It was going to be an uphill battle, with a few wins needed, and only 39 laps to have any chance of a Championship. Things got worse when there developed a terrible noise, to cause much trouble during the race. Once under way it became clear, I was not firing on all cylinders, and quickly fell to the back of the pack. I was helped there, when a cliff thew itself under my wheels! I'd not remembered it being there the previous lap.
Decided to follow Billy awhile, to give warning of hazards such as cliffs and corners. The noise problem next developed into gearbox trouble. A boxfull of neutrals, at embarassing moments, and even reverse a couple of times! Stopped briefly to chat to Billy about it.
Soldiered on, wishing I'd used earplugs, the way F1 drivers generally do. Some good scrapping from what I recall, while proceeding in fits and starts, to somehow survive to the finish line. The next time there's a noisy all-night party, I shall complain o the Stewards about it. Racing is perilous enough already, wthout racing half-asleep because of all that noise!
