Race Reports 2004

2004 Targets

Win the 750MC UK formula Vee Championship. Done

Mike

Mallory Test Feb 28th 2004

And off again.

High hopes for 2004, so Mallory test day was a fairly nervy affair. Would the chassis mods hold together, would they ruin the previously good handling was I still up to it. In the end the first 2 were fine and me? Still remains to be seen.

A new rule banning any panel behind the centre line of the rear axle, a desire to make engine changes easier and chassis stiffening could have been achieved simply, but would have lead to too many compromises. So out with the hacksaw and welder and an uncompromised and, we feel, elegant rear end was born. This also allowed us to improve the rear exhausts and will eventually allow improved bodywork to be fitted. Other modifications were limited to repairing the front suspension damaged at Mallory last year and the fitting of new front shock absorbers.

It was a very cold test day. Ice and loose front suspension lead to a very vague turn-in to corners for the first session, and still didn't answer the questions about whether our mods. would work or not. But the ice melted, the final bolts were tightened and with the shocks set off minimum the car started to feel better in the second session. The next 4 sessions were spent trying to learn the effects of suspension changes, and the times gradually came down to about 2 seconds off the lap record. Then for the final session we bolted on some old tires and instantly went 0.5 seconds a lap quicker.

So overall a good day. The fastest times weren't quick enough but we went home with some ideas how to improve, and I was reminded (again) why I love motor racing. Roll on the 14th.

Mallory March 14th 2004

A perfect result.

Strong winds and persistent drizzle made for an interesting gazebo building, first thing Sunday morning. Clare and I got it sorted eventually (with a bit of help, thanks), and unloaded the car and the van, before the rest of the team arrived in time for a cup of tea.

Scrutineering was fine, and we had plenty of time to fuel the car and set up for the dry weather. In fact all was relaxed until (seemingly at the same time) the heavens opened and the Vee's were called for qualifying half an hour early. So went to parc ferme with dry setting and our most worn tyres. By the time we all made it out the circuit was soaked. Had a cautious few laps, then started trying to get a time. The main problem was visibility. I had traffic on every lap and often spent the whole of the straight on half throttle trying to see what was ahead. One near miss when I almost collected someone who was pulling into the pits, but completed the session safely, although not too confident about the result.

The team had shown lap times of 61 seconds on the pitboard and when the results came out this gave me 3rd on the grid. I was very pleased with this although how Bill Burnett was over a second quicker I don't know? Jez had qualified second in his new car and there were some very fast regulars and newcomers just behind.

The race was the last of the day planned for 5pm. Set-up was left until the last moment but it looked like the track was going to be dry, so dry settings it was. The start was the first with no green lights, instead the red light extinguishing being the signal to go. For once an excellent start. Backed off slightly as Bill moved to the center of the track (with Jez already in the lead) and managed to dive up the inside into Gerards and slot in behind Jez. Rounded Gerards pulling up on Jez the whole time, well in his slipstream as we started down the straight and pulled out and past half way down. Held the inside down to the hairpin. Jez went round the outside, but I got out first round Devils elbow and across the line to start the second lap. After a cautious rounding of Gerards (remembering last years accident) arrived at the hairpin with Jez again on the outside. Kept the lead again, but the others had ALL dropped back. Jez had broken a throttle cable I believe but I'm not sure what happened to Bill to drop him back.

So started my 3rd lap (fastest lap of the race for anyone) with a 2' ish second lead and only myself to fight. Spent the rest of the race trying to be fast but smooth. I was very cautious through the back markers and dropped the max revs toward the end of the race. This race was also the first run to a 15 minute length, and those minutes were seeming to go slower and slower, but managed to keep my concentration and crossed the line victorious and very, very happy.

I was very pleased with this win. We did lots of work on the car over the winter, not all of it to make the car quicker, and it's a big relief that it all worked. Good fortune definitely played its part and I expect Donnington may be a different kettle of fish. But at least I go there with maximum points and the championship lead.

Thanks as always to everyone who helped and supported.

Donnington Park March 21st 2004 - Round 2

Where to brake.

Arrived early to a very windy Donnington. Half the races on Saturday were cancelled when the power went down, and hordings were blown across the track. But fingers were crossed that there would be no further issues.

Got to scrutineering early, and out to qualifying second in the queue behind Jez. Spent 3 laps warming up gently and then the red flags came out. We were directed into the pits for 5 minutes and then back out again. Since I was near the back of the queue, discussing with Dad that I hadn't yet gone quick enough to get a feel for the car, I waited until all the others had gone before setting off on a very slow out lap. Managed 3 clear laps before the chequered flag came out for the end of the session.

