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