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5th October – Buxton (National Championship)

 

Hi All.

 

It’s fairly safe to say that was an experience!

 

Buxton this time out for our major championship race of the year – the National Championship.

 

Originally when I booked in I was going to have to try to get in via the last chance qualifier again, like last year at Bradford, but on the Thursday before we got an updated grid and I was on it. Outside row 14 of 15 rows, but I was on the grid – woohoo! It’s what we all strive for, and with having to miss a few meetings due to writing the car off at Ipswich and then setting up a new one for me I was very surprised, but extremely happy. Then the race day orders came in and I found out I had to be at the track for no later than 9:30am. On a Saturday. When it’s cold. Oh well, we loaded up the car the night before and set off at 7, arriving at about 9.

 

Buxton is also known as High-Edge raceway, and it really is up high in the Derbyshire hills. Put it this way, driving in you’re above the cloud line for some of it! And so, as you can see in the gallery we were joined by a cloud hovering in the pits!

 

The reason behind the early start is that we had dedicated practice on track from 10 til 12, then the scrutineering began, with 30 cars to weigh, adjust if necessary, then drain the fuel tanks, check over the car and driver safety equipment, refuel with supplied fuel so no tampering, and random cars also having to have engine items sealed - head to block, gearbox to block and differential. Wow, I never knew just how much work was required.

 

I was actually the first car to go through the stages, so took a bit of extra time as people were setting up to suit, but eventually it was done by about 1.30, so plenty of time before the main meeting started at 5pm.

 

Practice had gone well, apart from when I clipped the inside kerb and punctured the inside front tyre – oops. But other than that it went really well, with the car feeling better and faster as the morning went on. Buxton is fairly unique, as it’s quite downhill into turns 1 and 2, so you have to break heavily, but then it’s a climb uphill to turns 3 and 4, so you have to brake really heavily downhill, but only brush them lightly into the other end. Dad asked me to push really hard in the corners as we’ve only got relatively new tyres with lots of tread, so by pushing too hard it’s possible to scrub off quite a bit of tread which obviously gives more grip once worn down (think slick racing tyres). You can actually feel the tyres working and smearing themselves to the track as we use quite soft Yokohama road tyres, and I did pretty much wear one down to zero tread, having started the meeting as a new one, at the start of the year, so it wasn’t long til the outside front was worn down a good amount ready for the big race.

 

Once practice and scrutineering was complete our cars were locked away in Parc Ferme so we couldn’t get to them or tweak them. That was it. How it ran last time out was how you were to run in the race. It felt weird not being able to access the car for a few hours, but hey.

 

During downtime I spent time snacking and catching up with the other drivers as there were quite a few of us racing in our first National, then I managed to catch up with some of my favourite BriSCA F1 drivers too, and eventually it was time for us.

 

We also had a driver’s parade, so needed a driver, and there’s no way Dad’s going to fit in my car 😊. Last year I was fortunate enough to get Superstar BriSCA F1 driver Catherine Harris to chauffeur my round, and this time I was lucky to have another superstar driver, but this time my racing bestie from the V8 Hotstox – stand up and take a bow Dannie Schoales #137. Many thanks for your continued support!

 

Walking on track to get back to the car and then being driven round whilst waving to the crowd is an amazing memory, and I am truly thankful to my parents and sponsors who help me do this. And I got a trophy. Thanks!

 

Lining up for the off and the nerves started to build, and with two slow formation laps behind the newly crowned BriSCA F2 Champion the tension was high, but then the flag man waved the green as we got it shouted through the radio into our ears and we were off. At the back with nothing to lose we all went for it, and going into turn 1 for the first time I dived up the inside of Keiran, spinning him to the inside kerb, out of 2 and there was already a car broadside across the track against the outside fence, but we kept going for another lap, all missing him, until a caution was called. Lining up in single file for the restart we all went down the back straight when suddenly everyone anchored up, and with so little space between us I hammered into the back of the car in front stalling my car. Refire, go to select gear to pull away with the pack and I couldn’t get a gear. It was as if the stick had locked solid. What the? No amount of pushing, pulling or smacking could get it to move, so that was it. I was out with only two laps complete. Dammit! I continued to try on the infield, but nothing, and so at the end of the race I was pushed back to the pits. Congrat’s to Archie Grindey #155 on winning what was a good race.

 

So, back to the pits and I explained to Dad what was wrong. He jacked it up and got underneath to have a look, and sure enough it was locked solid. On a Mini there’s a bracket on the back of the gearbox casing that holds a support bar to stabilise the gear selector rod that runs from the gearstick to the gearbox. The force of the impact had sheared the bracket and dropped the bar onto the gear selector rod, wedging it in place. Oops. It was decided to try and crowbar up the bar back into position and then tie it up out the way, but Dad ended up unbolting it as there wasn’t enough room to pry it up, and so with a couple of cable ties hanging it off the steering rack it was out of the way and gears were freed up again. I was supposed to be out in heat 2, so giving us some time, but whilst all this was going on it was decided the next two heats were going to be all in instead of split grids, so just as Dad finished we were told, and with seconds to spare the car was dropped back to Earth and the test drive to make sure it worked was on my way back to the track, but it did work. Thanks Dad (and Craig, Dannie and Matthew) for the quick work.

 

Back on track and we were off on the formation lap. Going into turn 1 and I got an almighty push from behind, firing me towards the fence flat out. I don’t even think I had time to really hit the brakes and brace for impact before clattering the fence in a massive shower of sparks, ricochetting around the turn repeatedly hitting the fence before coming out of turn 2 with no engine, but worse of all no steering (not that I knew this at the time). Pure momentum and a little bit of luck saw the car cross the track without being hit by anyone and I ended up on the infield trying to work out with the Hell had just happened! Trying to refire the car nothing happened, turning the steering wheel also did nothing. Now what? Sitting fuming and frustrated, with a massive headache, I could do nothing more that wait to be dragged off track again.

 

On return to the pits Dad and Craig helped drag me out the car as everything hurt, and I was so angry. Looking at the car and it didn’t look too bad, a few scuffs on the bumper, but considering the speed and impact I was amazed nothing was too bad. However, the force I put through the steering wheel I’d actually ripped off the bottom column fixing, so the column just hung down into the footwell. I went off to sulk and take some paracetamol, whilst Dad and Craig had a look at fixing it. The car wouldn’t refire, just clicking (yes that again), and whilst Craig dropped a charger onto the battery in case it was that again (it wasn’t) Dad sorted out the steering. Whilst I didn’t want to, as everything hurt, I was told to get in and try to get out for heat 2, but the car wouldn’t refire. We tried push starting too, but that didn’t work either, so with a heavy heart we loaded up ready to come home.

 

And so that’s my recollection of my very first National Championship race (although I did get into the last chance qualifier last year). A very long day, with a damaged car after loads of successful practice laps but only a handful of racing laps. But hey, at least I got a trophy to be proud of, and family and friends equally proud of me for qualifying considering the (partly) rubbish year I’ve had with damage etc.

 

Onwards. Supposed to be at Skegness on Saturday, but don’t think the car’s going to be sorted by then, so probably spend the weekend working on it, hopefully sorting it, and then back out racing on 3rd November back at Buxton. However, in the meantime a massive thanks to Dalys as I have my practice day and Scholarship Day up at Blyton in the Fiesta. I am seriously looking forwards to that. So my next reports will be from something very different.

 

Laters,

 

Sarah #18.

September 28th - Northampton

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Hi all.

 

You know when you get called up to the Headmasters office at school, but you don’t know what you’ve done? No, neither do I, but Dad said it was a good comparison… We have Stewards of the Meeting to answer to, and I got called up to the Steward’s box after my second heat last night to answer to them – anyway, more of that later!

 

So, first time out on shale in the new car, and we were back to one of my favourite tracks – Northampton International Shaleway. Having seen pictures of it from earlier in the week (Tuesday) when we were all going through the massive flood warnings and torrential downpours, the track was literally under about 250mm of water (that’s 10 inches to you old folk 😊), I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Deane Wood had posted a video on social media on Friday showing the track coming together nicely, so fingers crossed.

 

It was a bit of a weird one, as this weekend we were supposed to be racing at Mildenhall on the Saturday and Northampton on Sunday, but sadly Mildenhall suffered with a bad fire earlier in the year, and whilst it will be back, for the time being we’ve lost that circuit, so it had been decided to have two meetings on the Saturday at Northampton instead. Unfortunately Ministox were only racing in the evening and not the afternoon as well, but hey, a meeting is a meeting!

 

After a really enjoyable afternoon of meeting up with friends (thanks for the continued support Dannie), and spectating (not something you get to do when racing) it was down to the real deal.

