My early fears of having a dreadful event at this venue proved unfounded. As noted in an earlier post, my first few laps here left me lost what with the elevation changes and tight, tight corners. Early Sunday practice proved a boon, tho, as I got to learn the circuit to a reasonable degree and cut 32's. After a full race's distance, I wouldn't hesitate to return.
Grats to Tim for a splendid victory! Great run, bud.
Hats off to Sam for a terrific run to P2 in the BRM! I saw some of the last laps of the replay and it was really going to be a coin toss as to whom was going to emerge the winner. Bad luck on that late off, SB.
And another BRM fills the podium with James scoring an admirable P3. Good show.
Off the start, I got away quite well to bounce James for position on the run down to T1. There, I saw some contact between a Cooper and a Honda with the RA300 spinnng off. I didn't immediately know whom this was in the Honda...figuring either Hristo or Tim...and was surprised later to learn it was Clive aboard the Red Ball Special rather than in his more typical BT24. Ken was aboard the Cooper involved and did not accelerate away obliging me to hold position and speed directly behind. Unfortunately, Phil didn't realize that my pace was greatly compromised and knerfed me but good in the tail, sending me into a dizzying series of aerial loops. My! The P115 finally landed and glory be!, all four corners were still attached so I resumed. Being such a tough and heavy old nail, it seemed to not faze the BRM in the least!
I see that an inquiry into the shunt has been nominated. I attach no blame whatsoever to Phil for drilling me; at the end of a tail of cars, it would be easy to realize that both Ken and I had not picked up the pace following the initial contact.
The Honda pushed off at T1 was quickly filling my mirrors and I made efforts to swing wide in the double right and let it by but no, that didn't happen so I lead down to the tight, left-hand hairpin. I kept wide to the right on exit there and the RA300 sang by cleanly. I closed up on Jack over the next couple of laps and sized up my chances for a pass. During this study period, we came across Phil's Ferrari looped off early in a lap. Jack went a touch wide in the tight right-hander preceeding the hill and I was able to get up alongside on acceleration as we started the rise and I was able to secure P8.
Only moments later, this became P7 when Hristo lost his bearings and fell off the road to drill a barrier and lose a corner. How pathetic! Cruel seems a gross understatement. Don't feel too bad about losing your way, H. I, too, managed the same thing a little later on in the race but thanks to my pace being somewhat more "prudent"...is that a good euphemism for "slow"?;
..., I managed to hang on and save the car. Hristo has to take some consolation in that in only completing a mere two laps competition, he managed FTD for the meet. Remarkable!
For the balance of the race, I just plugged along keeping an eye on the gap back to Jack and hoping to keep it on the island. Had a minor off on acceleration coming off the right-hand hairpin then later having a half-spin approaching it. Devilsih little section that.
That gap back to Jack was important in that as long as he was showing as being xx seconds behind me, I knew that the leaders had yet to lap him. With a half-dozen laps or so to go, I got the flash from my pitguy that showed Jack being -1 lap. Uh-oh. I knew it would be close so kept up pace in hopes of staying on the lead lap. Although I never saw anyone in my mirrors, over the last couple of laps, I could pick up the sound of a Honda engine gaining. Made it by just a couple of seconds!
Our next D1 event is at Mosport and I'll be there. In the flesh. It's the annual VARAC vintage car weekend and I'll be heading down there on Saturday and staying over til late Sunday afternoon. Looks like I'll be passing on our race, gys. Sry. Best of Luck to You All!
