Birmingham

 08/09/07

Not much to say about this meeting as it was over more or less before it began!!  Kirsten took the car out in paid practice in the afternoon and seemed to enjoy the experience.  She took things steady, as instructed, but by the time she had finished her second run as beginning to get a bit braver with the loud pedal.  Hopefully Kirsten will have a few more practice sessions in the car and we hope that she can continue to race the Swinton Motor Project V8 a few more times before making her F1 debut probably some time next year.

As far as my Birmingham event went things took a turn for the worse very early on!!  Things didn't feel quite right in practice but several checks of the car showed no real problems except a suspect inside rear shocker.  the shocker was changed and I went out for my heat.  I lined up at the back of the whites and al seemed well on the rolling lap but just as the green dropped and I selected 2nd gear there was an almighty vibration from under the floor of the car and i lost all drive!!  I manage to coast to a safe (ish) place on the exit of turn two where I decided to sit the rest of the race out.  I didn't feel in any danger so saw no need at that stage to call for a caution.  Just as I was collecting my thoughts I was hit in the rear by Lenny Smith who had been sent fence wards by someone, the impact moved me along the fence a few feet but there seemed to be no harm done.  At that point I looked down at the floor of the car and saw a few flames licking around the floor panel and as it obviously wasn't an exhaust fire and it seemed to be getting worse I decided enough was enough and it was time to bail out!  A few thumbs down signs out of the window called the race into caution, a marshal came over to extinguish the fire and I was towed onto the infield and safety.  Back in the pits, Steve, Richard, guest mechanic for the day Gary Loftus and I found that the gearbox had completely sheared of the bell housing and the spigot shaft sheared leaving half of it buried in the clutch. The mounting lugs that hold the the box onto the bell housing were still firmly bolted to the bell housing and the entire casing had sheared of which allowed the box to semi-rotate causing plenty of damage.

The car was loaded straight away and is now back at the garage.  Richard and I will make a start stripping it down this week to find out what the damage is and, just as importantly, what caused the failure.  At this stage I don't know when I'll be out again it depends on what the damage totals and funds to finance the repairs.

I would like, at this time, to extend my thanks to the quick acting marshal who ran over to extinguish the fire on my car, he not only attended to the problem on track but kept an eye on my car for the rest of the race just in case the fire re-lit whilst it was parked up....thanks fella!