Fintray Hillclimb Now with Sat report.

[Mikie711]

Intro
I have to admit that despite having competed here for the last 3 years I have never really got to grips with Fintray. I have always done it when I could because it’s very close to my house making the logistics side very easy, it’s my local clubs main event and it’s where I first watched hillclimbing more years ago then I care to admit. I have never been a lover of hills, I enjoy sprints more, mainly due to the fact there is some sort of run off at sprint venues whereas hills there is little or none. After this weekend that, however, would change………..

Saturday
Practice
Up bright and early and round to the track, sign on, car scrutineered and track walked. First practice time was delayed due to a hiccup with the timing gear but eventually cars started running up the hill. I decided that I would concentrate on picking the right line through the corners and let the speed come as I had no real idea of what the 2 Eleven was capable of . Sitting in the car waiting for the start marshall to call me forward I was a bag of nerves. New car, first outing this year and at not my most comfortable event.
Up to the start and light goes green, drop the clutch and crawl off the line as the onboard electronics fought the resulting wheel spin, forgot all about the TC and the effect it would have on my start. After what seemed like an age, the car grips and takes off. 1st and 2nd pass in the blink off an eye up into 3rd before braking and dropping one gear for the entry to Ruin corner. The entry is masked by a huge cow shed so you don’t see the entry till very late which causes me to over brake and not carry enough speed up the hill into Combine. My line through here is pretty good but again not carrying enough speed. Up to hairpin, grabbing 3rd on the way up and brake hard at the second marker. ABS cuts in which surprised me no end. Round hairpin and across the finish line in 34.77sec. This run had settled my earlier nerves, and my confidence in the cars ability was starting to grow as it felt so planted and secure despite my ham fisted driving. This left me 2rd in class behind a very well sorted and equally well driven TVR Griffith of David Gray and just ahead of Martin Smith in his VXR turbo.
Second practice and time to build on what I had learned from the first run. The earlier damp patches from overnight rain had dried and even the finish line was almost completely dry by now. Off the line I got a better start but still not perfect by any means. On Sunday they have the new timing gear up and running and it gives a 64ft split which reflects the poor starts I am getting. Again up to 3rd before braking and dropping one gear for the entry to Ruin but carrying a bit more speed, still not pushing the car by any means as it hugs the inside kerb instead of running out wide for the exit of the second part of the corner. Good line through Combine, apart from one run I use this line all weekend and keep chipping away trying to carry more and more speed onto the following straight. Brake between the second and last brake markers at hairpin and again the ABS is chattering away which is now becoming reassuring in a strange sort of way. Round hairpin taking a late exit and blast through the finish in a time of 34.25secs. ½ sec of my previous time and more confidence gained. I am now lying 3rd in class after Martin posts a quick 33.6sec and Ian Duncan pops up with a 34.09sec in hi 300bhp RX7. Time for lunch and a chance to chat to my coaches for the weekend Kinnon Buchan and Alan Goulray who are ideally positioned up on the hill to watch my lines and speed through all the corners. Kinnon advise me to turn in a little deeper at hairpin and take a later apex so as to get back on the power earlier and to carry more speed everywhere!!.

Timed Runs:
Practice is practice and those times mean nothing It’s all about what you do in the next 2 runs. Watching the first cars head off for their runs the pace visibly quickens and the times start falling. The weather is warm and the track has started to rubber in as the dust has been cleared by the morning runs.
First timed run and it’s more of the same but make a conscious effort to carry more speed through Ruin, it works to a point and the car feels quicker on the exit and run up to Combine. Same line through Combine as I used all morning and grab 3rd earlier than on previous runs. Brake as late as I dare at hairpin and run a little deeper than previous taking a later apex before getting back on the gas for the run up to the finish and across the line in 33.73secs, another ½ sec off my time but still slower than my personal best in my S1 which was 33.31. Now back up to second in class but to my surprise behind Ian Duncan who set a PB on that run of 33.47sec and 5 hundredths ahead of David who posted 33.78sec.

Second timed run and it was all up for grabs. Any one of 4 could take the class. Unfortunately for Martin his cars stutter had returned, a problem that has plague him for the last couple of years. But it was all to play for between David, Ian and myself.
Used the launch control for the first time in the car for this run but it didn’t make a lot of difference and the car still seemed to bog down before eventually leaping forward once it found grip. Into Ruin and just tried to carry more speed and keep a clean constant line. Flat out up to combine and again it felt to cautious but managed to grab 3rd a bit earlier than I had done. Hard on the brakes at the last marker and felt the line through the hairpin was the best I had managed that day. Up over the finish line and a 33.09secs, new PB. Back to the paddock and at the gate I could see the clock above the sign in cabin, waited for David’s time as he was on track 33.17sec. That left Ian to go but he didn’t manage to beat his previous time.

End of a very entertaining first day and I had managed a new personal best, consistently improved throughout the day and taken the class win.


Race report with photo's on my site here

Uploaded a video of my last timed run. 32.23sec, first bit is missing due to a recurring camera problem.

Video here

[Scotty C]

you did well mike

very smooth that will give us a time to chase next year

[j2 lot]

Looking good

[kevham]

Well done Mike. First time out in the car and you get class win both days and GB's record is in sight.........

We had a brilliant weekend. A bit tiring but brilliant nonetheless. I was quite pleased to get a 34.66 on my final run - I had set my target as 35 secs for my first visit. Sub-34 next year.

It was nice to meet some SE regulars in the flesh for the first time. All in all, a cracking weekend.

[tut]

Well done Mike.

Told you that you had a 32 there if you pushed it.

tut

[Mikie711]

The weekend was one huge learning curve. The 2 Eleven makes you re-think how fast you think you can corner, unbelievable car. It helped that the TVR was very well pedaled, David couldn't speak after his first timed run nor could he stop shaking!!. Ian in the RX7 pulled out all the stops on his last run to come second and take nearly a full second off his PB from the previous day. So they were definitely keeping me honest.

But what a weekend.

[Andy G]

The 2 Eleven makes you re-think how fast you think you can corner, unbelievable car.

Well done

Take it to Spa, that will show you what it can REALLY do

[JohnStewart]

Well done Mike, great results in a new car

I'll try and get some more photos sorted tonight, but there's a selection at http://www.flatoutphotography.com/galle ... FINAUG2010

John

[Mr Momo]

Top job

That's the car run in then

[Mikie711]

Edited above with Saturdays report.

[kevham]

Mike - the Sunday results are on the GAC website complete with 64ft and split times.

Its official - VXs are faster than Elises and 2-11s. Over 64ft that is!

[Mikie711]

My 64ft times were terrible. I need to figure out how to get the 2 eleven off the line cleanly with out using launch control. Guess it'll jut take some practice but it never even entered my head before hand.
Still writing Sundays report and waiting for some more pic's from John Stewart.

[Scotty C]

you need to switch off your toys, then you will get a good start.