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21st April – Bradford
Well, its safe to say that we did not learn from the last time we went to a wet Bradford. Never mind, we went for the points, and gained some points, so not all bad!
As it was a half past twelve start time, we had to be up at around 7 to leave for 8, so you can imagine it was rather cold. Time to get my heavy lifting in! Loaded up and off we went.
We arrived at about 10:30, just as the rain started. Typical British Easter Bank Holiday weather! We still had a couple hours to kill whilst also attempting to stay dry, so off to sign in it was. This time the scrutineers came to us, so we just had to dry down a space on the roof for the sticker they give us to reassure marshals that were not trying to go on track without being scrutineered first!
After making sure that the car didn’t roll down the hill whilst waiting to go on track, it was finally time to line up and get going. Good job as well as it was really quite cold just being sat there looking decorative! After looking at the state of the V8’s coming off the track, I was dreading going on, but it didn't look toooo bad, then again, you should never judge a book by its cover.
On the rolling lap we went, this one only taking one attempt, and we were off. Well, sort of. The track was very slippy, and entering turns three and four was not fun, as there was seemingly no grip until you hit the fence. But dad did tell me that there was some to try and look for on the very inside line, so here I go. After being shunted into the fence by various things, such as other cars and lack of grip, I managed to make it round fairly incident free, finishing in 13th place out of 20 starters, for one point. I got back to the pits and climbed out the car to assess the damage the shale had done. It wasn’t bad at all compared to what I was expecting. So I went out and gave it another go.
This time the V8’s coming off the track looked considerably worse and plastered in the orange sludge, sorry, shale, of the track. Oh well. Round to grid places and off we set. This time it took three attempts to go for a start as the yellows and reds kept jumping the starts, but hey. Guess who couldn’t even get a look in because she got shoved into the fence on the first lap! Me. Not today Satan. Trouble was I got pushed into the sludge which overpowered the engine and forward momentum causing the engine to stall, but in all the fun and games it takes a couple of seconds to realise this, despite the huge red light I have on the dashboard to remind me – oops! Anyway, refiring and I set off after the pack. The red mist had descended and I was gaining and passing cars as the laps counted down, finding a decent line that kept me out of the majority of the sludge, and allowed me to be faster through the corners. That’s better! I followed that line to the end of the race and finished in 11th place. Getting better.
Got back to the pits only to realise that the first race had led us into a false sense of security, as the car was now covered in orange Bradford goo. And to think I was driving in said car. Gross. After scraping the shale out from the wheel arches and out of the wheels that it was doing a marvellous job of clogging, we realised that it was almost time for me to go out again. It's okay, at least the thick layer of shale on my bumpers and nerfs should protect me if anyone else decides to shove me into the fence again.
I really wish that the V8’s would stop being the race before me. I already know what I’m about to drive myself into and I don’t need their reminder as well! Oh well, due to being outside the top 7 in both heats I hadn’t qualified, so started at the back of the grid with the other non-qualifiers, and with Superstar Boden in 425 being hungry as he’d blown his engine up in heat 1, managing to change it in time for heat 2 (yes, they just happen to have spare engines knocking around!) and only being four cars behind me I figured the start might be fun! I was right as coming into turn 3 for the green and Boden was on a mission, and I just happened to be in his way. An almightly belt into the fence caused the car to stutter and one of the other non-qualifiers smacked into me too, OW that hurt, but I gathered it up and set off after them again. With a clear track behind me I got to toy around with a few different lines and play around with different speeds entering the corners, and as we were all struggling I was quite happy to finish having caught and passed a few blues and reds in the last few laps, managing to cross the line in 12th place! So, all in all I achieved myself a total of 4 points I believe.
Today was spent cleaning everything down, including front and rear suspension and brakes as the goo gets into everything. Fun times! But at least we’ve now swapped to tarmac mode ready for next time out at Skegness on 10th May – my first tarmac racing of the year, as a warm up to the Scottish weekend at the end of May.
As usual there’re a few pics in the gallery.
Stay tuned for that one, and I’ll keep you updated.
Laters,
Sarah #18.
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13th April - Northampton
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Well, not quite as good as Kings Lynn, and also not quite what I had in mind, but the car is still in one piece, so I’ll take it.
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A Sunday meeting for a change (for me), so we started slightly earlier, and slightly cooler loading up, but the heavy lifting soon warmed me up, and soon enough we were on the way, this time with my mum riding shotgun. Sorry Mum!
