Eelmoor in the WET

[stylussprinter]

Well talk about unsuitable conditions Thanks to everybody who came in support for Matt in class 8 and me in Sports libre . I'll leave Matt to report on his day(and days before ). Anyway a bit of a rude awakening on his first ever sprint --- it just absolutely chucked it down at regular intervals , mostly just when I put my helmet on Quite a few '' offs '' and some major damage . I came off twice , mainly by choice as an alternative to tree climbing
On the first practice my time was recorded but with someone elses ' time ' of 1 min 11 sec's when he was given mine at 1 min 2 sec's so not too impressed with that . Water was running over the track plus the Escort boys were cutting the kerb by 3 feet at the last exit , bringing mud onto the track making it impossible to apex it ---- probably their intention Anyway after waiting most of the day for a semi dry run I finally managed a 1 min dead
There were 12 in my class , some with awesome credentials . A Morris Minor with 400bhp , a couple of 6r4'S and others loaded with 260bhp , mostly with wets and slicks . At the end of it all , one 6R4 got FTD , the 260bhp Westy 1st in class RIGHT on down to me at 8th in class but 9th overall due to my time. 8 of us shared just over a second between us then the last 4 were around 2 to 6 sec's slower. Amazing --- 58.9sec's Ist in class to me at 60 sec's in 8th position
I was about to walk away when they awarded Best FDMC member to me , very nice
Thanks TIM , ALEC , ANDY , STUART , MARTY ' B ' , PHIL , not forgetting the very forbearing female partners for putting up with the bloody aweful conditions

One sober thought to emphasize the track conditions --- last year I did 54.7 sec's in the dry which was over 4 sec's quicker that today's FTD

Regards to all , Rob.

[MattD]

Turned into a rambling email, but Hey, what a day (or two) that was!

Saturday...

Leave home at 7.00am for trip to Merlin at Castle Combe, get there at 8, mini's everywhere, sound test queue 100+ cars !, swap air filters to cheapo sock version that fit. Back to Winchester to collect, recently bought trailer. Home 11 ish.

Rear suspension in bits to change the springs to 180lb & raise the rear end (Bottom bolts seized, 4hrs !!)
Remove heat wrap off freshly modded exhaust, chop rear sill for new outlet position, fit manifold & silencer.
Remove both seats, offer in new rollbar (thanks Tim), doesn't fit striaght onto old mounting points.. bugger.
Start modding to fit. Bolt in top part, forward mounts taking too long, so get going on other things.

Sort out tools, fuel, racewear, driver & car documents, wet gear.
Load trailer, check every thing I can think of.
Sh1t.... Rollbar still not done.
Find 1940s collet chuck, right angle drill extension, Start drilling.

8.00pm.. Passenger side finished.
The good lady wife>>... Haven't seen u all day !, Noise is upsetting the neighbours !, Food's done & in the dog !
That's it for the day..
Phone Rob.. Who tells me "You're cutting it a bit fine mate" No **** Sherlock !
Roll bar & seats still not in, Early start ahead..

Sunday..

Bl**dy knackered, can't sleep, worried about the car/what's not done/rain/the unknown/unexpected, etc, etc
Up at 2.30am.. Not raining, cup of Tea, Torch, bolting in the passenger seat & seat belts. Can't start drilling too early ??!!
Back indoors.. Shower & Shave, save some time. Dog's nicked the warm spot in the bed. Just getting to sleep... the heavens open.

Up again 5.15.
Started out quite early, leaving home at 5.45am in search of some light & no neighbours to annoy.
Parked up at Fleet Services under a streetlight at about 6.30am to do the final fit of the rollbar.
Should only take a half hour or so, Nothing like leaving it to the last minute.
Rob's there 7.am, Me there 7.15 ?, that's OK.

Drilling from wheel arch through to cockpit with drill extension..
Oh sh1t, Battery powered drill, 2 batteries, no guts... 2x 10mm holes to drill in 1/4 plate.
7.30 Rollbar bolted in & fitted, finally !!
7.50 Driver seat & seat belts back in.
Ready to go
Burger King are.. Open !

8.10 arrive at Eelmoor, bag my nicely save spot (Cheers Rob)
Tim already there having left home at 4.30am & driven from Wales. Good effort !!

Unload car, off to scrutineering, 1st time ever, DONT tell him what's wrong with it.
Passed, put sticker on rollbar, I'm IN.

Practice 1... Damp.. Decent get away, first corner, can't find 2nd, get 4th, stall, won't start of battery. Push start, blown it, Bugger.
Decide to take it up the road to charge Batt, get 2-3 miles up the road, nasty oil smell & lots of smoke !!
Pull over, take a look, oil EVERYWHERE. Breather bottle full & rising Limp back to paddock.
Looks like its overfilled, decide its probably found its level. SOD it.

Practice 2... raining.. Good get away, leave it in third all the way round, still slipping, get a time .. 1.14 or so.
1st Timed.. raining.. Too much wheelspin, get 2nd for 1st corner, crossover is good (mind the trees on the exit), back to crossover road opening up to the finish.... bit more throttle..... spin spin spin. recover .. 1.20 (4 wheels off)
2nd Timed .. raining.. Too much on the off, gear changes getting better, good run.. 1.12, that's better.

3rd timed run.. looks dryish ?.. Perfect get away, best effort of the day, untill... crossover 2, faster approach, later brakes, lose the rear end on the way in, turning left, flick it the other way. Car pointing straight on, car moving left. Large concrete disc approaching ! Just about stopped, but car mounts edge.. nasty bodywork noises !
Marshals push me off, hand me the timing blade (with bodywork attached), start up & return to paddock.

Get out, have a look, it fine, just the bit in my hand !
Oh well, its a car. Take it home, Fix it & try again !

Think that's about it... Thanks to Rob & Tim for the encouragement & sorting out the details. Lots of setup work needed, me thinks.
Thanks to to all that turned up in support, not a nice day to hang about looking.

Here's to the next (DRY !!!) one.

Matt

[stylussprinter]

That's it mate , you're hooked now , you'll be able to take any crap from '' a less enthusiastic person / possibly female ?'' and planning your next cunning tweek --------- join the club and welcome

I find the bath's a good venue for ideas provided there's a beer handy !

Rob.

[MattD]

Phil (aka Cerberus)

Thanks for the pics, something for the scrap book.
What a day of fun in the wet that was !

Cheers

Matt