Kames Sprint 2/3 Aug 08 Drivers View
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:20 pm
Kames 2/3 Aug. Drivers View
Saturday.
Get up at 6am. Look out window….. wet, bollocks, and raining double bollocks. Oh well it’s the same for everyone, maybe it will dry.
Drive to track, due to diversion from Ayr, down the bumpiest road I have every come across !!. Find slot, sign on, walk track. Bump into a few familiar faces discuss usual topics primarily the weather.
First run time approaches, butterflies start soon followed by usual panic. Funny, coz I thought it would be different having been to Kames with SE. I guess that’s the difference between fun days and competition. Listen to drivers brief and relieved that we are running anti-clockwise on first day, just think the track flows better this way round.
The heavens open!! Mega rain as we wait for our first run. Feel for the marshals, at least I can hide out in the car they are stuck out in the middle of the track not to mention the midgies, my god are they aggresive on the west coast or what
!!. Anyone who marshals deserves a medal, because without them none of the events would go ahead. If I bump into any of you at future SE or MSA events I will gladly by you a pint or six at the end of the day. 
Top job to all of them.
The rain stops, or at least slackens and it’s time for my run. I use it as a spotting lap to remind myself what Kames is like. I am surprised by how much grip there is but still slow. First run 101.07sec.
Watch the remainder of the cars run, sooner than expected it’s time for run 2. Having never been to an event when they managed 5 runs in the day it came as a pleasant surprise.
Second run and the track is still wet but the rain is off for now, car feels a bit hesitant as I wait on the line. Usual start, 3000rpm drop clutch and immediately realise not all is as it should be. Engine is missing a cylinder, carry on and complete the run anyway but not much drive out of the corners post a 99.48sec. Driving back to the paddock just hoping it’s nothing serious as I have to drive it home tomorrow. Must invest in a trailer if I am going to do this long term.
After this run lunch is called to give the beleaguered marshals a much deserved bite to eat and cup of tea. Also to let what looks like better weather move in.
After investigating, turns out the rotor arm bolt has backed out and is only in by one thread and HT lead number 4 has parted company with the spark plug clip. My bro nips of to a local breakers yard and finds a old set off a Rover.
It’s starting to brighten up and it only improves over lunch, so much so that by the time we restart its turned into a nice day.
Third practice starts and still waiting on Craig returning with the leads, he arrives and after replacing the leads set off, time to start pushing. My usual yard stick is Graeme and Jennifer in the Exige, look like about 7-10 seconds quicker round Kames, the other car in the class today is a TVR Griffith 500 but it has an off . Third practice is much more positive and feel I am starting to make some progress. Concentrate on trying to be smooth but find I am between gears a lot of the time. Cant seem to decide between 2nd and 3rd. Post a 90.80sec.
No hanging about, and before you know it the time runs begin. It’s interesting the difference in how you approach the timed runs. From my point of view I tend to focus a lot more and think about what I plan to do in each corner. It very rarely works out but at least I try.
First timed run and best start off the line so far, but brake, as usual for me, too early for the hairpin, through Mcraes up through Norries and down to Paddock bend is OK but on the entry to Paddock manage to get 4th instead of 2nd which means a gear change on the exit DOH. To make matters worse manage to find 2nd instead of 4th on the run up to the hairpin. Not having a good day!!!. Rest of the run goes a bit better but know that there is loads left in the car, as is often the case the driver is the weakest kink. Never the less post a 88.99sec which is another 2secs off , so things are going in the right direction.
Last run of the day and everything seems a lot smoother. No gearbox mishaps and better lines through the corners. Still feel there is a lot more to come as not really losing any grip anywhere so could have pushed a bit harder yet. Post a time of 86.89sec, another 2.1sec off my time which only re-enforces my belief that I am still coming to terms with what this car is capable of.
Still nearly 7sec adrift of the Exige though, but I suppose that’s what years of sprinting and 110bhp will do for you. Congratulations to Graeme who set another class record with a storming 80.05sec taking 1.5sec off the old record.
Sunday
Clockwise track today. Today starts the same as yesterday, same time, same weather, same bumpy road.
Arrive at track un-pack the car and my new gazebo which Craig got us on Saturday. Halfords £40 just brilliant. Keeps the car dry when raining and somewhere to watch the other drivers from as well. Portable barby next on shopping list. A must if your racing in Scotland, the gazebo not he barby !!.
First practice is wet again and can feel the car fighting for grip, feels very twitchy, not exactly confidence inspiring. Use this as a sighting lap and re-acquaint myself with the track. Post a slow 107.53. The day is young.
