Wow what a race for me.
Qualifying went well and I get P2 with a 3:40.659, 0.663 behind Sam.
We make a clean start and roar off down to L’Eau Rouge. I keep station behind Sam driving well just up ahead.
L2. I get a good drive out of Malmédy and get along side of Sam. We run side by side but I backed down not wanting to cause any incident going into Mastra. I get a good run through and again pull along side out of Stavelot but this time I was on the outside of the left so again fell in behind Sam. Al keeping a watching brief behind us.
L3. I stick close to Sam through L’Eau Rouge and into Les Combes. Sam runs a little wide and gives me a shot at turning tight, I get a better drive out and get ahead on the run down the hill. I maintain P1 until turning a bit tight into La Carriére, where I had been off a number of times in practice. I backed off a little to ensure I don’t over correct and visit the house ‘magnets’ which gives Sam a good run and into P1 again in time for Blanchimont.
L4. Al was closing in when Sam went very wide at Les Combes and clips the barrier, he keeps it pointing the right way but has slowed allowing me to get through along the downhill stretch. Al on full chat closes in but guesses wrong at what Sam might do at slow speed and tags the rear of Sams BRM sending them both into a spin. Both recover and Al falls in behind Sam to get back up to speed. A rapidly closing Peter and Steve Busa are now close behind, with Mike not too far back, Graham and Vlad running further back up track.
While all this was going on I opened a bit of a gap and tried to settle in to some consistent driving and watch to see how things develop.
Mike puts a whel on the grass leading up to La Carriére to allow Graham to close right in. Sam loses control at Blanchimont and allows Al, Peter and Steve Busa through. On the run into La Source Graham brakes a little later than Mike and contacts the back end of Mike’s Honda. They spin into the hay bails, but both recover and rejoin the race.
L5. Steve Busa gets good drive up L’Eau Rouge and makes a pass on Peter for P3 by Les Combes, and Sam closes right up again.
I’m looking at the lap counter thinking ‘haven’t we just done this lap’ they aren’t going by quick enough! I tell myself TAKE IT EASY, DON’T FALL OFF AGAIN!
Close racing continues for P2,3,4 & 5. Sam grabbing P4 from Peter with a good exit from La Carriére. Graham takes a spin at Blanchimont to put him well back from Mike, running P6. Steve Busa holds a defensive line into La Source but runs a wide exit to give Sam a sniff passed the pits and back to P3… or is it!!!
L6. Steve takes a fast line through the bottom of L’Eau Rouge and they run side by side, the wheels take the slightest of touches and it send Steve into the barrier allowing Peter to gain P4. All settles down for a moment when Al runs a little wide at La Carriére to allow Sam to regain P2 once again.
L7. CONCENTRATE! DON’T DO ANYTHING SILLY, I say to myself over and over. I break early and am more conservative with the engine RPM, while trying to maintain a comfy lead. Surely I can do this and not mess up.
Vlad, plagued with technical issues calls it a day. Al runs wide at Stavelot and spins to the outside allowing Peter to pinch back P3. Sam then runs wide, too at Blanchimont, but Peter fails to take advantage and also runs wide, but keeps it pointing down track. This allows Al to catch up fast but the wheels touch as they pass and Al spins, Steve Busa has to make avoiding action and also spins. Al gets going again quickly just ahead of Steve’s Lotus.
L8. P1 Steve Bird, P2 Sam Blood, P3 Peter Maestro, P4 Al Baldwin, P5 Steve Busa, P6 Mike James and P7, Graham Poole.
I’ve backed off and run in the 44’s, some 4 seconds off my practice laps, but keep an eye on the gap back to Sam. Steve Busa is chasing Al but loses the rear at Malmédy allowing Mike and Graham through.
L9. 1 to go. HOLD IT TOGETHER I’m shouting inside my head!
Mike runs wide at Les Combes but Graham is not close enough to capitalise, in turn Steve Busa is closing Graham down. Peter, still P3 is being chased by a hard charging Al closing in bit by bit. Graham is holding off Steve when he disappears in what looks to be a late disco (didn’t deserve that) finishing Graham’s efforts, Steve flies into P6.
Up front I’m a bag of nerves going into La Source, a favourite spinning area for me. HOLD IT TOGETHER! I make it gingerly around and get to the line in P1, WOW!!!
Sam still holding P2 takes another spin at Blanchimont but has enough time to recover and get home in front of a charging Peter with Al for close company. They rush into La Source but stay in position for Peter to take P3. Mike comes home P5 with Steve Busa’s Lotus completing the finishers in P6. We learned later that Steve Busa was also having tech issues.
In the end I didn’t do much close combat. Running relatively slow lap times some 4 seconds off my PB, but it was enough and managed to take the win by 32 seconds. It seems such a long time in racing but, heck it doesn’t feel anywhere near big enough when you have these guys chasing you down.
Thanks for the race guys. Hope you all make it to Rouen and we can welcome back Norbert and Asbjeurn too.
I’m off to get a glass of Champers as long as the rest of the ‘Soggies’ don’t get to it first.