It had been quite frustrating. The newly resurfaced track, containing only 3 joins I'm informed, was slippy and the strong wind down the back straight and start finish straight meant the car felt sluggish in fourth gear. Arrived back to the pits to single finger gesticulations from the team. 1st on the grid thankfully was the message. Jez was second on the grid only slightly slower with Ken Elliot in third.

Donnington is the only circuit were I get serious understeer. Given the lap time (0.2 off the lap record) we didn't want to make to many changes but made some slight adjustments in an effort to reduce understeer and sharpen up the turn-in.

After my good start at Mallory I was hopping to hold the leading into the first corner. Unfortunately I was too conservative with the revs and very nearly stalled as the lights went out. Re-dipped the clutch, more throttle and the second attempt was much better, only half a second too late. So arrived into the first corner in second behind Jez. Followed him until the back straight where the strong oncoming wind allowed for a missive slipstream. Got along side on the first lap but not past. Got past on the second lap only for Jez to get me back on the start finish straight. Eventually I managed to get by into Redgate (the first corner) and make a slight break down through Craner and the Old Hairpin. Then down the back straight and much to my relief I spotted Ken battling with Jez. So while they held each other up I concentrated on keeping the gap at 2 seconds.

This was all going well until Jez started to catch up (setting a lap record in the process!) then on the last lap waved yellow flags and a backmarker meant we were side by side down the back straight with only the chicane to go. I left the braking until as late as I dared, and Jez braked slightly later. Liv thinks we may have clipped, I'm not sure, but Jez missed the chicane passing across the grass and rejoining just ahead but slightly slower. There was just enough room to exit the corner as normal and my more conventional line gave me enough speed to cross the line for the win.

How good did this one feel! Again I was fortunate in that if we had crossed the line 3 seconds sooner there would have been another lap, but what does that matter. Good fortune was also upon me when I was one of only 4 Vee's undercover in parc ferme as the heavens opened (rain and hail!) just after the race and while everyone was removing their restrictor plates for the officials to check.

Can't wait for Snetterton!

Snetterton April 11th 2004 - Round 3

Hard work twice!

Arrived fresh at Snetterton after staying at a friends house (Thanks Jim and Jo) on Saturday night, but not early enough to get a pit, so we were distant from all the other Vee's. We were taking a risk for qualifying running the new engine and some other new parts, but intending to do an engine change for the race if necessary (back to the engine that won Mallory and Donnington).

Got out early for qualifying, 5th in the queue, and I was still warming up very gently when the issues started to show up. There were two major problems. The engine was running too lean and coughing and sputtering at high revs, and any power it was producing was causing the clutch to slip. I did the essential 3 laps (to qualify) and came into the pits. Dad adjusted the clutch cable but I went back out with the same problem. Finished up qualifying more out of frustration than trying to improve my times. After qualifying I drove back through the pits, through Parco ferme (no checks today) and was half way back to the van when I tried to change out of second gear and nothing happen. It was stuck in second (see Oulton Park 02 and 03).

Back to the van, and stated taking the bodywork off. There was a quick team agreeance that the gearbox issue could be fixed, but that we also needed to change engines. So Dad started on the gearbox and Jim and I started removing the engine. Whilst this was going on the times were released. Not too surprised by 13th on the grid, but this was going to put me into the heat. Still if I won the heat this would move me into the top 8 in the final. Then the news came out there would be no heat and this is where I had brain fade. The heat was originally scheduled for 2.55 and the final for 4.30. For some reason I assumed that the one race would be held at 4.30.

This was not the case, so the rush really started when we realised we only had 1.5 hours not 3. Still engine change and gearbox rebuild all went smoothly and it was hot and sunny when I took to the grid (at 2.55!).

A good start (this time) and went down the start straight on the inside trying to avoid the middle of the track which was covered on cement dust (covering oil from a previous race). So got 3 or 4 off the start and then a bunch more after a nice clean run onto the back straight. A bit vague for the next lap but starting lap 3 I was behind Neil and Jez into the first corner. They went in side-by-side. Neil drifted wide and off onto the dirt and Jez spun trying to take a tight line. A slight moment of which way he was going but luckily he spun to the inside and I managed to get past. Round the next corner and onto the back straight I could see I was now 5th with quite a gap to cover. But, red flags signalled a race stoppage. We finished the lap slowly and lined up on the grid in our current positions.

