Oulton Park, 18 August 2007

What the other drivers had to say.

John Hammersley
At long last I have something to report! A day of highs & lows. The lowest point must have been when we couldn't start our new car (ex Simon Blanckley Honda Accord) for qualifying. I did 20 laps in testing on Friday, and my time then would have been good enough for the front row, but it was not to be. Start from the back of the grid (30th), as long as we could get the car going. Paul and I worked all morning, eventually got it started, but we really hadn't for certain identified the electrical fault it has, so we had no confidence that it would work for, or last the whole race.

Picture courtesy of James Roberts

Starting 30th on a wet track, in a car I had never driven in the wet, and had only done 20 laps in my overtaking was naturally pretty cautious, but helped no end by the numerous offs of others I had worked my way up to 9th by the time the red flags came out. My next big problem was "would it start again for the restart!" Fortunately it did, so I managed too pick off 4 more cars, then caught up with Simon Taylor, with whom I had a great scrap and managed to get him on the last lap. 4th overall, 3rd in class from last, what a change of fortune!

Race 2. 4th on the grid became 2nd when Nick Williamson didn't make the start, and Steven Taylor pulled off on the parade lap. Mal Davison beat me into Old Hall, but I managed to get round the outside of him down the avenue, and despite a big slide in Druids led him by about 6 lengths at the end of lap 1. I knew it wouldn't last however, because I was on wets (as was Mal), and most of the track was dry. Mal and I had a good race for 4-5 laps, then he managed to pull a few lengths on me, and whilst lapping a lower class car (note - not a backmarker!) (Editor's note - John is being polite, it was me he was passing) I got onto the slippy side of the track and ended up in the edge of the gravel trap, from which I was exceedingly lucky to escape. The trip through the gravel however removed the remains of the front splitter, (already damaged in race 1 when a car 5 seconds a lap slower than me turned in on me when I was alongside), so that. combined with the worn out tyres let Alvin past towards the end of the race (an inspired choice of slicks by Alvin!), and gave me a 3rd place finish.

2 thirds in class, when at mid morning it looked like we were going home, as I said Highs & lows! Without the help of Paul (to call him my mechanic does him an injustice) it would have been impossible to race. His motto is never give up, and he sticks to it. Please, if you could, add this last bit, if nothing else, into your report.

David Roberts
Mixed weather had everyone on their toes: the morning's qualifying was damp, but everyone went out on slicks. My Tomcat felt wonderful... plenty of power, nice balance, and loads of grip.

The car was fast and I was clearly enjoying it more than most. In fact too much - we were catching people up just too quickly. I was on a real flyer after about 5 laps (I'd hooked up every corner spot on but caught a gaggle of Clios by Deer Leap and nearly smashed into the pit wall in my desperation to get by (damn that would have been fast, moreover the start of the next lap was also compromised (pahhh)!

Unfortunately, I didn't get another chance - I started getting a bad vibration and eventually lost drive, so didn't manage a really fast lap - very frustrating. However, I was still 11th on the grid out of 30, just behind Dan Crossley's Tomcat.

Xtreme Motorsport rushed up the M6 to try to resolve my problem - unfortunately there was no evidence of anything wrong - no oil leaks, drive shafts and flanges all OK. Only problem was a very short clutch travel (which they quickly rectified).

So out to race we went - now on a wet surface. Again, my Tomcat felt great, lots of grip (apart from a very slippy Druids and Old Hall). I got past Dan Crossley's Tomcat and Ian Craig's BMW M3 on the first lap, I was up to 9th and approaching Old Hall with far too much confidence - the tyres clipped the greasy kerbs and the back end started sliding - I corrected and held, I'd caught it yep we're OK, but no - SNAP round we went the other way and backwards into the tyre wall (ouch that was a big one!)

As the marshals appeared from nowhere, I quickly pulled the car out of the tyre remains and crept away from the scene of the accident (no sir, nothing to do with me sir, must have been those pesky Renault Clios)... I waited for a safe opportunity and rejoined the track in last place.

After numerous investigative wiggles I decided the car felt ok to continue and got straight back on the pace. WOW - we were back up with the pack after one fast lap!

I wasn't the only car exploring the wet limits and off-circuit moments were had by the Mondeo super tourers, Vectras and Clios amongst many others. Yellow flags were waving almost round the entire circuit... the only overtaking place was down the back straight and pit straight... so that’s what I did, nailing car after car including Dan Crossley's Tomcat (again) and Stephen Pearcy's 220GTi before the red flag was thrown (an ambulance recovered the very shaken Nigel Woodbridge to hospital - thankfully nothing serious).

Picture courtesy of James Roberts

The restart took ages, but at least I was able to examine the damage and realign my rear bumper off the rear tyre whilst on the grid - unfortunately a new door, bumper and three-quarter panel would be required (still the car felt OK). We were now starting from 17th behind Tim Morgan-Barrett's VX220 turbo. The rolling start exited the final corner, we were in the right gear and on boost and nailed it (three a-breast down the pit straight) by the first corner I was up to 15th (NICE) and had Nigel Ainge's Tomcat in my sights.

Sure enough, I quickly reeled him in, the next lap saw the two BMW M3's and two Tomcats separated by a couple of seconds screaming down the pit straight: looked great even from where I was. We quickly despatched the first M3 (Ian Craig), followed by the second M3 (Angus Dawe) on the following lap (over-powering him on the back straight)... must have looked great to see both Tomcats in formation screaming past the Beemers.

OK now up to 13th I quickly pulled away staying with the other Tomcat - he was faster in the straights but I would catch him in the corners - particularly through the Fosters complex. I was hanging on to the back of him, gradually seeing more and more smoke belching from his Tomcat, the last lap board came out… I was still close enough to have a go.

I nailed cascades, and was now right on him and approaching my fastest section, by the exit of Fosters I was alongside... and past him, almost in desperation the other Tomcat gave a last puff of smoke (it had had enough and expired!)

However, I was also worried about finishing, drivetrain noise started to remind me of how delicate my position was, as I entered Druids the car went light - "oh no just let me get to the finish!"

I nursed her home as delicately as I dare - crossing the line in 11th place overall (and 2nd of the 10 class C cars). Severe vibration had now turned to a harsh left-hand drag from the front wheel (no way would I make it back round). I pulled into an escape lane, persuaded the eager marshals I didn't need the fire extinguisher all over my car, and eventually crept back into the paddock in first gear through the delighted spectators… they obviously enjoyed the race!

By the time the car had cooled down, there was again no evidence of any mechanical problem, and Xtreme Motorsport conclude it was likely to be gearbox internal (probably the diff bearings). After my gearbox disintegrating at Croix last year I decided to not risk wrecking another and retired from race 2.

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