My race was sabotaged, and the culprit showed no remorse! After being irresponsibly passed once during practice, the next time it would be worse. :'(
The Lotus was not the easiest car to drive, but it was the fastest, and I gambled, on surviving to the finish. A fast practice time came quickly, and it was only Ronnie's similar equipment, which allowed him to surpass me. But when the flag fell surprisingly quickly, I quickly surpassed him, and forged a healthy lead, after only a lap.
Soon realized I had a race on my hands though, when the gap stopped growing. Exiting the hairpin, I could see Ronnie facing a similar situation, but with a Ferrari in close proximity. After a few laps, and with little speed to spare, I decided it was time to push the tyres, as hard as I dare . . . and that's when it happened!
I'd been perturbed once already during practice, by a blatant display of irresponsible behaviour, and I was now to get a close up look at it. I was under attack from a small rampaging Moth, and having buzzed me previously, it was now back with a vengeance, mid-main straight! Worse still, it looked like a Clothes Moth, and I was wearing cotton! I made a swipe, but it weaved left. Next, as I hit the braking zone, it returned from the outfield, and headed towards the apex ahead of me. so I swatted, and rather late spotted, we were wide and fast into the corner. By the time I reached the apex, the tyres had reached the cliff.
The accident waiting to happen, happened when I squirmed into the tyres, at the end of the lap. I was hence, flung forlornly into the outside armco, and back across the track, parking nicely just past the pit entrance. Needing a reset, due to a sudden lack of appendage, I realized the potential merits of an early pitstop. It would be an automatic DQ, to reverse a large distance on the track, in GPL, but not if it's a short one. So I reversed, pitted, and re-entered in 5th.
Bernie was only a short distance ahead, and I was less than happy, at my Moth-ridden state. He left me room, entering the hairpin, but I warped by a wheel's width, and his car snapped into a sudden 180. Apologies due - a clean pass was the intention, albeit aggressive.
Next, Geoff's demotion placed me in 3rd, but with little prospect of a higher rank, until another distraction caught my eye. I was wondering why a slow Lotus was suddenly, buzzing about in front of my nose, while Ronnie should be either leading, or well behind me? This puzzle was enough to distract my Moth-eaten brain, and with one misplaced twitch, I swatted myself into the armco, somewhat precipitously - the debris was scattered far and wide!
Rather an impressive showing, from '67's latest arrival, Dave, and rather good going from our runners up - neither of whom are Moth-eaten, so far as I know. Immaculate behavior from lapper's. I was only miffed by a Moth, and what's more, it's still lurking somewhere!