Part 1
I can only liken this weekend to the first day of primary school. You stand there resplendent in your new uniform, you’ve got your friends round you, all in the same boat, and that gives you some comfort. As the classroom door swings closed you want to make a dash for it, to get outside and to the comforting and reassuring words that are there waiting for you. The door closes and you believe that the opportunity has gone…………
I didn’t want to leave the house on Saturday morning. The bedside alarm rang at 6.30 but I was already awake and out of bed by this time. We left the house just after 7 am, having dropped off the Caterham the night before with my folks who had came to spectate and were staying in their camper van in the paddock.
By the time I arrived at Doune, just before 8am, I was calm and composed. I had a battle plan thought out – avoid the hill, don’t look at it, don’t think about it and whatever you do, don’t walk it. It was a bad plan, one that went against everything I had been taught, but I was scared and the classroom door was closed.
It’s not long before the guys to the right of me are warming their engines, and since I’m the first out in our class, I start my run preparation. Climbing into the car, engine on clutch down and engage 1st trying to get some heat in the gearbox oil. Lap belt and middle strap clicked into position, hunker down in the car, balaclava and helmet on and tighten, shoulder straps clicked in, gloves on. A few minutes to myself I thought, collect my thoughts, try and recall THAT video, the one that started me on the path that led me here.
All to soon the paddock marshall is waving me out into the assembly area, for a sound check and then up to the area for tyre warming. Fortunately that’s the only bit of the video I remembered clearly and I light up my tyres a few times before being positioned at the start line.
The light turns green and I take away from the lights, short shifting to second and then again to third, part throttle, lifting off approaching each and every bend and corner, only to curse myself when the horrendously tight corner turns out to be little more than a kink. I get to the finish line and post my first run time of 66.77. Seasons have changed quicker than that, but I’m not disheartened. I got from the bottom to the top without any incident and I know that only way I’m going to be slower is if I need to get out and push.
Your held at the top paddock at Doune until all the cars in your batch have done their runs and then your allowed to return at an easy pace back down to the main paddock where you wait for your second run. This makes the day seem quicker than at Forrestburn as your day is more broken up, but it doesn’t allow for as much time for reflection.
All too soon the we are called for our second run.
I’m waiting, I’m next up to heat my tyres. I take the opportunity to talk to myself, to try and improve on my first time, tell myself where I can gain time but all I can see is the closed classroom door.
Heat the tyres – stop at the line, light goes green, any off we go, spinning the wheels and going more sideways than forwards, grabbing second to kill the wheel spin and off up the hill. Bit more commitment on this lap and I break the beam at a shade over 60 seconds. Better, I know I can go quicker.
It’s now lunchtime and I’m much more relaxed, the hill isn’t quite so scary as I though, from what I’ve seen and heard I was expecting that the car would just fit on the track, with the kind of clearance that you get when bringing a washing machine in through the house door, it’s not – it’s much, much tighter and the quicker you go the tighter it gets.
We get a third practice after lunch and what I need now is more and more time on the track, I’ve got over my initial fears and now my compedetive nature has kicked in and I want to go quicker.
Third practice and I’m getting quicker with a 58.59 run, over six seconds off my initial time, I should be happy with that, and I was but Alec, the other newbie in the class posts a 58.84 which is just too close for comfort.
The next run, the first compeditive run see me post a 57.32 with Alec posting a 58.47 with the last run of the day seeing me take just under a second off with a 56.52 and Alec a 56.78 – End of day one and I’ve taken 10 seconds off my time.
Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
S2 Elise (cobalt blue with stripes) - toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Part 2
Doune hillclimb – 19th & 20th April 2008. – A personal recollection.
Day two
Another dry day, slightly more cloud cover but the cold wind has died down a little. I’m much more relaxed and composed, so much so that I take the opportunity to take a walk up the track.
I’m the only person there, but I’m not alone. Together we walk the track, stopping on the apexes, hunkering down to get a driver’s eye view into and out of the bend. Look for the polished tarmac, where the sealer has creamed up to the surface and where the moss and lichen extends to at the wall side of the track.
It’s just like how we walked through Forrestburn, or the previous autotests. I arrive down at the bottom of the hill just in time for the driver’s briefing with a clear and focused mind.
