Aftermath: Palmerston North 08

Well I can't review what happened at the Teams Event as I wasn't there, but after the messages I was sent from the event I was expecting a fair amount of bent steel. I must say I was surprised to see the car looking pretty good. From discussions with Bryce and Dad the car performed very well and had good pace, in fact after the consolation race some other drivers even past comment about well the car was going.

As for the teams racing Bryce said he was happy with the first race, the car took and gave a fair number of hits. A couple of hard hits into the wall caused the engine stalled but with a quick hit of the starter and the engine would fire first time which allowed him to keep going. Even with 2 flat tires, a twisted front beam and a wheel guard bent hard in on the inside rear he still managed to do his job.

A huge thank you to all those who helped to repair the car after the first race. I was told that up to 10 people were working on the car replacing the front beam in quick time. Unfortunately Bryce sat out the second teams race which concluded with the Auckland team out of the event.

In the consolation races on the Saturday night, Bryce began the first race around grid 6 or 8 and ended up about 10th (out of 30ish) which is fantastic. Unfortunately in the second race a car from Kihikihi (possibly Grant Mytton) ran up and over the side of the car puncturing the front wheel, bending the front shock mount and also cracking the inside rocker cover. Without a spare the car was loaded up into the truck.

Not to bad, if the next race was a teams event, this would have just been covered with knead-it and taped up. But as it was just another consolation race, no sense in causing kneedless engine damage.

Once the car comes out of the truck we will check the car over well and be trying to get it racing this weekend at Waikaraka.

So finally hard luck to the Auckland Allstars, as I didn't see the race I don't know what happened. As with every teams event I'm sure there is some sort of controversy, but well done to Palmerston North. I don't think anyone doubts that the cars and drivers make a great team, and the promotions put on one of the best events of the season. But for everyone's sake stop stretching the rules and make it the greatest event. If at the drivers briefing you say that drivers can't change cars once you go through the pit gates, then keep to it regardless of who it is. 3 minutes is 3 minutes, all cars need to be weighed etc etc. I know it sounds like picking, but a lot of people spend a heap of time and money getting the cars ready and there to race in this event , not for anything else than the thrill of teams racing and all they want is a level playing field. The sport has rules which all should follow, otherwise what's the point?

Oh and finally I know I shouldn't type this (as it is all second hand information to me) and I might be asked to remove it but, from what I hear Bryce did well in the first race and the car took and gave out as well as it got. So why the heck was he then stood down for the next one? It defy's logic as from what I hear the second race was nothing like the first and after Warick was taken out there wasn't enough blocking going on. I also heard from people sitting in the stand that the section they were sitting in also commented about Bryce standing down. Sure after the repairs he didn't have full left hand lock, but had plenty of right hand. Also I hear that someone said Bryce would probably be stood down as he was in my car, along with someone else close to the team saying that he shouldn't have either bothered bringing an under prepared car. I'm sorry but if this is correct and was said by a person part of the team then 1, that really annoys me and 2, hopefully they come up to me and explain then why my car managed to do its job, drive off the track, be repaired and ready to do its job again for the next race and be one of the 3 cars running for the saturday night? Unless of course they are also saying that Bryce didn't do his job in the first race?

Oh well that's enough of a rant for now. All I know is that after last season loaning out parts for no thanks, and now loaning out a car and getting rubbished on, I'll struggle to find a reason to help next time.

Catch ya.....MadPhil