What a weekend! Shattered but happy!
Was sitting in work on Thursday when i got a call from Mckean asking if I minded taking Nicola down to Oulton, as he had no pax seat belt, so we met back at mine.
Inspired move as Niel proceeded to remind me of everything i needed, and after me running about for 45 minutes we set off heading south. Reasonably saine run down, using earphones for the RLC is no quite smooth reving sweetheart, when not a full chat.
After an uneventful run down the road, with Neil claiming an EVO shot, we arrived at the vom-hotel, and managed to persuade the now shutting pub to give us a few beers for the hotel.
Bit of chat and off to bed.
Woke up early, slightly nervy and ready for my first days testing. Worked for a bit, and then headed off for the circuit.
Met up with the LOTRDC crowd, a great bunch of guys, and got ready to go out and learn the track. After chatting to the guys, and hearing Walshy's car woes, I realised that my Nitrons where still on full soft, so hurredly set about changing them. We then got called for the testing session.
Out on the track, and what a facility this place is, things were quite pacy, because we had some Carrera Cup cars on track with us, and some even higher modified racing prokers, which were awesomely pacy! These guys also knew the track!
The track its self is a great test, needs commitment in places, and taking some the blind crests flat out is somewhat daunting initially, but magic fun. Lap 3 though cascade was a corner before where it actually is and had a slightl sideways moment, but apart from that RLC was going well and passing some of the other class A cars
The class C Elises are outrageously quick. Watching Randy and Walshy rip past me was awesome, had me wondering if my brakes were on or if the engine had died due to the difference in pace, but awesome to see, and chase as i tried valiantly to keep up with Walshy and take some of his lines.
We stickered the car up with help from Jez and Tom found stickering skills neither of us knew he had!
Sessions through the rest of the day were great fun, it was massively helpful being able to chat to Mckean about braking points and corners, and also Walshy about braking in general, and the RLC seemed to be getting pretty squirrelly under hard braking.
Tom started timing my laps, and i think the best i posted on Friday (the sessions go past ina blur) was about 2.03.
We headed off from the circuit, back to the hotel for a shower and a beer and then off to meet the rest of the LOTRDC crew at another hotel for dinner and to watch the Snetterton race.
It was a good laugh, with a lot of teasing, but the LOTRDC guys are a great crew and good fun.
Headed off from that back to the hotel, another drink and off to sleep. Tucked up by 10.30!
Race Day - woke at 5.30 am and my mind started immediately turning to thoughts of the race, the track, and where i could make up time. We were at the circuit for 7, driver briefing for 7.15 and then sign on. Scrutineering holds a slight concern as my helmet got cratched in the back of the Elise but i get through
That all went pretty well, and then it was a case of checking the cars over and getting ready for qualifying!
Mckean and i decided that we didn't want to take each other off on the circuit, and Robin decided that the goal for the day was to get the signatures on my license, and keep it in one peice.
Qualifying comes round were are summoned. I am nervous as a kitten, and desperate to log a good lap time. The cars finally go out, and we are in no order, meaning there are far quicker cars behind me, slower ones in front, and i'm trying to work out how to get some clear track for a pacy lap. The first 5 laps are a bit of a mess with other cars (some learning the track in qualifying) getting in my road in braking zones, some of the group C cars taking me off line as they pass, and its generally a bit more of a combative track experience (as Mckean later points out I'm being a bit too courteous!). Lap 7 though things come together. I spend the entire lap chasing Mckean who had slowed and then let me by. This focus and clear track, help me to my best lap of the weekend, which is a 2.02!

Delighted!
Had no idea at the time (about my lap time!), and after passing the finish line come around a the corner to discover a MG (WTF!!!) doing 50 in to cascade, with Mckean now on a charge again after his clam lap, appearing quickly in my mirrors! Skip round cascade and then Mckean and I both pass Mg chap at the same time. Neil slips by at the end of Lakeside, and i follow as quickly at the RLC will go through Inland bend and into the Shell Hairpin. Mckean is clearly going flat out, his car twitching through the corners, and pulling out a gap. A group C car catches me towards the end of the lap, the then the chequred flag appears.
