Win Some...

Sh1t!!! I don't know where to begin with the past weekend (06/10/2007) - Ecstasy or Disappointment?

My previous Killarney race if you may recall (see Oops - Ouch - Damn) ended with some rather bent looking valves after the 1st lap of the second race. Well since then Martin repaired the damaged valves and while the head was off he made some further changes to the VE. Since then I also did the Zwartkops race (near Pretoria West) which didn't tell me too much about the changes that he made due to the higher altitude as well as it being my first time out at the Big Z. However my times achieved at Zwartkops (1:19:07) were to say the least, most encouraging. Also I have to admit that the racing experience I gained over that weekend has paid 'mega' dividends without any doubt.

The stats speak for them self:

• My previous best time achieved (1st September) was a 1:36:4 and on Fridays open practice (5th October) I peddled the 'Dati' to a staggering 1:34:3. I felt like a 2 year old just having received a packet of sugar candy. Man I was over the moon with joy. And what did my 'boet' Martin have to say afterwards.....'Well done, excellent time...now I want a 33.8 from you'! F...ck me!! Here I've just done my best time feeling like I could even outgun Lewis Hamilton at his own game and my 'boet' says 'do better'. So not to be outdone I took up the challenge.
• Saturday qualifying: 09h00....and I said to myself just keep it tight, go in deep and come out hard.....(now where have I heard that one before?) and remember your lines......and 'Stru as Bob' in lap 5 of qualifying I posted a perfect 1:33:87. Who's your Daddy??? Well I spent the rest of the morning 'ecstacying' around the pit area with a smile right around my head! I just could not believe what I had actually achieved.
• Race 1, 12th on the grid, on a rolling start and I was gone like a 'bat out of hell' as the lights went out. The 'Dati' was well ahead of all the class E cars and was right up there with the class D guys with only Nick van Rensburg (Fiat 124 Sport) finally pipping me to the finish line, however not before having tried even harder than ever before, the 'Dati' delivered a mind boggling 1:33:38 in lap 8. See all the 'Classic Car' times posted at http://zatiming.co.za/index.php/54162/?orgID=54162&eventid=257272
• Race 2 was also a superb race as I got one back on Nick keeping him behind me from lap 1 and I finished ahead by 0.547 seconds at the finish line after 8 laps of relentless pressure. I ended up winning class E for the day and got my first 'class win' trophy. Thanks Nick....brilliant driving.
• Coming to think of it....I think the 'Dati' finish ahead of all the class D cars as well. Hehe!!!
• This also means breakout time..... so its Bye-Bye to class E, and HELLO to class D albeit for only one last race this season.

What a fantastic weekend. I cannot thank my brother enough for the efforts he made, however they were accomplished, (mechanically) in preparing a brilliant performing 1400cc 'Datsun'.

Cheer up guys....it's only a game, even the Aussies and the Kiwi's got shafted that weekend!!

Thanks 'Champ'.

Loose Some

The past weekend was the second last race of the current Western Province Classic Car championship and a lot was (and still is) at stake for many. Martin (this is my boet remember) pulled a few rabbits out of the bag for this event. On Fridays practice the SSS was on full song and every setting was (appeared) spot on. The times were brilliant and most encouraging. An evening 'braai' was enjoyed later that evening along with a few 'gesellige milos' and we actually couldn't wait for race day to dawn.

Saturday 09h00 and he had to qualify for grid positions. The weather was again cold and overcast but was not raining as yet. The SSS obliged and returned with a brilliant 1:25:57 while his arch rival and closest challenger Charles Arton put in a 1:25.58......closer you just couldn't get. This put him in 2nd place on the starting grid with Charles 3rd.

Racing got underway at 12h25 and the SSS was off like a 'robbers dog' until lap 3 where the inevitable began.......grrrrrr......clatterrrrrrrr.......gggrrriiinnnddd........the gearbox was letting go. This allowed Charles through into 2nd spot while Martin held on for dear life in 3rd spot until lap 7 where eventually Chris Carolin also passed. The SSS finished 4th but was unable to be repaired in time for the second heat. This means the point gap has narrowed to only 4 points by which Martin still leads class A.

It's now all down to the wire, the last race of the season to be held on the 3rd November to determine who is to be crowned class A champion.

That's disappointment.

Hard luck 'boet' but I know you'll be back with plan 'B' for the last 'do or die' attempt! It's gonna be nail biting stuff!!!