This update is a little late so i will keep it short, unlike the videos. Qualifying was a little disappointing, 4th in class and 16th on the grid for both races. It was close between myself, Andy Grant and ex kitcar champion and RGB newbie Stevie Bell, but Al was again just that bit quicker. What was most disheartening was the overall grid positions, i hadn't been that low down the grid for a long time, but when looking at the cars on the grid this season, class R slightly outnumber the class F cars, and the newer R breeds are very quick. You have to get faster in RGB just to stay stationary, or in this case actually move backwards!
Like practice, Race 1 was dry and sunny, which is completely unheard of in RGB races at Silverstone, normally we are bailing the water from our cockpits while waiting for the red lights to go out! The race started well, i had a decent start, and then followed probably the most exciting race i have ever had! Unfortunately i had the camera angles set up wrong for the weekend, so you cant see how often there was a car alongside or tucked up under my backside! Myself, Steve and Andy had a great scrap for 2nd, swapping places numerous times, all very cleanly with no exchanging of paint, and looked as if it would continue until the chequered flag. But shortly after i passed Andy i came onto the pit straight and lost all power. I backed off and after trolling along until i exited copse it came alive again, only to die again along the Wellington straight. I knew then it was fuel starvation again, not through a low tank or cornering, but the low pressure fuel pump not being able to keep up with demand from the swirl pot by the high pressure pump. This was the same issue i had last year at Snetterton when the filter was blocked which then also buggered up the pump. What makes this so annoying is i had bought a facet style solid state pump and fitted this along with a new filter before the start of the season to ensure i didn't have the same issue again. But this time the failure was the new pump, the ebay piece of cr@p had always sounded a bit odd, but i just put it down the way i had mounted it causing the ali panel to vibrate. But under investigation it turned out it now wouldn't even prime itself and was fubared!! GGRRRRR!!!! I did manage to limp over the finish line, and due to Stevie Bells car setting on fire, along with his feet after a split swirl pot, i got 3rd place, so not a total loss!!
Back in the pits i refitted last years fuel filter and pump, refuelled, checked the car over, and then settled down for an evening of Bobs spicy slow cooked pork, and watched Dad and Jen (Bobs wife) consume vast quantities of Bobs home brew red wine!
Race 2 was lots of fun again, this time Steve got away from us at the start and put a couple of class R cars inbetween us. Andy and I had a good tussle for 3rd and we managed to reel Steve in a bit, but the flag came out too early to get to have a go at him. So i got another 3rd, and this time felt like i really had won it as i'd managed to beat Andy up to the line.
Afghan Dans pictures:-
So a great first weekend, and it looks like there will be some good battles this coming season, although we all need to focus on catching Al in his purple peril...........
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