Castle Combe 8th June 2002

A showery morning forecast proved to be false as we enjoyed a dry practise session for the two races at Combe. The first practise was for the pro race and Nik found the car unstable over Avon rise and into quarry. For the second practise for the main race I added some small tabs to the rear spoiler, Nik drove a full fifteen-lap session but could only manage second on the grid. He said he thought the car was getting too hot so we put some lagging on the exhaust system and made a hasty repair to it. In the pro-race Nik started well and I watched the race from Lodge corner, the car looked quite stable in the first few laps as he held station, after about half way through the race he seemed to be struggling more and more as he dropped back down the order, the car very wayward around Lodge.

After the race he said the car had indeed deteriorated as he felt the rear sliding around, we decided the dampers/ tyres were overheating. The day was now hot and we were running with the under tray. Hasty decisions had to be made; we removed the rear tray, as we had already lagged the exhaust system we thought that was the only option. We changed tyres for some other used slicks that were in the trailer and so relatively cold, reset pressures, and returned the damper setting to the first practise settings. The race was an interesting affair, into the lead then second out of Abby, A lap or two with Jonathon Loader leading then a challenge from Nik into Camp let Colin Rodger up the inside and into second place. Nik dropped back to third and was being challenged by Chris Gilbert. Half a dozen laps from the finish Nik found some extra speed and regained the leading two. A postage stamp covered all three as they battled out the last laps, on the final corner Chris Gilbert ran into Niks Van Diemen as everyone went for non-existent road space. Both Chris and Nik went onto the grass but Nik recovered to cross the line in third place with Jonathon the winner again. Consolation of fastest lap only served to fuel our annoyance at another day of poor management and poor set-up, we should have made time for a practise day to sort out the problems, but as usual we are just unable to find the time.

Durtec News.

I went to Snetterton on the Friday to pick up the car from the factory, Scholar had rebuilt the engine which had again melted its pistons big time. Wesley Barber, Van Diemens hot shoe driver was brought in to drive the car and Jonathon Lewis the race team manager masterminded the show. Alan from Scholar who built the engine was present and after a few laps reset the mapping of the engine. A further session provided the necessary information for further work to be done on the car and so back it went to Derek at the factory. I hope to test it at Croft in three weeks time. Nik is away on holiday for that race and I need time in the car.

Graham Rowan still has engine problems but has moved to Chris Snowden race preparation in the hope of better results.

Mike Turner has again hit problems, this time a faulty battery and broken exhaust, although he was quicker at Combe in his Van diemen than his Shrike.

David Houghton managed to clear out my spares locker after an off at Avon rise, but at least we got him going and he completed two races.

Rupert Russell bent the front end of his car when his throttle stuck open when flat out in top gear coming into Lodge, why does that always happen in such places?.

Things have got to improve for us all; I believe they will in the rest of the season watch this space…