Grats to the usual suspects who are generally in a different time zone to the rest of us, and to all who survived to the finish.
Good to see Dan on the grid again. His demon launch of the Falcon off the grid certainly set up the order for the first race. In the early laps it was very entertaining to watch Geoff working his Mini hard to find a way past that enormous Falcon ( Meanwhile Erling was scampering away, with a clear road in first place!!). I lost count of the number of times that Geoff got his tiny buzz box alongside Dan in a corner and looked set to complete the pass, only for Dan to turn on the gas and get ahead before the next braking point. It was all very amusing until......Dan made a small error and Geoff was through and after Erling.
Then it was not so amusing, because I was faced with the Dan's huge rear end!!!
I was amazed how Dan was keeping that tank on the road with tyres that I guessed were suffering considerable abuse. Every time I thought he had blown it, and was running wide, he somehow got the beast back on the tarmac at the very last moment and nailed the gas. My Cortina was much more nimble but I could not match his horsepower advantage. Then he got a rear wheel on the grass and I had the opening, but Geoff and Erling were by now almost 20 secs ahead.
I was not going to catch them unless they fell over each other, and was resigned to being 3rd at best. Even then Dan did not give up, and every time I built a small gap and eased off a little he loomed large in the mirror again
. So I had to push until Dan finally made a bigger error and I was safe to cruise in 3rd.
Race 2
I had the Alpha for this race ,which I knew was quicker in my hands than the Cortina, so I was hoping for a decent result. Then Geoffers posted an insane time in his Cortina!! which was deflating. Erling was starting last, so that gave me an opportunity.... maybe?
OK, so watch out for Demon Dan and his electric start.
I tucked in behind Geoff at the start and I think I denied Dan the room for a lunge up the inside at T1.
At this point I would like to apologise to Geoff for the nudge that spun him around at T1. I did joke in post race chat about being paid to "take him out" by anonymous donors, but I believe there was a more physical element from behind that encouraged me into his Cortina. I have not looked at the replay yet, so this is just a gut feeling. So I waited for Geoff and rejoined the race dead last
Geoff must have had a dose of red mist because he took off like a scalded cat and I just could not live with his pace no matter how I tried
We passed a few incidents that elevated us very quickly through the field until there was a chance of a podium for me. Erling had also benefitted from other's misfortune and after being passed by Geoff was sitting in second place. Gradually I reeled him in and there was then many laps of harrying that Cortina hoping for a small mistake and a chance to pass. I knew I was quicker, but that is of no use if the track ahead is defended as well as Erling was doing.
Then I pushed a little too hard, dropped a wheel onto the grass and did a 360 spin
I lost about 7 secs but retained 3rd place with around 9? laps to go. I was catching Erling over the next few laps, but not fast enough to get to him before the finish.
Then I witnessed a rare thing gentlemen, no! I swear that I saw it and the replay will confirm this anomoly in the space time continuum. Erling made a big mistake at T1 all on his own!!!!! Oh yes he did!! and with about 4 laps to go I was back on his tail, with a sniff of second place available.
I was hoping he would make another mistake and gift me 2nd place, but I would have to wait an eternity for 2 mistakes in a race, so I focused on the one part of the lap where I felt I was just a fraction quicker.
Last lap, and the final 3 corners were where it had to happen. So I set up the attack and went for it, getting alongside Erling under braking for the final turn and taking the inside line to emerge onto the straight in 2nd place with just the few hundred metres to the flag.
I hope that my final lunge did not cause any contact Erling, from my side it was tight but I felt no contact? If there is an issue, please submit a report and I will accept whatever.
Once again this series has produced some enthralling races with 4 cars very evenly matched for pace, but each entirely different....brilliant fun