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Ranson Times Edition 2 - Prescott rounds 3 & 4.
As they say in Chicago, once is happenstance, twice is circumstance, three
times is enemy action.
Well it may not be SPECTRE but someone is out to get us. Three times the yellow
car has been to Prescott, three times it's returned to the paddock dangling from
the JCB, missing vestiges.
I'm beginning to think that Aintree on September 2 may be a safer bet than a
return to the otherwise delightful Prescott. If we have a tall enough gear...
The new surface at Prescott is extremely challenging. Si from NME was present on
Saturday morning (before jetting off to the Nurburgring where someone had left
tickets 'on the gate'...) to check out our new ECU. He commented that there
wasn't much use of full throttle, we quipped this was to economise on engine
hours.
A look at the results from last weekend shows that generally the course is now
at least a second slower than it was two years ago. So the performances in B1
(Modified Production Sports Cars over 1400cc up to 2000cc - Roadgoing)(!) seem
especially laudable. Steven Day getting within 0.08s of the record jointly held
by Trevor Willis and Scott Moran. Whatever became of them?
 Back
to the event. Practice was Slow, Quick, Slow, Bang. Damage was limited to the
anciliaries of the front wing and the rear wing mounting plates. The latter,
along with a spare rear wing assembly, were nobly loaned by Rob Turnbull, to
whom much gratitude is due.
Come the timed runs and I recorded 5th fastest split, then got all skiddy in the
Esses and ended up not qualifying. The car felt peculiar so I returned it to the
pit and suggested we checked tyres etc. No problem found. I wasn't really trying
to add pressure on Martin.
When Martin went out for his run, the engine stopped on the line (sometimes this
is simply a consequence of the quick shift when fishing for neutral) and then a
popped Dzus was spotted, so we were running around for a battery and something
to reattach the bodywork with. Eventually he got to go.
As I walked away from the start the BBC Radio Gloucester reporter quizzed me
about whether breaks in the normal routine of the start caused drivers to lose
focus, whether they could regain it or whether it was maintained throughout. I
told him that I thought it would be getting round the first corner unscathed and
competitively that would be the particular worry. The serious focus would be
reserved for the runoff. Anyway by then job done. Fastest qualifier.
I didn't pay much attention to the first runoff, I think Martin won with Scott
second.
Second qualifying was equally annoying, a good split that for most people would
have resulted in a mid 39s run followed by a big skid in the Esses and a mid 40.
At least I qualified.
Running first in the runoff isn't really a handicap, you always lead for a while
and everybody else has to go faster. Unfortunately this wasn't a problem for
most. I was really trying to be smooth and accelerate the car in a slightly more
controlled manner. This was accomplished by not accelerating enough. Eighth was
fortunate in the circumstances.
Nevermind. At the sharp end Scott ran extremely well and forced Martin to dig
deep. It's the kind of thing champions do and although 'normal service has been
resumed' I don't think it's unexciting to watch. The season is looking good for
followers of the sport.
Barbon and Harewood next. It's probably going to rain. Anything could happen but
I'll probably be sheltering in the trailer and not notice.
"Do you expect me to talk?"
"No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die."
Paul
Picture:
Jerry Sturman
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