I confess that I do enjoy these monsters, but somehow I had just missed the fact that it was the day for racing American Iron
Grats to all podiums and finishers, and thanks for some entertaining racing.
I used the same highly scientific process as Erling to select my cars........what have I got most of?? Well there was that monster that Geoff has been able to tame, I did about 3 laps and managed a 2:41 lap which was fraught with danger and near misses. So I got Arnold to roll another option off the transporter......
Race 1 and a Falcon Sprint ( whatever that is??) and..... a) surprised to be second on the grid b) absolutely gobsmacked that Geoffers had pulled a 2:35 in that Tank masquerading as an Impala !!!
I was sort of hoping that Geoffers would find that maintaining such a hot pace in that car, would destroy the tyres, so perhaps all that I would have to do is stay with him and wait??? Good plan, with one small flaw that became apparent around lap 5.
I had fuelled for an indicated 14 laps but a glance at the fuel after 5 laps driving like a lunatic to stay with Geoff gave me a shock!!! I had to try and do some quick mental arithmetic whilst wrestling my car around corners it did not want to negotiate. At this pace I was at least a lap short of the flag??!!
I double checked the figures after another lap and ...yup, this ain't going to work
I had to let Geoff escape completely, although I doubt I could have passed him, because that Impala was awesome on the straights, even when I was in the slipstream!!
By this time I think that Geoffers had towed me so far and so fast that I had around 14 secs back to 3rd place. 6 laps to go and I can afford to lose 2+ secs a lap? But can I short shift and coast and still be quick enough. The fuel saving became more and more desperate and I began the last lap with an indicated 0.9 laps of fuel left. All corners were taken 1 gear higher and only 75% gas but I still had 5 secs lead. The engine began to cough as I went up the hill to the finish line and all went quiet about 50mtrs past the line...Phew!!!
Race 2 and the same careful choice of car....what have I got most of?? Plymouth Scuda sounds interesting. Thanks to Dominic for rebooting as it gave me few extra laps to screw a setup together and find a way to drive it.
I tried some gentle encouragement on Erling to improve his starts, by pushing him off the grid
Fortunately I had the inside for the first 2 corners and was able to elbow Matt out of 3rd spot to try and chase the 2 AMC's up ahead. But the lack of practice and a setup as good as the previous race hampered any attempt to stay with Erling and zero chance of seeing Geoffers for very long
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This time I had added an extra 3 galls of fuel and discovered that I now had too much
But slowly Erling was easing away from me and Geoff was out of sight. Then there was a cloud of dust at the final turn?
?? surely not lapping cars already???
HUD changed as I crossed the line.. That was Geoff!!!. Erling now 1st, yours truly 2nd
Ok I will settle for 2nd ...just keep it steady. Bad move, I tried to ease back and cruise but relaxed too much and lost focus. Small mistakes started creeping in and more sliding meant more tyre wear, and the spiral down started . TBH I was lucky to make 4th place and I have never been so relieved to see a chequered flag
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