Second practice and the track is drying and the car feels more settled but still a lot of time lost. Carrying the wrong gear through paddock and norries. Still 100.51sec is 7sec off my time and headed in the right direction.
Third practice the track has dried and the run feels quite good. Carrying more speed through Colin McRae kink into paddock but still scrubbing off to much before running uphill through Paddock bend which loses me time up to norries. Feels like I am coasting through the corner rather than attacking it. Posted 99.35sec so still an improvement but.............
First timed run time comes round after the lunch break. Time to reflect on what I had learned in the morning. Make the mistake of not going out and walking the track again as I usually do. Make a good start and the whole of the run is smoother and neater than the mornings, still feel I need o push through paddock more and carry more speed through Norries and down to the hairpin. Again a small improvement in time and post a 98.19sec. This gives me a couple of seconds over the next nearest car, a Boxster S, driven by an ex sprint co-ordinator/ long time competitor but still 8sec behind the Exige.
Second timed run starts well, quicker through paddock and well into third before breaking for Norries. Carry plenty speed through Gemmels before breaking for the hairpin. The run down to paddock through McRaes feels quicker, try as I might I never manage all weekend to convince my right foot that McRaes could be taken flat and still leave enough time for breaking into paddock. Through paddock and on the run up to Norries everything is good, much quicker. Brake for Norries, down into second and power on coming out. Maybe a touch quick on the gas, the back end breaks, tried to catch it and thought I had only for the rear left to get on the grass and it’s game over. Lost it completely, sat back and enjoyed the ride and wait for it to stop. Which it did thankfully before the tyre wall. Bugger!!.
All in all another great weekend two more third place in class and more useful experience gained. Bit long winded this time but trying to put down as much of what happened, from my point of view, as I can remember to give a flavor of a weekend sprinting/hillclimbing. For all those who are thinking they could do this, then stop thinking and get out there. All you need is a Helmet and race suit. You would probably spend more on a couple of good nights out. As for crashes, stick with sprinting, much more run offs than hills which are usually tress and walls. get out there and try it, you my even enjoy yourself
Videos
Saturday's first timed run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeR-ldb2w1A
Sundays second timed run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sclu2NoI2wE This is the one I spun on.
Mike
Saturday.
Get up at 6am. Look out window….. wet, bollocks, and raining double bollocks. Oh well it’s the same for everyone, maybe it will dry.
Drive to track, due to diversion from Ayr, down the bumpiest road I have every come across !!. Find slot, sign on, walk track. Bump into a few familiar faces discuss usual topics primarily the weather.
First run time approaches, butterflies start soon followed by usual panic. Funny, coz I thought it would be different having been to Kames with SE. I guess that’s the difference between fun days and competition. Listen to drivers brief and relieved that we are running anti-clockwise on first day, just think the track flows better this way round.
The heavens open!! Mega rain as we wait for our first run. Feel for the marshals, at least I can hide out in the car they are stuck out in the middle of the track not to mention the midgies, my god are they aggresive on the west coast or what
!!. Anyone who marshals deserves a medal, because without them none of the events would go ahead. If I bump into any of you at future SE or MSA events I will gladly by you a pint or six at the end of the day. Top job to all of them.The rain stops, or at least slackens and it’s time for my run. I use it as a spotting lap to remind myself what Kames is like. I am surprised by how much grip there is but still slow. First run 101.07sec.
Watch the remainder of the cars run, sooner than expected it’s time for run 2. Having never been to an event when they managed 5 runs in the day it came as a pleasant surprise.
Second run and the track is still wet but the rain is off for now, car feels a bit hesitant as I wait on the line. Usual start, 3000rpm drop clutch and immediately realise not all is as it should be. Engine is missing a cylinder, carry on and complete the run anyway but not much drive out of the corners post a 99.48sec. Driving back to the paddock just hoping it’s nothing serious as I have to drive it home tomorrow. Must invest in a trailer if I am going to do this long term.
After this run lunch is called to give the beleaguered marshals a much deserved bite to eat and cup of tea. Also to let what looks like better weather move in.
After investigating, turns out the rotor arm bolt has backed out and is only in by one thread and HT lead number 4 has parted company with the spark plug clip. My bro nips of to a local breakers yard and finds a old set off a Rover.
It’s starting to brighten up and it only improves over lunch, so much so that by the time we restart its turned into a nice day.