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We arrived at 10:30am, and the meeting didn’t start until 1pm, so we had plenty of time to get booked in and scrutineered. All that being out the way, we went for a wander round the pits surveying the damage from the night before (the F1’s and 2’s had been at Mildenhall) and got started on filling my little sisters brand new autograph book with signatures, catching up with a few mates and sponsors along the way, but before we all knew it, it was time to head off, and watch the first few races before my first heat.
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Two F2 and F1 races later, and I was on track. Outside front row, on what seemed to be a very wet Northampton track. Let’s see how this goes! First attempt at a start and as usual the eds were keen to get going before they should, but it was the yellows that were pushing us whites before we got to turn 3 on the rolling lap that caused the first start to be aborted, so round we went again.
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This time we managed to get away cleanly on what was a very slippy track, and I couldn’t find any grip until about a car and a half width’s out from the inside fence. Luckily, I managed to keep the car – mostly – under control. And by lap 5 I was still in the lead, until Danny Bonner came up behind me. I’d passed him whilst he was in the fence, so he was a lap down, but as I came out of turn 4 to cross under the hallway flag I lost the back end and instead of giving room he piled into me, spinning me to the infield. By the time I’d recovered I’d dropped back to 17th and last. Dammit! I caught and passed a red top on the last bend (not bad for a white top), but he was already a lap down, so 17th place it was. I got back to the pits and celebrated by scraping the shale off the car.
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Two races later and I was back out, determined to do better. This time only one attempt at a start and we were away. I got a better start this time and led up until halfway when I made a mistake and tried to drive round the outside of someone, but I got sucked into a wider line than intended, leaving the door open for Mason Whittle to sneak through. A couple of laps later and one of the many Hardwick brothers caught me and we rubbed side by side down the home straight, before he got a punt from Boden into turn 1 putting me too wide again and I lost a little bit of ground to them both. As the laps counted down another couple of reds caught and passed me, eventually coming home in 6th place. That's better! This time I celebrated with an ice cream 😊. Thanks Mum!
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Two more races later and I was back out for the Final. I had qualified and was running off the front row as the only white top. Let’s see how it goes. I made a good start, but the back of the car was very loose and I was wagging all over the track, almost allowing 103 to get up the inside. Coming out of 2 and it did it again, but there were waved yellows for an incident at the other end of the track, and a full restart was called for. Off we set again, and again I led into turn 2, but this time a caution was called as George had rolled on the back straight. So, another full restart. Aaaaaand we’re finally off! I led for a couple of laps, but the loose back end was catching me out at turn 4 and I was passed first by 103, then on the next lap 103. A couple more slipped through and I was holding position in 5th place until 174 came out alongside me out of turn 2. He had Hanson on the other side of him though and as we ran down the back straight we ran out of room, with Kew squeezing me into the fence. I bounced back into the side of him causing him to turn and slap the fence too. This impact caused the car to pop out of gear, and it refused to go back in until I was stationary, which took me until I was a lap down. Great! I somewhat managed to catch up, but I wasn’t close enough to redeem myself. At least Kew picked the lesser of two evils, as I’m fairly certain the other option would have left Hanson spinning in front of us, causing all three of us more damage than necessary.
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Well, I got back to the pits, and a watering can down later, we were inspecting the car for damage. All good apart from the front corner has been completely squashed, and the box section split. Never mind, could have been a lot worse. At the end of the day, I bought it home in one piece, granted one piece that’s not in A1 condition, but it’s in one piece, and we got a 6th. So, like I said before, not as good as Kings Lynn, and not what I had in mind.
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Hopefully next time out is Bradford on Easter Monday, subject to Dad getting time to repair the car as the brakes need to be looked at too. Anyway, stay tuned for the next one and we’ll keep you updated!
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Laters,
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Sarah #18.
15th March - Kings Lynn
Well, I told you I’d see you in the next one and here I am! Back out again after Northampton’s success, and it's safe to say I’ve done a good job.
Started the day the same way as normal, loading up the cars. It was slightly colder than last weekend, so I was happy to do this because all the heavy lifting warmed me up!
This time off on the 2-hour trek to Kings Lynn. Not the most exciting drive but I can’t complain. Before I knew it, we were there anyway! Well, we weren’t exactly THERE, as we joined the back of the queue that started before the main bend to the pits was actually in view! Oh well, only took half an hour, and there was still plenty of time to get scrutineered.
