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'.