Potter Balls

Rather late than never but I forgot entirely about this blog due to all the excitement we had at East London.

This trip was planned close on to 9 or 10 months ago and it all finally came to a head on 27th August  2011 at the Prince Georges Circuit in East London, better know as East London GP track. Both our cars required that our ratios be changed as all calculations showed that we would both run out of revs half way between Potters and Rifle bend.  The little Datti had a no options available in the differential department and our quick fix was to simply replace the 4-speed box with a 5-speed box while the already 5-speed 140Z needed diff ratios.  After much looking around I managed to source a rather scarce 37:1 crown-wheel and pinion in JHB which I sent down to Cape Town and which was subsequently fitted.  Everything else had been thoroughly checked and both Datsuns were finally ready for EL.  The Datti was sent up by transporter along with 9 other cars while the 140Z was towed up on trailer in convoy with fellow racers and petrol heads. 

Everyone including the cars arrived on the Thursday and the off loading of cars and the unpacking of race equipment, tyres, fuel and spares began. In between we managed to force down a few hydraulic sandwiches all while the sun had started to set.  The smell of fresh sea air coupled with the smells of race cars just does that something to every race junkie.  We finally locked up at the track and went to our 'rondavels' approximately 3km away from the track.  Before long the fire was going, the jungle juice was flowing and the stories started coming out with plenty of laughter added.  In between we managed to tan some meat and at least filled a gap.  By 22h00 quite a few heads and eyelids were already getting heavy as most had traveled from around 03h00 to get to East London by 15h00 in order to still off load.  By 11h00 we were horizontal and couldn't wait for the next morning as neither of us had ever been to or driven the EL once famous grand prix circuit.

Friday morning arrived with a cold and chilly wind with even rain predicted by late afternoon.  We received our race schedule, completed the necessary documentation and had our cars scrutineered.  Soon afterward we were told that the first practice session scheduled for 09h00 was canceled due to track repairs that needed to be completed.  So we stood around, found some coffee and a toasted sarmie and paced around ever so eager to get onto the track.

At around 10h20 we finally got our chance and the 2 Datsuns set off heading for Potters at crawling pace as we warmed our tyres and brakes.  It first seemed to carry on forever finally straightening out on a slight downhill towards Rifle bend which was not as long as envisaged but then got slightly steeper doiwnhill towards the sharp right hand Cocabana corner.  By now we took the revs up a bit higher on a very slight uphill ans heading for the Esses,then Cox corner leading onto the up hill Back straight until we approached the very sharp and off camber Beacon corner which brought us back onto the main straight.  Peddle to the metal and balls to the wall, this is what we waited for.  Approximately 300m before Potters I hooked 5th gear for the very first time in the Datti and what a sweet sound it makes dropping just on 500RPM but by 100 meters the left foot said its time to break, you're going far to fast. So I dabbed the peddle and slowly floored it once again.  Who ever said you can take Potters flat out.  They're mad.  Coming out of Potters man I felt like I was flying, the 140Z already off my radar detector and I was now heading for Rifle.  Again a slight lift but no brakes ere necessary although it's still a little uncomfortable.  Now we're downhill with Cocabana approaching at a rapid rate of knots.  Out of Cocabana and now we're off at 8000Rpm up towards the Esses again braking hard just 50m before a sudden right, then a sweeping left and then a gentle right, short shift to 4th gear pulling 6500RPM up now towards the dreaded Beacon.  At around the 70m mark it was hard onto the brakes only to find I braked too early but at least Beacon was now safely out of the way.  Man this was an absolute blast.  Another lap and it was getting faster on every lap, or so it felt.  The 140Z was completely outta sight blitzing the East London tarmac.  On my 5th lap coming out of the Back straight and heading up towards Beacon I was bumped and put onto the outside muddied field, holding it in a long slide and praying that the wheels don't dig in else it would be a certain roll over.  I came to a halt only meters away from the marshals post and slowly crawled my way back to the pit.  On arrival I was the only one back while the 140Z was still out there showing Potters who's boss.  With only a totally destroyed left rear rim and some minor body damage I was happy to replace the set of tyres with a full spare set and was ready to go out again. By this time the 140Z had pulled into pit and we exchanged our experiences, race lines and brake markers.  I had in the interim manged to get down to a 1:46 and off target while the 140Z was already down to a 1:37 and well within target range.

