Motorsport UK Dinner of Champions
All the winners from the Motorsport UK run national championships were invited to an awards presentation at the RAC Club in Pall Mall in January 2022. An amazing night, that really brings home the prestige of winning the title last year and spurs me on to try hard again for 2022.
Castle Combe 3/4 and also 1 3/4 events
The final BSC round could have been important, so I entered the 3/4 club meeting a week before for practice. I won this despite the opposition being a 550bhp V8 as the 3/4 lap only went to 135mph and had the chicances. The following week the V8 of Terry holmes pushed me to 2nd spot in the run offs. I shared the car with Coach Alan Muggleston of TripleM, who still beat my by 0.8 secs over the 116 second run! Shown here on left, with support from Martin Pickles
Anglesey - Only went and secured the British Sprint Championship Title !!!
A few days to prepare and check the car over, and we were assembling for a very windy wet Anglesey. In practice, despite a 123mph off in the wet and onto the grass, I didn't hit anything but learned where to brake! A cautious run was all that was needed as long as I could put 3 points on Matt and he didn't win. Job done. Beer and cheese portions distributed to the paddock! I didn't take the next run, had a beer or 5 though. The next day in the dry Matt was happier and scored two run off wins, I managed FTD though ahead of the 500bhp V8 lola of Tegra Racing.
I went testing mid week and got my eye back in again! of the 4 run offs during the weekend, I won 2 and set a record to nudge the bar higher for Matt Hillam - shown in background in the works SBD car - my only potential challenger for the title as we head to Anglesey the next weekend.
Blyton Park - record set, run off wins!
Kirkistown - withdrew
Having made the decision to go to defend my position, plus entry, ferry crossing, hotels etc, I had to withdraw as my wife needed urgent surgery - which was very successful! Run off wins from Graham Porrett plus one a piece from the ecoboosts, mean I still narrowly lead the BSC going into Blyton. New brake discs fitted!
Knockhill - FTD Sunday
Always a great weekend in Scotland and we had scorching weather for a change. Saturday first run off was a lesson learned on tyre fitting (front on rear is not a good run off combo) (DNF) and I managed a 2nd place in the subsequent run off. Sunday however was a perfect maximum score day, 2 very narrow run off wins against the V8 of Terry Holmes AND a new 2 litre record for a bonus point!
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Still leading the British Championship...
Photo by John Stewart
Lydden Hill - FTD
Despite a good qualifying run that set FTD, I caught a car up on my first run off that affected my rerun as I was way too hot and the tyres had gone. Only managed a 7th and 3rd from the run offs that day, so these will probably be dropped scores.
Photo by Kim Broughton
Llandow 10th July - FTD
Last time at llandow I crashed heavily, so I wanted to get a clean run. I went testing the afternoon before hand which was useful, and on the day of competition it was raining but we decided to swap the wets back to slicks, only took one run in the end and set a new PB and took the meeting win. Also found 2 bolts sheared, hence the one run only!
Snetterton 26/27th June
4 more run offs and 5 more powerful race cars as well as my 2 litre floor class mates. Pleased to report a 3rd and 3 second places, but Matt Hillam, shown left in the foreground, is closing in on my points tally! But still leading the BSC.
Pembrey 5/6th June FTD Sunday
Damp qualy run but kept it on the track to take a 2nd place in the run off behind Matt Hillam and ahead of Steve Broughton & John Graham in the V8. Run off 2 was in the drizzle and by 0.6 I took the top spot for 25 points. Sunday saw the SBD competition retire with the 3.5litre of John being the main opposition now. Was run on a different track resulted in two more run off wins and a 2 litre record. So still leading the British Championship at this stage with 200 points!
Blyton Park - 15&16 May - FTD, FTD!!
Well I didn't expect a round to go that well - especially as it was dry all weekend. I managed to win the top 12 run offs ( now 2 scoring runs/day) on both days, so am currently leading the British Sprint Championship! Good battles with the class above me, but came out on top by a few hundredths and a few tenths!
Goodwood - 17 April - FTD again!!
An investigative visit the day before to MBR to check the gearbox led to some differential preload adjustment as was loose. Then onto Worthing as no camping is allowed at the Goodwood circuit. 5.45 alarm and then all went well and amazingly against the SBD Goodwood experts I managed to snick a time in 0.06secs faster and took FTD again plus a new PB by over 2 seconds. 150mph top speed and an average lap speed of 114mph! Onboard video link can be viewed by clicking on sunrise picture.
Curborough Sprint - 11 April - FTD!
Snow lay on the ground at the start of the meeting, but the sun came out and a dry beautiful day gave conditions that allowed a time of 29.72 and to take FTD (Fastest Time of day) and win the meeting. Good 2021 start!
Click photo for onboard video of Goodwood lap
Testing - 4 April
Date 4th April 21 - Car ran very well at a cold sunny Blyton Park. A mid test gearbox software remote from the SBD factory made a significant difference to the gear changes both up and down, and tuition from Alan Muggleston on a few corners also seemed to help.
Winter Upgrades
Having installed a fresh engine at the start of 2020, and had 5 very successful events last year, there was no major work to do in the winter, other than replace older items to ensure reliability for the upcoming season. New fuel pump, filter and most sensors were replaced. A shock absorber that was weeping was serviced , a new starter motor was needed and the car set up for testing on the 4th April 21.