First practice run and I’m still struggling with wheel spin on the start line, but the rest of my run is quick and I’ve gone quicker in the first run of Sunday than I did all day in Saturday and post a time of 55.19. Today they’ve got a clock working at the top of the hill so I know how I’ve done before I’ve reached the top paddock, I bounce out the car and wait for the rest of the guys to post their times – I delighted, I was expecting to go backwards, what with the track being cold so I’m well chuffed. Talking to Iain (McKenzie) I’m set a target time of 53.XX by the end of the day.
Practice two and I’m back at the start. This time I get a better start but I’m still going sideways, but this time it’s sideways and forwards at the same time. I’m going quicker, less fear and a better understanding means I’m able to start to position my car and start to think logically about braking points but I’m still losing time at the top of East Brae and into the esses near the finish line. I’m happy with another improved time of 54.40 and I’m getting close to the target time of 53.XX
We only get two practice runs today and an extended lunch break of 90mins so over a racer’s diet of cheese burger and a can of Pepsi I talk over my lines at the top of the hill and which gears I should be in with Iain, who’s been a huge help to me this weekend.
Shug and Elaine are in the paddock, as is Kevin (Kayfur) and Pete, Iain (Zippy) & Monica and Simon Ironside. A really good turn out to cheer on the SE drivers and it was much appreciated.
First timed runs start just after lunch break and as usual we are waved out of the paddock, and into the start area. The car in front takes off from the start line and I begin my pre start routine. Over the lunch break I’ve had a look at the start line and decided to have a at starting from the other side, it’s a bit dusty but I reckon that the asphalt is more abrasive and that might be what I need. I light up the rears, jump on the brakes a few times and once I’m happy I proceed to the start line. The marshals position the car and I get the “in position light” the start light stares back at me bring red. All I see is the light and the track, a few seconds pass, I pick up the revs and get ready for the off, the red light burns constant, unflickering, I wait and wait and wait. The Clerk of course comes over and tells me that they are waiting on a report from post 8. He comes back a few seconds later to tell me that there’s an issue in the meadow and that my start will be delayed. I drop the revs and lose the focus. I see Simon & Iain looking over the fence and give them a wave. My mind wanders off to think about my broken rev counter, what I’m having for dinner, will I have enough fuel to drive home, why my knee hurts so much. A few minutes later I’m told that the circuit is clear again. I wonder if I’m allowed to re-heat my tyres, but I talk myself out asking as it probably something I should know if I had bothered to read the blue book.
With cold tyres, and an unfocused mind, I get the green light, and slip slide of the start line going more sidewards that forwards, still sliding as I grab second and head towards the first bend.
The run isn’t great and I’m at the top paddock, angry. Angry that I had gone slower in that run than I had all day, Angry that I didn’t know if I was allowed a re-heat, angry that the Marshalls hadn’t give me more notice to at least tune back into the hill. At least I know that I need to channel the anger and use it to my advantage, but at this point, having done a 55.73 the target time seems a million miles away.
It’s the last run of the day and the last run of the weekend. I’ve enjoyed my first time at Doune, and I’m back in the right state of mind, ready to give it one last best shot of cracking at 53 second run. I confirm that a 53.99 still counts as a 53 second run and with that I head back to the starting area.
I warm my tyres and brakes, position my car on the racing line, pull down my visor and close my eyes. I’m being walked though the track, where I should be flat, where I should be putting my car, where to brake and where to turn in.
I open my eyes and see the beacon go from red to green, lift the revs, drop the clutch and take off from the lights, as straight as a die. I turn in to the first left hander as the shift light dance in front of me, pulling second flat to the floor, with only feet to spare either side I briefly hit the limiter in second and it’s into third, the first of the shift lights come on as I lift for Oak tree and then it’s back on the power heading up to Garden gate – a cambered uphill right hander which opens on the exit, but like all the other at Doune the corner is blind. I dab the brake pedal to move the weight forward and turn into Garden gate, keeping the car in third. I’m flat again as I take the left hand kink that leads into the tunnel. The tunnel comes and goes and I’m still flat and heading quickly towards grabbing fourth gear for the first time on this section of track. Back on the brakes and down shift to third for the entry into the meadow, an off camber curve which takes a bit of nerve, something I’ve not fully developed, back into 4th for the rest of the meadow, turn in to East brae and wait as your world turns vertical as you climb the brae. Brake, downshift from 4th to 2nd and turn in before you’ve seen the corner, wait and your off, turn in too early and you’ll catch too much of the saw toothed kerb, the back end steps and I correct quickly without lifting, up into third before hard on the brakes for the first of the esses, changing down into second and trying to hug the left hand Armco so I can get the power on early and drift out towards the right hand kerb and on to the finish line.
I’m delighted with my run, it was calm, collected and tidy with the exception of the exit from East Brae. I was glad to put the problems of the first timed run behind me and was ready to go home happy, no mater what the timing clock said.
Once our batch had finished we trundled back down the hill, taking time to acknowledge the Marshalls who have taken the time to make sure we can compete in safety.
Back in the paddock and Nikki is back with the final run times – I’ve cracked the 53 second mark and posted a final time of 53.77 and a 64 foot launch time of 2.34 seconds.
We pack up, get the cars ready for their trips back home and congratulate each other on a great weekends racing.
The results from the weekend :
Saturday - 1st Fergus Duncan 49.72
2nd Iain McKenzie 51.13
3rd Jimmy Crow 52.50
4th Colin McAteer 56.52
5th Alec Turnbridge 56.78
Sunday 1st Fergus Duncan 49.41
2nd Iain McKenzie 51.01
3rd Jimmy Crow 51.41
4th Colin McAteer 53.77
5th Alec Turnbridge 55.51
Doune hillclimb – 19th & 20th April 2008. – A personal recollection.
Day two
Another dry day, slightly more cloud cover but the cold wind has died down a little. I’m much more relaxed and composed, so much so that I take the opportunity to take a walk up the track.
I’m the only person there, but I’m not alone. Together we walk the track, stopping on the apexes, hunkering down to get a driver’s eye view into and out of the bend. Look for the polished tarmac, where the sealer has creamed up to the surface and where the moss and lichen extends to at the wall side of the track.
It’s just like how we walked through Forrestburn, or the previous autotests. I arrive down at the bottom of the hill just in time for the driver’s briefing with a clear and focused mind.
First practice run and I’m still struggling with wheel spin on the start line, but the rest of my run is quick and I’ve gone quicker in the first run of Sunday than I did all day in Saturday and post a time of 55.19. Today they’ve got a clock working at the top of the hill so I know how I’ve done before I’ve reached the top paddock, I bounce out the car and wait for the rest of the guys to post their times – I delighted, I was expecting to go backwards, what with the track being cold so I’m well chuffed. Talking to Iain (McKenzie) I’m set a target time of 53.XX by the end of the day.
Practice two and I’m back at the start. This time I get a better start but I’m still going sideways, but this time it’s sideways and forwards at the same time. I’m going quicker, less fear and a better understanding means I’m able to start to position my car and start to think logically about braking points but I’m still losing time at the top of East Brae and into the esses near the finish line. I’m happy with another improved time of 54.40 and I’m getting close to the target time of 53.XX
We only get two practice runs today and an extended lunch break of 90mins so over a racer’s diet of cheese burger and a can of Pepsi I talk over my lines at the top of the hill and which gears I should be in with Iain, who’s been a huge help to me this weekend.
Shug and Elaine are in the paddock, as is Kevin (Kayfur) and Pete, Iain (Zippy) & Monica and Simon Ironside. A really good turn out to cheer on the SE drivers and it was much appreciated.
First timed runs start just after lunch break and as usual we are waved out of the paddock, and into the start area. The car in front takes off from the start line and I begin my pre start routine. Over the lunch break I’ve had a look at the start line and decided to have a at starting from the other side, it’s a bit dusty but I reckon that the asphalt is more abrasive and that might be what I need. I light up the rears, jump on the brakes a few times and once I’m happy I proceed to the start line. The marshals position the car and I get the “in position light” the start light stares back at me bring red. All I see is the light and the track, a few seconds pass, I pick up the revs and get ready for the off, the red light burns constant, unflickering, I wait and wait and wait. The Clerk of course comes over and tells me that they are waiting on a report from post 8. He comes back a few seconds later to tell me that there’s an issue in the meadow and that my start will be delayed. I drop the revs and lose the focus. I see Simon & Iain looking over the fence and give them a wave. My mind wanders off to think about my broken rev counter, what I’m having for dinner, will I have enough fuel to drive home, why my knee hurts so much. A few minutes later I’m told that the circuit is clear again. I wonder if I’m allowed to re-heat my tyres, but I talk myself out asking as it probably something I should know if I had bothered to read the blue book.
With cold tyres, and an unfocused mind, I get the green light, and slip slide of the start line going more sidewards that forwards, still sliding as I grab second and head towards the first bend.
The run isn’t great and I’m at the top paddock, angry. Angry that I had gone slower in that run than I had all day, Angry that I didn’t know if I was allowed a re-heat, angry that the Marshalls hadn’t give me more notice to at least tune back into the hill. At least I know that I need to channel the anger and use it to my advantage, but at this point, having done a 55.73 the target time seems a million miles away.
It’s the last run of the day and the last run of the weekend. I’ve enjoyed my first time at Doune, and I’m back in the right state of mind, ready to give it one last best shot of cracking at 53 second run. I confirm that a 53.99 still counts as a 53 second run and with that I head back to the starting area.
I warm my tyres and brakes, position my car on the racing line, pull down my visor and close my eyes. I’m being walked though the track, where I should be flat, where I should be putting my car, where to brake and where to turn in.
I open my eyes and see the beacon go from red to green, lift the revs, drop the clutch and take off from the lights, as straight as a die. I turn in to the first left hander as the shift light dance in front of me, pulling second flat to the floor, with only feet to spare either side I briefly hit the limiter in second and it’s into third, the first of the shift lights come on as I lift for Oak tree and then it’s back on the power heading up to Garden gate – a cambered uphill right hander which opens on the exit, but like all the other at Doune the corner is blind. I dab the brake pedal to move the weight forward and turn into Garden gate, keeping the car in third. I’m flat again as I take the left hand kink that leads into the tunnel. The tunnel comes and goes and I’m still flat and heading quickly towards grabbing fourth gear for the first time on this section of track. Back on the brakes and down shift to third for the entry into the meadow, an off camber curve which takes a bit of nerve, something I’ve not fully developed, back into 4th for the rest of the meadow, turn in to East brae and wait as your world turns vertical as you climb the brae. Brake, downshift from 4th to 2nd and turn in before you’ve seen the corner, wait and your off, turn in too early and you’ll catch too much of the saw toothed kerb, the back end steps and I correct quickly without lifting, up into third before hard on the brakes for the first of the esses, changing down into second and trying to hug the left hand Armco so I can get the power on early and drift out towards the right hand kerb and on to the finish line.
I’m delighted with my run, it was calm, collected and tidy with the exception of the exit from East Brae. I was glad to put the problems of the first timed run behind me and was ready to go home happy, no mater what the timing clock said.
Once our batch had finished we trundled back down the hill, taking time to acknowledge the Marshalls who have taken the time to make sure we can compete in safety.
Back in the paddock and Nikki is back with the final run times – I’ve cracked the 53 second mark and posted a final time of 53.77 and a 64 foot launch time of 2.34 seconds.
We pack up, get the cars ready for their trips back home and congratulate each other on a great weekends racing.
The results from the weekend :
Saturday - 1st Fergus Duncan 49.72
2nd Iain McKenzie 51.13
3rd Jimmy Crow 52.50
4th Colin McAteer 56.52
5th Alec Turnbridge 56.78
Sunday 1st Fergus Duncan 49.41
2nd Iain McKenzie 51.01
3rd Jimmy Crow 51.41
4th Colin McAteer 53.77
5th Alec Turnbridge 55.51
S2 Elise (cobalt blue with stripes) - toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
great review mate 
Do you have the option of starting in second or is it just to tall?
Great effort mate, and shaking off 13 seconds from run 1 is a great effort. Keep it up
Do you have the option of starting in second or is it just to tall?
Great effort mate, and shaking off 13 seconds from run 1 is a great effort. Keep it up
AMG GT-R
Atom 4 - CM425
Lotus Esprit S4S
G30 M5 Comp
Ferrari 599
Lotus Elise S1 "Shed" spec
Atom 4 - CM425
Lotus Esprit S4S
G30 M5 Comp
Ferrari 599
Lotus Elise S1 "Shed" spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Excellent write-up Mac 
It looked like a lot of fun - but you guys are definately a lot braver than I am!
Well done!
It looked like a lot of fun - but you guys are definately a lot braver than I am!
Well done!
Exige S
Caterham 7
Caterham 7
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Andy G wrote:great review mate
Do you have the option of starting in second or is it just to tall?
Great effort mate, and shaking off 13 seconds from run 1 is a great effort. Keep it up
I think second would just be too tall in the dry. Biggest issue I had with my launch was a broken rev counter so I was doing it by ear so couldn't get a constant.
Hard part starts now though gettting from 53 down to sub 50.
