Post by superstock23v on Jan 26, 2009 15:38:27 GMT 12
well...
Nerves were mounting as time dragged on with the build up to the meeting, with memories of the last time i turned wheels on the plamy track being at the 248's last season, which involved me taking a trip up the wall.
Practice:
I decided to take the oppertunity to head out for a quick skid to see how the car handled with the new setup. The track was very wet however couldn't put any power on in the corners, as soon as i touched the throttle the car just straightened. Feeling like a D**K i came in and we had a think. First time we'd ran the new diff with Brand new rubber on the back, and we'd put softer springs on. we raised the pressure in the back left 1.5 lbs to give a lil less traction out of the left rear and jumped on the now filthy car for the grand parade.
Grand Parade:
HA, yea well, one of those things, feel like a D**K standing on the car, so if i ignored any of you when you waved, oops, sorry
Qualifying heat:
I drew grid 6 for the first qualifying heat, and wasn't looking forward to the first corner. Off the start i fought to get onto the pole line but ended up out against the fence, with darryl Hammond, 43p, crossed up in front of me. By the time i got free i was right at the back. i came around the top corner to be met by a huge pile up, as the red lights flicked on. As we restarted i took a solid punt up the rear end as wayne hemi got up and going a bit quicker than i did. It always seems that when i travel i end up racing the guys from wanganui and this meeting was no different. As the race drew on i had a good battle with diz, 99v as we swapped places a few times with me coming across the line in front of him in 11th place.... BUGGER.. at least i was off the front for the repecharge, and the car was handling well
Repecharge:
top 9 top qualify. off grid two for the repecharge and the car got up and went off the line. however i got a shunt when changing gears and ended up in neutral. i was pushed halfway round the corner as i fumbled to get top gear, still fighting to get onto the racing line. i eventually managed to slot in behind 59p and held behind him for the entire race. the last few laps were long as 24p was continually pushing and shunting me as he fought to get past. i tried to keep tight so he couldn't get a run up the inside of me and held him off to the finish. coming home in 9th. qualified.
GLOBAL CHALLENGE HEAT ONE:
i had come down with my aim to be to qualify, so i could get the experience of being out there with some of the top cars in the country. And i wasn't dissapointed. racing at palmy with 35 other top cars was certainly an eye opener. Is an unreal experience, especially when compared to racing around wanganui with only 8 or so cars on the track. i drew grid 5 and racing was hard and fast and i learnt how one small mistake, and running wide on one corner can see you loose 5 or 6 places easily. i must've been running around 12th or so, doing my best to keep up, with my foot planted. Before i got a nudge going into the top corner, half spinning me and more cars flew past before 45v guilford straightened me on his way past. i was up and going again, having a small battle with darryl, 5v for the last lap or two. finish 20th
As i slowed after the chequed flag, i changed down and noticed the gear stick wobbling around, alot. then as the car sat down i felt something bumping around under my seat. back in the pits i jumped out of the car quickly to see what was wrong. the torque had completely stripped all its mounting bolts out of the diff housing.... again. that was us for the night.
with the car trailed i headed up to watch the two remaing heats.
All in all i was happy to have qualified and gained the expereince. i was even more pleased with the pace the car showed. managing to keep pace with some big guys for a couple of laps.
A little bit of work to prepare the car, and am looking forward to having another run around palmy this season.... who knows when...
Nerves were mounting as time dragged on with the build up to the meeting, with memories of the last time i turned wheels on the plamy track being at the 248's last season, which involved me taking a trip up the wall.
Practice:
I decided to take the oppertunity to head out for a quick skid to see how the car handled with the new setup. The track was very wet however couldn't put any power on in the corners, as soon as i touched the throttle the car just straightened. Feeling like a D**K i came in and we had a think. First time we'd ran the new diff with Brand new rubber on the back, and we'd put softer springs on. we raised the pressure in the back left 1.5 lbs to give a lil less traction out of the left rear and jumped on the now filthy car for the grand parade.
Grand Parade:
HA, yea well, one of those things, feel like a D**K standing on the car, so if i ignored any of you when you waved, oops, sorry
Qualifying heat:
I drew grid 6 for the first qualifying heat, and wasn't looking forward to the first corner. Off the start i fought to get onto the pole line but ended up out against the fence, with darryl Hammond, 43p, crossed up in front of me. By the time i got free i was right at the back. i came around the top corner to be met by a huge pile up, as the red lights flicked on. As we restarted i took a solid punt up the rear end as wayne hemi got up and going a bit quicker than i did. It always seems that when i travel i end up racing the guys from wanganui and this meeting was no different. As the race drew on i had a good battle with diz, 99v as we swapped places a few times with me coming across the line in front of him in 11th place.... BUGGER.. at least i was off the front for the repecharge, and the car was handling well
Repecharge:
top 9 top qualify. off grid two for the repecharge and the car got up and went off the line. however i got a shunt when changing gears and ended up in neutral. i was pushed halfway round the corner as i fumbled to get top gear, still fighting to get onto the racing line. i eventually managed to slot in behind 59p and held behind him for the entire race. the last few laps were long as 24p was continually pushing and shunting me as he fought to get past. i tried to keep tight so he couldn't get a run up the inside of me and held him off to the finish. coming home in 9th. qualified.
GLOBAL CHALLENGE HEAT ONE:
i had come down with my aim to be to qualify, so i could get the experience of being out there with some of the top cars in the country. And i wasn't dissapointed. racing at palmy with 35 other top cars was certainly an eye opener. Is an unreal experience, especially when compared to racing around wanganui with only 8 or so cars on the track. i drew grid 5 and racing was hard and fast and i learnt how one small mistake, and running wide on one corner can see you loose 5 or 6 places easily. i must've been running around 12th or so, doing my best to keep up, with my foot planted. Before i got a nudge going into the top corner, half spinning me and more cars flew past before 45v guilford straightened me on his way past. i was up and going again, having a small battle with darryl, 5v for the last lap or two. finish 20th
As i slowed after the chequed flag, i changed down and noticed the gear stick wobbling around, alot. then as the car sat down i felt something bumping around under my seat. back in the pits i jumped out of the car quickly to see what was wrong. the torque had completely stripped all its mounting bolts out of the diff housing.... again. that was us for the night.
with the car trailed i headed up to watch the two remaing heats.
All in all i was happy to have qualified and gained the expereince. i was even more pleased with the pace the car showed. managing to keep pace with some big guys for a couple of laps.
A little bit of work to prepare the car, and am looking forward to having another run around palmy this season.... who knows when...