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Friday, 14 December 2007

A look back at 2007

The racing season is now over and the two racing Datsuns have been laid to rest until the new season in 2008. In all due respect I honestly believe my brother Martin, deserves a thorough rest for all his efforts made and achievements accomplished during this last season. One can only expect, do and achieve so much in one season. Let me reflect back.

Shortly after the start to the season, Martin and his SSS were already making inlays and had a great start to the 2007 season. His race engines seemed to be reliable and were lasting given all the effort and time he spent in the previous off season preparing for a reliable season ahead. During a cold and wet spell in Cape Town and over a weekend he transformed his pure white SSS into the same colours as the legendary BRE Datsun of John Morton of former Brock Racing Enterprise. The car was immediately liked by all his existing SSS fans around Killarney who religiously supported his driving and determined racing style. Almost midway through the season and along came another entrant to the racing fold, that of a Datsun 1400 GX Coupe. Martin spent 2 solid weeks, sometimes late into the night stripping and preparing my car to such already well known expectations of his very own. He had a very simple motto....I would only allow my brother (me) to race this car if it was in a condition safe enough that he himself (Martin) would be prepared to race it in. It spoke volumes for me just knowing that I could go out there and give it my absolute all knowing that every last detail was thought of and taken care of. In a short span of time both Datsuns were running in the same race category, that of Classic Cars and were both achieving above average race results in their respective classes. We both did some away racing (Zwartkops Pretoria and Aldo Scribante Port Elizabeth) with great success and drew many a spectator curious as to what powered the Datsuns, especially the little GX Coupe. My personal racing achievements are largely thanks to my brother who gave me invaluable information, tips and driving lines which only an experienced race driver could provide. (Gary Player, the famous South African golfer once said, "The more I practice, the luckier I become"). I guess there's some truth in that saying.

Martin persisted throughout the long 2007 season, preparing both race cars meticulously before each and every race event, (man alone I might add) checking and re-adjusting the slightest discrepancy that he came across. The slightest worn parts were replaced unreservedly, all in the interest of race safety. Subtle adjustments were sometimes made here and there to improve handling, performance etc. all done with dedication, pride and for a specific purpose. It was most reassuring and above all, truly a pleasure to be a part of. Of course it did have its somewhat lesser moments as well. In my second ever race meeting I over revved my 'Dati' and bent a few valves which Martin promptly repaired two days later. My haste and carelessness in PE resulted in a damaged oil pickup which sidelined us in the 3 hour race. That Martin also repaired post haste as well which resulted in me further attending the non-championship invitation race of 3 December which I did not originally schedule. So far those have been my only 'misfortunes' to date with the Datsun 1400cc. Martin meanwhile had never stopped trying to further improve the race performance of his own car (Datsun SSS) and through new ideas, his trials and errors we landed up changing quite a few motors between race meetings in an effort to go just that bit faster. Failure was always going to be a possibility but was NEVER an option.

In the end, it was his 'ol faithful' L20 block and 8-valve head that in the very last official 'classic car' race of the season, that finally won him the class A title for the year 2007 by a mere 4 points. Such an achievement has never been previously accomplished (to the best of my knowledge that is) with a 4 cylinder engine and that being in the biggest and fastest class in our race category.

A remarkable achievement from a remarkable person, friend, mentor and brother. Enjoy your off season and well deserved rest. May your creative juices continue to flow during the quiet times and times of rumination . Next year is almost upon us.

Here's looking forward to the next season 'Boet'.

Sunday, 02 December 2007

2007 Grand Finale

It wasn't supposed to happen but it did. The December race was a non-championship race for the classic car drivers and I was not to originally attend. However due to my mishap at the Port Elizabeth races I decided, bugger it, 'just one more'.

There was a practice session on the Friday and I managed a 1:33:1 which I was quite happy with. Just to give some perspective on race times, see the following table.

  • Class C times are 1:30.0 - 1:32.9
  • Class D times are 1:33.0 - 1:35.9

A second session later in the afternoon and I was down to a 1:33:8 after going down on tyre pressures. Maybe a bad thing, but then the heat and the wind had also increased as well.

Saturday, race day….there was no qualifying but a starting grid was made up from the previous events race times, juggled back to front and I found myself placed 5th on the grid for the 1st race at 14h00. The race was a rolling start and tucked right behind Charles Arton's BMW 530 I hung on until turn 1 which left me already ahead of any class D competitors. Only Arnold Lambert (RS2000) and Greg Sinden (Capri 3.0L V6) eventually past me on lap 4. I ended up finishing 7th overall in heat 1 and finished 3.02 seconds ahead of my closest class D competator, Jaco Lambert. After the race even the scrutineers asked me to open the bonnet just to check it actually was a 1400cc Datsun engine. I guess some still don't believe me.

Race 2 was the last race of the day and was off at 17h30. Starting in 7th place I had a brilliant start again and again a dice with Jaco Lambert (Arnold's son) in the Escort MK1 right from lap 1. I kept ahead (only just) for the first 3 laps and in lap 4 Jaco managed to get past me going into turn 5 and lead me down the main straight. I managed to outbreak him while holding him to the inside and re-took him (Jaco) going into turn 1. In the mean time Dave Alhadef who had already managed to get past us in his Alfa (GT 2000) started slowing due to engine problems. The Datsun hounded the Alfa like a dog on heat but was not able to pass him throughout the race. In the mean time the dice with Jaco continued unabated. He hounded me relentlessly till the very end finishing just 0.28 seconds behind me. The next closest class D car was 28.5 seconds behind us. Great drive Jaco!!

Once again I have to give all the credit to my Boet who prepared my Dati to absolute race perfection 'AGAIN' and allowed me to at least finish off the 2007 season with an overall class D win for the day.

Will there be any more new tricks to this Dati for next season? Wait and see next season.

(Gary Player once said, "the more I practice, the luckier I get")

I can't wait for the 2008 season to begin.


Thanks CHAMP