Waikaraka Park 05-11-05 - Superstock 73a

Well we are into it, well almost anyway.

The forecast was for late rain and yes it did arrive, but at least we got a couple of runs.

There were 6 cars, 4 from Auckland and 2 from Huntly.

The first race started on the new surface with 8A on grid 1 and myself on grid 2, going into the first corner I was trying for the inside of Graham Goldsmith when I got tagged on the inside myself, instantly I knew it was Philip (53a) his car is so quick of the start line. (He must ring the neck off that poor standard Toyota). Anyway he managed to get me completely sideways so I went to the back as the rest flowed thru.
Well I was now not happy and proceeded back onto the track, going into the second corner the car cut out. I mean no go, no lights no gauges, I reached for the ignition turned the key and I had lights hit the starter and I was away again, however now about to go down a lap. (Its amazing what can happen in a lap.)
I rejoined in the line third a lap down with the intention of getting either 1st 8A or 2nd 271H (Blair Neal) but I couldn’t make any headed way on either. Then 271 dumped all his water on the back straight which made for fun entries into pit corner, then over the course of the race I came up on 26a Lance Randell whom was running 3rd at this stage on his debut and he wasn’t going to bad.

(During the day we had tried all of the nappy jokes and what its like to hit the wall at speed, and also that after the cheek he had been giving me I told him if I saw him I was going to whack him.)
I had thought that there was no way he was going to beat me in his first race, I was getting a bit concerned however as it had taken to the white flag to catch him after my earlier indiscretions, going into cemetery bend I wasn’t close enough to tag him and if he wasn’t glued to his mirrors he possibly (like in a million years) could have stayed in front. However he got a little excited and drifted wide, now a few years ago Wayne my brother had caught a car here in the standard stock class and I would rate it as one of the biggest barrel rolls at the park. In the Super stock it would have been huge (remember this Lance) however as I am now a big softy, I passed on the inside with a soft touch I think? Even with this I think he hit the wall some where.

Oh somewhere along the way Philip had broken his gear box cable and had only 1st & R to go anywhere.

So the race finished 8A 816H 73A 26A 53A 271HDNF and out for the night.

Unfortunately 26A was finished for the night also as he had somehow bent some diff mounts.

2nd Race: Feature
This an all in with the Supers off the back of the stockcars, ie (almost a trophy race for the stockcars can they clean out a super stock.) I have raced stockcars and have in the past raced in with A-grades (or superstock as they are now known).
From the start it was thread the needle and to be honest I was running at best ¾ throttle then as we got to the front things where a bit more interesting as the guys started taking shots, I did not intentional drive over the front of one of the stockcars. I just had no where to go, just a quick note to the guys whom did take a shot I know whom you are and that should we have to race together I will be making sure that you don’t get another chance. To the other racers all we want to do is run the cars and try and keep out of your race, so if you hold your lines we will try and stay out of your way.

Just a note for those that like to think that stockcars are as fast as the Superstocks,

Stockcar: 2nd gear 1.68 diff 4.3 @ 6000 x 86inh right rear Theory = 108kph

Superstock: top gear diff 8.3 @ 7800 x 89inch right rear Theory = 127kph
Just remember that there is slip and stagger which drops these values by 10kph and these only compare horsepower values and not torque.

Anyway that was the end of the first meeting.

-Bryce

My First Palmerston North Teams experience – 2005 continued

Race 3: Christchurch

We had spent all day fixing the clutch in the car, and it was about 90% so that was close enough.

Auckland has only been in the final a handful of times over the years, so it was a great feeling anyway. Prior to the race I had been told that I had to look out for myself as it was expected that the Christchurch team where going to stop me.
This was some good advice as in the first corner three of them tried to put me up the wall. This did however let our other cars through to lead the race, one of the Christchurch cars sat holding me in the wall for about a lap when he back off and I thought that the track was clear so I started off, I had just got top gear when I was whacked in the left rear this turned the car 180deg and I was then pushed backwards into the wall.
Holy shit, this doesn’t look like much on the video but I couldn’t breath, my heart was pounding and every part of my body was feeling it. I managed to refire the car and get onto the infield, all I wanted to do was get out of the car and breathe again.
I managed to stay in the car and started to calm down this unfortunately took about 6 laps or about 2 min, by the time I got back on the track the race was nearly over and to be honest the brain was still rattling around.
I know that the rest of the team did what they could but we where beaten by a good and determined team.

Bay Park teams race next up date.