Really enjoyed my first meeting in anger after buying the ex-218 F1.  We had the car ready to go by midway through the previous week (bet that doesn't happen too often now) so were able to set off early to the track.  We ended up in convoy with both 218 and our ex Ministox team of Josh Coleman #5 and got to the track about 4pm for a 6pm start.

 I was a bit disappointed that there would be no practice but it was the same for everyone and it gave us plenty of time to check things over (lots of times if I'm honest!).  After scrutineering we fuelled up, set tyre pressures etc and after a bit of socialising it was time for me to get out there.  For some reason I was far more nervous than on either of my two meetings last year but that soon died away as I lined up at the back for my final meeting as a novice.

 Heat one was great, managed to get away well from the green and kept my nose clean for most of the race, I had a bit of a tussle with 144 Alex Fletcher but soon after he spun on turn 3 which allowed me to concentrate on the job in hand.  The car was very loose going into turn 1 but had an almighty push through turn 3/4 but I managed to keep everything pointing in the right direction and was elated to finish in one piece.

 Luckily I was next to race in heat 3 which gave us some time to think about how to change the car for better handling.  We increased the damping on the outside rear, changed an inside rear to reduce stagger across the rear axle which we hoped would help reduce the push I was experiencing.  My second race went much the same as my first, I thought the car was worse going in but better through the corners and it all felt a bit leery coming off the turns but again I managed a finish, had a couple of tussles with 144 (again) and 325 managing to pass the 325 car with a couple of laps to go.  I was gutted to learn I had finished 11th and just out of the points but overall delighted with another finish and no damage. 

We were soon told that the final was an "all in" affair and after deliberating about whether to enter, finally made the decision to go for it.  We decided to go with a shale outside rear (thanks Wayne for the loan) and see what difference it made but to be honest the final was so frantic (from my perspective) I was just hanging on for dear life!!!  To say I was pleased to finish the final would be a massive understatement, it was really hard work and everyone ups there game so much I couldn't believe it and I came of track on a massive high really keen to have a crack at finishing 4 out of 4 races!! 

Things were looking good in the national again, I had a really good race with Rudi 177 at the back which I enjoyed immensely, he seemed to be struggling going into the turns and I was awful coming off  so we see-sawed for a few laps before I managed to put a bit of daylight between us.  Just when I was thinking "you've done it" with 2 laps to go a train of red tops lead by Tom Harris 84 came up my inside into turn 3 which pushed be towards the fence coming off the bend.  As the other cars came closer and closer up my inside I eventually ran out of track and Tom and I hooked up just before the start line, finishing our racing for the night.  As Tom was in a venerable position the racing was cautioned while we got off the track which left just two laps to be run after the caution period.

 

All in all I am really pleased with the car and my first real meeting, I'm looking forward to Birmingham and Hednesford later this month where we will be trying our best to improve and have a good time to boot.

 

Mike