One trip to the scrutineers and a sticker and a half later, we had some visitors. One of my mates who races in the v8’s, Dannie, and a couple of friends who we met through spectating. We had a quick natter to them, before they announced that the mini’s needed to line up for their first race. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Belted into my comfort zone again, and getting some heat into the car, they called us onto the track. Everyone pulled round to their grid places, where we were told to turn our engines off because we still had five minutes before the race began. Slowest five minutes of my life that was! Finally, said five minutes had passed, and we were on the rolling lap. The first of three that is. The first attempt, the reds and supers had jumped, second attempt, the reds and supers had jumped, third attempt, we just about managed to get it right, and we were underway with the green, green, green, in our ears. Now, I had managed to make quite a good start, and was about a corner ahead of anyone else. So I was just racing away to my heart's content, waiting for at least one person to overtake me. But then the lapboards started coming out, and then the one lap left lap board came out and I was still in the lead, and so I looked in my mirror, only to see that there was one car a little way behind me. So here I am, on the last corner, of the last lap, of the first race, still in the lead. I see the car behind me attempt a last bend lunge, but miss. But what I also watch, is the starter, waving the chequered flag over the top of my car, which was still in first. This is where the reality starts to kick in, because over my raceceiver, I hear them announce the top three from the race, one of the numbers being mine. I pulled up on the centre green and started to undo my belts, and take my helmet off, stopping halfway to give Colin Casserley a thumbs up for a photo. I climbed out my car and before I could do anything else, I heard my dad yelling at me from the other side of the catch fencing. I look up, and there he is, a grin rivalling a cheshire cat spread across his face, crossed with the proudest look I’ve ever seen in my life. Then the third-place driver comes over to shake my hand, along with the second-place driver, and we proceed to have a little chat. They both tell me how much I put my foot down, before the chequered flag is handed to me and we climb aboard the pace car for our lap of honour. Waving to the crowd, seeing all the people clapping and waving back is such an amazing feeling. That all being very well done, we were presented with the trophies, and interviewed for a bit, before we all climbed back in the cars, and headed back to the pits. Dannie was already there, along with my Grampy, and my dad wasn't far behind. Dannie took the trophy while I got out the car and sorted myself and my stuff out, by which point my dad had returned, and have me a congratulatory hug, before taking a picture, and sending it to my mum.
Well, eventful first race, let's see what we can pull in the second. Dad says I need to prove it wasn’t a fluke, so need to go and do it all again – no pressure! Back out, in the comfort zone, and on the first rolling lap, somebody's car didn’t go. On the second rolling lap, somebody's car went a bit too soon. On the third rolling lap, I managed to get a good start again. I led for the first 3 laps, before #754 had caught up to me and had overtaken me into the lead. However, there was still a massive gap between me and the third-place car, so we were safe. Trying to keep up with the new leader I did an ok job, but he’s just faster than me into the corner. Soon the laps counted down and I still had a good gap to 2nd, so I finished the race with another podium finish. Not bad going! One trophy presentation and another ride on the pace truck later, and I was back in the pits with a second-place trophy in the back seat of the tow car 😊.
There were only three races as there were only 27 cars booked in, and all the races were all in car wise, meaning that there was only the final left. Because I had qualified, I was at the front of the pack as the only white top. Now I knew that i could keep up with everyone, and keep ahead of everyone. This time, it only took two attempts at the start, one people jumped and another someone rolled! But we were soon underway again. I managed to stay ahead for the first 4 laps before succumbing to #754 again, then a couple of laps later a couple of yellows caught up to me. By halfway I was still running in 5th, and then I was just engulfed by a group of reds and superstars. I wasn’t mad at my place as I finally brought it home in 11th, gaining one final position on the last bend, and just staying ahead with a drag race to the line with #507, Dara, by .073 of a second!, but it wasn't the greatest compared to the 1st and 2nd I’d received earlier. However, being engulfed earlier, meant I had more time to play with the car a bit more, which also meant that at one point, I entered the corner sideways. I managed to hold it though! I also realised that I could keep up with quite literally everyone else, as #507 came up beside me for an overtake, and I kept with him the whole way down the straight, mostly into the corner, and out of the corner again. Which, not to toot my own horn or anything, is not bad at all.
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So how about that, second meeting back and I've got a win and a 2nd under my belt. I’d say that’s pretty good. And I’ve scored more in the first two meetings than my previous three years!
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We have a few weeks off now, but keep an eye out for the next report from Northampton on April 13th.
Laters,
Sarah #18.
March 8th 2025 - Northampton
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First meeting out since October 2024, and I managed to survive with minimal damage – always a good day at the office! Two heats and a final, all in as there were only 25 cars there, and it's safe to say I’ve missed it.
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We started with a normal race day morning, loading up the cars, fitting the shale guard, checking tyre pressures etc.
About an hour down the road to the track and we were there. I’d forgotten how fast the drive to Northampton was! We arrived at about 3.30, and the meeting didn’t start until 5pm. Plenty of time to get booked in, scrutineered, and have a catch up! It was great to see so many old friends over the course of the evening.
