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'.