 

Our first race of the day was our World of Shale Championship, with me being on the inside of row 12 of 14 rows, and with it being in qualifying order I was racing from the back with the people I normally bounce around with, but with some breathing space before the reds and superstars caught up with us by pushing from behind. I made a good start and was in an early battle with about four other cars, all jostling for position, and whilst we weren’t really gaining ground we were having a good race. About 4 laps in and a caution was called for someone embedded in the turn 2 fence, so at the restart I was in 21st place, having started 24th, battling with Olie and Ruby. I made a good start, but assume Ruby must have missed a gear as she was slow down the back straight, but I couldn’t get to the inside line as Charlie behind me got there first. Eventually I managed to get free of her, but being so far back from the main race I just spent the rest of the race enjoying myself and playing with the car, seeing what it did with different braking points and steering angles, eventually bringing it home in 18th place.

 

The next race was our heat one of the day with 28 starters, and I made a good start running the inside line into turn 1, but it was still damp from watering before the race and I had horrendous understeer, nearly clattering into 202 on the outside of me, but lost time coming out of 2 whilst trying to get it back under control, however at that point a caution was called as someone had tried to drive over the top of another car, ending up precariously balanced at 45deg on his front end!

Funnily enough this called for a full restart, so we lined up and set off again. This time 202 got a better start than me and as I chased him into turn 1 for the first time Tegan gave me a good punt from behind, but I rode the hit and came out of 2 still in 2nd place. I tried everything to gain on the leader, but could not make any ground on him. Soon enough we're 8 laps in and Mr Starter waved the Union flag to denote half way and I was still running in 2nd place. I could see the superstars gaining in my mirror, but kept my foot in trying to assure myself of a podium finish. With 5 to go I’d lost out to two of the star drivers, but was still in 4th place, then with 2 to go I got passed by Rogers. Still in 5th, can I make it? As we passed under the 1 lap to go board I had 4 superstars all ganging up on me, and I got punted wide into turns 1 and 2, but losing out to 3 of them, and then Cody had a last bend lunge on 2 more coming into 3 and 4 for the final time, with me again punted wide, but keeping it out of the fence to come home 10th. Five of us (7th to 11th) crossed the line in 0.6seconds! Well happy, and it's been a while since my preferred surface of shale, so over the moon, and great fun. Even inside my helmet you can tell the size of grin (photo in the gallery!).

 

Two races later and we were all back out again for our next heat race. I made a great start and led into 1, but 202 gave me a good hit and I was pushed into the slippy stuff, losing time, but coming out alongside him. He got a better drive through 3 and 4 and slotted ahead. Coming down the start straight and 174 rejoined from the infield just where I needed to turn in, so once again I was on the slippy outside line and lost some ground. I tried to dive bomb him into 3, but a blue top behind beat me to the line, but we bumped and barged each other through and then down the straight where Mia joined the party going into 1. Going down the back straight and bouncing off each other and I got turned across her bows towards the infield. I left the track completely sideways, just missing the marker tyres at the end of the straight. Going sideways at about 40mph I entered the ‘safe area’ where photographers, tractors and pace car are kept. Somehow I managed to wrestle the car back under control, just missing everything and stomping with everything I had on the brake pedal, coming to rest about 6inches from the pace car. Holy hell that was close! A quick change of pants later (probably some of the track staff too) and I rejoined on the front straight. By now a lap down, but I set off and carried on playing, eventually bringing the car home with no damage in 20th. Getting back to the pits and Dad had a massive grin on his face and congratulated me on my near miss. And it was then that one of the breakdown drivers told us that the driver and a parent from car 18 (me) had been called to the Steward’s box.

 

First thought was ‘what had I done wrong?’, closed followed by ‘this can’t be good’. Like I said at the start of all this, it’s never a good thing to be called up.

 

Felling slightly elated that I’d not hit anything, but worried about what I might have done wrong, Dad and I set off. Entering the room and our presence was acknowledged. Then when Adam and Steve (the two meeting Stewards) turned around to us they had huge smiles. They explained that people normally go up to them for a rollocking (this I was very aware of), but on occasion they also congratulate, and due to my superb car control (and a huge heap of luck) I’d averted what could have been a major accident. So well done, keep up the good work. Wow.

 

Back down to Earth and our Final race was soon out, this one being the Northampton Championship, started in graded order, but with a closed grid meaning no spaces between grades – yay, the blues and reds will be pouncing early this time! By now we had a slightly depleted field of cars, with only 22 cars starting. I made a good start, but was on the outside line and entered turn 1 in 4th place, with Mia trying to get through on the inside and Taylor on the outside. Mia was pushing, whilst being pushed, and I ended up pushing Taylor broadside through the corner before she finally took the hint and exited stage right. By now in about 7th place as we came out of turn 2 about 5 wide and George had been spun in front of me, so I ended up punting him head on and backwards until he also took the hint and got out of the way! With cars littering the track a caution was called for a winded driver, so we all lined up for the restart. Off we went, and I was pushed right to the fence out of 4 even before the green flag, but held it together and set off with the pack. The rest of the race was fairly uneventful, but with a good few little battles throughout and I came home 12th.

 

So, 4 races, two points scoring finishes, a congratulations form the Stewards and no damage. I’ll take that.

 

As usual the gallery has a few new pics etc, including one with one of my long time supporters and F1 racer Mark Sargent, only wearing my teamwear – how cool, and massive thanks to Mark.

 

Next time out is at Buxton again on Saturday 5th October for the National Ministox National Championship. I’ll be having a go from the last chance qualifier race (assuming there is one), but good luck to the more likely to win drivers starting at the pointy end. See you there.

 

Laters,

 

Sarah #18.

8th September - Buxton

 

Hi all.

 

It’s good to be back!

 

Well, there’s been quite a lot of work done to get ready as the car’s had a full nut and bolt check, the seat’s been repositioned to suit me and my size, the gearstick location and the stick itself has also been sorted out in a position to suit me.

 

Unfortunately we ran late on vehicle spraying as the paint booth had gone down and caused a backlog, so the body was still black from the previous owner, but with the sides being big graphics and applied (with the rest of the printwork all done, just waiting for paint to be applied), the car looked pretty good, and was mechanically ready, so time to get going again.

 

So, first time out on track in my new car after my big accident, I don’t mind admitting I was a little nervous.

 

The weather forecast was for rain pretty much all day, and so it was. As we’d just finished loading up the car at home it started raining, and didn’t stop until about four races to go. Oh, and we had blue sky and sun on the way home – typical. It was that bad in the morning we even put covers on my seat for the journey so it didn’t end up being too soggy, although wearing my racing wetsuit (yes really) also helped! Dad had advised to perhaps take my shale helmet as traditional visors can get smeary, whereas the shale helmet has rip’n’roll goggles with a mechanically pulled protective screen – a bit like you see on Grand Prix F1 car onboard cameras – although I’d start off using my tarmac helmet.

 

We got there early for practice, and to make sure the scrutineer was happy with any work carried out, and with the track awash and continuing rain off I went for my first chance to drive the car in anger. It felt good, and it was great to be back behind the wheel. It was also nice to see Richard of RGD Engineering, and his son Sam at the meeting. Richard is my go to for structural welding (and believe me when I say I’ve needed his service quite a lot!) so it was great to spend some time with them. Your services are greatly appreciated!

 

There were some big puddles on track, but we splashed through them, and the car didn’t miss a beat. I even managed to hold a big slide when I was tipped into the corner without losing too much ground.

 

Back to the pits and we put the shale guard over the front of the engine to stop all the electrics on the front getting too soggy. We were already running full wet tyres (basically relatively fresh tyres without the tread worn down too much)

 

Back out for another practice and it was pretty much more of the same. At least the car and me were working well together, surviving the heavy rain and ontrack conditions.

 

Once practice was complete, I took the decision to take Dad’s advise and use the shale helmet for visibility. And my wetsuit was doing it’s job well too, so I wasn’t getting too soggy and uncomfortable, although my gloves were another matter!

 

Soon enough it was time to go out for heat 1, and it was still chucking it down. The first start was jumped by the blues, reds and superstars going way too early, but it was called to caution and the next start was a bit better by them. Savannah got the jump on me at the start, but as we both had good visibility we stayed ahead with only the 300 of Coby gaining on us initially. Going into 3 & 4 for the 3rd time and the 300 car of Coby lunged up the inside just as I blocked him, punting me sideways across the track, just clipping the fence with the rear corner, but the lack of forwards air caused my goggles to instantly mist up, and although the car was still moving I literally couldn’t see anything, so I anchored up and smeared the inside of the lenses with my soggy gloves letting me have an idea of where I was, before rejoining at the back of the field. I carried on plugging away as I could see the cars ahead of me, but couldn’t really gain on them as we were all doing pretty similar lap times at the rear of the grid, and then when the front runners came through to lap it was a case of biding time and trying to keep momentum up without losing out too much ground to those I was in a race with, eventually coming home in 14th place. Not the best, but a finish is a finish, and it was a points finish, so that’ll do me.

 

There was an 8 race gap before my next race, so a bit of downtime, a quick check over on the car, and time to chat with some of the other drivers.

