Sprint Season commences - 10/11 April

[kevham]

The Scottish Sprint and Hillclimb season kicks off this weekend with a double header at Kames.
First up on Saturday is the EACC club sprint. Class A8 has just two entries - me in the VX and Alistair Matheson in the TVR Grif 500. Should be interesting...
Sunday is the first round of both the Scottish Sprint Championship and the Lowland Speed Championship. Class A8 has a few more entries - including a Lotus 211 but no Elises/Exiges!
Graeme and Jennifer Bremner have made the move into Sports Libre with a supercharged Radical Prosport.
I'll let you know how I get on.........

[ceejam]

I'm not going to make Kames this weekend or Doune the week after, but ;ve got my entry in for the Ingliston Sprint.

Good luck with the frst two events and I'll see you at Ingliston!

[kevham]

Day 1 over - I'm still getting to grips with the car but I managed a 97.4 in practice and my best timed run of 98secs dead was enough to beat the TVR for the class win. I was marginally encouraged by the fact he was on R888s and I'm on the standard List 1A bridgestones. A set of decent tyres could give me another 3-4 secs. I maybe should get the alignment set up too at some point! (note the proliferation of racing driver excuses now emanating from my keyboard)

I'm not going to win many prizes at that pace but there's a bit more to come, I think - once I get the courage to push through Paddock and get cleanly away from the hairpin.....
ANyway, I fair enjoyed my first real competition in the VX and all I can say is roll on tomorrow.....

[mwmackenzie]

Mice one Kev, well done pal, great result!

[Mikie711]

Going to have some stiffer competition tomorrow Kev.

[kevham]

Going to have some stiffer competition tomorrow Kev.

Indeed it proved to be much stiffer! Ooer.....

Cracking day again. Weather could not have been better and I was hopeful of bettering my 97.4 from practice yesterday. There were 4 in the class - me, the TVR, a BMW z3 and aguy called Duncan McAdam in a spangly orange Lotus 211 making what I hope will be a guest appearance. I was kinda hoping the driver was either a complete novice or blind.

I started very slowly with a 100 sec run and was a bit down when the TVR managed a 97.6 run. Second practice was better - I managed to get into the 98s but the TVR was dropping down the 97s. The 211 was not far off in the 96s. - maybe he is blind, I thought.

When the timed runs came, I got it semi-together and managed 97.66 sec. The TVR lost the plot (my mindgames were obviously working- Ha!) and did 98.18 sec. The 211 was down in the 93s now (maybe he's not blind after all!).

Final run and as usual, I went for glory. The red mist descended and I was on a real flyer until my second entry to Paddock. One big sideways moment (and a rude comment from the commentator) later and a good time was gone. Fortunately, my Walshy training paid off and I caught the slide and kept it on the blackstuff - 99secs. Even more fortunately, the TVR completely lost the plot and couldn't better my time so I bagged second in class and most importantly, currently lead the class in the both the Guyson and the Lowland Championships. It won't last long once you quicker guys get out but it's a nice feeling for me!

I must be off my trolley - I've entered Doune next weekend. I have to say, I'm already bricking it!

[Mikie711]

Good going Kev. You may well have things all your own way for a while, at least until the NE events. Not sure if I will be out this year at all now but might be marshaling at some events so may see you around. Not sure how Vic is getting on with his latest repair.

[kevham]

Good going Kev. You may well have things all your own way for a while, at least until the NE events. Not sure if I will be out this year at all now but might be marshaling at some events so may see you around. Not sure how Vic is getting on with his latest repair.

Mike, I've decided to enter a few up north events too - Boyndie and Alford in July are most likely. Fintray in May is too near Ingliston and my holidays but August might be on. Golspie (which I've been saying for 4 years I'll get to) is out because it clashes with an exam in June. After August, I'm gonna be out of the game because my wife is expecting another sprog (number 3!) in September!

I'm off to camskill for a set of sticky tyres now......

[Mikie711]

Ahhh, time for V70's then . I did notice that soft rears are out of stock, in 16" anyway. If I am out later in the year I will be at those events, be at some marshaling at least. Look forward to seeing you there, although we have met before.

[kevham]

Some photos from Sunday:

[alicrozier]

Nice pics Kev, you're obviously pushing the limits!
Is that a 'racingfive' in pic 3?

One tip would be to try and keep your head level, turn but not tilted into the corner - eyes work best when they're side by side...

[craignicol]

Good pictures, glad to see Kames was dry!
I'll be down at Doune on Sunday so i'll be watching to see if your head is level round oak-tree!
Have fun @ the weekend, Doune is amazing!

Just a wee thought: Should a 211 be aloud in A8?

[tut]

It already has been Craig. Scotty did Alford last year, although it was a one off, and he was not entered into the Championship.

However the same rules would still apply.

tut

[Mikie711]

Craig,
2 eleven fits now because they changed the regs from just production road cars to include specialist production road cars. So if you have an SVA'd 2 eleven then it gets in.

[alicrozier]

Craig,
2 eleven fits now because they changed the regs from just production road cars to include specialist production road cars. So if you have an SVA'd 2 eleven then it gets in.

...as some of the existing and past entrants were specialist production road cars.