Thanks to Clive for organising this twin event.
I had not really considered the points etc, as it was a fun event. I dragged out the old Connaught. after briefly considering the Maserati, hoping to enjoy some close racing.
Race 1
With a compact grid the start was exciting as we approached T1 3 abreast
The biggest issue was avoiding contact on either side and negotiating T1 safely, which we all managed.
The Connaught is a little down on power but makes up for that with great handling and eventually the cars in front explored the grass until I took the lead. A few errors in the chasing pack left me well clear and able to cruise to the flag...and a back row start in race 2!!
Race 2
After a small admin kerfuffle organising the grid
we got things rolling and I was grateful for the small grid, as it did not put me too far behind Clive and Phil. They had cunningly contrived to finish last in the first race, so that they got front row slots in the more lucrative 2nd race
Something I might have contemplated if my mental maths was good enough...and it was a league race lol.
I had a magic start and was into 4th before T1 right behind Fred, with Phil and Clive disputing the lead just ahead. I managed to outbrake Fred and move up to 3rd spot but then threw it all away again at the end of the lap
.
I recovered and slowly reeled in the 3 leaders gaining places when Fred and Clive had spins...then there was Phil. I suspect that Phil has been taking performance enhancing drugs lately and his track speed is notably quicker. I chased him for a few laps before I made a small error and he escaped. I chased him down again and this time it was Phil who made the error and I took the lead, but Phil was now chasing hard and I had to push quite hard to maintain the gap.
I could not get my brakes under control and rarely saw a green light ( I would normally expect to see green at 3 points around Aintree!!) so I was never able to go for fast laps and stretch my lead. Then Phil dropped back and I could relax a little. With 5 laps to go I wondered if I could squeeze a 2:01 lap which Pribluda was promising.........bad move!
A couple of near misses should have warned me to just take the win, but instead I pushed and exceeded the safe braking point and hit the hay bales. No prob, I had a big lead and could easily regain the track before Phil caught me...except that the bales would not let go!! Phil and Fred swept past before I struggled free.
Fred ran wide and i regained 2nd, but Phil was just too far ahead to catch..and going far too quickly
, so 2nd it was for me. But, it appears that I made the result more exciting by arranging a close finish in the points table...quite deliberate on my part of course
