Channel Islands.

After the result at Harewood I was feeling pretty confident for our annual trip across the Channel to Jersey & Guernsey.  We take a week off work and use the trip as a holiday with a bit of hillclimbing thrown in.  Can’t be a bad way to spend your time.  A bit like what Deano does every week!!! (Only kidding, I don’t really know how he has time to sleep!)

In Jersey we stay in a great little guest house at the bottom of Bouley Bay so we get plenty of opportunities to drive the hill the few days before the meeting.  Our little Fiesta hire car didn’t quite have the same go as the Gould and the road often has oncoming traffic during the week so practicing lines was never a good idea.

Thursday and the day of the meeting soon came round and the weather was excellent.  An early start to get the car & kit down to the paddock.  The paddock is the most confined of the year but is also the most picturesque being almost on the beach.  1^st practice is always a nightmare here as the track is the only road to & from the small harbour.  Therefore it gets an awful lot of sand/salt in the surface which makes it extremely slippery.  I never believe how bad it is until at least the first class runs.

Practice and class runs went well for both Dad & I. I was out qualified by Dad for both run offs. The record here is a 38.65, held by Andy Priaulx and is now the longest standing on the calendar.  This is now the ‘Record To Have’ due to the length of time it has stood, but more importantly who it is held by.  My best chance would most likely come in the first run off as I was first to run with a new set of tyres bolted on.  Unfortunately I didn’t push hard enough and ended up 3^rd behind Grovesy and Simon Durling.  Simon at last had won a run off.  I don’t think there was anyone in the paddock, or at the top of the hill who wasn’t pleased with his achievement.  Absolutely cracking performance and very worthy of a win – at last!!

2^nd run off and I run first again and really have a go for the win – and the record. A good clean run and over the line.  38.70. S**t. Missed it by 5hundreths.  The time is good enough to lead all the way upto when Grovsey crosses the line on a superb 38.47.  A win with a hill record, and yet another point advantage. 

Due to a missed gear on Dad’s last run we had an early start on Friday to change the gears ready for Saturday.  This was done in time for breakfast.  We then loaded the car up and headed for the ferry over to Guernsey.

We had spent most of the week eating & drinking too much and Friday afternoon was no exception with a trip to our favourite eating house in St Peter Port.  Awesome cakes!  Maybe help with the traction for Val des Terres.

Saturday was again gorgeous weather.  The paddock in Guernsey is great.  Flat and all tarmac, unfortunately no room for the trailer but otherwise perfect.  It is even close enough to town so that the girls can go shopping whilst we are playing in our cars.

1^st practice and the pace is hot.  Most people posting 30ish second runs.  2 years ago and no-one had been sub 30 here.  The record at the start of the day was a 29.14 held by Adam Fleetwood.  Practice and class runs again went well with Dad out qualifying me in the first and vice versa in the second.  The morning run off and I lose time in the last corner before heading onto the straight at the top of the hill.  I end up 4^th behind Deano 3^rd, Dad 2^nd and Grovsey 1^st who had broke the hill record leaving it at 28.97.  Sub 29!!

The afternoon run off and I manage to qualify fastest and last to run.  Deano, on home soil had immense pressure on him for his 1^st win.  Even more so now that Simon had taken one in Jersey.  Unfortunatley he over cooks it going into the last corner and clouts the bank.  He escapes unhurt but with no points.  Dad has another good run and ends up 3^rd fastest behind Grovesy 2^nd and me 1^st. I had seen all the times at the start line so knew what I needed to do.  What happened next I still can’t believe now.  All day I had been making small mistakes here or there. This was pretty frustrating as I couldn’t string one really good run together.  Thankfully I managed it on the very last run of the day and stole Grovesy’s record of him to leave it at 28.84.  I did have a very close shave with the bank as I spun over the finish line, but thankfully with no damage. 

That night was spent with a few friends in the Chinese.  Organised once again by Deano.  Another great day followed by a great evening.   

Scott.

  First appearance of the Jersey Swan.

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