We refueled our cars, re-inflated the tyres and allowed the cars to cool down before we again took to the track.  I had noticed the Datti breathing rather excessively during my first outing and was only concerned that the engine might not last for the entire weekend.  We decided to just add some Wynns Charge as a safety precaution and that was that for now.  On our next session was after lunch and with slightly warmer conditions we again took to the track.  This time I was given some advice as to how I should approach Potters.  The only concern was that the advice was coming from someone who was on 10" rubber while I was on old 7" rubber and the footprint was a completely different ball game.  But I heeded the advice a was adamant to put it to the test.  This time I was however more concerned with getting Cocabana, the Esses  and Beacon spot on as this is the only place where the smaller car could make up any lost ground.  The straights were simply too long, but oh so much fun.  Upon our second return to the pits we were both relatively happy with our sessions although the Datti's engine was breathing like a well stoked steam train but we would now have to wait for qualifying which was to be done from 15h00 onwards.  Again we filled our fuel tanks, re-inflated our tyres and did the all round check.

We got our eventually got our chance at around 15h20 to do our qualifying times and we both took to the track almost at the same time.  The 140Z did not hold back and was gone in seconds.  The Datti on the other hand likes to be warmed up a tad before stomping the loud peddle however the biggest concern was the breathing which I was trying to nurture.  The 140Z was attacking every corner with aggression and took every bit of advantage of the long 1.8Km straight before bellowing down upon Cocabana corner.  It was smooth yet almost at its limits through the Esses, through Cox's corner, short changing up towards Beacon before hard on the brakes to once again head down on the straight.  The 140Z finally posted a 1:35.782 and was placed 2nd on the grid just 3 hundredths short of pole man in the Mazda Rotary.  Meanwhile the Datti managed to post a 1:47.686 placing me 24th on the grid.  I duly pulled in and called it a day.  We made the decision to change the MSD settings and chose to play it safe rather than sorry.  Some further adjustment were made with timing in this regard as well.

Saturday morning up bright and early we prepped both cars as per usual and awaited our final moment of truth.  At around 11h00 we got our chance.  My stomach was full of butterflies in anticipation of dicing through Potters.  Who would lift or back out?  The rolling start was done at a rather slow pace but due to the size of the field probably the better choice.  The 140Z being on the outside of the track probably had the better line going into Potters while the Mazda had to make the best of keeping it tight or possibly even backing out.  The 140Z was not going to surrender and held out through Rifle and getting in and out of Cocabana first.  Not long afterward the V8 Capri was also in the chase and soon evolved into a battle between the Mazda as to who would take second place.  The Datti meanwhile was heavily involved with a dice between the Ford Anglia's of both Jaco Lambert and later even Claude Justice often loosing out on the legs down the main straight, but come the corners and the Datti was again all over them like a rash. The pressure was hot and relentless and Jaco eventually went wide and out braked himself into Cocabana.  Claude manged to get past me down the main straight and drove well to hold me off till the flag.  In the interim I had managed to post an improved time of 1:45.0 and finishing in 13th place overall.  The 140Z went on to win the race as well and also posted an improved time of 1:34.635 with the Capri finishing 2nd and the Rotary 3rd having also posted a better than qualifying best of 1:34.4

For race 2 we made no other adjustments on the heavily breathing Datti except some mind changes and an attempt to try things slightly differently.  The 140Z meanwhile now had to contend with a V8 Capri in second place on the grid and a rasping Rotary behind him.  I again had both Jaco and Claude to chase.  Race 2 was off at 15h15 again with a rather slow pace but hey, I was here for a fun time.  At lights out the V8 Capri had the legs on the 140Z but was little match in the corners (when they eventually came).  Ferdi jnr drove the wheels off that V8 to keep the 140Z at bay and no matter where the 140Z put it's nose, the V8 Capri held on only to pull a slight gap once back onto the straights.  This pursued relentlessly for the entire race which had the crowd rooting big time for there favorites.  A brilliant race was won by Ferdi with the 140Z crossing the line 0.860 seconds later. Further back in the pack the Datti was dueling once again with the Fords with Claude eventually pulling off after 3 laps.  I pushed as hard as I could but used a different stratergy this time as planned in the pits with 'Mr Datsun'.  It pulled off with me again running out ahead of Jaco who finished 6 seconds behind me while in the interim I manged to knock off another 2 seconds of my race 1 time posting a final 1:43.006 and finishing 11th overall out of 33 starters for race 2.

To say I was over the moon is an understatement.  To say we didn't enjoy this trip is a blatant lie.  We thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and the Datsuns ran brilliantly.

Thanks 'Boet'