The Dunlop Race Academy competition was on so I signed myself up and was given a big Dunlop sticker to put on my car so they could identify the cars on track. From memory there were about 7 or 8 of us - Subaru Impreza WRX wagon, Golf V5, Subaru Impreza STi, Boxster S, one of the Civics and an Atom. A number of the Evo editorial team were in attendance of which, Henry Catchpole, along with BTCC driver Mat Jackson, would be watching out for the best 2 drivers to go forward to the next stage of the competition.
I set the car up - tyre pressures and damper settings - and went out for two warm up laps before coming back in to recheck the tyres and, more importantly, the brakes. My worry was that my recently fitted cheapo Eicher disc (to replace the PF disc I cracked a few weeks ago) might die! All looked good at this stage.
The layout for the evening was the South West circuit which I've never done before. It takes in all the fast parts of the GT track but manages to cut out a couple of hairpins and replaces them with two really sweet 4th gear left handers. This was good news for the Eicher disc
I strictly set myself to do 15 minutes on track and 15 minutes off for the evening to help preserve the brakes and see if the strategy stopped the gearbox leaking when hot, which I've been suffering the last two track days. After the first session I had no white smoke from the gearbox oil leaking onto the exhaust and the Eicher disc was bluey grey without any pad deposits - result! On my second session I had a great few laps chasing a Boxster S. I just couldn't reel him in but he wasn't going anywhere either. I also had a play with the STi that was entered into the competition. From other STis I've encountered on track, I can only imagine this had quite a bit of boost as we were neck and neck on the straights.
After my 3rd session Mat Jackson came over for a chat. Even though I don't really follow racing, or any other sport for that matter, I was a bit starstruck! He asked a couple of questions - whether I'd done many trackdays before and whether I'd done Bedford before. I answered honestly and we continued to chat about his current BTCC season. He was a little 'frustrated' shall we say about the latest turbo cars in the championship.
It was now close to the end of the evening so I went out for my last session. I caught up a small train consisting of the 2 Civics being held up by an E46 M3. I followed until the main straight where I pulled out to overtake the Civics but because neither of them let off the gas I had to cut them up a little (which I apologised for later) to get my line for the fast chicane at the end. On to the next straight and the M3 let me past but then moved back onto the racing line to literally 'block' the Civics :lol: Unfortunately, a couple of corners later a black flag emerged from a marshall and his finger pointed at me. Oh bugger! I could only imagine it was because of the Civic move. I slowed down to give the car enough time to cool down as I would have to leave the track as soon as the pit lane arrived.
Pulling off the track I could see a marshall in the distance motioning me to pull up in front of him. As I drew closer I could see he wasn't very happy. Oh dear. I stop the car, wind down the window and switch off the engine. He asks, with a very stern face, 'Do you know why you were black flagged?' at which point I hold my hands up and start explaining the situation that led to the Civic move. Keeping his stern face he says 'You might as well take your seat belt off and get out of the car because you're not going to be going out again!'. Ruddy Hell, I thought, this is a bit over the top. So, I undo my seat belt, open the door and am greeted by James Bailey of Dunlop Motorsport, Henry Catchpole, Mat Jackson and others creasing up laughing but telling me I'd been chosen for the next round of the competition - the black flag was so they could play a joke on me! :lol: Oh man, was I over the moon! I felt like a child, literally. The other person to go through was the guy in the Boxster that I chased earlier in the day.
So, the next round will be in September where I and five others (two from each Evo track day this summer) will be properly assessed and the lucky winner will get a race in the Evo mag Nissan 370Z campaigning in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Cup. I think I might max out my credit card on tuition before then
