First of all, thanks to Tony for bringing these cars and this series for us to enjoy.
The only thing that I had done prior to Monday night was get the download...install...and fire up the track and a single car to prove that it all worked.
So, it was only when I logged on that I bought all of the cars and actually tried one of them for size. Turns out the size is "small" and one size fits all!!
I'm not sure if there is any difference between the Speedwell and the A30 options, but I guess that I will discover that in time.
I'll call it old age or mental fog, but I was convinced that the evening's hostilities were to be 2 x 15 minute races??? so I'm quite glad that I noticed the 40 lap tag 5 mins before quali started, that might have been awkward!!
As for the race it was, as the football pundits say "a game of two halves". I never quite hooked up the quali lap I expected running on race fuel and so started in around 6th spot. Some paint sample swapping and comparing of wing mirrors saw mw up to 2nd spot without actually doing anything...not complaining about that.
Matt was on a mission in 3rd and was reeling me in but I was trying to conserve my tyres as I could see them showing signs of distress after 10 laps. When he caught me he demonstrated his no brakes technique at Druids and also took a detour across the Brand Hatch Rallycross circuit before resorting to fondling my rear bumper at Druids. A barrel roll with 2 spins left me dazed and confused and facing the inside armco. Apologies to Tony and Fulvio for the road block but the red mist was very thick around Druids on that lap.
After that racing incident things were not quite the same in the handling department and although I eased away from Tony and Fulvio ( and Matt who had waited for me to recover ) over the next few laps, it became clear that my left rear tyre was not a happy bunny. trying to lap at my earlier pace simply sent that tyre into the infra red spectrum and it stayed that colour even after I backed off. As a result it was only a matter of time before the chasing trio caught me and my liquid rubber rear end let me down into Clearways and they all swept past without even waving.
Grats to the podium people. Commiserations(?) to Geoffers and Erling who vanished early in the race and I am looking forward to the rest of this series for some proper vintage tin top action
