Ipswich
23/06/07

Got to Ipswich in good time after what seemed like an age in the truck!  Once we had unloaded I had a few jobs to attend to that didn’t get done at the garage.  The main job was to replace to worn prop shaft.  Dave Willis sent us the prop down as Steve and I set to getting it fitted, a task that was hindered somewhat by the fact the heavens opened half way through the job!!!  Once that was done we then had to check various bit and bobs including tracking, axle lead, diff angle etc.  With all the setup and maintenance done all that was left was to change over onto shale tyres as it was looking decidedly wet!!

We had been told the week before that there would be no F1 practice so before I knew it I was lined up for heat 1 in light but steady rain. A took a couple of slow laps before I lined up to check I had brakes etc and have a feel of the track and then lined up along side Ryan Harrison (197) and Steve Jacklin (136).  I got off to a reasonable start, tucking in behind the 197 car and we both seemed to pull some distance on the following pack and within a few laps I was pretty sure that if I could get past Ryan I could go quicker than he was.  The car was handling the wet conditions brilliantly, I was confident in my brakes, the car turned well and as long as I didn’t over do it off the bends I seemed to have plenty of grip.  I managed to pass 197 after 2 or 3 laps but over did it slightly into the next turn which allowed Ryan to slip by again.  I managed to get past again the next lap and this time made it stick and managed to eek out a slight gap which allowed me to settle into some sort of rhythm.  The rest of the race was pretty un-eventful really, Paul Phillips (263) got past me as did Tony Smith (91), I managed to stay on Tony’s bumper for the rest of the race, thought about having a dig on the last lap but the conditions were so wet it would have probably ended in tears!!  On the last lap I noticed Rob Cowley was catching me but I was determined to keep my 3rd place and just managed to keep him out of striking distance until the flag.

After the race we were informed that Paul Phillips had failed the post race weigh in so the race win was duly awarded to Tony Smith which, in turn, elevated me to second spot, by far my best showing so far!!!

My confidence was up for the final but an awful start from me put me on the outside line on lap one, the rest of the field streamed past and I just didn’t seem to get into my stride for the rest of the race.  I managed to finish the race but was well down the placings by the end and to be honest I was a bit disappointed but at least we’d no damage.

Trish, Steve and I discussed the merits of entering the GN event with NIR the following day but eventually decided that it was worth a go.  Seemed to get going OK but as it was the final World Championship qualification race of the year the rest of the pack wasn’t hanging around either!!  I took a few hits along the way but managed to keep going until Andrew Smith (391) caught me up, Andrew put me wide into turn three, I momentarily climbed up the side of another car (no idea who), the car came out of gear and my goggles fell off!!  Managed (somehow) to get it all back together and set off down the home straight with my goggles still hanging round my neck!!  As I got to the end of the straight I couldn’t see anything at all and just as I was about to turn hit the stranded car of Craig Finnikin (55).  This ripped the outside corner of my front bumper off, bent the front axle slightly and punctured the outside front tyre, as my race was obviously over I retired to the centre green.

On inspection back in the pits we decided to simply load up and try to repair the damage the following day at NIR.

Overall I must count Ipswich as a big success. I loved the track and to get a top 3 finish in poor conditions was a bonus.