I wish! The officials came onto the grid advising everyone that we were to start a reduced length race from our original positions! So I went back down to 13th and Jez and others who had spun went back up to their original positions. Talk about demotivational.

Luckily when the lights went out for the second start adrenaline kicked in and I made another good start. Got past a few down the straight although had to back off for Ian Jordan into the first corner, who had parrelled me down the outside, appearing occasionally through the still lingering cement dust. Again the first few laps were a blur. Got past many down the straight, the car handling very well out the proceeding corners, and a few out of Coram and into the Russell chicane. Down the back straight for the 3rd (or 4th) time I was about 2 seconds behind the leaders as they entered the Esses all fighting for the lead. And then I was somehow right behind then coming out the Esses! Bonus. I think it was Bill who went off at the next corner leaving me in a battle with Jake and Ken. We entered the first corner, with me on the outside and I had to back off. A good run out of riches and onto the back straight with Ken leading, Jake second and me third. Ken was right on the outside leaving just over a car width before the grass, and for some reason I went this way. I was about half way past Jake when he pulled out the other way. So we arrived at the Esses 3 abreast, but this time I was on the inside, and managed to slither into the lead. A good run around Bombhole and Coram with a clean run through the Chicane and I managed to build up a slight gap from Jake. This is about how it stayed for the remainder of the race. Jake caught right up at the end and it was a great relief to see the chequered flag, even if it was one lap early!

So 3 races run and 3 races won and looking forward to returning to Brands where I had my first win last year. Only question is which engine?

Brands Hatch May 3rd 2004 - Round 4

A(nother) risk too far.

1st night of the year in the van. Liv and I walked the track as it was going dark, the only major point of note being that the gravel traps were so effective you could hardly walk through them let alone drive through.

Early start to clean and polish the car, in wonderful sunshine. Much debate with Dad the previous week to plan what engine strategy to run at Brands. We still have a few new things to try, but planed on only small changes for qualifying since Brands would be much harder fight through from the midfield than Snetterton. But we took too big a risk again..

I had to start qualifying slowly to run in some new pistons and barrels. We had stripped the engine after Snetterton (its first rebuild for nearly a year) and found a cracked piston. As I started to build up the pace it became apparent that the engine was not running properly at high revs. Somehow we had got the fuelling wrong and the engine was running too lean. The problem wasn't helped by wayward handling caused by incorrect shock absorber settings.

So no major surprises that I was 11th. What was surprising was that I was only 1 second off pole (11 people within 1 second!).

11th meant I was to be in my first heat since round 4 last year (valve seat issues at Donnington). For good karma in the final I had to win, and it was probably evident to most that I was more nervous than normal. Still the 1 hour wait in the car, whilst and unfortunate incident in the pervious race was sorted, calmed me down (very cold feet also). It was also raining very heavily, and thanks must go to brolly dolly Tom for keeping me dry. We had changed the fuelling back to the tried and trusted Mallory / Donnington setting so I was confident, there was no excuses!

After 3 warm up laps made a good start and got into the lead straight away. Guessing on times but I did a very cautious first lap (ensuring I knew where the standing water was) and crossed the line about 2 seconds in the lead. Managed to pull a much bigger gap in the second lap and from there just had to ensure I didn't fall off or tangle with lapped cars. Managed to win by 17 seconds, and returned straight to the pits to be informed 15 minutes later to assemble for the final. So chucked some fuel in and off we went again.

First place in the heat meant I lined up 10th in the final. I made a poor start, but my experience of the wet conditions in the heat gave me good confidence through Paddock Bend and took a few places back. Starting the 3rd lap I was battling with Ken and Ian Buxton into Paddock, but Ian had some sort of problem and locked up disappearing into the gravel as I went round paddock. Two others followed him into the tyre wall / gravel and the race was stopped.

Restart was as a 10 minute race. A good start this time, a good run past Ian Jordan (our pit neighbours for the day) into 6th half way round the first lap (I think!). Had a very near miss when Bill Burnett spun in Paddock, slewing sideways for 50 yards before his tyres regained grip and flung him forwards, missing the back of my car by inches.

