The Year so far:
First event of the year - Bath Half Marathon. A struggle! Bruised ribs and a disrupted training schedule
meant I wasn't very well prepared. Nice day although cold. Managed a time of 1h 49m 50s in 2,016th place out of 5,993 finishers!
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March 19th
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First Sprint of the year - MIRA. A Class win at last! A small field but still quite
competitive so after a cold and slowish practice managed to avoid any mistakes and won by a second with a 56.77s. Improved to
a 55.82s in the class winners run off. A good start with 9 points in the championship. No photos unfortunately as it was MIRA!
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April 22nd
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Werrington Hillclimb - A very scary hill: a cattle grid covered with a metal plate between two gate
posts, taken at about 90mph and a very narrow, downhill esses with no run off. Up against 8 other 1800cc class cars running stickier List 1B tyres. Initally worried that last was looking
possible but later disappointed to be pipped for third by 0.2s after a 'go for it' last run which left me shaking a little!
Still 43.90s seemed like a good time. Not sure if I'll be back! Leading the Championship overall though.
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April 30th
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Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb - Only four in class and only one
timed run before the heavens opened. Second and 2.5 seconds behind Chris Jones with a PB of 35.81s. However, Shelsley was more enjoyable with
the more powerful motor.
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May 13th
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Loton Park Hillclimb - Very wet all day so took it easy in practice some way behind Chris Jones. Narrowed the gap to 2 secs
after the first run and then went for it on the second run finishing less that half a second behind Chris (with a 72.99s) in second place. Good but disappointing - still lying second overall
in the championship though.
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May 21st
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MIRA Sprint - First event with the Van Diemen.Very wet all day apart from the first run so took it easy.
3rd out of 4, so not last and only 0.3s behind second place despite still having the occasional problem finding second gear!
Best dry run a 59.88s. Good Midland Speed points though.
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May 27th
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Curborough Sprint - Back to the Caterham and a very hot day
with a lot of fast times. Took it easy in practice going third then second fastest. Got into the 35 second bracket on the first timed
run to take the lead by 0.06s despite getting 4th instead of second out of the molehill. Nailed it on the second run with a 35.66s PB
to win from 5 other competitors. Good ALDON points to go back into the lead in the Championship overall!
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June 11th
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Cadwell Sprint - First visit to this fantastic track and in the Van Diemen.
A bit daunting particularly spotting braking and apex points on such an undulating track when sitting so low. Still reasonably competitive (i.e. not last!)
and close enough to those ahead of me with a 107.39s despite not taking the third and final run.
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June 17th
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Pembrey Sprint - In the Van Diemen again and a competitive day despite
only three of us in the class. Leading after the first run ( a great 2 lapper) but just pipped by half a second by Martin Webb on the final
run with a 125.84s. If I had been in the Caterham I would have pushed a bit harder but still not fully comfortable in the single seater.
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July 8th
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Llandow Sprint - First win in a racing car! Again only three of us in the class. Leading
after the first run with a 83.71s only 1.6s off the lap record for FF cars! It was hotter for the timed runs and there was a lot
of rubber on the track and times generally fell off a bit but won by 0.6s with an 84.52s.
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July 15th
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Goodwood Sprint - Back to the Caterham (after blowing up the FF in
mid week testing at Llandow!) but only entrant in the class. This is the first time this has happened so no real incentive to
push hard on this fast and scary circuit. Not driving too well either and finished with a 104.03s some half a second off
my previous best.
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August 19th
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Cadwell Park - What a circuit! Everyone was so enthusiastic and had a great time. Once
I had worked out I could take Coppice in sixth (with a lift) the times came down and I was pleased with a 98.68s less than
2 secs behind someone with 30 bhp more. Could have gone faster though - still not found the limit of grip with the Stunners. Third out of four.
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September 17th
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Prescott - Damp practice runs and felt uneasy on the Stunners. A reasonable 51.58s on the first run
but messed up at Ettores, understeering off, meant a bothched second run. 5th out of 9.
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September 23rd
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Loton Park - Wet & dry all day. A comfortable third after the second dry
practice but too cautious on the first wet run. The second run was dry but way too slow. Fourth out of 14 with a 65.31s sounds OK but it wasn't!
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September 23rd
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Curborough - Final event of the year and a fairly easy second (out of 5) with a
modest 36.30s. Second in Class in the ALDON Championship and fifth equal overall. Not bad!
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October 15th
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