No Cigar

My supposed last race was to be the 3 Hour LUK Coastal challenge held in Port Elizabeth. Practice was held throughout Friday in cool and overcast weather conditions and my best time achieved with the Dati 1400 was only a 1:19:4.

At the end of the day I made the decision to enter my 'Boet' Martin into the sprint races as well and he would then also share the 3 hour drive with me as our original third driver (Mike Moore) was unable to attend the event due to medical advice taken.

Saturday morning, up bright and early and qualifying was at 08h00 in the sprint races for the classic/historic class entrants. Martin put in a scary 1:16.1 qualifying time (second only to the Mazda Rotary of Chris Carolin with a 1:14:5) and more than a second ahead of the 2.0L Pinto's & Alfa's not to mention a monstrous V8 Ford Galaxy thereby securing 2nd place on the start grid.

The first race was off at 09h00 and the Dati and the Mazda ran away with the race often swapping places just to entertain the 'massive' crowd of about 50 spectators. They arrived into the pits in their 'hoards' wanting to know what was in the Green Mamba, someone even claiming that 'this six-cylinder only flies hey'. Of course to see their faces was a real delight as we revealed it was only a baby 1400cc 4-cylinder push rod Datsun motor.
The second race was off at 11h00 and was very similar to the first heat with the exception of a 'Lotus Super 7' being added. What is or was classic or even historic about that entrant remains a mystery as we were later to find out in PE. Martin finished behind the Super 7 in 3rd place with Chris Carolin in the Mazda Rotary taking 1st again. Overall Martin took 2nd place for the day in classic/historic cars .

After having completed the sprint races we changed the tyres with new slicks, replaced the front brake pads and I qualified the car 3rd in classics for the LUK 3 hour endurance race. After returning to the pits, Martin wanted to do a final check on the gearbox oil level, sump plug, exhaust mounting and a general under carriage check . I jacked the car under the cross member and must have NOT checked 100% that it was firmly under and probably not even 6 inches high the jack slipped off the cross member and onto the sump. The slightest of dent was made in the sump cover. I lowered the car and re-jacked it in the correct location. Martin performed all the necessary checks he wanted to perform and after closing everything and lowering the car we tried to start for a final check. My heart dropped as the oil light just stayed on with NO oil pressure registering on the gauge. Martin quickly recheck the sender unit, made some adjustment to the release valve but it was not to be. We were out. Martin just said, 'I won't take a chance and possibly destroy everything in the motor', lets call it a day. I was so disheartened having looked so forward to completing this last leg of the coastal challenge.

Back at his workshop and the assessment and cause of the oil pressure problem - a cracked oil pickup caused by the drop off the jack. I could have kicked myself. I will somehow have to find a way to forgive myself and accept that this is how racing sometimes goes. (Dumkopf)

Thanks again to my 'Boet' who perfectly prepared my Dati to race perfection and at least held the Datsun name HIGH in Port Elizabeth in the sprint races.

I'm Sorry 'Champ'.

A Class Datsun SSS

It did not come easy, but then victory without a battle is seldom sweet.

Friday's practice on 2nd November at 11h45 produced enough work and effort alone. Early indications were that the head gasket was faulty and the decision to replace was made. After having done the replacement, enough water to float the Titanic was used to merely fill the radiator hoses. Something was wrong. A check into the car indicated that the dry-sump tank had already overflowed with all the water having been put in, further indicating catastrophic block failure. Martin was disheartened, disappointed and felt he'd been through enough already this season with motor rebuilds, engine failures etc. and declared unreservedly 'that's it, I'm done for the season'. Like 'bloody hell' I stated. Always remember this I said, 'quitters never win and winners never quit'. It seemed to have struck a cord somehow!

We towed the car back to his workshop, removed the motor, stripped all the external parts we needed, removed the faulty head from the previous run motor, replaced the head gasket on that motor first, put it all together again, transferred all the race parts across to the spare motor, tightened everything up, dropped the spare motor in, fired the 'mother' up, cleaned up all the oil mess and we were back at the track by 19h00 ready for race day. A well deserved 'braai' and a few 'milos' were enjoyed by a handful of racing regulars.

Qualifying was done on Saturday morning in the wet and Martin managed to qualify ahead of his closest contender Charles Arton in the BMW 530M and put up the fastest time in class A, effectively giving another point ahead of Charles making it 5 points clear.

Race 1 was on a dry track and the Datsun held out for second place ahead of Charles who finished third (0.2 secs) behind Martin. That's another point, making it 6 points clear of Charles. Effectively Charles could no longer win but could still tie for 1st place providing he won the second heat.

Race two and the Datsun SSS gave it's all this time finishing in 4th place while Charles managed to finish second but not enough to hand Martin the class A winner for the season. This if my memory serves me correctly is the first time ever that a 4-cylinder wins overall in class A. History I believe has been made.

You deserve every accolade bestowed upon you my 'Boet'. Well done on a thoroughly deserved class win. More importantly, your true 'spirit of classics' has been achieved through shear persistency and determination.

Congrats My Champ.

You Absolute Beauty

This was the official last race of the season for classic cars and I was glad yet also in a way sad as I was just having so much fun and honestly I did not want it to end NOW. Friday's (2nd November) practice was scheduled for 11h45 and I went out and again tried my best realizing that I am now in class D for my last race of the season. To my amazement I managed a 1:32:6 on lap 5 (a class C time) and called it a day. I was astounded not so much with my own improvement but at this Datsun 1400's ability to get down to these times. Oh and believe me, I've still got PLENTY to learn with at least 3 turns still getting the better of me.

Saturday's official qualifying was at 10h00 and lo and behold at 09h00 down came the rain. Fortunately it did eventually stop at about 09h40 which allowed us to at least drive with our 'wets' on without the downpour. I am definitely not an experienced wet weather guy and much prefer the dry and only managed to post a 1:50:0 putting me 21st on the start grid out of 36 entrants and 7th in class D.

Race 1 was off at 14h00 on a rolling start with the sun shinning brightly, a dry race track and my slicks back on. With the red lights going out on the start and my rev-limiter red light coming on I was gone and already gained 3 places by turn 1 . For a while I had a nice dice with Jaco Lambert in his 1600 Escort MK1 but pulled a good gap (2.49 seconds) towards the end. I finished 14th at the finish and won class D comfortably.

Race 2 was the last event on the day at 17h00 and again I had a good rolling start holding Jaco for six laps before my brakes started fading slightly. The race times were still almost 2 seconds off pace (1:34:9) due to a strong wind blowing and track surface conditions and temperature not at there ultimate. My judgment sensed however that he would not get away from me and I eventually allowed him through in turn 1 (rather safe than sorry). Keeping right up his back bumper I stayed with him till the finish with him beating me by 0.4 seconds. Great drive Jaco.

This was still sufficient for me to take 1st overall in class D for the day due to the time difference when combined for the two heats. I had a brilliant day and a fantastic way to end the season on a high. I can't wait for the 2008 season to begin. My last race for the year will be the LUK 3 hour endurance race in Port Elizabeth on the 17th November 2007.

Thanks again to my 'Boet' Martin for preparing a real winning Datsun GX Coupe throughout this season.

Thanx CHAMP