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Ok, self indulgent dribble over, here's the match report.
Pete and I were due to share the car but a sudden bout of illness ( I did not poison him) meant that I travelled solo for the 140 odd miles 'oop North' for the Trackzone event. I met with Steve and Kelly in the Shire as we set off at 5.30am. If traffic/problems were kind, we should arrive around 8.30am just in time for the briefing.
Roads were quiet with the sight of hundreds of Japanese cars making their way to Santa Pod the only thing raising the interest levels. Well that and Bladeys tales of hand brake turning a friends Mini soft top. I don't know what was funnier. Picturing Bladey squeezed into a Mini or someone getting their car back after James has been raping it up and down Colchesters highways and byways.
Steve and I got there (and Kelly) for to be greeted by Pablo, Bart and Gerry. We had enough time for signing on before the briefing and then on track for 9.20am. The weather was overcast but dry and we were all gagging to get stuck in.
Gerry, although mega experienced in performance driving, was a new guy to Donington. At least it was dry
Steve had been many years before and always looked back on the track with fond feelings. Pablo and Bart practically live there and I'd done the track on two previous ocassions. Bring it on 
I was trying a new bullet cam set up and was delighted with the footage. Once I've shrunk the file size and edited it, I'll upload some of the better sections of action. The first session, for me, was steady. I wanted to get the track clear in my mind rather than going out all guns blazing, my three month old notes in my head from my previous trips were bound to have 'dropped' certain important info. Traffic was pretty dense, a sign of how popular these cheap days are. This success brings baggage. There were some very questionable techniques and driving styles out there. To give you an idea, my Sierra has around 140hp. I overtook the same Audi TT 3 times in one session of 20 minutes
Other than pillocks, the session wnet as planned. Not so for Gerry. Black flagged due to excess noise, a victim of Donnys strictly monitored 98dB ruling. Time for some exhaust swapping stuff. And a quick prayer too 
The other incident from the first session was another new 'mod' to the XR4x4 of Team TNT. Their new smoke screen, engulfing all who followed them after severe right handers was both tricky to avoid and hugely distracting. I have renamed their car the XR Exon Valdes for good reason.
Bart trying to stem the tide
Pablo helping
The second session was very fragmented. Loads of traffic and some really crappy driving (stand up mr 911 driver) At least my lines were starting to become cleaner with more speed carried through the bends. The video footage should back this up to a degree. All I need to do now is to concentrate on being more consistent rather than just having a laugh all of the time.........or maybe that's what I'm doing right?
Time for a wander around the pits/paddock area and Christ, there was some tat! I know I'm supposed to be open minded, founder of the forum and all that, but this car was hideous and if anyone here wants to buy/drive or compliment one~ your out.........NOW!!
Steve was so appalled at the ride height on this mock amphibious car, that he put his Nokia phone in the gap to show the grotesque clearance
The fit and finish looked like a primary schools paper mache model. Complete toot. Closer to our garage, was a most memorable man and his car. Let me introduce you to Ian.
Seeing this in the flesh was funny, but unusual. I can sometimes feel a little awkward around the disabled. I invariably think of how lucky I am, this then leads me to feel sorry for them and this is all wrong (We're no different after all). Ian soon dispersed my fears. The guy has a wonderful positive attitude and it was very humbling to meet him.
Back to the track, Gerry had been back flagged again. Not good news, so more resourceful efforts to try and get him some sustained lappage....Steve was going very well, Pablo and Bart were still smoking every where they went. I had adopted a slightly more aggressive approach to getting around those that straggled or dithered. The Sierra is not quick in most scenarios but it does carry a fair amount of speed through corners. I started to plan overtaking procedures much further in advance, gambling on my being able to get around cars on the exit. It worked a treat and I was soon picking off technically quicker cars for fun. Still felt guilty as the Sierra is Pete's now, but there you are. No time for that now, it was all about corner speed.
Lunch was cool, brief but cool and then it was back to the track for some very dubious photos on the grid, kindly arranged by Pablo. The 'beef' I have with this sort of thing is the way photo guys bark instructions like little chihuaha's......'do this, move there.......back a bit' Each staccato instruction makes my internal thermometer go up a notch. Then Pablo had the smart arse idea of getting into a 'sprint' pose.........For fucks sake!! So, much laughter ensued as Steve and I, both reluctant, joined Pablo and Bart already in their starting position. Oh the joy.
Fortunately, with that over, we could get back to driving and I was determined to go as quickly as I could. I put the tyre pressures up after discussions with Gerry and Alan. 36psi seems to suit the Toyos much better than the 30psi warm I had been using. (Oh yeah, over 800 track miles now and still life left in them :thumb: )
Random pic of Pablo/Barts wagon
Steve took Dean out for a pax lap, I took Kelly who had previously complained that Steve drives like 'an animal'
, well that sounds like an invite to try and scare her a bit in my book. 8 laps later, lots of grins, a few overtakes and I went back for a breather.
My other pax lap of the day was Gerry. He'd been black flagged again so that was it. Game over. I was gutted. Gerry was gutted, but rules are rules (no matter how daft) and I was determined to give him a good show with the Destroyer. I hope/think I did the trick, but then Donny does suit the car very well.
In summary, today was a great day. Some good mates, some great laughs and some very committed driving from the 'team'. It was a fitting way to celebrate 50 trackdays in the Destroyer and the car lived up to its name. The only downer, as such, as that when various people wandered over to ask what the car was, they completely blanked me and walked off when they heard it was standard engine wise
:?
It was like being having the automotive version of Leprosy.....snobs.
A great day. Thanks to all who made it what it was :thumb:
