The prelude
Some time ago........MSA license application filled in and posted.
<fastforward>
E-mail received from MSCC about forthcoming events and intimating that late applications may be taken until Sunday for this weekends Hillclimb event.
Prior to fully engaging brain properly fingers have already responded asking for a late entry. Brain catches up and reminds fingers that license isn't here yet and the car only has three wings.
Next morning licenses arrives - Fingers 1, Brain 0
Quick phone call ensues and after some quaility garage time the car is fully function with 4 freshly painted and properly attached wings.
Alarm drones to signal 6.30 am (on my weekend off???)
I'm up, breakfasted and in the garage by 7.00 and on the road shortly after.
Arrive at a very empty Forrestburn, with no ideas of what to do or where I should park. Fortunatly the first face I see is that of one of SE'rs (sorry John, don't know your SE name) which puts me at easy immediately, as does the number of folk saying hello and good morning. It's a very convival atmosphere. Soon there's a few more 7 esque cars in the car park and I get chatting away explaining that it's my first event and that I'm kinda lost. Find myself parked in the wrong space as I just went to one that the 7's normally take up. Track down my entry number and allocated parking space and sit there quite happy - chatting to Martin who's in the same class and driving a 1600cc Westie. Scrutineering starts and since I'm the newbie with the new car I come under a fair bit of scrutiny, asked question about the car and it history and about me and my plans for the car. Everything sails through and £1.20 get me a MSA sticker for my new lid.
I'm just putting the numbers on as Mr Hoy pulls in. I'm quite relaxed and chat to Lawrence and Martin, explaining that I've already signed in and had the car checked over. It's about 9.30 and we are due to start running at 10.00 so Lawrence suggests that we walk the track - I try in vain to explain that it's "hilly" hence the name "hillclimb" - but I'm told that it's the only way to understand where the traction and grip will be.
Back to the paddock and time to grap a quick roll as the nervousness I was feeling earlier had been dispelled by walking the track and trying to recall all the Hoy pearls of wisdom, safe in the knowledge that we are quite far down the running order. Sauntering back to the car I notice the others are climbing into their cars and sticking on their lids - Oh Crap!
Quite bite and the rest of the roll goes into hold-all along with the bottle of water (for posing purposes only) and the can of full fat coke (Mandy's at a dog show)
Jump into the car as the first of the 7's start rolling out, fortunatly there's a sound check to be done first which buys me some precious time. Lap belts done up, crotch strap is next, wipe the tears from my eyes and then do up the rest of the harness. Nomex balaclava and helmet on. Pulling on my gloves grab first and after a quick sound check I'm heading out of the paddock at down towards the start line.
The start queue was short, far shorter that I was hoping for, so I try and gather my thoughts, I'm called forward as I see the tail end of Iain's car heading for the first yump at full chat. I yank down hard on the harness straps, floor the throttle and bounce of the clutch to light the rear tyres - much noise but not forward momentum.
Of the throttle, on the clutch and this time I engage a gear.
The car is man handled to line up with the start beacon, the light red LED's turn to green (and fortunatly change shape) signal that I'm free to proceed.
Visor down, first gear selected, throttle down, clutch up and we are off - both forward and lateral motion - aim for the point Lawrence said over the yump, bounce, grip and up the hill, brake to early for the hill into the right hander, through the Essess and the car isn't handling well, I'm fighting the oversteer right the way through this and still trying to sort out the car when I reach the first of the hairpin, brake, in deep, 2nd gear and throttle - quick restbite - and on to the next section, turn in right, too slow and the car bogs down as I try to ride out in 3rd gear, onwards to the top turn and through to the timing beacon without too much drama
55.09 seconds - 2nd in class after first practice.
In to the paddock - having no idea if that time was good, bad or indifferent. Turns out to be quite good for a newbie. Time to chill, chat to Dominic & VX Jon who turned up to watch for a bit (thanks guys) and EoinMac from Jock7.
2nd run - I'm now buzzing from my first run, and convinced I know where I can pick up seconds from my first run. Lawrence said earlier that if you don't take off at the yump then your not fast enough.
Get to the start line, and have a little problem with being lined up, so much so that I don't notice the lights change and with them being LED I can tell the difference that well - Get a yell from the Marshall "the lights are Green mate" and I'm off. Better start away from the lights this time heading for the yump and I'm airborne - brilliant, just what Lawrence said and one of the places I knew I could make up time, up the hill and determinded to brake later, too late though and with the car light I start understeering towards the outside of the track - I know I've fluffed and jump on the anchors again - again nothing - I've went "agricultural" with all 4 wheels off the track and the trimmed grass at the side, engine stalled. Fire up engine and trek carefully to back to the track, and back up to speed - Essess feel better this time and the rest of the run is uneventful
60.48 - 3rd in class and lesson learned.
