Erghhhh – what a miserable start to a day! Up at 5am to contend with pissing rain whilst finishing off loading gear into the car. It took the full 2hrs 15 to get to Silverstone and the weather just kept getting worse!
By the time there were a group of us all making full use of the handy shelters put up by Matt Gibbon and Stu Hood on the Silverstone tarmac, I really was starting to get a cold damp hump on! That was, until Chris Middleton arrived in his Caterham, having driven from Kent with no doors and no roof. Absolute hero. A very wet one, but a hero none the less. I realised then just how lucky I was to be able to trailer the car!
In fact, all the guys turning up in their Caterhams are due a mention but they all copped out by using their hoods and doors.
Humour levels quickly rose as more participants arrived and the driving action started getting closer!
After sign on and briefing my group were allocated practice starts first. On a very damp and greasy runway, we got to play around with technique over a timed start. It’s a skill you don’t get to practice much as a racing driver – other than when it actually counts! Sarah Reader was on hand to give tips and times to everyone.
Next up was the first cone slalom course. Tight and twisty and very understeery with the track being so damp. Darren Burke on hand to offer pointers, and retrieve cones if displaced! My second timed run was actually OK – but when it got to the 3rd timed run, I ran out of tallent just a touch… This trend did seem to happen through the day! Second run fine, third one over cooked.
A change of pace next, with a scruteneering session designed to check that our cars were ready for an official check at our first race meeting. The only additional element I needed was a strip of tape across the central seam in the boot floor. Happy enough with that.
After a spot of lunch and a much needed hot drink the sun finally made an appearance and took the chill out of the air – which I am sure was greatly appreciated by the Caterham staff and the handful of hardy spectators that had braved it on the day.
As the weather had improved, we had a competition to see how fast we could get in and our of our cars. I can confirm that I am slow at getting in and died horribly in a ball of flames whilst trying to get out. Even manic Ricky Bobby style rolling around to put out the flames wouldn’t have saved me. For the record I have to pull the crutch straps free manually to get everything to become nicely free. I am truly glad that I know this now – rather than when it may become a lot more important.
The afternoon sessions were based around 2 slalom courses – one more open and flowing – the other, tight and twisty. Again, pointers and tips from Sarah and Darren as well as timings to let you know how you were getting on.
Then, onto the competitive element of the day. Both afternoon slalom courses were joined together into one large course. We were given one practice run and then one timed run. I’d like to point out that, through the day, the tarmac had slowly been drying out. Sadly, I was at the tail end of the field of timed runs and by the time I got on track, it was raining again. I had that excuse all lined up, ready to roll out at an opportune moment – up until Will Smith went and put in a time after me that got him on the podium… damn – I’ll have to come up with another excuse then :) I think I was in the top 10 somewhere but can’t remember exactly. Anyway, not quick enough to get a nice trophy.
That honour went to Will Smith (Group 2) in 3rd, Dominic Elliott in 2nd and Henry Heaton taking honours in 1st.
I have a feeling that Mr Heaton is going to prove a peculiar nuisance through the season :)
It was a great fun day. I think the solidarity of the miserable weather in the morning was actually a bonus. We’ve been given our sponsor decals for the year now, so that’s next up on the to-do list.
Thanks to Mr Cheese Sr (John) for braving the elements and taking photos for me through the day.
UPDATE: As bad as we thought the weather was for our event, Group 2 were at Silverstone the following day and, unfortunately, snow meant the day had to be cancelled. I can’t imagine how gutted they all must have been.
