Post by The Observer on Jan 1, 2011 9:22:14 GMT 12
Boxing Day at the Glen
Firstly, a big thanks to Captain Hahno for the tow job – over and back to the Glen is a good enough effort, but on the same night reinforcements were needed and captain Hahno proved why he’s such a good sponsor by stepping up. Black Doug came along for the ride, and since his car was getting real close it was a good chance for us to keep talking el capitano into a new race car – Mission completed??!?!!? Fingers crossed.
Loaded up Xmas eve and got together at the rendezvous point at 1ish Boxing day., Pleasant drive over what has to be one of the best drives in the country through Arthurs Past and the Southern Alps, but gives you the heebie jeebies on the odd tight corner when a truck is going the other way. We did make it to the Glen in one piece, and looked forward to getting sorted early – until scrutineering where we got tripped up by the wheel stamping. Santa had put some chromies in my stocking, but the inconsiderate sod hadn’t got them stamped, so we had to pull 3 of the new wheels off and get them stamped. When being replaced a valve was knocked and ripped on the last wheel nut, so that tire came off again and was replaced - we finally got things back together in time for the drivers meeting.
38 cars on the track in the first was the first interesting news, and grid 4 for the first was the second. We were 1st race up for the night, and a very greasy Woodford Glen presented for the first race. After a few laps of wheel packing/mud bogging we lined up. The outside line was looking god, and had planned to head out there, but after the green dropped I fluffed the gear change, and was punted down the straight while searching for 3rd. A flaming Meteorite flew past in a blur, then I realized it was actually Dennis A in the 99c hotrod who simply disappeared into the sun set. That car is a rocket. We all wobbled off in the mud, until the first red light for the upside down pies race team car – Despite Recka Rico (here after knowon as flag racing Rico for getting a 3rd in the first - that new car is fast!) insisting in the pits afterwards I had rolled the pies race team, I can actually clear that up by acknowledging I’d already spun backwards into turn 3 as the pies car did the big tumble, which was a great way to see the roll, but not so good when the other 30 cars are hard up it, and I was driving head first into them. Thankfully the red appeared, and I managed to get half turned around.
On the green we got away again with a bit of slap and tickle – mainly from the wall as we all bounced off the ends in the slush – did I mention the first race was greasy? Almost immediately had another red light for another car on its roof, but I didn’t see that one. The old Avgas was burning the beejeepers out of my eyes, so any of the crowd who saw me looking like I was crying like a little girl in the reds, well, that was the cause….honest. we got away again and kept cruising to the chequred flag. Ended up 4th in that one.
Got into the pits, and the dream team pit crew of Black Doug, Captain Hahno, Mr Chow and the “It’ll be here by Thursday practice boys “tank commander got 687gm cleaned and checked over, before the tire pressures were given a tickle up.
Race two was off about 16 I thought, but some reckoned 11 – either way I was second to last out the gate after watching some racing and coped some abuse from the dream team – told you there was heaps of time boys, what were you worrying about! Track was in heaps better nick, smooth with heaps of drive, so was looking forward to trying not to spin out in this one. Missed the flaming gear change again in the first, and got the reminder from the pack again but managed to keep it straight. Car felt like it was going ok, got up to about 5th and the clutch started to slip, and then woops, she’s all gone coming out of the grippy turn 4. We were trialing some big tyres at this meeting for the NZ’s to see where the gearing was at, and maybe the low down torque of the painted sump and the illegal tires combined to put some pressure on the clutch.
Either way it smoked up a storm, I thought I was on fire, and bailed out of the car to the infield were I met Emerson Leech “you might want to come up here mate, the officials don’t like you getting out of the car, and darn that clutch stinks, you shoulda parked further away haha” and watched Gavin Valence and Pooh Bear both get rolled from one of the best seats in the house.
Overall all, bit gutted about the clutch but at least it was before the big meetings. We have a new bearing and plate in there now, and hopefully have it measured up right – we think the old bearing was heating up, and not pushing out completely on one side – was a pretty old bearing, and when we pulled it apart it showed. Hopefully were good, as I’m not keen on 3 clutches in three meetings.
Today is the 1st, and we have a club day here in Greymouth. Will be the first time Olly and I have been on the track together, so hopefully we don’t take each other out before the NZ’s – we can save that for the first turn since were in the same group of death together, haha.
Apologies about the lack of photos, the wireless connection is too slow here, and the cameras on the blink anyway. If anyone reading this has a shot from the Glen, please feel welcome to post it!
Hope you all have a merry xmas, and a safe new year.
