ACSMC Championship 2012

[stylussprinter]

ACSMC Speed & Hillclimb Championship 2012
Just received this years reg's/venues and it appears the hillclimb champ'p is going to Gurston twice in 2012
Might have to re think my plans and miss out the August Goodwood event to include a couple of cheaper events , possibly Gurston for one
Simon Boulter , Striker 1600 supercharged 270bhp is in the ACSMC Champ'p for 2012 and so is my main opposition at Goodwood over the last 4 years ---- Nigel Baker , Alan Mann spaceframeed Escort 280bhp

[stylussprinter]

There are a few guys committed to the Sports Libre ACSMC Championship this year who are likely to do a full 8 or more season . That being so , there's not much chance of me winning the 2012 championship. Looking at the vast array of possible events I've decided on entering what I fancy rather than worrying about the Championship . So my thoughts for this year are :-

May do the Rushmoor sprint 15th April BUT close to the following two if any damage/problems
Gurston Down hillclimb 21st April -- 9 yrs since last entered
Bognor Regis MC Goodwood sprint 28th April -- always like this one
Tunbridge Wells MC Goodwood sprint 23rd June -- need two Goodwoods to maintain my bottle
FDMC Eelmoor sprint 7th Oct -- matched (well nearly-- just 0.11sec short) my best ever 2005 time , in 2011 so hey why not

That just about swallows up my spare wallet

[stylussprinter]

I'm all paid up and entered for GURSTON on the 21st April but will get down there on the Friday afternoon to camp --- much easier than a 4-00am start on the day for me
Just browsing through the online entries , I can see there's 12 in my class / sports libre up to 2lt. Most are Sports racing types like Global , Phoenix , SR3's and 4's , a Ginetta G12 and others ----- I'll need to approach this event with the attitude of wanting to beat my previous time here in 2003 of 39.8sec's , I'll be happy with that plus definitely don't want to damage the car seeing as I'm entered for Goodwood Bognor Regis sprint on the 28th April

The starter's sorted , the diff bearings tight and ok so no idea what the vibration was going through Fordwater on the test day Prop UJ's greased and the body washed(sod the hosepipe ban ) So ready to load and go next week

I see your names entered ''Kev and Liz'' so perhaps we could have our own STYLUS mini event regardless of class structure

[kevp]

Hi Rob

Not to sure we will make it. Im afraid its all running against us at the moment.
No license yet. Don’t know why, mine was sent in over 4 weeks ago. Got confirmation of receipt & processing, but that’s it.
Car is in bits.
No axle's fitted.
Gearbox was sent to be serviced 5 weeks ago, after quoting 2 weeks turn around. Spoke to them yesterday (Tran-x) & its in bits still.
No wiring to front & whole engine bay totally stripped.

We will of course go even if its as spectators (got entry tickets).
Will give update later.
kevin

[stylussprinter]

Hi Rob

Not to sure we will make it. Im afraid its all running against us at the moment.
No license yet. Don’t know why, mine was sent in over 4 weeks ago. Got confirmation of receipt & processing, but that’s it.
Car is in bits.
No axle's fitted.
Gearbox was sent to be serviced 5 weeks ago, after quoting 2 weeks turn around. Spoke to them yesterday (Tran-x) & its in bits still.
No wiring to front & whole engine bay totally stripped.

We will of course go even if its as spectators (got entry tickets).
Will give update later.
kevin

Sorry to here that Kev , shall I still bring an SSC headlight poly cover with me , PASSENGER SIDE Hopefully Gurston will pay some of your entry fees back if it's definitely a no go

[MattD]

No license yet. Don’t know why, mine was sent in over 4 weeks ago. Got confirmation of receipt & processing, but that’s it.

Kev

You should ring the MSA licensing dept. I was intending to do Rushmoor sprint this weekend & got my licence in 8 days, & that was without paying for priority processing.

Matt

[kevp]

Matt
I did chase up the MSA today. I must have put down a wrong number for the credit card, so they didnt continue. OK now though, going through as a priority (without extra money).
Tranx have the gearbox ready to go. Hopefully the courrier picked it up today for delivery Friday.
Things looking up.

Rob, yes please, re the head light cover.