 

Next race out and it was pretty much the same – well, the on-track conditions were, although it had at least stopped raining briefly. There was another jump start by the higher grades, so again we went round on a second formation lap. This time round shall we say the blues were rather enthusiastic on their start and were pushing the yellows into the back of us whites entering turn 3 before the green. This time Savannah and myself only stayed ahead until the end of lap 2 before being trounced by the blues, but this time no trip to the wall, so I was still in it. With a fair bit of nudging and pushing going on throughout the pack at one point there was a decent size hit and my rear view mirror decided to throw itself on the floor of the car. Ok, no real problem, I prefer to see what’s around me, but let’s give it a go. That all worked out fine until about five laps later and it decided to shoot across under cornering and get stuck behind the pedals. I managed to kick it out of the way once, but it then decided to wedge itself behind the brake and accelerator, and despite my best efforts I couldn’t clear it, so not wanting to ram the fence at high speed with no brakes I pulled into the centre at racing speed, kicked it out of the way and jumped on the brakes. Scary, but necessary, and with no way of reaching the mirror to make sure it stayed out of the way, that was it for heat 2 and a DNF.

 

Meeting Final time was my next race, in 10 races time (I think there were 24 races total on the day), although there was another Ministox heat to watch in between, and it stayed a bit dryer for it. However, they had fun and games as at the first start they all piled into turn 1 and half the field made t to the fence as there was a dry line right on the inside edge of the track, but a slippy line once further out, or so it appeared. A restart was called and they tried again, but to the same effect, so another red flag was called with carnage on-track. This time the track was examined more closely, and it turns out the race before had dumped a load of oil on the approach to the corner. Oops. All cars were moved onto the centre green while the track crew tried an oil removing liquid, then the drivers were used to bed it in. It made it a bit better, but it was still slick, so everyone started driving it like shale, chucking it in and seeing what stuck. Some did, some didn’t, but the race ran and was good fun to watch.

 

Another 4 races to go and I was out in the Final, and with everyone scurrying around to change over to intermediate tyres (half worn tread) it was busy in the pits. However, we’d kept an eye open, and with one race to go it started to rain again, so everyone that had just been changing over was now changing back to wets again. By the time we were going out it had stopped, and although it wasn’t as wet as the first race, the dry line wasn’t really visible anymore.

 

As I hadn’t qualified for the main grid with my DNF I lined up at the back of the superstars along with four others for a grid of 24 cars (I think). Crossing under the green flag and off we all set, with what looked like a solid wall of about 2/3rds of the grid being red tops (or it looked like that from my viewpoint. Entering lap 2 and there was a spinner at the flag man, with another halfway through turns 1&2. Two laps later and about 4 cars had come together exiting turn 2, and I was running in 15th place on lap 6 – not bad from the back of the grid. However, with a near track blockage a caution was called. At the restart we carried on as before until about 4 to go and another caution. Still running in 15th, but by now in with the top 3 as I’d been lapped by them and I was put to the back of the grid, somehow dropping me to 18th. Dammit. At the restart we carried on our little battle at the back of the pack and there were four of us having a good little go, then as it came down to the last couple of laps it got serious with nudging and leaning going on. Entering 1&2 for the last time and two of the cars in front ran wide leaving me a nice little window on the inside line, but my exit speed was compromised as we came out 3 wide with me having to take the inside line but getting a wobble on the slick track. Entering turns 3&4, with me on the inside and Josh on the outside, and I could see what he was going to do, and he lunged at Ruby and Freddie ahead of us, pushing Ruby to the fence. I kept tight to the inside line, and came out almost alongside Freddie, who was actually a lap ahead, but with 0.6 of a second covering the three of us as we crossed the line, with me just staying ahead of Ruby, with Josh managing to keep his momentum and just beat me to the line. A finish of 17th. Again, that’ll do me.

 

So, 14th for 1 point, DNF and 17th for no points, but more importantly no damage to the car, or myself. I’m happy with that for a successful days racing.

 

The car now needs a good clean as the water we were racing in has left it mucky, and then a good check over. Hopefully he body shop gets a gap in their schedule and next time out it’ll be back to the beautiful Amaranth Purple it should be, and with the new stickers applied, we’ll be ready for Hednesford – the super-fast tarmac track just down the A5 from us.

 

In the meantime, good luck to all the BriSCA F1 drivers in their World Final at SkegVegas next weekend.

 

As usual the gallery has a few pics in, although no onboard footage as the remote for the cameras decided to pack up in the bad weather, but I’m sure Dad’ll get some external footage uploaded when he has time.

 

Laters,

 

Sarah #18.

1st September - Update
 

So, I bet you’re all wondering where I’ve been!! Well, between righting off old cars and sorting out new cars, I have a little side project😊. It’s been a secret up until now and since I hinted about it in my last report, I figured you’d all like to know about it.

 

At the beginning of June, one of my sponsors, Peter Daly of Daly Systems, gave me the opportunity to enter into the BRSCC Junior Fiesta Championship via scholarship. He offered to pay for my scholarship which, if I win, will give me the chance to have an all-expenses paid season in the BRSCC Junior Fiesta Championship. Me, being the destructive, speed loving 13-year-old that I am, accepted this offer. Thanks Peter!! This takes place at the end of October, so wish me luck!

 

In order to help me get used to the cars, today (28th August), I was chauffeured by my Dad down to Mallory Park to have a go at tazzing round in a Fiesta. Taught by somebody else who understands the ministox and the troubles I might have had adjusting to the gear changing, Jenson Brickley ex#246. Driving round for a couple of laps, he showed me the braking points I should be looking out for, how hard to brake, when to downshift going into corners and what kind of line I should be taking.

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After a couple of laps with him behind the wheel, we had a quick break and then it was back out to try and put some of the new knowledge I’d just learnt to good use. Starting off by just having a drive round the paddock to make sure I was happy with the gear change from second gear to third and then from third to fourth as these two gears don’t normally apply when racing the minis. Then we drove out the gates and onto the pit lane where, after a quick check in my mirrors, I accelerated from and onto the track.

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First lap round and the only thing I was struggling with was the downshift to third gear going round the hairpin. Whilst Jenson had told me to brake hard, downshift and release the clutch straight away, I didn't quite get the hang of it as it isn't something I’m used to doing. But with a bit of perseverance and a few more times round, I got the hang of it. Because I had just 20 minutes at a time in the car, it was soon time to pull off and take another breather. After being told that I need to brake harder on entering the hairpin, then downshift and release the clutch straight away, I was ready to go back out.

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Second time in the car and I was feeling a lot more confident in myself and the lines that I was taking. Again, checking the mirrors before pulling out of the pit lane, I pulled away and around Gerard’s (turn 1) we went. Looking all the way around for my apex, then bringing the car over to the left ready for the straight. Accelerating up to about 90mph, I looked ahead for my braking point. Easing off the accelerator, braking hard and through the Esses we go. Next point is the hair pin. First time round, I had been braking, downshifting to third, letting off the brakes and then coasting the car round with the clutch in. This time I braked hard, downshifted and immediately took my foot off the clutch and got round incident free. Back into fourth and ready to go through Devil’s Elbow. Not too tight in then accelerate back up to speed and down the home straight we go.

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Back around Gerard’s and this time I took a tighter exit and then forced the car out left. Down the straight and this time I made it to just over 90mph before braking hard for the Esses and bringing it back up to speed before braking hard again, downshifting, and then steering it round the hairpin. Through the Devil's Elbow and off we go down the home straight again. That lap felt better! Do that a few more times and before I knew it, that was the end of the session.  

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Back in the car park and all parked up, we took a couple of photos with Jenson and headed back up the stairs. Having already seen the size of grin that was on my face, nobody needed to ask if I had enjoyed it as the answer was a definite yes 😊😊.

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Driving round Mallory was definitely the most unique experience I’ve ever had and to say that I am lucky is a huge understatement. I am hugely grateful to Peter Daly and the fabulous opportunity he has presented me with. I am also hugely grateful to the rest of my sponsors as well because without them, there would be no #18 in the ministox. Thanks Jenson for trusting me enough to drive you round Mallory, even after I told you I’d written my first car off, and thanks to the team at Mallory who made me feel welcome and like I belonged.

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See you out there on the long (and short oval) tracks in the future.

Laters,

​

Sarah #18.

26th June - Update
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So, as you may have guessed, we're not going to be out at Bradford tomorrow.
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The week after the accident Dad took my old car up to Matt Hanson's garage to take the engine out, ready for him to drop it in the new car - Thanks Matt.
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The weekend after Ipswich we stripped my old car of everything other than the basic metal chassis, and I do mean everything. Not just mechanical bits, but all of the fuel lines, electrical cables, the lot. The old car has now been scrapped - literally. Slightly sad to see it go, but with the new car arriving later in the week we needed the space, and it was by now just a mahoosive paper weight it was just taking up room on the drive.
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All the old mechanical bits have been stripped, cleaned and resprayed where appropriate and are now in storage as spares ready to bolt on.
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Dad then went back up to Matt's and collected the new car, now with our engine in place. This was on the Thursday as we were going on holiday on the Saturday, so we didn't do anything to it, although I did take a sneak peak out the window when I heard Dad returning back.
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The Sunday after returning from holiday we started work on the new car, stripping it's old stickers off ready for the respray and new stickers to make it mine. Starting it up and it sounded glorious. For a little 998cc A-series mini engine it really does sound good, and the sight, sound and smells brought back all the happiness I'd missed not being able to play - although Diggerland did help with that somewhat (but that's a different story!).
​
So, what next? Well, we're waiting for access to Evolve ARC to be able to get the car looking glorious again in it's Amaranth Purple paint, before applying the stickers again.
​
This weekend the intention is to give it a thorough nut and bolt check, swap it over to tarmac spec and finalise my seat position (it's previous owner was taller). Once that's done, and the seat is permanently attached we'll sort out the gearstick positioning as I'm swapping over to centre shift - literally the gearstick sits between my legs. Because we sit in the centre of the car for safety that's obviously where the stick would be in a road car, and although my old one had been adapted to side shift, with the issues incurred after the damage from previous I've decided I'll go traditional position as it offers a more reliable linkage, so no more struggling with the gears hopefully.
​
Due to various timing issues and the fixture list, I won't be back on track until the 8th September at Buxton. Hopefully we'll have another update before then as we have a side project at the end of August that ties in with my exciting news for later in the year, and we'll certainly have some pictures of the car once refreshed.
​
Until then, laters,
​
Sarah #18.

