I had an invite it was £150 which was steep enough
Ah well , I'd just better make damn sure I only drive where it's black or that will increase the cost even more There's a race meeting the same day , so I guess the sprint will be morning only

[bluestu]

Brands sounds like fun,it's in the diary

let's hope it's dry

[stylussprinter]

H,mmm , not sure that a sprint is the best way to learn ' paddock bend ' --- particularly if it rains

[stylussprinter]

I've just heard from Gary Goodwin TWMC that BRANDS is full so I'm on the reserve list also there's no camping allowed ---------- strange , I'm sure others have camped in the past for the 750 club meetings
That's a pain in the arse ------- means leaving home at 4-30am Had enough of that over the years , competing everywhere

Being a reserve only , means I probably wont know if I'm competing or not until the day before maybe

[stylussprinter]

Anyone driven BRANDS on this forum --- Kev

[mikeb]

yes Rob.
Great fun. Paddock is a little intimidating at 1st when your low down in the car. You feel as if you want to sit up higher in the harness to see th road better, there is not just 1 turn-in point and approach to the apex.

I presume you are doing the Indy Circuit not the GP?

[stylussprinter]

Thanks Mike -- yes it's only the INDY . I've heard the best approach/quickest to paddock is to hug the pitlane wall then move over late for paddock entry then look for the kerb to apex but let it drift ----- the front goes light

[kevp]

Rob.
Done the track loads of times, but not in a car.

Im not sure about keeping tight to the pit wall. The racers do it to block.
On a bike you have to be ready for the change in gradient when you hit the start of Hailwood Hill after the drop down from Paddock Hill, it can easily wind you. Brake early for Graham Hill Bend, as its still down hill. Go wide into Mclaren so you can keep Clearways & Clark Curve fast. Mclaren, Clearways & Clark are very wide bits of track, may get away doing it flat. The only reason I dont on a bike is due to a tarmac change exiting Clearways & a bump exiting Clark, (I have seen many bikes in front of me going off there & experienced people at that).

Has Chris or Dave Hussey posted a video?

Sorry I cant be much help.

[stylussprinter]

Rob.
Done the track loads of times, but not in a car.

Im not sure about keeping tight to the pit wall. The racers do it to block.
On a bike you have to be ready for the change in gradient when you hit the start of Hailwood Hill after the drop down from Paddock Hill, it can easily wind you. Brake early for Graham Hill Bend, as its still down hill. Go wide into Mclaren so you can keep Clearways & Clark Curve fast. Mclaren, Clearways & Clark are very wide bits of track, may get away doing it flat. The only reason I dont on a bike is due to a tarmac change exiting Clearways & a bump exiting Clark, (I have seen many bikes in front of me going off there & experienced people at that).

Has Chris or Dave Hussey posted a video?

Sorry I cant be much help.

Thanks for that Kev ' and no , I haven't seen one of theirs at Brands but I believe they're very quick there according to old results
Just had confirmation of an entry tonight via phone , so I'm in now