Hampton Downs International layout |
We had 7 Juniors plus the Ralt RT1 in our garage |
RS200 in a box | Unloading a F5000 on a skid from a container |
Kenny Smith (left) | Undressed F5000 |
Richard Bishop-Miller with the Autosport Special Mk2 |
Friday started clear, but rain started before the drivers' briefing. The FJr grid was split into 2 groups. Group1 was Front Engine and selected Rear Engine Drum cars. Group2 was Rear Engine Drum and Disk cars. It had stopped raining by the time I went out for Group2 practice. Still wet, but drying by the end. The Fosters Hairpin, Kev's Carousel, and the second part of Double Bastard were all 2nd gear corners. Over the hill where Double Bastard reconnects to the original circuit was a bit bumpy.
The engine had been a bit hard to start and sounded a bit off so investigation was in order. Adjusted the points a bit and the plug gaps, and it was back to it's normal bark.
Our dry qualifying session got red flagged on the first lap due to a spinner in T3. Time to really learn the new sections of the track. The hill at Double Bastard was even more bumpy in the dry. Tried to find a line that didn't make the front end jump out. The session ended with another red flag due to a car with it's rear wheels in a gravel trap.
Group2 Qualifying |
Saturday dawned cloudy but dry for the start of racing. Group1 was first up, and someone dropped oil from T2 all the way through T10. Didn't think a sump would hold that much. So our start for Group2 was delayed for cleanup. The oil-dry was not swept after being applied so it was a bit dusty and slippery after that. Started 18th with a decent first standing start on the new clutch. JR got a great start and blew right by me. There were a number of spinners in the first couple of laps with the oil-dry catching some out. JR got squeezed in the Hirepool Hairpin, ending up with some nose bodywork damage. I was just being very careful with lack of grip. The race ended under safety car after Andrew Beaumount's Lotus 22 blew an oil line coming out of the last hairpin and into the Sweeper. Not a good day for oil cleanup on track.
For the afternoon race, I was moved to Group1 based on my lap times. More cars near my speed. There were 6 cars in the 2:05 lap range. That put me P5 on the grid. Someone was out of position on the grid so we sat for a long time getting engines really hot. They sent us on another formation lap to get things cooled down. Another decent start. Polesitter Tony Olissoff was having trouble with his Emeryson Experimental jumping out of first gear and 2nd being too tall. A couple cars got around me and some dropped out, leaving me in 7th at the end with no real improvement in lap time. I seem to get to my quickest lap time pretty early in a weekend and struggle to go any faster.
Tony's Emeryson Experimental is a unique beast. Front wheel drive with a split-case VW transaxle in the front. Used modified Mini front uprights, sounds familiar.
Emeryson Experimental Elfin Mk1 |
The last race of the event was looking good and dry until the skies opened while I was on the mock grid. I had a good start, passing 3 cars before T1. Who all promptly passed me back before T2. My turn to spin on the exit of the Sweeper, with Duncan's Alexis spining in sympathy. No contact, just onto the grass and continued. Discretion being the better part of something, I was careful the rest of the race as it gradually dried. As you can see from the results, the Autosport Special is much better in the rain than the Dreossi Special.
Once again time to load the container. Next stop Taupo.
Everyone loading up |