26th June - Update
​
So, as you may have guessed, we're not going to be out at Bradford tomorrow.
​
The week after the accident Dad took my old car up to Matt Hanson's garage to take the engine out, ready for him to drop it in the new car - Thanks Matt.
​
The weekend after Ipswich we stripped my old car of everything other than the basic metal chassis, and I do mean everything. Not just mechanical bits, but all of the fuel lines, electrical cables, the lot. The old car has now been scrapped - literally. Slightly sad to see it go, but with the new car arriving later in the week we needed the space, and it was by now just a mahoosive paper weight it was just taking up room on the drive.
​
All the old mechanical bits have been stripped, cleaned and resprayed where appropriate and are now in storage as spares ready to bolt on.
​
Dad then went back up to Matt's and collected the new car, now with our engine in place. This was on the Thursday as we were going on holiday on the Saturday, so we didn't do anything to it, although I did take a sneak peak out the window when I heard Dad returning back.
​
The Sunday after returning from holiday we started work on the new car, stripping it's old stickers off ready for the respray and new stickers to make it mine. Starting it up and it sounded glorious. For a little 998cc A-series mini engine it really does sound good, and the sight, sound and smells brought back all the happiness I'd missed not being able to play - although Diggerland did help with that somewhat (but that's a different story!).
​
So, what next? Well, we're waiting for access to Evolve ARC to be able to get the car looking glorious again in it's Amaranth Purple paint, before applying the stickers again.
​
This weekend the intention is to give it a thorough nut and bolt check, swap it over to tarmac spec and finalise my seat position (it's previous owner was taller). Once that's done, and the seat is permanently attached we'll sort out the gearstick positioning as I'm swapping over to centre shift - literally the gearstick sits between my legs. Because we sit in the centre of the car for safety that's obviously where the stick would be in a road car, and although my old one had been adapted to side shift, with the issues incurred after the damage from previous I've decided I'll go traditional position as it offers a more reliable linkage, so no more struggling with the gears hopefully.
​
Due to various timing issues and the fixture list, I won't be back on track until the 8th September at Buxton. Hopefully we'll have another update before then as we have a side project at the end of August that ties in with my exciting news for later in the year, and we'll certainly have some pictures of the car once refreshed.
​
Until then, laters,
​
Sarah #18.

22nd June - Ipswich


It’s been a while, and it’s fairly safe to say my luck’s not changed. In fact it took a massive leap into reverse!


The last update was after Skegness back in May when I only managed to finish one race due to continued issues with the gearbox after being splatted into the fence at Northampton.


So, with no time to practice we decided on the Wednesday to go to Aldershot for my first time, and the first time ever for the F1’s, so even if it didn’t work it was a meeting worth going to, and with 32 cars making the long trip down South it was set for a good one.


In trials at home the gearbox had finally decided to play nicely, but during practice it decided not to again, so I pulled straight off so as not to cause any more damage.


Back in the pits and Dad had another go at fixing it, and this time it worked, and with the first race being the Whites and Yellows Championship I was determined to make a good go of it.


Again, the car decided that wasn’t going to happen as I made a good start, but selecting second and releasing the clutch meant a lot of revs from the engine, but no go. Yes the clutch had finally died after Skegness damage. Dammit.


Loading up after one heat really sucks, but the rest of the meeting was a good one to watch, and with some of the heavy damage inflicted to others in later races I was kind of glad to just be watching!


So, back home and Dad changed the clutch and we went testing – thanks Nathan. However, yet again despite working at home it would just not let me get 2nd gear reliably, so we went home, threatened the car a lot, redid the linkage (again) and went back to Marsden Barn Trailers for another round of testing, and this time it worked brilliantly. Finally!


Unfortunately I didn’t trust it enough to go straight to Hednesford before we’d done the final round of testing, so I missed that one.


This meant that on Saturday (22nd June) we were off to Ipswich. Three hours down the A14, yay. It’s a great track, but I’ve not had a lot of luck there, as first meeting in 2022 I only did about 4 racing laps as I got grounded on the inner kerb in race 1 when the throttle stuck open, then in the Final I spun in avoidance on the first lap and didn’t get started quick enough so was booted off with the others that had caused the accident in the first place. Then, last year on lap 2 of my first race I got spun at the exit of turn 2 and got a head-on hit damaging the front of the car comprehensively. Still, my luck’s got to change at some point right?! With 32 cars booked in, and it being an all in format, but on a big track, it was going to be busy!


Out in practice and it felt sooooo good to finally be back behind the wheel of a fast, reliable race car. The car felt great everywhere, but I had understeer coming out of turn 4 as I was being a bit heavy handed, but 1 thru 2 felt spot on.


Back in the pits and we were advised to swap a couple of tyres around, so we did. We were parked up next to Kieran who was having engine issues, and since mine was fine Dad went to help. Between him and Kieran’s Dad they changed his head gasket in 20mins. All were happy, and Kieran made it out for the first race, only for his engine to lunch itself with major damage. Oops.


Out for heat 1 and the car felt really good and responsive as we set off, and although Harry on the outside jumped me at the start I was still within distance of him if he screwed up, and the car and I felt alive.


Dad had suggested what I was doing wrong in practice and how to change my driving to suit it, and it was working as the car cornered perfectly - see, I do listen (sometimes). I was being gained on by the pack slightly, but the car stayed settled whilst being nudged from behind until on lap 4 I was nudged wide into 1. Still running in 3rd on lap 5 and I made a small error putting me on the outside dropping me to 5th. Going down the back straight and the guy behind got a slightly better drive off the corner dropping me to 6th, but leaving me out wide and a 3 car train slipped up the inside into 1, then they had a coming together, slapping me sideways and rapidly to the fence, but I gathered it up before contact was made, but with a dead engine. What now?!? I couldn’t get it to refire, so with 3 laps to go I coasted to a stop. Fingers crossed it’s a simple solution.


Back in the pits and Dad checked the obvious wiring first, but nothing looked wrong, but it popped and burped when trying to start, so he checked the rotor arm and discovered the side slap had broken an interior tab off causing it to turn out of sync. A quick change and we were ready for heat 2.


Off I set, but I missed 2nd gear and lost a couple of places, but soon set off after them and I tapped the car in 2nd place into turn 3, but unsettled both of us causing us to run wide and let a car up the inside. I tried squeezing them into turn 1, but ended up running wider than intended, opening the door for another train of cars to leave me on the outside, and it’s hard work getting back in!


I was in 8th, but with a car trying to get up the inside of me, and I had a car that had clipped the fence, momentarily slowing them in front of me, so couldn’t get back in again. COME ON!


Maintaining 8th place thru 3 and 4 I was carrying good speed into 1, but got a big punt from Danny into 1 forcing me out almost to the fence again, but I managed not to hit it and continued having dropped to about 15th. By now we were battling 4 wide through the turns and 3 wide down the straights! This is what it’s about! I tried squeezing someone up onto the kerb entering turn 1, but whilst I did manage it I bounced slightly wide, and Harry, ahead of us, was slowed as he’d been punted in sideways. I then slowed as I hit him and in turn got a hit from behind unsettling the car as I accelerated out of 2. It was at this point that I took a hit to the inside rear of my car which was just enough to pitch it hard right, and about ½ a second after, and before I’d had chance to do anything, let alone brake, I hit the fence head-on at about 40mph. OW!


For the first time in my racing career, and I’ve taken some big hits, I gave a thumbs down. I couldn’t breathe. Everything hurt. OMG this sucks. My brain couldn’t compute anything. Did I mention it hurt?! The race had been called to a caution, and the marshals undid my seatbelts to get more air into me, but as I was just muttering nonsense as I couldn’t catch my breath the ambulance was called.


Dad ran round to me and managed to talk me down to getting air into me almost normally and gave me a hand to sit on the side of the car, and with the audience giving a round of applause (something we all do as spectators to help boost the driver) he helped me out of the car and I hobbled to the ambulance. Did I mention everything hurt? After a check up in the med-centre and a dose of painkillers I was released and we walked back to the pits. I must say a massive thanks to the guys on the ambulance and in the med-centre as they do great work for us idiots hitting each other in cars.