OAS Racing (Junior Partner 687gm)
Firstly, a big thanks to Captain Hahno for the tow job – over and back to the Glen is a good enough effort, but on the same night reinforcements were needed and captain Hahno proved why he’s such a good sponsor by stepping up. Black Doug came along for the ride, and since his car was getting real close it was a good chance for us to keep talking el capitano into a new race car – Mission completed??!?!!? Fingers crossed.
Loaded up Xmas eve and got together at the rendezvous point at 1ish Boxing day., Pleasant drive over what has to be one of the best drives in the country through Arthurs Past and the Southern Alps, but gives you the heebie jeebies on the odd tight corner when a truck is going the other way. We did make it to the Glen in one piece, and looked forward to getting sorted early – until scrutineering where we got tripped up by the wheel stamping. Santa had put some chromies in my stocking, but the inconsiderate sod hadn’t got them stamped, so we had to pull 3 of the new wheels off and get them stamped. When being replaced a valve was knocked and ripped on the last wheel nut, so that tire came off again and was replaced - we finally got things back together in time for the drivers meeting.
38 cars on the track in the first was the first interesting news, and grid 4 for the first was the second. We were 1st race up for the night, and a very greasy Woodford Glen presented for the first race. After a few laps of wheel packing/mud bogging we lined up. The outside line was looking god, and had planned to head out there, but after the green dropped I fluffed the gear change, and was punted down the straight while searching for 3rd. A flaming Meteorite flew past in a blur, then I realized it was actually Dennis A in the 99c hotrod who simply disappeared into the sun set. That car is a rocket. We all wobbled off in the mud, until the first red light for the upside down pies race team car – Despite Recka Rico (here after knowon as flag racing Rico for getting a 3rd in the first - that new car is fast!) insisting in the pits afterwards I had rolled the pies race team, I can actually clear that up by acknowledging I’d already spun backwards into turn 3 as the pies car did the big tumble, which was a great way to see the roll, but not so good when the other 30 cars are hard up it, and I was driving head first into them. Thankfully the red appeared, and I managed to get half turned around.
On the green we got away again with a bit of slap and tickle – mainly from the wall as we all bounced off the ends in the slush – did I mention the first race was greasy? Almost immediately had another red light for another car on its roof, but I didn’t see that one. The old Avgas was burning the beejeepers out of my eyes, so any of the crowd who saw me looking like I was crying like a little girl in the reds, well, that was the cause….honest. we got away again and kept cruising to the chequred flag. Ended up 4th in that one.
Got into the pits, and the dream team pit crew of Black Doug, Captain Hahno, Mr Chow and the “It’ll be here by Thursday practice boys “tank commander got 687gm cleaned and checked over, before the tire pressures were given a tickle up.
Race two was off about 16 I thought, but some reckoned 11 – either way I was second to last out the gate after watching some racing and coped some abuse from the dream team – told you there was heaps of time boys, what were you worrying about! Track was in heaps better nick, smooth with heaps of drive, so was looking forward to trying not to spin out in this one. Missed the flaming gear change again in the first, and got the reminder from the pack again but managed to keep it straight. Car felt like it was going ok, got up to about 5th and the clutch started to slip, and then woops, she’s all gone coming out of the grippy turn 4. We were trialing some big tyres at this meeting for the NZ’s to see where the gearing was at, and maybe the low down torque of the painted sump and the illegal tires combined to put some pressure on the clutch.
Either way it smoked up a storm, I thought I was on fire, and bailed out of the car to the infield were I met Emerson Leech “you might want to come up here mate, the officials don’t like you getting out of the car, and darn that clutch stinks, you shoulda parked further away haha” and watched Gavin Valence and Pooh Bear both get rolled from one of the best seats in the house.
Overall all, bit gutted about the clutch but at least it was before the big meetings. We have a new bearing and plate in there now, and hopefully have it measured up right – we think the old bearing was heating up, and not pushing out completely on one side – was a pretty old bearing, and when we pulled it apart it showed. Hopefully were good, as I’m not keen on 3 clutches in three meetings.
Today is the 1st, and we have a club day here in Greymouth. Will be the first time Olly and I have been on the track together, so hopefully we don’t take each other out before the NZ’s – we can save that for the first turn since were in the same group of death together, haha.
Apologies about the lack of photos, the wireless connection is too slow here, and the cameras on the blink anyway. If anyone reading this has a shot from the Glen, please feel welcome to post it!
Hope you all have a merry xmas, and a safe new year.
OAS Racing (Junior Partner 687gm)
