Anglesey
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:57 am
http://www.elisetrophy.com/Race_Report/ ... 6_May_2009
Report from Anglesey.
Caught a flight from ABZ to Luton and got collected from the airport by a private chauffeur (Ok Steve Williams step son Sam in a Escort) collected the car and drove the 270 miles to Anglesey, Got soaked on the M42 stuck in a traffic jam, then via the A5 through north Wales. Was nice to drive the 2-11 on some windy roads again it’s been a long time. Arrived at the track just in time to get the last ½ hour session of the trackday (thanks to Andy Dolan for the 10l fuel). What a great track, I spent most of the time trying to follow people that had been there all day. Some really interesting lines.
Practice Saturday morning went ok, But I wasn’t fully up to speed and for the first time, I was just wanting the signatures. I have paid a lot of money and sorted out a load of sh1t not to be going to Zandvoort the following weekend.
Qually went well, I just wanted to be near the front and fingers crossed out of trouble. I ended up in 4th overall so was happy with that although I wasn’t too happy with the amount of oversteer the car was giving me on fast corners.
There wasn’t enough time to sort it out in between races and I had it in my head that I just want to get round (although Jon in the 2-11 was over a second quicker than me in qually (he had been there all day Friday) So I still wanted to be able to go for the class win. Sean was leading and Jon was right behind him, the Motorsport Elise in front of me never got off the line, so I was sitting in 3rd going round the first corner, right on the trail of the 2 in front. Jon tried to go round the outside of Sean at corner 2 and got squeezed onto the grass. I then followed Sean for about 4-5 laps. Not much in the lap times but Sean could pull 6-7 car lengths on me down the straights (there are 3 straights) I now have the situation of a angle on one shoulder "you need that signature"and the devil on the other "go for the race win". I needed to get close enough to Sean to be able to pass him going into the second corner, god knows what I was going to do once I passed him as he was just going to blast past me on the straight anyway. So I went for a quick exit on corner 1 ( fast left hander, remember my oversteer problem)to take him round corner 2. Ooops a bit too quick and I was never going to make the exit so off I go onto the grass. A couple of spins later and I am heading back onto the track backwards, Lucky enough I had pulled out a gap so no one close by. I go straight across the track and end up on the grass engine cut off, Start the engine and off I go. By this time 3 cars have gone passed and Jon in the other 2-11 is now giving me a hard time. My confidence now gone a bit with the car and I am really struggling to get up to speed on the fast stuff. I was about to let Jon passed when he goes round the outside of me (nice overtake) on the back corner (3). I jump on his tail and follow for a lap or so, we then close up on Steve and Connaire who are now fighting for 2nd. I get far too hot into the hairpin and Jon taking the racing line just comes across right in front of me. I have nowhere to go and try to make the corner but it wasn’t to be and I run into the side of his car (really am sorry Jon). I then cool the beans and follow them round and get the signature. I lesson learnt.
Race 2 to follow.
Report from Anglesey.
Caught a flight from ABZ to Luton and got collected from the airport by a private chauffeur (Ok Steve Williams step son Sam in a Escort) collected the car and drove the 270 miles to Anglesey, Got soaked on the M42 stuck in a traffic jam, then via the A5 through north Wales. Was nice to drive the 2-11 on some windy roads again it’s been a long time. Arrived at the track just in time to get the last ½ hour session of the trackday (thanks to Andy Dolan for the 10l fuel). What a great track, I spent most of the time trying to follow people that had been there all day. Some really interesting lines.
Practice Saturday morning went ok, But I wasn’t fully up to speed and for the first time, I was just wanting the signatures. I have paid a lot of money and sorted out a load of sh1t not to be going to Zandvoort the following weekend.
Qually went well, I just wanted to be near the front and fingers crossed out of trouble. I ended up in 4th overall so was happy with that although I wasn’t too happy with the amount of oversteer the car was giving me on fast corners.
There wasn’t enough time to sort it out in between races and I had it in my head that I just want to get round (although Jon in the 2-11 was over a second quicker than me in qually (he had been there all day Friday) So I still wanted to be able to go for the class win. Sean was leading and Jon was right behind him, the Motorsport Elise in front of me never got off the line, so I was sitting in 3rd going round the first corner, right on the trail of the 2 in front. Jon tried to go round the outside of Sean at corner 2 and got squeezed onto the grass. I then followed Sean for about 4-5 laps. Not much in the lap times but Sean could pull 6-7 car lengths on me down the straights (there are 3 straights) I now have the situation of a angle on one shoulder "you need that signature"and the devil on the other "go for the race win". I needed to get close enough to Sean to be able to pass him going into the second corner, god knows what I was going to do once I passed him as he was just going to blast past me on the straight anyway. So I went for a quick exit on corner 1 ( fast left hander, remember my oversteer problem)to take him round corner 2. Ooops a bit too quick and I was never going to make the exit so off I go onto the grass. A couple of spins later and I am heading back onto the track backwards, Lucky enough I had pulled out a gap so no one close by. I go straight across the track and end up on the grass engine cut off, Start the engine and off I go. By this time 3 cars have gone passed and Jon in the other 2-11 is now giving me a hard time. My confidence now gone a bit with the car and I am really struggling to get up to speed on the fast stuff. I was about to let Jon passed when he goes round the outside of me (nice overtake) on the back corner (3). I jump on his tail and follow for a lap or so, we then close up on Steve and Connaire who are now fighting for 2nd. I get far too hot into the hairpin and Jon taking the racing line just comes across right in front of me. I have nowhere to go and try to make the corner but it wasn’t to be and I run into the side of his car (really am sorry Jon). I then cool the beans and follow them round and get the signature. I lesson learnt.
Race 2 to follow.
It's all about psychology!
. Nobody seemed to be chucking it in as fast as its do-able at, so i tried to give him a wee help 
It was working up until that lap though 
