April 2011
My 1st race of the 2011 season showed great potential, with 6th place out of the 20 starters.
Having not even seeing the car since winning our class at the Birkett 6 hour race I was slightly anxious going out in qualifying. I finished the session about 1/2 second slower than 2010 giving me 8th on the grid.
At the start of the race I made a good start (over the last couple of seasons I've got them sorted), by the 1st corner I'd passed 2 cars. However I was then blocked losing me a placeg on the turn in to Druids, 2 laps later I was past the slowing Nova of Pip Hammond. Then with 2 laps remaing Derek Rozier spun his 205 GTI allowing me to battle for 5th - narrowly missing this by 0.5 secs. With my last 3 laps being below the 1 min target it marked a sucessful meeting.
The season started in January for me with 2 days helping on the 750mc stand. The Thursday seemed quieter than 2010, but things picked up on the Friday with more existing and potential competitors around.
2010 Season
October - Silverstone 6 hour relay race
This may have been the last race to be run on the old grand prix layout. The team consisted of Carl Swan, Dame Cottrill (both fellow Stock Hatch racers) and Paul Collam (BMW).
Won our class on Handicap and 2nd on scratch
August - Silverstone
Race 1 : Started 26th Finished 16th (4th in Class)
Race 2 : Started 13th finished 8th
July - Cadwell Park
Race 1 - started 18th, finished 14th (5th in class) - lost 5 places by spinning by own mistake on last lap
Race 2 - started 20th, finished 18th (4th in class)
April - Brands Hatch
Qualified 20th (5th in class) but unable to race due to engine problems
March - Snetterton
Race 1, started 21st finished 17th (2nd in class)
Race 2, started 34th finished 29th (2nd in class with fastest lap)
Race 3, started 21st, finished 17th (1st in class with fastest lap)
Race 4 DNF - engine blown
2009 Season
June 2009
Competing at Brands Hatch in rounds 8 & 9 of the 750mc Stock Hatch Championship a season best finish of 6th finish was achieved a feat that Jenson Button could only match at the British Grand Prix.
In Saturday’s race a great start moved me to 4th from 8th on the grid by the end of lap 2, however the race was red flagged due to a car rolling at the notorious Paddock Hill bend. On the restart a steady start saw consolidation of 8th position before performing a couple over taking manoeuvres at the down hill Graham Hill bend moving him up to 6th by the end of the race. During the race I posted the 3rd fastest lap of the race just 0.4 secs outside the existing lap record.
Race 2 saw a starting position further back on the grid in 12th place, so a top 10 finish was the target one that was achieved. Another good start moved me to 11th on lap 1 before moving up to 10th with a great overtaking move around the outside at paddock Hill. The last 4 laps saw close battles and passing two other cars before losing a place back on the last corner as running wide attempting another overtaking manoeuvre, before taking 9th at the chequered flag.
May 2009
Cadwell Park
Following a promising race at Castle Combe, the next race was at the Lincolnshire Cadwell Park. The circuit well deserving its nickname of mini-Nurburgring and being regarded as the most challenging in the UK.
Race 1 - a good start saw progression from 22nd on the grid, and by lap 5 was up in 2nd in class. However all this was ruined when the oil warning light came on and retired on the side of caution. Following overnight engine checks the car was fine for the 2nd race. However at the start a poor start was made due to being unsighted of the lights. A mutli car accident on the first lap allowed a number of cars to be caught and passed before 15th place was consolidated - 5th in class.
April 2009