It has occurred to me on more than one occasion that we must both be mad or somewhat delusional else why on earth do we do this. As if it was planned come race day during winter months and the forecast is depressing, demotivating yet our entry forms are timorously submitted, our entry fees duly paid and even our cars are prepped. I think it was Einstein who defined madness stating that it was the doing of the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. I think we qualify.
So this time what was different? Well for starters, the work load at the workshop received top priority and at no stage was there any intention of racing the 140Z in July. Some compromises were made and the little Datti did get a run through so as to try finding my reported vibration from the last race meeting as well as the usual full bolt and spanner check. In the interim I duly submitted both our entries knowing full well that the 140Z was not planned to be raced but should that change at least we were within the entry requirement stipulations. My Datti was given a test run the weekend before the race and was given the all clear. It was during that moment that a certain competitor managed to convince 'Mr Datsun' to race after all. The offer was committed to but again due to work and poor weather conditions during the work week prior to the race meeting the 140Z remained on stands and parked at the track. Only upon arriving at the track on the Friday at 13h30 for official practice was garage 26 opened for the first time since the last race meeting of 9 June. Inside we found a red Datsun still up on the stands, wheels all flat and the body work slightly dusty. We collected our documentation, the Datti, wiped the 140Z down, put some sky in the rounds and strode off to scrutineering with both Datsuns. With our compliance stickers now in hand we returned to the garage and once again parked the 140Z. 'Mr Datsun' had no intention of testing as tyres were on bare minimum and needed to be saved if any racing was to be done. I duly took my Datti out and once on track soon came to realize that the vibration I was initially aware of was soon back to haunt me. For some reason the session was red flagged (later finding out that a competitors car had caught alight) and I returned to pit. Upon entering pit-lane the session had been green flagged so I simply went straight out again only to come straight back as by now the enamel on my teeth was chipping with vibration. I thought it was definitely the gearbox as I was now also battling to engage gears. So it was decided to take the car back to the workshop in 'Montanague Gardens' so as to replace the gearbox. To cut a long story short it was soon discovered upon the removal of the box that the clutch pressure plate had been damaged and was the result of the vibration. So it was promptly replaced, all put back together again and we returned to track at about 17h50, parked the car in the garage and called it a night. Yes, we did not even braai in the cold weather.
As was predicted the rain came in overnight and we awoke to a damp and cold Saturday morning. We as per usual did our race ritual, made one or two changes to the 140Z based upon weather conditions, fitted the wet tyres to both our cars and awaited for the 09h30 qualifying. Well it had actually stopped raining by then but the track was soaking wet anyway and the call was the right one for wet tyres. I proceeded out on track, hit turn 1, exited turn 1 and by turn 2 it was all over for the Datti as we were to later find the crank had broken and for now it was a lame duck parked on the oval. The 140Z sounding as crisp as a 'Simba Chippie' went along like a surgeon with a scalpel and precisionally set the fastest time on lap 3 putting it on pole by some 5.21 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Neil Hawkins in the 16V Cosworth engined Escort MKI.
Race 1:
It was soon apparent that the rain had held up sufficiently to allow for slicks and we duly made the necessary tyre changes accordingly for race 1. The game plan was now to be put into action knowing full well that Hawkins had had his rear rims widened to now sport a set of 10" boots and was fitted with sticker rubber. Yip, brand new boots, again Bob!! The Z still sporting 6 month old well worn boots. The Z controlled the pace and at lights out it was a dice to turn 1. The 140Z held off the Escort and headed towards T2 running slightly wide on the entry. Hawkins saw the gap and slipped through on the inside and lead towards the kink with the 140Z tucked close behind. Game on. 'Mr Datsun' now watched the ever determined Hawkins try and run away but at every turn his mirrors were filled with RED. On lap 2 in turn 5 they already rubbed as the 140Z took the low side and tried to make it stick with the Escort making contact. This time it was not to be and they both afforded each other only just enough to stay on the black stuff. It wasn't long before a hard charging Hawkins was getting a bit loose in some corners and having to frequently correct the over-steer all while pushing those new boots to their limits. Still the 140Z filled his mirrors and on lap 5 coming out of T4 a momentary mistake by Hawkins saw the softest of kisses against the rear of the Escort. The 140Z pulled alongside and held the outside going into T5, Hawkins holding the inside line still keeping the 140Z at bay. On the main straight kink the 140Z again pulled alongside the Cosworth powered Escort holding him all the way down to T1 with the Escort again holding the inside line. The 140Z had the better drive coming out and was yet again along side the Escort heading towards T2 but still Hawkins held off. The Cosworth once again hesitated on the apex of T2 and 'Mr Datsun' said enough is enough, stuck it up on the outside of the kink and overtook the Escort, held his line for T3 and stormed off towards T4. With the Cosworth now in full chase of the 140Z with a set overheated tyres it was literally all over bar the shouting. The 140Z held of the hard chasing Hawkins to beat the Cosworth 16V by 1.31 seconds at the finish. That's 2.
Race 2:
We inspected the rear tyres which showed severe wear so much so that we were unable to even swop left with right as the best of the 2 was already on the best side. We had no option but to go out and put up a determined effort yet again. Hawkins also came out ready for another round having claimed to have lost 1st, 3rd and 5th in race 1. Again the 2 side by side down the main straight headed towards the start lights and this time the 140Z out smarted the Cosworth technology and got the run into T1, holding off Hawkins who had now slipped to 3rd and found himself behind the rasping Rotary of Carolin who already showed some serious pace in race 1. The 140Z headed towards T2, braked hard and on powering out picked up huge wheel spin allowing Carolin to slip through and take the lead, Hawkins now also tucked up close behind the 140Z. The Escort stuck one up the inside going into T3 and took the 140Z now suffering severely from a lack grip. Down the back straight they went with the 140Z keeping up and even closing in going into T5. They remained in such position for lap 2 but the pressure was mounting all the time. The 140Z now in hot pursuit again soon found a wide running Hawkins in T2 on lap 3, stuck one up the inside and took the Escort out of T2. Carolin looked ratty on the kink and 'Mr Datsun' took the liberty of sticking one up the inside going into T3 and took the Mazda rotary as well. Back in the lead the 140Z now crying out with no grip managed to hold on to the lead with just 3 laps left to go but could no more. By now the Cosworth 16V engined Escort also cried enough with suspected engine bearing failure. On the exist of T2 the Rotary got passed a very out of shape 140Z and held the lead until the end with the 140Z finishing second some 2.32seconds behind Chris Carolin. That's 3.
At the end of the day it was top class racing between all 3 class S competitors and at the end had the remaining crowd on the feet, cheering for some brilliant racing for which they were finally reward with a single 'dounut' by the 140Z in appreciation.
Perhaps not my day at the office but a huge thanks for the superb entertainment and brilliant effort to once again keep 16V technology at bay. For how long, I really do not know. With a new set of tyres on the Z I'm guessing the Cosworth clan may have to look for another 0.5 seconds to keep the Datsun at bay.
Well done and thanks 'Boet'