Ended up behind Ken in 3rd starting the 3rd lap. Managed to get past into Paddock starting the fourth lap and up behind Jake and Jez. I was right up behind them starting the 5th lap and took the wide line into Paddock to get a clean run up to Druids Hairpin, when Jake spun at the bottom of the dip. Luckily, unlike Bill, he reversed into the gravel and Jez and I just managed to avoid him. So into Druids hairpin behind Jez. I was confident I could get past him, but his speed round the remaining part of the lap, suggested he was confident he could stay ahead. And then the chequered flag signalled the end of the race.

I assume because of the position of Jake's car they decided to stop the race, but because the meeting was running late there was no time to restart, so ending the race was the officials only option.

The race had only lasted 5 minutes, of a planned 15, and I was initially disappointed, but in the cold light of day I am delighted with second and fastest lap means I only dropped 2 points to Jez.

Thanks to everyone who turned up to watch, I'll schedule some better weather next time!

Oulton Park 29th May 2004-06-01

Bad luck comes in threes!

Friday was spent testing at Oulton in heavy rain. I wasn't going for times but continuing engine development. Ran the old engine in the morning and the new one in the afternoon. Collected the data we wanted although did not go through it before the race.

We were late starting on Saturday morning, qualifying starting at 11.55am. No mistakes this time, with car and engine both feeling good. The track was wet in places so getting a good time was a bit of a compromise between caution and risk. Halfway through the sessions I had a close shave nearly being T-boned out of Fosters after Martyn Donn got tangled with another car on the way into Cascades. It was close. I was second 0.13 behind Jez and Ken a further 0.04 behind me!

As I lined up for the start of the race I realised I had a problem with the steering. It was not a safety issue but even so was very off putting. Poor start but managed to hold Ken off into the first corner, although Jez seemed to be pulling away already. Ken out braked me into Fosters hairpin, and on the run up the hill it became apparent that the engine wasn't running as it had been in qualifying. Jake got past on lap two but I was beginning to work out how to drive around the engine issue, so some confidence I could fight for 3rd or 4th place. Then on lap five Bill Burnett got past into the fast Druids corner and promptly slowed down. I just avoided crashing into the rear of his car, but by the time I realised that something had gone wrong for him the others were passing on the inside. I had no choice but to go past on the grass round the outside and by the time I rejoined I was in 8th. So for the next 8 laps I was stuck in a good battle with Alan Robinson for 5th (after Ken and Ian had problems). Because of the engine problem I could only challenge down the back straight and even then it took 3 attempts to make stick.

So took the chequered flag in fifth. Jez won with fastest lap and Jake second. So not good for the championship. But I'm still leading, and with Brands next up I need a good result.

Brands Hatch June 26th 2004 - Round 6

Damage limitation.

Still leading the championship coming into Brands but Jez has been catching so wanted a good result. We were playing it safe, using the old engine and I normally go well at Brands.

Extra long qualifying session to help all adapt to new brake discs (following a change of regulations). All seemed pretty good although was fighting snap over steer into some corners and understeer out of a number of corners. Results came out and I was second on the grid 0.03 seconds behind Jake. Surprisingly Jez was back in sixth. 3rd was Jake's team mate Jamie Conyers, so I was in a GAC sandwich.

Bit of a delay waiting in parc ferme but then out with some spots of rain. 2nd on the grid at Brands is probably slightly better than pole, so the plan was to get a good start and lead into the first corner (lead the rest of the race and win - sounds easy doesn't it!). Got away very well but lost out on the gear change to second so into Paddock hill bend side by side with Jake, but on the outside. Jake had a little twitch on the exit so I had to run wide over the curbs, but ran up to druids still side by side, but this time I had to concede and make sure Ken didn't nip up the inside. Followed Jake for the rest of the lap, both pulling away from the rest. Then half way up the start finish straight the engine suddenly stopped. Tried restarting it on the move a couple of times and again after I'd pulled into the pit exit, but no go! The car was wheeled to safety whist we tried to figure out what had gone wrong.

Then the red flag came out - race stopped. Dad quickly fixed the fuel pump issue, and with the car ready to go it was confirmed that I would rejoin for the restart but only from the back of the grid, so championship damage limitation it was.

28th on the grid at Brands is halfway to Dover and positioned well back from 27th to ensure you can see the lights (looking around the back of the marshals gantry). But made what was probably my best start of the year, had to weave in and out of other cars and got about 5 or 6 before the first corner, a few more into Druids, one more along the back straight. The race was only to be 14 minutes so I had to push as hard as possible and hope I made it into the top 5. After passing John Bowles, my challenge was helped by Jamie and Ken tangling. Had a dice with John Hughes, just managing to pass before the yellow flags for the Ken and Jamie clear up, on the run up to Druids.