[stylussprinter]

Matt
I did chase up the MSA today. I must have put down a wrong number for the credit card, so they didnt continue. OK now though, going through as a priority (without extra money).
Tranx have the gearbox ready to go. Hopefully the courrier picked it up today for delivery Friday.
Things looking up.

Rob, yes please, re the head light cover.

OK , job done , it's in the 4x4 ready to come with me It would be good if you can do cash then it'll sort the beers

[stylussprinter]

Stuart and I are camping over night on Friday (saves getting up at 4-00am ) then it looks as though we'll be quite a ' Stylus ' orientated group on Saturday
Matt D intends coming and Simon Boulter too plus Marty Bailey with brother Johny will be there for breakfast . So hopefully Kev ' and Liz P will have their Stylus ready to compete --- if not then they'll spectate anyway
Looking forward to it now --- apart from the sleeping arrangements keeping us awake Can't imagine how I used to sleep like a log on the ground in a sleeping bag --- it doesn't work now

Flipper , might you appear

[bluestu]

Thermals packed for friday night

Lets hope the weather gods are with us on saturday

[stylussprinter]

Thermals packed for friday night

Lets hope the weather gods are with us on saturday

A note to ourselves This time , we don't pitch up next to the PORSCHE drivers club boys
They were drinking well into the night/early morning , one guy actually fell onto our tent at 3-00am

[MattD]

Rob

Now have the OK to be with the timekeepers on Saturday - provided I bring my MSA pass.

If the weather looks OK I'll come down tomorrow evening & put my tent up next to yours.
If its chucking it down, you & Stu are on your own.

Matt

[stylussprinter]

Rob

Now have the OK to be with the timekeepers on Saturday - provided I bring my MSA pass.

If the weather looks OK I'll come down tomorrow evening & put my tent up next to yours.
If its chucking it down, you & Stu are on your own.

Matt

That'd be good Matt but I guess the weather will be crap but could always give you a bell or text once we're there ok.
Carl Streatfield just emailed to say he'll be there too

[stylussprinter]

Got a bit concerned over having a lousy night's sleep OR NOT So off I went to get two airbeds at £15 a piece Also taking extra ground sheet plus 4 blankets , 2 pillows , with the really easy quick pitch 4 man tent ---- goes up just by taking it out of the bag and letting go Well , maybe a few lines to peg out but a damn sight easier than the other conventional tents in my shed
Slightly bonkers , camping at my age , however very early mornings or B&B's on a regular basis are out for me now being retired ---- competition is expensive as it is ----- diesel for 240 miles , entry now £100 at Gurston(was £60) , race fuel , camping fee plus feed yourselves
Ball park cost £230 If I was still doing a full season that would be close to £3500 assuming no damage or mechanical expenses

I still absolutely love it though and lucky Stuart keeps managing his work commitments to come with me It'd be difficult on my own , although plenty do

[stylussprinter]

We had a great day , even after a night in the VERY cold tent --- frost on the tent so it was difficult to undo the tent door zip
The forcast was sun and showers which didn't sound encouraging but each time it showered , others were having their runs , then when our turn came the sun had dried it all up

So the first practice was with fear and misjudgement of my 9yr old memory of the track and where it went plus in what gear etc (lifted off before the finish too ) = over 44 sec's
Second practice , I'd thought it through better and still bottled out in the hollow and finish speed through the ' kink ' BUT = 39.02secs Very chuffed with that time which is 0.83secs quicker than in 2003/my last entry
Practice unfortunately means bugger all so on my first timed run I summoned up larger '' testi ----- s '' and managed a 38.79secs , now very relaxed about the last run even if it rained
Last timed run , I did try harder but didn't quite manage it somehow so clocked a 39.2secs

Bearing in mind I really wanted to be at Goodwood next Saturday , that had some influence on ' effort ' and Stylus preservation took over the brain I think.

Very pleased with a 1.06secs improvement over the 2003 time plus buried any scary thoughts of Gurston I wasn't good enough to compete with the specialist hillclimb cars in the class of 12 but didn't come last --- I think 11th actually

Thanks for the support Marty , Johnny , Carl and Stuart --- couldn't manage very well without help ---- thanks to you all