As we were on the way through we found my car, and it’s a mess.


Wishing luck to a couple of our favourite F1 drivers on the way back, we awaited the return of my car to survey the damage. Managing to pry the bonnet off we could see the front bumpers been pushed back a good few inches. It’s dented the radiator, crushed the ignition coil and damaged the rotor arm Dad had just replaced.


After the meeting we got together with Richard, Matt and Jonna and looked a bit closer. At the end of the day the car has done it’s job of sacrificing itself to save me. The drivers cell has stayed structurally sound, but from the front of the cab forward it’s scrap. The bulkhead has been compressed and then bounced back further forwards than it was. The main chassis legs are bent, the nerf rails have been forced sideways and the subframe is bent too, forcing the engine to be way out of line.


Matt knew someone who had an almost new rolling chassis for sale and so we now own another chassis (or will when it’s been paid for), and fingers crossed our engine is ok. Dad cut off the front of the car yesterday to see if we could get it started, and although it did it’s not quite right, but hopefully when freed from its current place a set up job at SMMC will bring it back to good health. Fingers crossed.


So, another pause in the proceedings while we get the new car sorted out, hopefully only missing Buxton on the 6th July, fingers crossed for a debut at Bradford on the 27th July.


As usual, photos and videos updated in the gallery.


Laters,


Sarah #18.

2nd June - Aldershot

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One word: Clutch.

29th May - Update

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Time for something new. No, I'm not changing formula, but we are going to a track I've never raced at before. Never even been there before, so definitely new...

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This Sunday (2nd June) the National Ministox, National Hotrods and BriSCA F1s are racing at a track down South - Aldershot.

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Fingers crossed for a good turnout and good racing.

​

Laters,

​

Sarah #18.

11th May - Skegness


Hi all.


Another one that didn’t quite go to plan due to the gear linkage, although no extra damage to talk of.


After destroying the gear linkage at Northampton two meetings ago I’ve been struggling with the gears not engaging, or fighting me in the heat of battle. Well, same again last night.


We arrived later than ideal due to family commitments, and on arrival it was nice to see Carl and family there to spectate. Thanks for the support – just a shame you didn’t see more of me on track!


Practice – We only got one shot, but it proved the car was quick, although the gears occasionally fought me, but with 47 cars booked in it felt good.


Heat 1 – DNF. Despite it working fine in trials at home, and mainly in practice, something had obviously rattled loose on the wonderful UK roads on the way to Skegness, as 2nd gear decided to not play when out on track as I came out of turn 2, so I pulled off and tried to get it to co-operate. Once I thought I’d got it, but it was 4th, which really wasn’t suitable, so I pulled off again and watched the rest of the race, trying to get it to work to no avail. And to add insult to injury I was told to push a fellow racer off at the end as his car had died, so there I was slipping the clutch in 4th. Funnily enough the car stank by the time I got back to Dad. Hopefully the clutch isn't too fried as it still pulls.


Dad had everything out ready to strip it down and try again, but as we only had two races between races we ran out of time for getting out in the consolation by 10minutes. But it all worked, and I practiced as much as I could driving round the pits.


Obviously missed the Final as I hadn’t qualified.


So, last race of the night was the Grand National all-comers, and I was one of 24 to get out. However, as I lined up in the pits the gears failed again, so Dad just locked it into 2nd gear and told me to slip it, jump the start, or do whatever I needed to , but do NOT change gear. So that’s what I did. Bringing the car home, outside the points, but in the one piece it had been when I entered the track, despite one cars best attempt to spin me.


Dad’s spent 2hours trying to sort it out today, and we think we have a solution now fitted, but sadly with no way of testing it in battle until we’re next out there I’ll have to wait, but it does feel like it’s working at the moment, so fingers crossed as next time out is at Hednesford on 16th June. And at Hednesford you really don't want issues as it's super fast!


So, until next time.


Laters,


Sarah #18.

4th May - Northampton

​

Hi all.


Well that was a better meeting.


Dad had taken the car down to SMMC for a final engine setup after the big impacts I’ve been involved in since the start of the year, and at the end of the session we’d gained 5bhp. Doesn’t sound a lot, but we’re up to 70bhp at 7000rpm, so a good little engine. Thanks to Colin and crew! We’d found there was a bit of excess play in the gear linkage after the knocks it’s been taking and so we’ve got a bit of work to do still, but as all the gears were there it was passed with a mainly clean bill of health with good power.


This meeting was racing for the British Championship, so there were 42 of us booked in, with all of us racing in two heats to qualify, then the Championship race itself would be the top 26 qualifiers, graded order, on a closed grid. So, that meant if I qualified, I would be at the front of the pack, with no spaces between grades, so everyone behind would be pushing from the go. No respite, just straight in to it. Let’s see what happens then shall we?!


I was out in the A pack (obviously 😊), along with 20 others, meaning we’d be racing in heats 1 and 3, with the other 21 drivers in heats 2 and 4. Then the total points we’d achieved from our heat finishes would dictate where we started on the closed grid, but still within grade order, so whites, yellows, blues, reds, then Superstars.


Heat 1 – Actually the first race on track of the meeting, and with a freshly watered track it was always going to be slip slidey until we’d bedded it in.


Off I went and as I have good tread on all my tyres, whereas some of the top teams use what are called ‘buffed’ tyres (basically they’ve buffed off half the tread to make the tyres grippier as the tread doesn’t wobble around and overheat as much), I found I could push right from the off. The car would turn and move underneath me exactly as I needed it to.


Trouble is I was getting carried away entering the corners, and with about 4 laps to go spent too long and was too late glancing in the mirror as I was battling and missed my braking point entering turn 1. This meant I carried way too much speed and was way too wide. Uh-oh. Next thing I clipped the back of a parked car, pushing in the rear of my nerf rail, spinning me round causing me to hit the fence head on and pure momentum causing me to spin through another 180 deg so I ended up tail into the outside fence. Oops.


Rejoining I’d obviously lost quite a few places, but managed to cross the finishing line in 15th for 1 point.


Dad was less than pleased when I got back to the pits as it was self inflicted damage, but luckily, other than detaching the exhaust pipe at the bottom of the downpipe there was no other damage, although the gears were playing up again, but were all still there. Sorry Dad!


Heat 2 – With Dad’s words ringing in my ears I set off for a better race this time, and with the track now being pretty much fully dry it was still slick, but much more controllable and fun. Making a good start I settled into 3rd place and found a rhythm, but soon there was a red flag as there’d been a big impact on the exit of turn 4. Luckily all were ok, but a full restart was called.

This time I made a better start and dropped into 2nd place. Then another caution was called after 4 laps had completed.


At the green flag we were off, and entering turn 1 three wide. Unfortunately I was on the outside and as I battled to get back in, a few of the reds and superstars had already caught us and I lost a handful of positions going down the back straight, ending up 9th at the start/finish line, but having a good battle with a couple of other cars. Then with literally a quarter of a lap left another caution was called for a stricken driver.


At the restart they counted it back two laps, and I pushed, but couldn’t stop one other car coming past me before the chequered flag, finishing in a respectable 10th place for and other 1 point.


Now the wait was on for the last race and the points to be tallied up to find out who’d done enough to qualify. I hoped I had with my two points scoring finishes, but with a total of 42 cars involved you could never be sure.


At the end of heat 4 there were a few dead cars, with one in particular looking very worse for wear, with only the two front wheels pointing where they should be and the outside nerf, panelling and underfloor bars well and truly bent up and out of shape after a high speed trip to the fence. Ouch. But at least the driver was okay.


Anyway, turns out I hadn’t quite scored enough, but was 2nd reserve, and with two cars dropping out I was in! I’d qualified for the British Championship – my first Championship qualifier. Yay!


We’d worked on the basis that I had, so the car was primed and ready to go.


British Championship – Lining up on the front row of 13, with 24 other cars immediately behind me, with no gaps between grades was certainly an eye opener, and with the track looking perfect we were all ready to go! And the pic Dad got of the field on the rolling lap looks freaking awesome!


Down the back straight on the rolling lap and the nerves started to set in, but there was no turning back, so as ‘Green, green, green’ was shouted into our ears over the raceceiver the sound of nearly 2000bhp was sent screaming into the Northamptonshire air as we all stomped on the loud pedal and fired out of turn 4 for the first time under the green flag. I love my sport!


Nerves forgotten about as we fired into turn 1 for the first time, and I barely braked, but as I started on the outside I was outdragged into turn 1, exiting 2 in 5th place. I got a knock going into turn 4 causing the car to pop out of gear, and, so I didn’t have the field pushing me from pillar to post down the main straight, I anchored up and waited for the field to pass by, rejoining in last place, bit as I was still fighting to get it into 2nd gear it was probably for the best, finally finding it entering turn 1 and setting off after the field.


