Post by yellowshark on Aug 9, 2009 21:16:23 GMT
Flying pigs Matt, LOL not only did Craig win, Elliot didn’t ;D.
To be honest Elliot didn’t actually race and it wasn’t actually the A final that Craig won. So a great day here is how it went.
Again Eastbourne caused us understeer problems but at last at 7pm on Saturday we had dialled it out and were happy. Craig and Dan were in the A heat.
Off they went. Dan was doing well, Craig not too bad. At some point Dan’s belt snapped. I was going to say to Derek that I had fitted new belts to Craig’s car but being a kindly soul I didn’t.
So Dan limped in 10th and Craig made 8th. There were 2 or 3 guys who were seriously fast but the rest quite close. The understeer had come back.
Heat 2. Craig got a good start, passed 7th and got stuck behind 6th for a lap and a bit and then they crashed. Dan was close behind and on to the grass but survived. Craig was marshalled back on the track before the guy that was holding him up but two corners later, rolled it. Not only was he now 10th he then proceeded to roll it two more times and went off at the end of the straight. Dan got himself up to 6th which from 10th was a great result. Craig moved from 9th to 11th
Heat 3. The two tuning changes to cure the oversteer for heat 2 hadn’t worked. OK Craig two choices. If you don’t make any mistakes (sitting in 11th) you can still qualify for the A; or I can make the change to the front roll centre which Jason suggested at the STCC back earlier in the year which worked - but the base setup of the car is different so I really don’t know and there is a difference between chancing a Juniors A final and chancing an STCC “practice” A final.
We decided to go for it.
It worked, albeit the rear was a bit loose but Craig can handle that.
From 10th he was up to 7th and closing on cars in front, and was improving whereas the 2 cars in front weren’t. The car was going well and at that point I have no doubt he was in the A; then coming out of the last bend having just got past Dom in the process he went on to the grass for about 15 yds and lost pace and place. He then proceeded to roll the car another 3 times. Over and out.
So Craig qualified pole in the B and Dan a very creditable 7th. So for Craig a chance for a couple of good races and a trophy, so the afternoon was looking good. The mechanic made a minor change to settle the rear (successfully) and off we went.
Craig led F1from start to finish. He was sublime, you would have been proud of him, the best he has driven all year. He lapped all of the other 9 cars apart from 2nd, missing that by 2 secs. In the entire 22 laps he did not put 1 wheel in the wrong place. “If only” of course went through my brain but that is the way it is. I know it doesn’t work like this but as a point of reference his time would have earned him 4th or 5th in the A F1
Dan had a brilliant race. He got himself from 7th on the grid up to 4th. Then in to 3rd. Derek was going barmy,jeez I htought he was going to hug me.
Then the 1st and 2nd had a coming together and Dan was 2nd!! And that was how we thought it had finished. The “2nd” guy had, just at the end, got past Dan, as the BRCA commentator said ”unlapping himself”. Then it transpired that during the coming together the 2nd car had missed the timing loop and he was declared 2nd. I don’t know, he was off the track for an awfully long time and I don’t see how he could have caught Dan up and you could argue that if Dan was under the impression he was unlapping himself, why fight it. Isn’t it your responsibility to make sure you catch the timing loop? There you go. But an incredible podium was looking tantalisingly close.
F2 same again. Another great drive from Craig apart from an early minor foray on to the grass at the first bend, which got the commentator excited because 2nd and 3rd closed in but he was off and again lapped all bar 2nd. Two 1sts; job done.
Dan had another great drive but unfortunately had a big off (I think with a back marker) at some point and came 6th.
So at the end of the day, after being disappointed about missing the A, and he was, Craig was well chuffed with two great drives and a trophy. And Dan finished a fantastic 5th against 2 boys with I am sure full factory support. So the boys did us proud.
Not only that Les but Craig got his picture with all the other XRAY drivers - the were so many I had to stand back about 20 ft to get them in
To be honest Elliot didn’t actually race and it wasn’t actually the A final that Craig won. So a great day here is how it went.
