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Anglesey Race qualifying and race 1 of the inaugural meet after 4.5million pound do out!
We arrived Friday early afternoon to find the paddock already chock a block and nowhere to park the motorhome and car. First person we saw was Steve Cheetham peeling himself out of his balaclava after qualifying, his words were "interesting". I'm still not sure if he meant "interesting" good or "interesting" bad. Next person I spotted was Jonathon Ramsay, also appearing from his car. His words were "Where's the edge?"
Nice to see Paul Finn back with shiny new body work in black and gold. Very smart. Still no body armour though Paul.
Everyone spent Saturday trying to negotiate the paddock and find spaces for those still arriving. All the lads, and our new lass, Charlie, (welcome Charlie and all the other newbies) hoped their prep was good enough and then spent the rest of the day contemplating their navels, or kicking their heels as they waited until 17.35 for qualifying. That’s all except Graham Heard who was underneath his car wrestling with a new gear box installation. Still at it at 15.30. Not raining yet. Simon Regitz seat needed rebolting but otherwise ok and Paul, no 19 had troubles too but I can't read my notes and I can't remember what was wrong.
Pete Staplin and no 13 were back and ready to get the engine run in.
The quote of the day was once again from the Red Baron "First time out I didn't know where to go or what to do. I felt a right prat" Say it how it is Richard!
The circuit got dustier and dustier and time dragged on some more. The funniest sight of the day was watching Steve shadow box round his car warming up.
17.35 finally got to us and off we went to qualify. No 13 managed 2 laps before dying in the pit lane and going no further. No 12 also broke something otherwise qualifying was about the same as usual.
Pete and our car 13 looked very sorry for themselves when Pete and Ernie diagnosed big ends had gone and then worked on the car until 11.30pm trying to put new ones in from underneath. Getting up at 7am the following morning, in the rain, to get under the car and start all over again. Finally ready to get back out there at 10.35 to race at 11.50. Thanks Ernie, Jeff and Les and everyone else who offered to help.
Quote of today "there is always something with these cars, good job aeroplanes aren't like them!"
Back to the racing
Steve Cheetham led the 1st 5 laps with Will Penrose very close on his tail and Graham Heard chasing hard on the rear of Alistair in no 7. Lap 4 saw 66 take a purler across the grass but return to the race. I bet he had to empty his grass box after mowing that bit of lawn. Lap 6 saw Will Penrose pass me on the pit wall with his front bumper hanging off and Graham 99 had taken the lead. The racing at the front was very close. Also in lap 6 No 20 earned herself a black flag but didn't notice it until the penultimate lap. Will Penrose went off in lap 9 leaving Graham and Steve to chase each other round. Further down the pack the racing was tight and good. On the final lap Steve, 43, Graham, 99, and Alistair,7, suffered a coming together and Graham went off at the hairpin,. Alistair was again trying out another version of the air cooling system with a dirty great hole in the front. No 60 didn't make it back as his plug leads disconnected.
No 13 never made it past assembly because as Pete drove there the knocking started again. Back on the trailer and the long slog back to the South Wet, or West depending how you saw it that day. Jonathon thought the bottom had dropped out of his car only to find when some helpful lifted his car for him he had a large plastic road cone stuck under it. Thank you to those people for liberating it. It could have been really nasty for the cone! (Sorry about the flippancy Jonathon). Final three places Steve in 43, Alistair in 7 and Gareth in 31 third. Well done to everyone for their perseverance. Due to our early retirement from the paddock Alistair took over the race report for race two but if anyone is interested there are some interesting versions of race 2 from some of the drivers on our forum.
Report GE Staplin |