Funnily enough there was a caution called after about 4 laps, so I caught up with the rest of them and this time kept with them as we all set off again, keeping with them, but unable to gain any more positions, but having a good battle with the end of the field. With about 3 to go one of the favourites was unceremoniously dumped into the fence at high speed, riding up and crashing back down. A red race stop was immediately called for, but Boden started it up and drove off, with the front wheel definitely not where it should be!


At the last restart of the race I was in 19th place, but lost one more position in the last couple of laps to come home 20th.


Congratulations to Joelan Maynard #51, our new British Champion.


So that’s it for another meeting. The car’s now been cleaned off. The split in the front bumper has been plated. The gear linkage has been removed, and Dad has a plan. The nerf rails can wait, and if we get chance then they’ll be repaired, but the gears are the main priority. Oh, and the car’s now sat on tarmac wheels and the suspension’s been tweaked to suit.


So, we’re all ready for Skegness on Saturday 11th. Wish me luck.


Pic’s and a video short of my incident from the onboard before it broke another mount are in the gallery, along with some pic’s of the new teamwear! A big shout out to Jack for the design. He did the car too, and I am over the moon with the results, along with Yazzoo https://personalised.clothing/ for the quality of the merchandise. Thanks!


Laters,


Sarah #18.

3rd May Update

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Although it was disappointing to have to miss Bradford last month it was probably for the best, as three meetings in and the car's been nothing but battered and bashed, with one major impact at each meeting, and with things not lining up properly, along with a lack of gears, we took a time out to repair and regroup.

​

We found the engine had shifted, so that's been repositioned properly. The gear linkage has been completely rebuilt, including the piece that had shattered into three bits.

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And then, since the meeting tomorrow is the British Championship, and the fact that it's been bounced around a lot, Dad took the car to SMMC for a rolling road tune to make sure none of the horses had escaped during the multiple impacts incurred. Turns out they hadn't, but it's been tweaked by Colin and crew and runs well with good power, so tomorrow should be a good one!

​

Fingers crossed we go well at Northampton and get some good results and points. There are 42 Ministox booked in, so some good racing should be in order.

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Meeting report in a couple of days.

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Laters,

​

Sarah #18.

13th April Northampton

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Hi all.


Unfortunately, the run of bad luck continued this week at Northampton.


After the carnage that was Mildenhall last week we had quite a bit of work to do, but with Dad on the mechanical bits and Richard on the welder it was mainly sorted for the end of the week. Then on Saturday morning Dad finished the final set up of the car after we’d cleaned it.


So, off to what used to be called Brafield, then Northampton International Raceway (NIR), and now since it’s massive facelift and shale track Northampton International Shaleway. I do like this track and was intent on continuing how I’d left off last time here at the end of last year.


As there were 34 of us booked in it was split heats and I was in heats 2 and 3, then the Final, so off to watch the first few races and see how the cars behaved on what looked like a pristine track.


My first heat soon came round and I started it up and drove round to the back line up area. As I got there the car started to lose power, so I booted it but then it just died. As Dad was still waffling in the pits before coming round to me, Gary Maynard (our Chairman) whipped the bonnet off and started checking the obvious things, but nothing happened. Then they tried to bump start me, but again nothing fired up. So, quickly pushing me back to the pits (thanks Ella and Freddie Rogers) Dad had a look and we decided to swap out the coil that we’d fitted after the old one fried itself last week at Mildenhall. Sure enough the car fired up first time with the new coil, but unfortunately by now the racing had started, so I decided to try it through the gears, warming up the brakes etc in the pits, and then starting and restarting the car to make sure it didn’t do it again.


Annoyingly if I’d been out in heat one and found this I could have still had two heats, but not this time. Oh well. Onwards as they say.


Not long until the next race, so I got strapped in and it fired up first time and off I went to the lineup area. This time nothing failed, and I was still annoyed, so intended to channel the fury and get a good result.


Out on track and as we went down the back straight for the rolling lap. Green, green, green shouted over the radio, so off I went. Unfortunately, Josh in front of me didn’t. I don’t know if he had an issue, but I ended up boxed in as Ruby was on the outside of me and he didn’t leave any room up the inside, and then the yellows filled the gap on the outside. As we entered the start straight for the first time I’d already lost about 4 places. Dammit. By now I was free, but a little slower than the guys tearing up behind me and I very nearly had the same as my first race at Mildenhall, being tagged and nearly fired to the fence, but I managed to slow it down just enough to regain control before the fence, but by now half if not more of the pack had passed me. Not Happy!


I tagged on the end of the field and kept up with the back of the pack, but other than passing a few stragglers I didn’t really get anywhere, so finished well down the order in 15th. Oh well.


With only one race between our last heat and the Final it wasn’t worth getting out, so Dad did a quick check over and it was time to go again. Good news was the new radiator got the engine a little warmer during racing, but cooled down a lot quicker with a watering can of water poured on it.


As I hadn’t ‘qualified’ for the Final (only 18 cars had) those who hadn’t (the 12 left running) tagged onto the back. So this time I started on the inside of row 15 in 25th place. Not expecting much, but let’s see what I can achieve, and there’s bound to be retirements in front, so you never know. A top 15 wasn’t out of the question.


I made a decent start, and although the higher grades behind me jumped me I still managed to gain a few places in the first few laps after tagging on to the back of a red top who’d not qualified either. I settled in behind him and didn’t lose any ground to him until a few laps after half way when the leaders caught up with us. As they were reds and superstars who’d already battled through to the front of the field, with four laps to go I started running wide into the corners to not get involved with their race leading battles. Then with three to go, in my rear view mirrors, I could see Danny Bonner having a very physical battle as he and another gained on me.


I moved wide entering turn 3 and as we came out of 4 to go under the 2 to go board I was about as wide as I could go, but actually keeping pace with Danny out of the corner, who then squeezed me to the fence and flattened me into it just before the pit gate which juts out a bit. It was too late to lift or brake, so with a hell of a clang, sparks flying, and the car being bounced around, I held on as there was nothing I could do but grit my teeth and hope to hell the car stayed the right way up. It did. But as I entered turn 1 it slowed as it had bounced it out of gear.


I struggled to get it back into first gear as second would have bogged down by now, but I was determined to finish, so I set off again just as Dara came into the corner with another car battling for a place. As I went for second it fought me and refused to go in, and with Dara having a car on the inside of him as the came out of the corner at full speed  he had nowhere to go but pile into the back of me, firing me into and up the fence again. Really sorry Dara! With another clang and even more sparks than last time I coasted with no gears to turn 3, one and a half laps from finishing. Sh..! Sorry Dad!


Being pushed back to the pits I tried to find a gear, but the stick just whirled around in its housing, seemingly not connected to anything. More investigation work required – yay! So, we loaded up and came home.


Yesterday (Sunday 14th) was spent cleaning, then stripping bits off the car to find the cause of the lack of gears. Dad took the linkage apart and found out the piece inside that’s supposed to be one piece was now in three bits. Oops. A new one has been ordered. We also think the rod that goes into the back of the gearbox is twisted, but won’t know until it’s all put back together as neither of us can remember. It also looks like the engines moved, as the fan now hits the cowling and in no way is the shape it should be Oh, and the radiator is sitting high at the front, although the bottom bracket is still where it should be. So possibly the rear engine mount isn’t quite where it should be, dropping the engine slightly. Great. Oh, and one of my Mamba wheels that I love is trashed – luckily the tyre’s ok.


I think we’re going to miss Bradford on Saturday as there’s a bit too much we need to look at, so our next meeting will be back at Northampton on the 4th May for our British Championship, where we’ll be supported by Bangers and UK Modifieds.


Wish me luck please, as ours seems to have run out at the moment!


Laters,


Sarah #18.

12th April Update

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The car's ready! So I guess we'll be Northampton bound tomorrow. Thanks to Richard and Dad for their work repairing the car this week. Fingers crossed it'll be a good night.

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Oh, if you scroll down on the home page I hope you like my new song :-)

6th April Mildenhall

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What a difference a week makes.


Dad and Richard have been busy in the workshop because I got an advisory from scrutineering at Kings Lynn as I sat too close to the roof, so needed my seat dropping. No easy feat as everything is solid metal inside, and I can’t just press a button and whirr down like in Mum’s car! But, after some examination, chopping and welding they managed to drop the seat just over 50mm.


Last time out at Kings Lynn I had my best ever night for results, with a 10th, 4th and 5th, meaning I was top points scorer in the white grade winning me my first trophy of the year. I didn’t know this until reversing out of scrutineering at Mildenhall, which we passed after all the hard work, and said trophy was presented to me. So proud, straight out the box after winter to win. Woohoo!


And then came Mildenhall. I think the phrase is Hero to Zero!