Again Eastbourne caused us understeer problems but at last at 7pm on Saturday we had dialled it out and were happy. Craig and Dan were in the A heat.
Off they went. Dan was doing well, Craig not too bad. At some point Dan’s belt snapped. I was going to say to Derek that I had fitted new belts to Craig’s car but being a kindly soul I didn’t.
So Dan limped in 10th and Craig made 8th. There were 2 or 3 guys who were seriously fast but the rest quite close. The understeer had come back.
Heat 2. Craig got a good start, passed 7th and got stuck behind 6th for a lap and a bit and then they crashed. Dan was close behind and on to the grass but survived. Craig was marshalled back on the track before the guy that was holding him up but two corners later, rolled it. Not only was he now 10th he then proceeded to roll it two more times and went off at the end of the straight. Dan got himself up to 6th which from 10th was a great result. Craig moved from 9th to 11th
Heat 3. The two tuning changes to cure the oversteer for heat 2 hadn’t worked. OK Craig two choices. If you don’t make any mistakes (sitting in 11th) you can still qualify for the A; or I can make the change to the front roll centre which Jason suggested at the STCC back earlier in the year which worked - but the base setup of the car is different so I really don’t know and there is a difference between chancing a Juniors A final and chancing an STCC “practice” A final.
We decided to go for it.
It worked, albeit the rear was a bit loose but Craig can handle that. From 10th he was up to 7th and closing on cars in front, and was improving whereas the 2 cars in front weren’t. The car was going well and at that point I have no doubt he was in the A; then coming out of the last bend having just got past Dom in the process he went on to the grass for about 15 yds and lost pace and place. He then proceeded to roll the car another 3 times. Over and out.
So Craig qualified pole in the B and Dan a very creditable 7th. So for Craig a chance for a couple of good races and a trophy, so the afternoon was looking good. The mechanic made a minor change to settle the rear (successfully) and off we went.
Craig led F1from start to finish. He was sublime, you would have been proud of him, the best he has driven all year. He lapped all of the other 9 cars apart from 2nd, missing that by 2 secs. In the entire 22 laps he did not put 1 wheel in the wrong place. “If only” of course went through my brain but that is the way it is. I know it doesn’t work like this but as a point of reference his time would have earned him 4th or 5th in the A F1
Dan had a brilliant race. He got himself from 7th on the grid up to 4th. Then in to 3rd. Derek was going barmy,jeez I htought he was going to hug me.
Then the 1st and 2nd had a coming together and Dan was 2nd!! And that was how we thought it had finished. The “2nd” guy had, just at the end, got past Dan, as the BRCA commentator said ”unlapping himself”. Then it transpired that during the coming together the 2nd car had missed the timing loop and he was declared 2nd. I don’t know, he was off the track for an awfully long time and I don’t see how he could have caught Dan up and you could argue that if Dan was under the impression he was unlapping himself, why fight it. Isn’t it your responsibility to make sure you catch the timing loop? There you go. But an incredible podium was looking tantalisingly close.F2 same again. Another great drive from Craig apart from an early minor foray on to the grass at the first bend, which got the commentator excited because 2nd and 3rd closed in but he was off and again lapped all bar 2nd. Two 1sts; job done.
Dan had another great drive but unfortunately had a big off (I think with a back marker) at some point and came 6th.
So at the end of the day, after being disappointed about missing the A, and he was, Craig was well chuffed with two great drives and a trophy. And Dan finished a fantastic 5th against 2 boys with I am sure full factory support. So the boys did us proud.
Not only that Les but Craig got his picture with all the other XRAY drivers - the were so many I had to stand back about 20 ft to get them in
always the bridesmaid hey! A certain Mr chairman might recall us both sandbagging a decent trophy at West London last year!?)
well done to craig for dominating the B final, twas a shame he didnt make the A but still a gd day for him i imagine lol.
