Buxton

Semi-final
29/07/07
 

I arrived at Buxton with a slim chance of being in the semi-final due to cancellations received but as it turned out a full grid lined up for the semi, relegating me to heat 2.  

As I set off in my heat I managed to get past #76 and a couple of other cars and set about chasing the race leader Nick Jagger.  I managed to get a hit on Nicks back bumper but he held his line and I had to back out of the challenge or we'd have ended up in a heap. Going into the next bend I again lined Nicks back bumper up for an attack but just as I went in under braking my brake pedal hit the floor...NO BRAKES!!!  I hit the back of Nicks car at some pace, pushed him wide and blundered my way into the lead. Unfortunately this left me at the front of the pack but with no brakes at all and a quick exit was called for.  I threw the car onto the infield and somehow managed to slow it down with the gears and parked up for the rest of the race.  The fault with the brakes was soon traced to a broken calliper bracket on the rear axle which in turn had ripped the inside rear brake pipe out loosing all the fluid in the system.  A new calliper and pipe was fitted and Derek F kindly welded the bracket back onto the axle (well done in the semi by the way mate) but we just missed the consolation race due to time.

I decided that I might as well go in the Grand National event at the end of the meeting to at least check the brakes again and what a race it was!!  To be honest I spent most of the first part of the race bouncing off other cars and the fence but eventually settled down into a rhythm behind Craig Utley and FWS.  I think I finished in about 12th but was quite pleased with the pace of the car and the fact I had kept up with the two cars in front of me.

My next meeting will be Birmingham on the 25th August.