Mac
S2 Elise (cobalt blue with stripes) - toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
mac wrote:
Hard part starts now though gettting from 53 down to sub 50.
Mac
If it was easy we'd all be doing it
Good luck though - have you got a new rev counter on order? Would have hated to start without one working in LOTRDC!
The Atom is way faster starting in 2nd which is why i asked
Hope to hear about you getting the time down further still next time your on the hill
AMG GT-R
Atom 4 - CM425
Lotus Esprit S4S
G30 M5 Comp
Ferrari 599
Lotus Elise S1 "Shed" spec
Atom 4 - CM425
Lotus Esprit S4S
G30 M5 Comp
Ferrari 599
Lotus Elise S1 "Shed" spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
I've email the company that supplied the data logger/dash display. The current system uses an inductive loop and it's something in their conversion box that's failed - but it should be able to take the ecu output.
Luckily my shift lights work off a different system so at least I had.
Forrestburn is this weekend - but I'm working
Mac
Luckily my shift lights work off a different system so at least I had.
Forrestburn is this weekend - but I'm working
Mac
S2 Elise (cobalt blue with stripes) - toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Heh . . . brilliant . . . here's my datalogger record of my last and fastest run . . .
3 practice starts and a burn up in the tyre warming area, choose the blackest part of the surface where all the rubber has been laid down by the guys with slicks . . .
positioned on the line, as ever at Doune the start line guys move the front wheel to manouver the car, every time I feel this through the wheel and have to reset my steering . . .
in position . . . rad fan off, oil and water temp ok, good oil pressure . . . it's the last time I'll see the dash for 60 seconds . . .
green light, visor down, 4krpm . . . drop clutch and match the increasing speed with more throttle until you see the shift light, 2.29 to the first timing beacon, second gear, approaching the 90 left, short shift a little to third on the corner, limiter, 4th gear, now it gets challenging, I push the throttle to the stop determined to keep it there until I get to garden gate, speed increases rapidly, round the first right kink, brain is trying to lift off, this is not natural, press throttle harder, round the next kink, do . . . not . . . lift . . , back of the car moves out, passing oak tree, still at 100% throttle, taking a wide line I turn in and try to let the car just miss the left hand barrier, it drifts towards the right and I can feel it roll, this is fast, then it settles, hold on, and on, and on then brake into 3rd for garden gate, full throttle at entry and lob the car in, I can feel it settle on the way towards the apex, the right hand front wing nearly touching the overhanging wooden barrier, grip ya bas !, it does, steep hill now, limiter light, 4th gear, nailed and now really feeling the speed through tunnel . . . rear of the car squirms a little over the bump with a flash of the limiter light in tunnel but nothing to worry about in the dry . . . wait and wait and wait for the braking point, just a touch of brake, into 3rd and full throttle again on entry, the car oversteers, one of the rears must be almost on the grass on the exit, keep the boot down, I hear stones in the rear wheel arch, keep it nailed it's still pointing in the right direction, I love LSD's . . . gently gently back onto the tarmac, limiter, 4th, must . . . keep . . . it . . . flat . . . second part of the double apex meadow and we're flying you can hear the roar of the wind, the car starts understeering, the gamble is, will it understeer off the track before you get to the start of east brae ?, yes it will today, front tyres are too cold, not enough grip, lift to balanced throttle then as soon as the car starts climbing . . . back to 100% . . . the car squats down as it hits a 1 in 3 hill at 80+mph, the bottom of the dry sump touches the tarmac . . . wait for the last marker line on the tarmac, BIG stop as hard as you can press the brakes and into second turning in on the brakes to cause some spin, throw the car in and touch the inside kerb, back to 100% throttle, back of the car starts drifting out then snaps round, sh1t look at those trees, things are a little exciting, get it under control, no lift, limiter and 3rd, passed the first kerb on the right and big stop and into 2nd, nurse it round the corner bleeding off enough speed to keep in on the track then quick squirt of throttle, feather for the last corner to the finishing straight, the car starts backfiring, full throttle again, aim for the inner barrier, try to touch it with the cycle wing, rear of the car starts coming round, little bit of lock then it's easy, limiter, 3rd, finish line . . . and take a breath, the first since the start line it seems . . . neutral, brake hard to stop for the paddock, rad fan on . . . nothing red on the dash . . . wish there was a working clock on the finish line . . . felt fast . . . have to open my visor as I can hardly breathe, jesus what a rush . . . have a couple of moments in the car before my brain starts working . . . the end of another Doune . . . 49.41 . . . next time . . . 48.??
