Speedway

My second race since, State Titles Feb 2008.  It has been a few months since my first race of the season, and happened to be the last race of the season, Ellenbrook Speedway. If was a busy year and the car isn’t were it should be in setup so we thought we would just give it one last run before rebuilding it.

We had 3 heats and a final tonight, from the first heat I had nothing but trouble, Kevin and Perry had to rewire the starter and alternator wire as the car wasn’t charging so after waiting in the pit lane for a crash to be cleaned up from the previous race, the battery was drained and the car wouldn’t run as without enough power in the battery the ECU and anything electrical e.g. fuel pumps wouldn’t work, they tried push starting me but it didn’t work so I watched this race from the infield.

The Second heat I got a great draw Outside front and into the first corner I had great speed, as I let the Pole driver into the corner I was hit from behind, and because the starter was bypassed I couldn’t let the car stall so I dropped it into first gear to prevent stalling which unfortunately dropped so much speed that I lost 5 positions after the second corner.

I haven’t yet mentioned this was the hardest track I’ve ever raced, the actual track was very rutty (not smooth) so it was hard to pick the right part of the track to take the corner, and Turns 1 & 2 we very dull so it was even harder to pick the race line.

On lap 4 I’ve come through turn two, and we assume the tyre has come of the rim due to hitting a rutt, we think this has then snapped the caster rod front the strut arm, this is the rod that stops the wheel moving forward or back.

After going into turn three i have now lost control of the steering and smashed into the wall, at the time I was unaware of the problem, the tow truck guys got me back onto the track and running but i had lost all steering on the front right so I was out.

It was a hard it but the only thing that hurt was the fact as the wheel hit the wall it pushed through the wheel arch and into my right foot. It wasn’t a big issue, just a little swelling.

Well that was the end of my night and the season.

We are now trying to decide if we should rebuild the current car or rebody the car, which means getting a street car, stripping it and moving all of the racing components into the “new body”.

Well we will hope for more track time next year depends on the route we take on the car.

NEXT SEASON AND BEYOND………………………………….

SVD #13

My first race since, State Titles Feb 2008. After rebuilding the car and trying to pick the right suspension I found it hard to get through the corners smoothly.

First race I started 6th row right hand side and started well, it was getting through the corners I was struggling with. After a few hits I was spun out after the second corner then trying to get back on the track I was hit front on. I was lucky that there was a restart due to other cars and I got back into the mix until the ignition wire melted from rubbing on the extractors and stopped the engine dead. I was now out of the first race.

Back to the pits for some adjustments and then out for the second race, great starting position second row right hand side. Still struggled through the corners and all I can say is at least I finished this race.

Feature race time I started back of field, getting used of this position! Once again had a hard time, after being lapped by the first two cars (DOH!!) I was following the drivers through the corner and started too follow the movements and timings. I found it was very helpful and setup wasn’t the only problem I had.
Kevin had an unfortunate meeting with the wall, which put him in the in field watching little ol’ me running round the track. This gave him the opportunity to watch me race, and found the problem was also in my timing and position on the track.

Rapping up, Being my first race in my second season ever I understand that it isn’t first nature and I do need a lot of experience and I need to combine the setup with my learning the tracks.

TO AUSTRALIAN TITLE AND BEYOND………………………………….

SVD #13