The day started off well as noted above, and it made a nice change as I got to watch the first couple of races, including heat 1 of the Ministox as I was in races 2, 3 and 4. The track looked spot on, although looked a bit slick on the inside line as it was a bit dry, no doubt to be watered later in the day. Race 2 on track was the Modstox another stockcar formula, and one of my junior fans Lexi (she of the cool picture in my gallery from last year) had her Dad, Simon, racing in it. It was good catching up with them straight after his race too, as they always come over and say hi when they’re at the same meeting as us. I also caught up with V8 White Top Superstar Dannie again. Always good 😊


Anyhoo, soon enough it was time for me to line up, and so off we went. I made quite a good start and gained a couple of positions as a couple of the other cars tangled, and I was 3rd coming down the back straight for the first time. I ran a little wide entering 3 as I hit the slick stuff on the inside line, which was just enough for Ruby to nip down the inside of me, but as she tagged me I went a little sideways, in turn hitting her rear corner causing her to run wide. I gathered it up, but was a bit slower than ideal and the cars behind caught me as I got level with the pit gate, but with my sideways momentum and their extra speed it fired me sideways out of the pack and I hit the outside fence pretty much flat out, almost head on. The force was enough to spin me through the remaining 270degs so I was at least facing the right direction again, but the car made an awful noise and stalled as I landed. I tried to get it started again, but although it turned over nothing sparked to life, and I then realised the caution had been called. The marshal came over and asked if I was alright, and I gave a thumbs up and said yes, although funnily enough I’d gained an instant headache from the impact, but I just wanted to get racing again. However, with a dead engine, and damage I didn’t know about until I got back to Dad in the pits I was pushed to the infield, then, after the race pushed back to the pits. My least favourite feeling!


Once back I was absolutely raging with a pounding head and neck ache, and Dad tried to calm me down before surveying the mess that was the front of the car.


The engine had obviously moved, as one of the supports had been torn off. The radiator had moved so it was now in front of the suspension damper instead of alongside it, and the fan was wedged into the core. The front corner of the bumper had been bent down and up at the same time – if you’d seen it you’d understand. The steering had about 15deg of toe out and the engine wouldn’t fire.


Daz (Brooke’s Dad) came over from the next trailer to help and survey the damage, and a massive thanks to him and his crew for helping get us back out for the next race. We got the steering closer to 5deg out, but something was bent, so that was as good as it got. Forced the radiator back into position (kind of) with a bent support bracket. Lopped off the bumper corner support and Dad bent the front out slightly with the biggest pry bar I’ve ever seen! Checked the distributor, although the multiple cable ties had kept it in place sometimes the rotor arm inside can still be damaged – I’ve done that before, and then changed the ignition coil which enabled the engine to refire. Oh and I took some painkillers!


Funnily enough it was now time to go out for my 2nd race. So, off I went to line up to do it all again – well, hopefully not all the same! I was a bit cautious on the start as I hurt, but after a half lap decided I might as well get on with it, and as we entered lap 2 I’d already gained two positions, but lost one place into 3 and 4. Keeping with the pack as we got to turn 1 and I’m not sure what had happened, but there were about 6 dead cars littering the track, and with George (220) broadside, but with two cars coming up my inside, it was all I could do to slam the brakes on and only give him a light tap as I got to him. Funnily enough with cars everywhere a caution called and I lined up ready to restart. I went to get going again, but can only assume that the locking up, sideways momentum, and not straight steering, forced the inner tube to spin, or ran the tyre of the bead, as I had a flat front inside tyre. Dammit. Oh well, another race on the centre green.


An easy fix this time, so time for snacks!


Back out for my final race of the night and I made a good start on a freshly watered track, picking up a couple of places entering lap 2, and the car seemed to be able to turn very well even though it was wet. I then got tagged and bogged in the outside line and couldn’t get back into a rhythm, then took a big hit making it to the fence. At the same time as that someone else tried my trick from heat 1, but this time they stayed in the fence, and being broadside across the track a caution was called. I went to lineup to rejoin, but could see smoke coming from the engine bay, so quickly drove to the centre green near to a marshal just in case. The engine was also running red hot too. At the end of the race the car refired ok, but as I got back to Dad the temp had gone right up, and as Dad took the bonnet off the smoke I’d seen became evident of a hole in the radiator and was actually steam. The watering down dropped the temperature down a bit, so we quickly loaded it up before any damage could be caused and left for home.


Looking at it the next day and it really was a sorry looking front end. Dad started off with the mechanical bits and we found a bent steering arm, so a change out and reset looked better. Our spare radiator didn’t have a cap, and was different to the old one, so a new one has been ordered. Then Dad set to with the grinder and started lopping off the bent bits of steel. Then a four hour session with Richard at RGD and the steel was sorted, so just the radiator to do when it arrives and we’ll be back out at Northampton on Saturday 13th.


Wish me luck, and I’ll see you there.


Laters,


Sarah #18.

5th April - Update

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So, that was a busy three weeks.

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Last time out we were informed that I was sitting too high in the car, and although I could race on the night I needed to amend the car for the next meeting.

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So, along with sourcing (thanks Matt Hanson), spraying (thanks Evolve ARC) and stickering (thanks Ben, Jack, Luke etc) a new bonnet due to the accident in the first race at KL, and working out a better way to attach it, we also had to make some mechanical changes to the car by chopping out the old exhaust tunnel, refabricating, and dropping the seat as far as we would - this is of course the Royal 'we' as most of the fabrication work was done by Richard at RGD Engineering - thanks!

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Oh, and Dad also repaired the rear of the nerf rail which I'd managed to put a 65mm dent into and reshape the 3mm thick box section into the M of McDonalds!

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All of which means I now have a shiny new front end again, and I also sit 50mm lower than before, which is still comfortable, but now easily complies with the rulebook.

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Thanks everyone who keeps me out there - it really is appreciated.

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And now we're ready for the next meeting which is tomorrow (6th April) at Mildenhall.

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Hopefully it'll be another good outing, and with 35 of us booked in it's going to be a lively one. See you there!

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Sarah #18.

28th March - Update

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Another lovely little piece about me from one of my amazing sponsors - Daly Systems . Thank you!

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https://dalys.co.uk/march24-newsletter/

16th March Kings Lynn

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Well, what can I say, but that was my best meeting yet. A fair bit of damage, but some great results.


It was a mad dash to get the car ready for Kings Lynn, but with a good few hours put in after picking the car up with a working engine and gearbox we then finished stickering the car, weighing it, changing the wheels and tyres, fitting the shale guard, checking the tracking, cabletieing the dizzy cap, cleaning it, and a few other things on Saturday morning before heading off.


Obviously as we left for the track it started to rain, but it didn’t dampen my spirits as we were off to my favourite track. Granted I’ve not had the best of luck there, usually self inflicted, but I love the place, and it always offers great racing as the track is usually perfect, despite the weather. And it had stopped by the time we got there (and for most of the night).


We got there a bit later than ideal due to Saturday morning commitments, but as the car was ready we didn’t need to do anything to it once set up.


Jonna came round to scrutineer the car, and we have a minor point to sort out for next meeting, but that was it, we were ready, and with the sun out, it was on track for heat one as we were first on track.


I lined up at the back of the whites, but going down the backstraight on the rolling lap the front of the whites entered turn 4 with the back about halfway down due to inconsistent speeds by the peeps in front, and entering turns 3 and 4 to go green the yellows were already on us. Funnily enough the race didn’t start, and so off we went for attempt two.


This was better, but we still seemed spread out a bit too much, but at least the yellows were further back. So, I went for it on the inside and made a great start gaining two places. I thought I’d only got one car alongside me, not realising he was squeezing someone else against the fence, and as I ran wide ready for turns 1 and 2 on the first lap I got tagged on the rear corner flicking me towards the fence. As the car flicked back I managed to catch it and entered turn 1 broadside, but back under control. However, the engine bogged down with a lack of forward momentum and couldn’t pull quick enough before the yellow were on me.


Sadly, with the pack baring down on me I couldn’t grab 1st to pull me out of the way quick enough and they piled in to me. I must have been hit about 7 times, with one having enough force to spin me round so I was facing the wrong way before the pack cleared, leaving me with a stalled engine facing the wrong way on the racing line – not good!


I started to crank the car off track, but it wouldn’t refire cus I was still in second gear, but I cleared the track, reset myself and refired the engine, driving back up to the start finish line to rejoin, all of this causing me to lose a lap.


As I went to rejoin two cars in front of me tried to mate with the fence, ripping bits off in the process, so a caution was called. I pulled ontrack and waited for the go to rejoin the race.


At the restart the car still felt good, despite it’s battering, but I could lean on it through the corners and I had good speed down the straights, so off I went again.


With the car being in the garage for longer than hoped I hadn’t had any track time since last year, so as I was by now at the back of the grid I set to trying different lines, braking points etc, finding my natural rhythm.


With about 4 laps to go the bonnet decided to abandon me entering turn 3, skittering down the track. Great, so not only have I likely got damage to the side and nerf, but now the bonnet’s scuffed too. Oh well. Head down and keep going.


Soon after and the chequered flag was out with me crossing under it finishing in 10th place. Battered and bruised (and that’s just the car), but still running well. I pulled up to the marshals on turn 3 who kindly gave me the bonnet back and I went back to the pits to survey the damage. And there was quite a bit! However I still had time to push 532 back who’d had engine problems.


Upon examination it wasn’t pretty, as you can see by the photo’s in the gallery. Dammit. It looked so good for not even half a lap. Sorry Dad and the peeps who made it look pretty!