It was only at this stage that I realised there was no one immediately ahead, and the only cars ahead were Jake and Jez. Bit shocked to be up to third but there was nothing I could do except continue pushing as hard as possible. Every lap I was getting closer to Jez but in the end 5 minutes was not enough to make up the 10 seconds or so that I trailed (despite the pit crew showing me 1 minute to go 3 times) crossing the line 2 seconds behind Jez in 3rd place.

So some bad luck, some good luck but I still lead the championship, although the gap is reduced and it looks like Jake could pull himself back into contention. Makes Pembury all the more important.

Pembrey 10th and 11th July 2004-07-13

Fast enough but….

A long journey down to Pembrey from Shropshire, on Friday, with the van only just making it up some of the steeper hills on our cross country route. But arrived in time to fit the new fog light and catch supper at our 'interesting' B&B. The morning on Friday had been spent implementing a significant change in rear suspension philosophy, and we would only find out in qualifying if it worked or not. Unsurprisingly qualifying on Saturday was wet. Pembrey in the wet is normally quite grippy, but not this time. Concentrated on trying not to go off and combating the rears desire to overtake the front. The handling was actually okay just very tail happy, once the turn-in understeer had been overcome.

Could not believe the result. I was on pole 0.5s ahead of Ken Elliot (who was in the first wetter session) and 1.1 seconds ahead of the next person from my qualifying session. Maybe the changes had worked? The final was the last race of the day, but had plenty to do trying to work out how the car would handle in the dry final (it was actually hot and sunny).

Did the green flag lap very quickly trying to assess handling and reminding myself what Pembrey was like in the dry. Then had to do the last bit onto the grid very slowly whilst everyone else moseyed round to join me. Good start and got round the first hairpin in the lead. I wasn't sure who was going to be the biggest challenger, but that was answered when Jez overtook Ken on the back straight and towed up to the back of my car arriving at the hairpin for the 2nd time. So started the 3rd lap 0.4 seconds ahead of Jez, the 4th 0.02 seconds behind and this is how it continued for the next 15 laps.

Flat out, many lead changes and dropping everyone else by miles. Jez was quicker in a couple of places especially the back hairpin where I was struggling. Then on lap 15 lapping a backmarker through the Paddock crossing Jez had a half spin (no idea how he rescued it) which gave me a 2 second advantage, which despite some nervous moments I managed to hold taking the chequered flag by 1.3 seconds. What a race though. Whilst all races are quick, some stick in the mind as flat out the whole way. Cadwell last year was one, and this was another. I didn't realise that both Sunday races would be similar.

This win also marked the first for our new engine, exactly 1 year after its debut. We have used it a few times but always had problems or felt it was not as competitive as the old engine.

Everyone was completing a heat on Sunday morning and because of the alternating split I lined up alongside Jez. The heat did not score points, only setting the grid for the final, so finishing was a must. I made a cautious start braking carefully into the hairpin to ensure no one collected me from behind, but Jez overtook and set off with similar effort to the day before. So I had to set off after him. The race took a similar course to Saturdays. Running within the same second, faster than the rest and constant lead changes. I led starting the last lap in the lead and just managed to hold on to win by 0.24 seconds.

This meant I was starting the 2nd final from pole position. Martyn Donn, winner of the second heat was 2nd on the grid with Jez in third. My hope of Martyn holding up Jez was broken within the first couple of seconds. I pushed really hard for a couple of laps to try and make a break, but could managed no more than a half second gap. Then one mistake at the back hairpin and Jez was past. I stayed behind for a while and got past on lap 9 into the hairpin. Then down the back straight I looked in my mirrors to see where Jez was and could only see a cloud of smoke. Still had oil pressure but it was obvious there was a problem, so had to pull into the pits to retire. An oil fitting had broken. There was brief hope when a red flag came out that I may be counted as second but it was not to be.

So, 3 pole positions, 2 wins, 3 fastest laps, 1 retirement and I lost the lead of the championship for the first time this year. Nevermind, the new engine and suspension changes were fast enough to win all three races which were all a lot of fun.

Mallory Park 15th August 2004

Bit of a shock.

Arrived at Mallory way too early, ensuring we didn't get locked out of the Paddock, but this allowed us to have a relaxed breakfast in the café. I had gone well at the beginning of the year and the car is now quicker so I was pretty confident. Following Brands fuel pump issues our new pump had failed, and the old one went back in. This was our only unknown.