In to park ferme, and then out to see the TSE crew which continues to grow through out the day. Tom comes up and tells me he clocked me at 2.02, but not from the start line. Fingers crossed.
Results come through and I've qualified on 4th in class.

Very happy with that. McK has qualified 3rd in class
There is then a big bit of dead time as were arent racing till the afternoon. There a lot of chat, Sinclaires still working furiously on Walshy's car, and after getting changed back out of my romper suit, we head off for the hospitality area and to chill out. Also got interviewed by Gemma for Motor's TV so your chance to tease me will be increased greatly next month!
The race rolls around, and I'm mega nervous. Its been drizzling and raining on and off and Oulton is notoriously slippy in the wet. I'm wondering what I'm doing, and Tom has set up the in car camera.
Personally, my thinking went along the lines of ; keep out of trouble for the first 2 laps and then go for it!
We are called - off to the holding area. Standing there wondering what to do, some of the racers i haven't met come and chat to me. Really nice crew, and they can tell i'm nervous.
Engine start comes through and we are off being led around by the circuit car and then put in to order on the grid. Walshy and Randy are lapping this place in 1.49 (in qualifying to give you some idea of class C versus class A). I'm in 19th, and as we got out for the warm up lap, i'm bloody nervy!
We reassemble, nerves are huge.....check list goes through head, select first, watch the lights.......go! Huge amount of noise, and i'm aware Gav Kirby has had a great start and tears past me. As we head in to turn one I'm on the outside, and despite catching second slightly poorly, okay. Round Old Hall corner and ........f***.....i see Jez's car spin and cars dart either way, tyres smoke errupts in to the air, and one car comes to clip me on the front wing, but I react swerving on to the grass, and then back on to the circuit after a slightly nervy few seconds trying to keep it pointing straight!
FFS- in to cascade and things are looking better! Slightly! Get the foot down and exit flat out, skip past a car or two down the straight and up the inside on Inland Bend.
The rest of the lap, i spend my time trying to clam down and drive more smoothly. Start to catch Paul Harding, and work on that! 2 laps later i'm there, arriving behind Paul and trying to work out where to dive past.
I'm much quicker through Druids, and by the time we break for lodge i now i need to get by soon or wi will be caught. We fly down the start straight, and then i pull out to the inside on the approach to Old Hall, sh*t........break later turn in and gun it, hold him off and manage to start to build a gap for the next lap. Awesome....who's next.... the lap after though and a class C car has ripped by. I try a bit too hard to follow, and get way out of shape through Hizzp's chicane, launching it round the second part as there is more space to recover the Teeside like action - muppet!
Paul is right behind me again , and the next 4 laps see us pass each other 5-6 times, in awesome racing (perhaps not technically, but we were both trying our hardest!). My mirrors have folded in slightly so i can see who;s trying what. I concede a few corners for fear of crashing, and then when Randy flies by to lap us Paul dives by with him. FFS i thought it was another class C!
Gun it down deers leap and across the line to see the last lap board! ARSE! Foot is welded to the floor, and through the first part of the lap I pass him through Island (a very fast sweeping left hander) only to be pipped at Shell.
I realise that my best chance is going to be to get right behind him through Druids, and then go for it under braking at lodge!
I'm inches away ont he exit of Druids and pull out, but he blocks me...sh*t! I'm off line, and need something special. Nail the brakes and turn in on a different line. PAul is trying to defend the place so hard, he runs slightly wide....its now a sprint to the finish.....in second, third (MOVE) and i glance to see the nose of his car going backwards....RLC finishes!
I have no idea where i am, but find my self punching the steering wheel, shaking with adrenalin and yelling! I feel like I've just toppled Shumacher in his dominant days!
The cool down lap consists of waving the crowd (seriously!) and then hit parc ferme. In to be checked weight wise.
All good and I'm off to the pits to be clapped back in by the SE crew!
