Ok - so yesterday we were at Aintree for Liverpool Motor Club's second sprint there for 2014. Weather looked a bit iffy all week but as time got nearer, the forecast became more promising, and by Fri it looked like there was a chance of some fine drizzle first thing till 9am or so, and then dry for the rest of the day. Checked again Sat morning before setting off, and yes, still ok. So for some reason I decided not to put my wets on the trailer, dont know why, have not done that ever before, but figured it was going to be dry so I didn't need them. Set off and when getting nearer to Liverpool on the M57, the heavens opened. Proper monsoon rain. Bugger. Still - the BBC are usually about right arn't they....it will dry up. Closer to Liverpool, still very wet, and when pulled into circuit, it was p*ssing it down. Bugger. Sat in car feeling a bit stupid really....why didn't I bring my wets....Oh well, better get on with it. Got the car off the trailer, fitted front splitter etc, and was absolutely soaked. Checked the weather again and suddenly all change, rain till at least 11am, and black clouds for the rest of the day. WTF????? And no wet tyres. Bottom. Missus had gone to her nan's for the day as well so no chance of her bringing them over.
Very good class turnout in 3B, with 9 cars registered, including 2013 Overall Champ Andy Larton with his immaculate Pug 106, John Moxham with his LAD Pug 205, a tasty looking Nissan Primera from the British Sprint Champs driven by Colin Metcalfe, and the Clio Cup car of Phil Caza.
Into P1, heavy rain, soaked track, slicks.....just managed to keep it on the track, wheelspin everywhere and aquaplaning on the puddles. Something like 62 seconds (given my PB in the dry is 50-point-something). Bottom. Going to be last at this rate.
Mate Kev arrives with his lad. Hows it going? Really crap Kev, have been a n*b and left my wet tyres at home. No bother says Kev, I'll go get them......good lad. 2hrs round trip. Off he goes.
Into P2, still raining but a touch drier than P1. Just ran round, sliding all over the
shop. 59.7 seconds. Amazingly this left me in P2, behind the 106 who had his wet tyres and was down at 53 seconds (about right for the wet).
So the marshalls were fed up as they were all cold and wet, so an early lunch was called. Great....might actually get wet tyres on before first timed run. Kev arrives with about 5 mins of lunch break left, we swap the tyres but dont get time to set the pressures and go to wet suspension settings before we are called for T1, but the wets are on. Just about get to the line as the Class are still forming up. Phew. Pop a 55 sec in which leaves me in P3 behind 106 and Nissan
Back to pits, set tyre pressures, set suspension, breathe. Still wet, but rain stopped. Into T2, manage a 54.07, braking way too soon for bends. Still in P3.
Rain stopped now and dry patches starting to form. In P4, two runs left, **** or bust time. Slicks back on, dry suspension settings. Into T3. Off line, good, first bend, nice, plenty grip, waarp, warrp, second bend, attack time, turn in, back end snaps round and two nice pirouettes straignt down the centre of the track. Bottom. Clearly still not dry enough for slicks, but front felt ok actually. 205 move into lead with nice intermediate tyres fitted, 106 second, Nissan third (who also spun), me now fourth.
One run left. Front felt fine so wets back on the rear only. Time to put one in. T4. Nice getaway, much better, rear biting on turn-in. Braked as late as I dear for Beechers, push, push, push, 51.6. Cummon.
This left me second behind 106, and just pipped 205 by a couple tenths on last run.
Phew. Disaster averted. And big lesson learnt. Dont believe the BBC Weather service, and always carry wet weather tyres in the UK......And big thanks to Kev.
For interest, 1B cars on road tyres were in the 54sec bracket today where their record is 51.86 - shows how slippery it was.
Ave IT
Rob
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