Dats (un) how you do it.

This weekend was like the break of a long drought for me in particular having last completed a full race since the beginning of June. Once again a lot of hard work was done by my boet to get the Datti back up to competition level. The 140Z had a full spanner check since the PE race and a general check in all critical departments as per usual. Not having the chance to do a previous run of the engine since the rebuild I arrived early the Friday morning to do as many tests as possible and ensure nothing was left to chance. My first stint was a very satisfactory test but tyres we of concern. For the later stint I replaced the rear tyres with previously used tyres which by appearance seemed a little better than the ones I currently had on. Again the test run was positive but the front was still under steering especially in turns 2 & 5. I called for the new set to be brought down to the track which required that I do a third test stint to at least get a heat cycle in before the Saturday qualifying session. Everything was to my satisfaction and the Datti was finally parked for the day. By late afternoon the 140Z had also had a shake down and was ready to do battle with the class S fellow competitors.

Saturday morning was yet again up early as I wanted to bleed the brakes as a final adjustment before qualifying. Final prep on both cars was done as per our ritual and we were out at 08h20. The early morning air was cool and should have its advantages as per usual. On my flying lap I was unexpectedly caught up behind the Capri of Trevor Momebrg who had experienced engine problems resulting that I had to change my race line going into turn 1. With a determined effort to break 29's I only managed to post a qualifying 29.6 with which I was satisfied with given the slight change on race line. The 140Z had a cracker run with no traffic and posted a very impressive 22.2 putting the 'Red Devil' on pole ahead of the flying Can-Am of Anton Rolino was posted a blistering 22.5 during qualifying.

Race 1 was off at 10h50 and the rolling start was of a medium pace. At lights out I was perfectly on the cam and managed to get ahead of the Scirocco of Sandro Bicarri by turn 1 while the 140Z got the better of the Can-Am up front. I soon found myself in for some serious competition as I had both the 'Twinspark' Gotech Alfa and the 2.0L Scirroco right on my tail for the first 2 laps. On lap 3 I allowed the Alfa GTAm of Ferdi v Niekerk Jnr through into turn 1 for technical reasons but by turn 2 the Alfa slowed and pulled off with throttle linkage failure. I now still had the Scirrocco to contend with but luck was finally going my way and not long after the Scirocco pulled off with terminal gearbox failure. With the pressure now off it was a lonely race to the flag. In the interim the 140z was comfortably in the lead up front but lady luck was not to be in his favour. On reaching the final lap a miscalculation of liquid propellant resulted in that the 140Z was prevented from taking victory and was accordingly relegated to eighth position with the Can-Am after a long lay off taking the chequered flag.

A proper check of fuel levels was done on the 140Z while the Datti only required a recheck of tyre pressures and also a fuel fill up. Race 2 was off at 14h50 and this time the 'Red Devil' had to start from 8th on the grid while the little Datti had a first time ever 3rd place start and found myself this time behind the monster Can-Am of Anton Rolino who was this time to dictate the rolling starts pace. This time behind me I had the Alfa Giulia of Jonathan Bernstein to contend with while Ferdi Jnr who hounded me in race 1 had to start from the back of the grid. At lights out I hung on for dear life to the back of the Can-Am but as the saying goes, there's no replacement for displacement.

With only 20 meters to go to turn 1 already the bright lights of the 'Red Devil' were bearing down on me and without argument I kept out of his way. By halfway through the exit of turn 1 the 140Z was a car length ahead of me with the rasping rotary of Chris Carolin on the full outside and the Can-Am of Rolino just ahead of him. In the blink of an eye, the Rotary and the Can-Am touched resulting in the Can-Am being turned sideways to the infield and Carolin now in full avoidance mode in the meanwhile collecting the flying 140Z who was already in the passing. Both the Can-Am and the Rotary came to a halt in the midfield and the 140Z was once again out in front with (what he thought) no further competition. (hehe!!!) I now found myself in second place and before long found myself clear of the rest of the field who were taking the necessary avoidance's further behind me. Going down the back straight for the first time I soon caught up to the 140Z who had suffered steering damaged as a result of the turn 1 incident and for the first time since I've started racing I now found myself out in front. Although the 'Red Devil' was slightly injured he managed to come to terms with the now very skew steering wheel and thought what the hell, let's make something of this and pursued to give chase to the Datti. Boy was I now loving this. I was still pushing as hard as I could and the 140Z pushed me as if he was determined to give me a driving lesson. Nobody ever has been that close to my 'ass' going through turn 4 with not any place for a newspaper to fit between us. Down the back straight I would pull a slight gap (now in full knowledge) and by turn 5 he was back all over me like a rash. It was brilliant as I felt I was still in a serious dice and I was determined to give it my all still driving my lines and not letting the pressure get go me. At the end of the race it was Datsuns 1st & 2nd across the line while the 3rd placed car some 9 odd seconds further behind.

Now I do believe it was still possible for the 'Red Devil' to have simply disappeared into the distance but sanity prevailed and we made a spectacle of it, proof yet again that it takes a gentleman driver to sacrifice a most certain overall win and rather have the spectator at heart than his own personal interests. I will treasure this overall win for many years to come as it's unlikely to repeat itself. But hey, I'll take it which ever way it comes.

A brilliant prepared car and all thanks go to you boet.

Thanks 'boet'