2013 Preparations
The preparations for the 2013 season were difficult to say the least. Family illness and weather that turned our garage into a Castle, complete with moat, meant we were very late prepping the Race cars. With problems left over from 2012 with the Saph, and a complete overhaul of the Fiesta, as usual we came down to the last knockings again, in that the Saph was past fit half an hour before it was loaded on the lorry to go to Brands. I didn’t realise parts were so difficult to get, especially a TPS.
Truck Racing at Brands 21st & 22nd April.
Quali
With rain overnight we were despondent when the problem we had spent so much time “fixing” had returned. However, although not running at its peak Al managed a respectable 16 on the grid, in less than ideal conditions for the Saph, which was a very green track.
Race 1
Without a fix for our problems between Quali and the Race, expectations and moral was low, although the Saph seemed to run better under race conditions. To everyone’s surprise and delight the Saph came in 10th and when factoring in some of the other placing’s was not at all bad, and set us up nicely for race 2, especially as we had plenty of time to resolve the issue. On the down side it was obvious Al had dragged the Saph round by its scruff, and got every ounce out of her. All credit to Al, because the support team was scratching their heads and only coming up with splinters.
Race2
What can I say, there was no race 2. After one of the team spent the night in Hospital with the threat of an emergency operation hanging over us, racing was last on our mind. So when a Cosworth “expert” offered us help, we grabbed it. What happened next is best left unsaid, needless to say our season was over before it had really started.
Brands Indy 4th & 5th May
Did Not Enter
Brands Indy 25th May
Quali
After much work on the Saph by Harvey Gibbs and the team, the team was buzzing, we were back in business and ready to race. The only thing missing was a dry track, yet again it was green as grass, and extra slippery. That said it was a lack lustre quali for Al, not getting to grips with the conditions until the latter stages, his last lap being fastest. 14th on the grid.
Race 3
After a good start Al was back on it, ripping through the field. With lap times coming down on lap 8 Al put in the fastest group B lap of the race. Dicing with another Cossie he bided his time going into Paddock Hill as it took a defensive line in front of him. Going down the hill he set himself up to move past on the inside at Druids. The Saph absolutely launched up the hill, when disaster struck. Al has too hot to turn in, and despite his best efforts he went in hard, through the Kitty Litter and into the Tyres. Everyone held their breath but after a trip to the Track Medical Centre, Al was passed fit, although battered and bruised. The Saph however was a write off.
June 15th & 16th Lydden Hill
Did Not Enter
July 20th & 21st Snetterton 300
Quali
With an incredible amount of hard work, the Saph was rebuilt into Steve Weatherly’s old shell, kindly purchased by Cousin Dave on the same day of the accident. With many early starts and late nights, and a new suspension set up by Colin Smith, we cautiously awaited the quali results. 16th, not too sad compared to our closest competitors. For some reason the Saph was cuffing huge amounts of smoke on the overrun and wasn’t crisp low down. We also had to fine tune our new suspension set up as see was pushing her nose on into the corners.
Race 5
After a very promising start we were going well, when we suddenly started to drop off the pace. The gearbox, or more precisely the gear selection became a nightmare. So all of Al’s good work was undone, as he spent important sections of the track, with a box of neutrals. Still he managed to bring her home in 15th spot, almost reeling in one of our group B rivals.
Race 6
With a very temporary fix on the gear selector, we were out for the 2nd race of the day. Although we improved position, a return of the gearbox problem and the lack of bottom end grunt, meant Al was not willing to push on and take any risks. The Saph come home a respectable 13th and more importantly was home safe albeit with a few minor glitches.
August 24th & 25th Brands GP
Quali
With a new selector on the gearbox, and Harvey Gibbs doing some work on our mapping, we felt that this could finally be the start to our season. However it was not to be. With very poor track conditions Al was unable to get any grip, suggesting it was the worst he’d known, and backed up by many other drivers. 26thon the grid.
Race 7
After one of his best starts, All had moved up a few places going into Druids for the first time. However he was aware of a Yellow Flag and thought, rightly, he had passed a car. He conceded the place back going down to Graham Hill, and turned in well. Others had not made quite such a good job, and in an attempt to get past some spinners, Al was forced wide onto the rumble. The Saph lost traction and swapped ends in spectacular fashion. With the best one of the best bits of driving I have ever witnessed, Al managed to keep away from the Armco and end up facing in the right direction, with what can only be described as a J turn after being nose to nose with oncoming cars. After getting restarted bang last, Al managed to fight his way up to 30th out of 44 starters.
Race 8
With the weather changing by the minute, we had to make a call on Tyre selection. Airing on the side of caution and true to form this season, we made the wrong choice, exacerbated by the fact we were held for ages in the holding paddock, with a rapidly drying track. That said Al made steady progress even though on the wrong tyres and a more serious fault developing with the gearbox. Then a Safety Car, which seems always to be our Nemesis. With only 2 laps left we dropped off our race pace, and came home 24th.
7th September Silverstone National
Quali
With our best outing in the past being this circuit, we were hoping for good things. That being the case we were very deflated when Al managed a lowly 24th grid place on “our” track. Al came back citing poor handling and gear selection difficulties. A combination of things led to the focus being put on the handling issues, so we made some significant changes to set up for the Race.
Race 9
The race was a real mixed bag. Although Al made progress it was difficult to define where we were losing pace. The handling was not perfect but by no means bad, power seemed to be there, although the gear selection was a problem. In the end Al got us up to 16th after a great battle with an amazing Mini and another Cossie, even if the racing became too close on occasions, and but for another great save by Al, could have seen us making unwelcome excursions off the black stuff. 16th in the end was a good result, but did nothing to raise team morale, with expectation so high.
Race 10
The 2nd race was much the same. The focus being in the wrong place trying to make improvements with handling that on reflection, were not needed, and probably generated some bump steer to add to our woe’s. Al brought the Saph home 14th, another improvement but a long way off our expectations. At the end of the day, Al’s driving style was completely compromised, as he could not trust the Saph to give him a gear, which meant he could not flow with the car and get the most out of this circuit. Back to basics with the set up for Brands if we make it, if the gearbox situation remains unresolved.