Fast forward to 5pm and we were race ready, on the track, belted into my comfort zone, and waiting for the rolling lap to begin. I am currently top white roof, so I was on the outside row of the two white tops that were booked in for that day. The green flag dropped and I managed to get a good start, but as the minis were the first race out, the track was still freshly watered and rather slippy, so in about 2 laps, the yellow tops had caught up to me, nothing to do with the fact that they had jumped the start! So I dropped back a few places. Then about 5 laps in, the superstars started to catch up to me, so I dropped back even more. But by this point, I was starting to get back into the rhythm, so they didn’t exactly pull off into the distance! Sadly though, before I knew it, the race was over, and we were all heading back to the pits.
Back to the pits and a watering can full later, my dad informed me that I had come about 17th - turns out it was 15th! Not too bad for 6 months off 😊. We had four races in between my first heat and my second heat, so we refuelled ourselves and the car, checked for any damage, and waited for the bangers to finish destroying themselves.
Four races later and it had started to go dark, which is all very well and good until your trying to get belted in but can’t see a thing you're doing! I just about managed to do it, and got dad to tighten them all, and then it was time to wait some more.
On track for the second time now, and I was definitely starting to realise just how much I’d missed this feeling. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it as the green flag was being waved and we were underway again. I had managed to make a good start again, and led the race for a few laps, eventually dropping down to second for a few more laps, then got forced wide by a group meaning I was running fifth with three laps to go until some red tops and superstars came up behind me. Boden made it passed, with me now running in 6th with 3 to go. Then one of the superstars behind gave me a good whack coming onto the home straight, which popped my car out of gear. I managed to slot it back into gear and go for about half a second before another superstar hit me going down the straight, which popped the car out of gear again! This time it baulked going into gear again, so I pulled over to the fence, rammed the gearstick into first, pulled away, shoved it into second, and I was off again. At the back of the pack with one and a half laps to go. Ugh. Never mind, I was still on the lead one, so I’ll take it!
Back to the pits, another watering can down, and dad informed me that I had come 17th or 18th. Annoyed, but not a bad result, but not good either. Then, upon further inspection of the car, we also discovered that one of the hits had been enough force to split the rear bumper steel! Not to worry though, because we remembered that Jonna Murfin (Boden Murfin’s dad) normally carried around welding kit. So we ran over there and asked him about it, and he agreed to weld it up! Thanks Jonna!
Back to our trailer with a freshly welded up corner, and we still had some time left before my next race, so we filled up the fuel tank, and did some more damage inspections, before coming to the conclusion that the car was fine. We then wandered over to the board and looked at where I was situated on the final grid. Midpack, at the start of the non-qualifiers, and the back of the qualifiers. Fun times!
Back on track for the third time, and I followed the red top I was behind on the grid round to my place and waited again for the rolling lap to begin. Green flag dropped, and we were away again. I managed to keep up with the people ahead, and ahead of the people behind. Eventually they caught up, and I was then following them. It was a good race, with six of us in a line all jostling for the same piece of track. I knew I could keep up with them and that they couldn’t get away from me, as we were all similarly paced, and had pretty much the same technique. So we all kept up and did our thing. Then somewhere along the line, all hell broke loose. A blue top that was a car ahead of me had turned in too aggressively, losing the back end, and as a result hit the inside curb and went literally flying up through the air. All four wheels were off the ground, and he did at least two barrel rolls before coming to a halt on his side. Now ladies and gentlemen, what I failed to mention, was that, in the midst of his barrel rolls, he pretty much did this immediately in front of me, just clearing the space I needed as I got there. Safe to say there was a caution! Video in the gallery!
It took them a few minutes to get the driver out and the car righted again, but in little time we were back underway. I was keeping with the same, by now five cars, and still thoroughly enjoying myself until passing under the chequered flag to finish the race.
Back into the pits, and yet another watering can down, dad came over an informed me that I had come 14th. Best result came from the most chaotic of races. Seems about right! We got the car loaded up, checked to see if the driver who barrel rolled was okay, and then went home.
So, first meeting back and I have achieved a 17th place, an 18th (I think) place and a split rear bumper, and a 13th place. Not too bad!
Today was spent hoovering, cleaning and repairing the car ready for next time out.
Stay tuned for next weekend's meeting at King’s Lynn and I’ll see you in the next meeting report.
Laters,
Sarah #18.
January 2025 – Pre-season catchup.
Well, we're getting there. Mechanical bits have been gone over. New inside nerf, new front bumper, new paint, new stickers, new attitude :-)
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Still work to do, but nearly done. Good job as practice is on 23rd Feb!
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Laters,
Sarah #18.