So, the body was split in two places across the back, there’s a hole in the front of the side panel, a massively squashed and slightly reshaped rear end to the inside nerf rail and the bonnet pins are destroyed. Whoops. At least all the noisy bits still work fine and there didn’t appear to be any major mechanical damage.


Dad and family friend Colin set to with the drill and cable ties to hold the bonnet together, before tackling how to secure the bonnet on. Cable ties to the rescue again.


With a bit of a gap due to the other formulas racing we gave the car a good going over to make sure everything else worked as it should, and then it was time for heat 2.


Determined to make up for the first race I intended to get another good start, but without the squeezing, however didn’t really get a chance. I was on the back of the whites again, but this time with the yellows already on us the green was waved and I was 9th, four wide entering turn 1 for the first time.


This time George looked like he lost the back end and caught it but speared across the track, with me the meat in the middle of him and another, but when the (slightly too small a gap) presented itself, I barged through, slowed, and back down to 10th. Right, head down, what can we get up to? I was a good way back, but kept pushing, and with the car seemingly working with me well I was able to push and slowly catch up with the stragglers one by one. Then there was a caution for two cars stuck in the back straight fence, so I rejoined the back of the lineup in 10th ready for the off.


I kept with the pack for the next lap or two before George slowed entering turn 1 and I caught his rear corner, firing him in, but not delayed or deterred. There were multiple battles going on in front of me and I had a great view of it all as I stayed with them almost all of us nose to tail. Then there was a big push into 3 & 4 with Ruby being spat out the pack into one of the marker tyres. I missed her, and with another couple of cars pushing wide I was in 8th. Another lap done and another position or two gained meant I entered the last lap in 6th position. It was at this point that Harry Sworder, son of multiple World Champion in F1’s and F2’s, and younger brother of Charlie, another ex F1 World Champion, decided to make a name for himself and went for a last bend lunge for 2nd, but misjudged it, with his opponent into the fence backwards, and Harry on his side bringing a quick red and chequered end to the race. Which of course meant I finished 4th position. My best finish yet. Woohoo.


Back to the pits and again a quick once over before out for the meeting Final. This time I was row 3 on the inside, and although I made a good start getting to 4th coming out the corner to go down to the green, the two cars in front were slow, but someone got to the inside before me, blocking me in and I couldn’t get free until entering turn 3. Entering turn 1 on lap 2 and someone dived up the inside, but I kept my foot in and out-dragged him round the outside maintaining my 4th position. Then I was 3rd going into turn 1, but a caution was called and someone just stuck their nose up the inside as I backed off.


In 4th for the restart I made a good go of it and got a bit of breathing space as a couple of cars behind fought over the same bit of track delaying the others a little in the process. A couple of laps later and Ruby was slow into 3, but I couldn’t get the inside line off her so went wide to drive round the outside of her, but while I went wide someone else went tight, tipping Ruby across me, but I kept my foot in, pushing her straight, and as she recovered she tipped me into the car on the inside sending him to the outer fence, clattering up and off it! Oops. Ruby then got a better drive into 3 the next lap regaining her position.


I was now racing against 848 and we were keeping it clean, and so it stayed with us line astern for the next few laps until 848 had a coming together with another car, pushing them both wide in turn 4, but meaning I was now upto 3rd. Ruby then tangled with a back marker, spinning her out, and then she got collected by the recovering 848 calling another caution as it was a big hit, but with me now upto 2nd! Keep it together Sarah and you’ve got a podium coming your way.


Unfortunately at the restart I broke the bracket holding the gear linkage alongside me and I struggled to get it into 2nd gear. By the time I had I’d lost 4 places, so with three laps to go I was back down to 6th. Then on the next lap I regained 5th where I stayed for the final lap.


So, that was that. A great nights racing, as usual from Kings Lynn, and my best results ever, with a 10th, 4th and 5th. Unfortunately the car took a beating, but everything that’s important is still working, so all good.


We’ve got some work to do as we need to source a new bonnet, more paint and stickers and work out a better way of fixing it. Possibly some bumper work needed, and my seat needs to be moved as I’ve been growing and now sit too high for the rulebook. Oh, and the gear linkage bracket of course.


But I don’t care. Cus we’re back racing, and I’m over the moon with my first set of results. I’ve sooooooooooo missed it over the winter, but it’s so good to be back.


So, as previously stated the gallery is updated, and hopefully we’ll be all ready for my next meeting at Mildenhall on 6th April. See you there.


SORUK caught most of the action and posted it on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEMowIh15Ho&t=58 – well worth a watch.


Laters,


Sarah #18.

15th March 2024 - Update

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Following hot on the heels of the last update I'm pleased to report we now have a car with a running engine and gearbox - woohoo!

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Nothing like running late to sharpen the mind, but we're nearly ready, just a few little jobs and some stickers to apply, then we're off to Kings Lynn for the season opener.

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It also confirms why the car sucked at my last two meetings.


Turns out either my fence climbing at Northampton, or numerous impacts with the fence at the very soggy Bradford punched one of the driveshafts into the differential.

This in turn damaged the main bearing, overheating the diff, causing it to lock up, causing the handling to suck which explains the handling issues at Skegness and Hednesford - we thought it was due to lack of grip on the greasy tarmac, but possibly not.

Then, further high speed driving caused the already damaged bearing to collapse/explode throwing shrapnel everywhere.

The oil pickup also being in the vicinity then sucked the remains of the bearing into the oil pump killing that, but not before the pump had done it's job of pumping the oil throughout the engine, but now with errant bits of metal too, damaging further components including the bottom of the cylinder bores, crank, con-rods etc, plus obviously the gearbox and diff, undoing a lot of the work done by SMMC only a few weeks prior, so yet another big repair bill. Sorry Dad! Although as ever it wasn't me fault!

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However, that's old news, and I don't believe in looking back, unless it's to check the mirrors, so that's it done.

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The car looks amazing, sounds amazing, and will hopefully go amazingly.

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Wish me luck for tomorrow as the intention is to run away into the distance, win a load of trophies and thoroughly enjoy myself in the process.

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Meeting report will be up after the event.

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Laters,

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Sarah #18

11th March 2024 - Update

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Well, the last two months have gone so quickly, and this Saturday (16th) is the first time out this season.

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First meeting is at Kings Lynn alongside the mega BriSCA F1s and 2ltr Saloons.

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Fingers crossed the weather gods are kind as it would be nice to not start the season on a damp evening, but it'll be what it is.

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The car looks amazing, and a massive thanks to all involved in getting me out there and keeping me out there. Just need the loose nut behind the wheel (that'll be me!) to get my game face on and elbows sharpened, up and out!

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There will be some piccies put up of the new paintjob and vinyls, but I want to keep it a surprise until we're at the meeting - and it has nothing to do with the car not quite being ready yet! Oh go on then, I've put a sneak peak in the gallery!

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See you there!

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14th January 2024 - Update.

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So, the refurb continues.

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After two years the original paintwork and body were looking a little tired, but thanks to my new friends at Evolve ARC in Whetstone it looks amazing! Thank you so much - I love the colour!

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Photo's in the gallery.

4th January 2024 - Hey all. A quick update as it's been a few weeks.

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Refurbs to the car are underway.


After the end of year engine issues, the engine and gearbox are currently with SMMC for investigating and fixing. It looks like I've chunked a drive gear which has in turn sent metal bits where they shouldn't be, causing the low oil pressure. Well, hopefully it's an easy-ish fix!


The body is booked in for spraying an all new colour at an all new sponsor - Evolve ARC, nice to have you onboard!


The chassis is booked in with RGD Engineering for new metal bumpers, nerfs and side panels.


This year the car's being treated to all new fuel lines as the old ones were starting to get a bit tatty at the ends, so new lines, filters, non-return valve, on/off valve, then all new roll bar padding too just to tidy things up.


SMP will be supplying new bulkhead panels and a new dash panel, along with all the tubing for the bumpers etc.

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The design is also being revamped, and is currently sitting with Jack for the artwork to be sorted, and then it'll be going over to Luke and Ben for the print and application of the stickers.

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At this point I would also like to confirm ALL of my sponsors for my 3rd year in the formula. So full role call (in alphabetical order) is:

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Bank of Mum & Dad

Bank of The Oldies

Blaby Electrical & Blaby Alarms (new for 2024!)

Colin Casserley Photography - Stoxphotos (new for 2024!)

Daly Systems

Dannie Schoales (V8 Hotstox #553, although new for 2024 #137)

Dimension

Evolve ARC (new for 2024!)

Fosseway Freight

James Bowles Photography (new for 2024!)

Marsden Barn Trailers

Progress Windows

Renovation Rewards

RGD Engineering

SMP - Sarll Metal Products

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A huge shout of THANKS to all of you, as without you I wouldn't be able to do this. Sponsors page in the process of being updated.

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I'm looking forward to continuing my improved form and getting some more trophies this year!

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Hopefully see some of you around the ovals again this year, as it really gives me a buzz to know that I'm sharing my passion with you guys too.

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Here's to Season 2024!

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Sarah #18.

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