3rd practice is knocked on the head and lunch is called. To pumped up for lunch so happily accept the opportunity to walk the track again with Lawrence & Iain. If your going to walk Forrestburn you might as well do it in the company of two guys who have been going up the hill for years and have held the class records.
So it's timed runs now - and it this time it counts.
Jumping back into the car in the paddock, helemt on harnesses tightened, Iain can't find reverse, so out the car push Iain and back in. Reach the start line slightly panicky as I've not had time to mentally prepare and I don't like doing things in a rush.
Lights change and away - fast through the first, brake early at the hill, Esses feel nice and into hairpin. All good so far up and round the top corner, pass the line and glance at the timer. Into the paddock and I'm well chuffed, I know I've went faster than I had all day.
54.48 - Martin comes up to me and asks my time - he's 54.43 and checks with his father-in-law - I'm also 54.43.
First compeditive timed run and I'm sitting joint second but with the guys in third and fouth not that far behind. Now it's getting intersting.
Iain's sown up first place with his first run and is over 2 - 3 seconds than the rest of us, but second to fifth place is up for grabs and could be anyone of us.
All too soon and it's time to go for our last run. I'm in the car, eyes shut in the paddock, steering wheel in hand going through the turns in my mind.
Eyes open, harness tightened, helmet on, gloves on. I look in the mirror and see something I've not seen for years, it's something about my eyes, the blue seems to change colour, goes darker. It was noticed by folk I used to fight when I did kickboxing all those years ago.....the thing that turned me from being the quiet guy that I was into a pretty mean fighter.
I head down to the start not sure what would happen, would I go for it and get nothing or do I take it easy and hope that the pressure has taken it's toll on the others.
Red light/Green light - GO.
My heart beats once and I'm passing the finish line - 52.86 seconds
Into the paddock - not knowing what the others have done but I'm thrilled - I've taken a fair chunk out of my first time and I'm happy. Harnesses off and I can bearly contain myself - I've did it, my first hillclimb, and boy did it feel good.
Martin meets me in the paddock and shakes my hand - "I was over the moon" he says "taking a second of my time, but you took almost two - well done"
So first event, and I'm second in class. I'm not close enough to catch Iain as extended his lead over me, and when Fd comes back I'll be further down the order - but today, for this event, the records show me as second in class and I'm well chuffed.
Big thanks for Lawrence for all his help so far and to Iain for his word of advice on the day.
Mac
One Step Beyond.......
One Step Beyond.......
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
Great write-up too!
Well done that man! Great result for your first outing.
A wee pic (from my phone
) from today:
[img][img]http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o205 ... age025.jpg[/img][/img]
A wee pic (from my phone
) from today:[img][img]http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o205 ... age025.jpg[/img][/img]
- good write up -
minkypotglory
- Posts: 1118
- Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:49 pm
- Location: east lothian
- Contact:
-
Lawrence
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 2:30 pm
- Location: remembering Dijon
- Contact:
Some very nice pictures from the day clicky pic or here
http://www.paynehq.com/gallery/gallery2 ... temId=5187
very well done Mac
Cheers Guys.
It was far and away the best thrill I have ever had since getting the elise. Way better than sex and at 4 minutes, lasts longer too
I can't think of a reason why an elise/exige couldn't be used at Forrestburn. There's a few places that if you get it seriously wrong you might crack a clam but it's unlikely and you don't have to go full tilt, if there's enough from here then your only competing against other drivers who value their car as much as you do.
All you need is a decent lid (which will offer good protection at KH too), speak to Lawrence to see if he can still get the boiler suits and a little sticker on the ignition.
I had a really good time being the newbie yesterday - it would be a riot with the SE folk competing too!
Mac
It was far and away the best thrill I have ever had since getting the elise. Way better than sex and at 4 minutes, lasts longer too
I can't think of a reason why an elise/exige couldn't be used at Forrestburn. There's a few places that if you get it seriously wrong you might crack a clam but it's unlikely and you don't have to go full tilt, if there's enough from here then your only competing against other drivers who value their car as much as you do.
All you need is a decent lid (which will offer good protection at KH too), speak to Lawrence to see if he can still get the boiler suits and a little sticker on the ignition.
I had a really good time being the newbie yesterday - it would be a riot with the SE folk competing too!
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: One Step Beyond.......
mac wrote:floor the throttle and bounce of the clutch to light the rear tyres - much noise but not forward momentum.
Of the throttle, on the clutch and this time I engage a gear.
Well done Mac, great write up too.
Green Subaru Impreza Turbo, a 'classic'.
Silver Jeep Cherokee 2.5 TD, on SORN spec...
Black Disco 3, black van man spec...
Silver Jeep Cherokee 2.5 TD, on SORN spec...
Black Disco 3, black van man spec...