Third practice starts and still waiting on Craig returning with the leads, he arrives and after replacing the leads set off, time to start pushing. My usual yard stick is Graeme and Jennifer in the Exige, look like about 7-10 seconds quicker round Kames, the other car in the class today is a TVR Griffith 500 but it has an off . Third practice is much more positive and feel I am starting to make some progress. Concentrate on trying to be smooth but find I am between gears a lot of the time. Cant seem to decide between 2nd and 3rd. Post a 90.80sec.
No hanging about, and before you know it the time runs begin. It’s interesting the difference in how you approach the timed runs. From my point of view I tend to focus a lot more and think about what I plan to do in each corner. It very rarely works out but at least I try.
First timed run and best start off the line so far, but brake, as usual for me, too early for the hairpin, through Mcraes up through Norries and down to Paddock bend is OK but on the entry to Paddock manage to get 4th instead of 2nd which means a gear change on the exit DOH. To make matters worse manage to find 2nd instead of 4th on the run up to the hairpin. Not having a good day!!!. Rest of the run goes a bit better but know that there is loads left in the car, as is often the case the driver is the weakest kink. Never the less post a 88.99sec which is another 2secs off , so things are going in the right direction.
Last run of the day and everything seems a lot smoother. No gearbox mishaps and better lines through the corners. Still feel there is a lot more to come as not really losing any grip anywhere so could have pushed a bit harder yet. Post a time of 86.89sec, another 2.1sec off my time which only re-enforces my belief that I am still coming to terms with what this car is capable of.
Still nearly 7sec adrift of the Exige though, but I suppose that’s what years of sprinting and 110bhp will do for you. Congratulations to Graeme who set another class record with a storming 80.05sec taking 1.5sec off the old record.
Sunday
Clockwise track today. Today starts the same as yesterday, same time, same weather, same bumpy road.
Arrive at track un-pack the car and my new gazebo which Craig got us on Saturday. Halfords £40 just brilliant. Keeps the car dry when raining and somewhere to watch the other drivers from as well. Portable barby next on shopping list. A must if your racing in Scotland, the gazebo not he barby !!.
First practice is wet again and can feel the car fighting for grip, feels very twitchy, not exactly confidence inspiring. Use this as a sighting lap and re-acquaint myself with the track. Post a slow 107.53. The day is young.
Second practice and the track is drying and the car feels more settled but still a lot of time lost. Carrying the wrong gear through paddock and norries. Still 100.51sec is 7sec off my time and headed in the right direction.
Third practice the track has dried and the run feels quite good. Carrying more speed through Colin McRae kink into paddock but still scrubbing off to much before running uphill through Paddock bend which loses me time up to norries. Feels like I am coasting through the corner rather than attacking it. Posted 99.35sec so still an improvement but.............
First timed run time comes round after the lunch break. Time to reflect on what I had learned in the morning. Make the mistake of not going out and walking the track again as I usually do. Make a good start and the whole of the run is smoother and neater than the mornings, still feel I need o push through paddock more and carry more speed through Norries and down to the hairpin. Again a small improvement in time and post a 98.19sec. This gives me a couple of seconds over the next nearest car, a Boxster S, driven by an ex sprint co-ordinator/ long time competitor but still 8sec behind the Exige.
Second timed run starts well, quicker through paddock and well into third before breaking for Norries. Carry plenty speed through Gemmels before breaking for the hairpin. The run down to paddock through McRaes feels quicker, try as I might I never manage all weekend to convince my right foot that McRaes could be taken flat and still leave enough time for breaking into paddock. Through paddock and on the run up to Norries everything is good, much quicker. Brake for Norries, down into second and power on coming out. Maybe a touch quick on the gas, the back end breaks, tried to catch it and thought I had only for the rear left to get on the grass and it’s game over. Lost it completely, sat back and enjoyed the ride and wait for it to stop. Which it did thankfully before the tyre wall. Bugger!!.
All in all another great weekend two more third place in class and more useful experience gained. Bit long winded this time but trying to put down as much of what happened, from my point of view, as I can remember to give a flavor of a weekend sprinting/hillclimbing. For all those who are thinking they could do this, then stop thinking and get out there. All you need is a Helmet and race suit. You would probably spend more on a couple of good nights out. As for crashes, stick with sprinting, much more run offs than hills which are usually tress and walls. get out there and try it, you my even enjoy yourself
Videos
Saturday's first timed run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeR-ldb2w1A
Sundays second timed run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sclu2NoI2wE This is the one I spun on.
Mike
You'll only get better with getting to know the track which i'm sure you'll manage. We have to be quick to get a space at any of the test days to beat your guys lol. Glad you enjoyed it and i'll see you soon. Thursday night??? 
