Cowdenbeath & Knockhill
(A POINT AT LAST)

 09/10 06 07

The logistics of this weekend were always going to be a bit complicated! Trish, Kirsten and I were booked on the 218 bus for the trip to Scotland and also booked into the usual 218 hotel in Cowdenbeath.  My car, however, was being transported up in the NFR truck to keep costs down a bit for both myself and Neil. A late Friday night was the order of the day loading my car up along with the NFR two-seater cars but with diesel being a major cost it was worth the slight inconvenience.

On our journey up in the 218 bus we encountered clutch problems as we approached the Forth Road Bridge in a traffic jam and we ended up in a bus stop just before the bridge fixing the clutch slave cylinder so we could continue on our way.

Got to the track just in time for practice which was lucky as I’d fitted new brake pads the week previous and I was informed I was to be in heat 1 of the 3 heat format. Took it really steady in my heat trying to find a decent line and stay off the wall, didn’t qualify but got off track in one piece. With a bit more confidence I decided to give it a better go in the consolation, had a decent race with 157 and 330 eventually finishing 9th just outside a qualification place for the final.  The GN got cancelled due to time constraints but we were promised that the race would be run as an extra event the day after at Knockhill.

Overall I really enjoyed the Racewall although I probably give it a bit too much respect, the track is very fast, tight and that wall comes at you so quickly if you stray off line. I know some fans think the 14 car, three heat format was a bit tame but to be honest, many more cars would have meant a lot of damage and cars lost for the rest of the weekend.

Got to Knockhill in good time, had a practice and acquainted myself with the strange “tri-oval” track layout. Decided that as the track is so different to any other, with one tight off camber bend and one wide bumpy long sweeping corner, trying to do anything with car set-up was a waste of time so left things pretty much as they were for Cowdie. The only thing we did was to fit shale tyres as the day was looking dull, damp and miserable and we thought it could help with grip especially as a trip into the gravel was inevitable at some stage!!

Set off OK in the postponed GN race  but the car was trying to spin out all the way through the race, a condition that got worse as the race progressed eventually leaving across the track in turn three with about 5 laps to go. I set off again but there was a bad vibration coming from the gearbox so I pulled off not wanting to do any damage.

Back in the pits we found 2 problems. 1st was the fact the steering box had worked loose causing excessive play in the steering but more serious was the fact that the 3rd link (from roll cage to axle top) had wound itself forward. This had allowed the rear axle to lean forward putting excessive strain on the diff, prop and potentially the gearbox. Al and Ian of team 218 and myself sorted the problem and I was away again but unfortunately I missed my heat due to the delay. Next up was the consolation event and I went out determined to try for a final place. I got off to a good start, managed to hold on to a top five for half of the race and had a couple of good battles with 330/361/214 and 215 eventually holding on for 8th and final qualification. I was over the moon to have qualified and as soon as I got back in the pits Steve set-to checking the car over and tidying it up for the race while I cooled off and got ready.

The final was a hoot!! Again I got off to a decent start keeping in touch with the pack and having a few scrapes along the way. I had to divert into the gravel on two occasions but just kept my “foot in” so not to sink in and got away with it both times. To be honest I’ve no idea where I finished but I cam off grinning from ear to ear having thoroughly enjoyed the race.

After the final we had a quick discussion about whether to risk the National, Steve TOLD me I was going out so we nicked some fuel off Fairhurst and away we went again. Unfortunately this race ended pre-maturely as I held my line when Derek came up behind me!! As Derek caught me, FWJ caught Derek, Frank put Derek into me, they both came past and just as I was trying to get back on line my inside half shaft snapped ending my race.

All in all it was a great weekend and I’m over the moon to have scored a point at last. It may not sound like much but it’s a milestone I can knock off my list and all without too much damage (this time).

Usual thanks to NFR, Geoff Coleman, all at 218, Steve (Waz), Trish and Kirsten. Thanks also to the team who put the weekend together, Conrad, Sarah, Guy, GMP and everyone else involved.