Not many people realise i got back past at the finish, and it turns out I'm 4th! Delighted! (had dreamt of top 3, but RLC needs some fine tuning and it turns out the GEO hadn't been done!Whoops).
Gutted to discover that the in board cam failed, so i can't share the carnage and the racing with Paul with you.
Its great to see Lawrence, Catriona and Fergus, who have now turned up, and chat the DTTB, Ryann, Mack, George (a RLC helper!) and many others.
Chat to Paul and it turns out he had a Motors TV in board cam! Should see some footage on TV of our scrap hopefully!
Mckean gets third in class, we have the drivers awards and then 2 more hours to chill before the handicap!
Looking at the starting order for that, I'm starting behing the guys that beat me in Class A, and only 30 seconds ahead of Mckean. Bugger!
As we head out on the formation lap, I'm wondering how I'm going to get a good result here!
First cars set off 10 seconds ahead. Then we are waved off - i've started way better but Kirby forces me on to the grass (it was either that or hitting him) and i concede, forcing me wide, and to the back of my section (4 cars in total). I'm keeping them in sight, but can't quite match them for pace. After that I'm pushing desperately to try and match the slower cars.
Lap 6/7 i see Mckean in my mirrors, and realise he has a great chance of winning, as he'll be the first to get past me. Try to keep over the the side under braking for lodge and nips by, and scampers off. I chase as hard as i can, but also realise that I'm now going to become fodder for all the quickers cars shortly...didn't realise how true that would be!
A lap or two later and I'm pushing as hard as i can, although don't feel i'm driving that well, as I'm effectively racing on my own.
On the run down to Cascade which is bloody tricky with an undulation that makes the car twitch under braking (downhill) i see Steve Williams appraoching, but reckon he has to be 20yds behind. No probs will ineviatbly see him skip by down the straight. Turn in and am trying to get round the corner as well as i can, exit speed normally was 90-ish depending on line. Get to mid corner, car is fully loaded, and..........F***, I'm going off. Heard something and lost the back in an instant.
Hit the brake (its not savable) and concentrate on getting out of the way, and i'm spinning towards the exit curb! Get it safelty on to the grass, restart it , and glace up to see Steve Williams off on the grass on the other side!
Make a decision then and there just to get home and get the signature on my license. As i head down the straight not sure all is well with the RLC and hope there is no clam damage. BUZZING!
My hope of catching anyone is F***** now. After the next 1/2 lap speed up again, and the RLC is performing admirably, and before long the chequred flag is out.
Parc Ferme - Steve comes up and apologises - no issues from me ( i was relieved that it was him hitting my rear inside wheel that caused it TBH) and we chat about it. He's lost his front spoiler from the off.
Dissapointed and didn't enjoy it as much as the first race, but very happy to hear Mckean has made it to 3rd place! Top job mate!
Time to get de-rompered and off to pack up, prize giving and final interview!
We leave after 7 and I'm left contemplating my day driving up the road! What strikes me as remarkable is all the help, especially from Robin, that has gone in to taking RLC from a pipe dream to me competing in merely 1 month! Its a staggering achievement, and remarkable! I'm looking forward to looking through this post just to see how much has changed from day to day.
Robin was awesome all weekend, not only in helping Neil and I with the car set ups (and Tom

) but in also helping me think about what i needed to do and setting goals for the race. I can't thank you enough mate!
Mckean - thanks for looking after me and keeping me sane!
The fact that we had more supporters than any of the rest of the LOTRDC was unreal also! Thanks so much for coming down and it was great to have people to chat to instead of getting increasingly nervous!
Dan- thanks to you and Luke for all your hard work, it was greatly appreciated, and please give your good lady a kiss for not kicking you out of the house yet for working too long on the RLC
It was great to see George who had helped in the RLC project, Lawrence (corner weighting guru and engine hoist lender) and everyone else. SE is an awesome community and i'm staggered at times how many great people I've met through my little fibreglass car!
Shug - 4 weeks ago this seemed like a pipe dream when we set off to buy an S1 in Wales! Thanks again for all your help!
So, Silverstone in mid-June.............anyone fancy a road trip......