Fd
3 practice starts and a burn up in the tyre warming area, choose the blackest part of the surface where all the rubber has been laid down by the guys with slicks . . .
positioned on the line, as ever at Doune the start line guys move the front wheel to manouver the car, every time I feel this through the wheel and have to reset my steering . . .
in position . . . rad fan off, oil and water temp ok, good oil pressure . . . it's the last time I'll see the dash for 60 seconds . . .
green light, visor down, 4krpm . . . drop clutch and match the increasing speed with more throttle until you see the shift light, 2.29 to the first timing beacon, second gear, approaching the 90 left, short shift a little to third on the corner, limiter, 4th gear, now it gets challenging, I push the throttle to the stop determined to keep it there until I get to garden gate, speed increases rapidly, round the first right kink, brain is trying to lift off, this is not natural, press throttle harder, round the next kink, do . . . not . . . lift . . , back of the car moves out, passing oak tree, still at 100% throttle, taking a wide line I turn in and try to let the car just miss the left hand barrier, it drifts towards the right and I can feel it roll, this is fast, then it settles, hold on, and on, and on then brake into 3rd for garden gate, full throttle at entry and lob the car in, I can feel it settle on the way towards the apex, the right hand front wing nearly touching the overhanging wooden barrier, grip ya bas !, it does, steep hill now, limiter light, 4th gear, nailed and now really feeling the speed through tunnel . . . rear of the car squirms a little over the bump with a flash of the limiter light in tunnel but nothing to worry about in the dry . . . wait and wait and wait for the braking point, just a touch of brake, into 3rd and full throttle again on entry, the car oversteers, one of the rears must be almost on the grass on the exit, keep the boot down, I hear stones in the rear wheel arch, keep it nailed it's still pointing in the right direction, I love LSD's . . . gently gently back onto the tarmac, limiter, 4th, must . . . keep . . . it . . . flat . . . second part of the double apex meadow and we're flying you can hear the roar of the wind, the car starts understeering, the gamble is, will it understeer off the track before you get to the start of east brae ?, yes it will today, front tyres are too cold, not enough grip, lift to balanced throttle then as soon as the car starts climbing . . . back to 100% . . . the car squats down as it hits a 1 in 3 hill at 80+mph, the bottom of the dry sump touches the tarmac . . . wait for the last marker line on the tarmac, BIG stop as hard as you can press the brakes and into second turning in on the brakes to cause some spin, throw the car in and touch the inside kerb, back to 100% throttle, back of the car starts drifting out then snaps round, sh1t look at those trees, things are a little exciting, get it under control, no lift, limiter and 3rd, passed the first kerb on the right and big stop and into 2nd, nurse it round the corner bleeding off enough speed to keep in on the track then quick squirt of throttle, feather for the last corner to the finishing straight, the car starts backfiring, full throttle again, aim for the inner barrier, try to touch it with the cycle wing, rear of the car starts coming round, little bit of lock then it's easy, limiter, 3rd, finish line . . . and take a breath, the first since the start line it seems . . . neutral, brake hard to stop for the paddock, rad fan on . . . nothing red on the dash . . . wish there was a working clock on the finish line . . . felt fast . . . have to open my visor as I can hardly breathe, jesus what a rush . . . have a couple of moments in the car before my brain starts working . . . the end of another Doune . . . 49.41 . . . next time . . . 48.??
Fd
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Awesome story as well
Congrats by the way Fergus
Congrats by the way Fergus
AMG GT-R
Atom 4 - CM425
Lotus Esprit S4S
G30 M5 Comp
Ferrari 599
Lotus Elise S1 "Shed" spec
Atom 4 - CM425
Lotus Esprit S4S
G30 M5 Comp
Ferrari 599
Lotus Elise S1 "Shed" spec
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Now if only you had told me that on Sunday morning I could have been doing 49's as well 
Mac
Mac
S2 Elise (cobalt blue with stripes) - toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
Caterham 7 - hillclimb spec
Yamaha Thundercat - 2 wheeled toy spec
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steve_weegie
- Posts: 3249
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:40 am
- Location: Nessieland
Re: Doune Hillclimb 19/20th April 08
Excelent write up guys! Makes me want to get on a hill even quicker
Arriving broadside, in a cloud of smoke......