Season Finale

Unfortunately, the Graduates racing season is now over. It’s been a little while since I updated my blog. Partly due to laziness, and partly due to time. But mostly laziness! The more astute amongst my limited readership may have wondered what happened to Snetterton? Well. A little story to be told there. I won’t bore you with the full details, but basically I had a trailer failure. More specifically, a brake failure whereby the wheels locked up and I was literally unable to get the car to the race. This was all the more frustrating as it broke the night before when we were about to load the car up.

This was rather upsetting. Especially as I had been to a track day the Monday before with the intention of getting some practice in. However I still drove to Snett and spectated. It was cold, wet and windy. Not the ideal way to spend a racing weekend, but it was still fun. I didn’t stay for Sunday though!

So that was Snetterton. Then last weekend we had the season finale of Thruxton. By this time I had got the trailer repaired and fully serviced. Towing like a dream it is. Being relatively local, dad and I drove up in the morning. Leaving at a reasonable 7am got us there for 9am. A pretty frosty start too, but the sun soon warmed up and we had a lovely day.

Thruxton is insane. That about covers it. 2 and a bit miles of sheer and utter madness. Foot to the floor for most of it. The odd lift here and there when the bumps start shimmying you to the edge of the circuit, and two major braking zones for a couple of tight corners/chicanes. I have never been more terrified, or had so much fun. It’s also a very wide circuit so there is plenty of opportunity to overtake. Which I did on numerous occasions. However, my braking leaves something to be desired. Not late enough, or hard enough. So I kept losing my newly gained position!

I qualified in 11th, and finished 12th, but I was in a pack of 4 cars and we were really going for it. A great race to end the season on.  Now it’s time to clean up the car and prepare it for next year. Definitely planning on a gearbox rebuild as I crunched it occasionally and it’s taken some abuse. May also get the engine refreshed by MMM. And so with that, I feel it’s time to reflect on what I have learnt in my first season of motor racing. So here is my little list.

• It’s not as easy as it looks. Seriously. Ok… it’s easy to drive the car round a track, but to actually do it on the limit is tricky.
• It’s quite amazing how everyone is really not too far apart in the times, but a second or two slower puts you right to the back of the queue.
• I was all fingers and thumbs getting belted up and ready to race. Now I have actually figured out a routine and can pretty much do it with my eyes closed.
• Never use brand new unscrubbed tyres on a damp circuit. Really. Don’t do it unless you like travelling backwards.
• Don’t take the trailer for granted. I was going to get it serviced after the season finished, but the brake failure was just unfortunate timing.
• After driving to Croft, Pembrey and Anglesey, nowhere seems that far away any more!
• Racing requires respect. I have managed to avoid colliding with anyone and that’s the way racing should be – barring any really unfortunate and unavoidable accidents. I like to think that my fellow competitors respect me rather than fear me on track. Familiarity certainly breeds contempt and a bad reputation if you keep knocking wings off!
• I’m not going to be the next Lewis Hamilton, but I hope that my racecraft has improved sufficiently that I can start getting some consistent top ten finishes next season

I think that’s about it. Other than to say what an amazing club the Graduates are. If anyone is interested in racing, please do take a look at the club website and/or come visit during a race meeting. I have absolutely no regrets in joining.

On a final note, here is my highlights video from Thruxton. See you next year!