National Rnd 1 Frankley

[Bren]

The season opener & the love hate relationship with astro. The UK's climate encourages the clubs to go this route with most clubs north of london taking that option as racing can continue. So its easy to see the northies love & us southern boys hate it as we are privileged with well prepared dirt tracks that is the generally loved surface.
For me just the shear distance from Frankley meant i was unable to race the winter series or warm up event so was up against it before i even started. Jon & Reece for team xray had sorted a very good setup so as a team our cars were competitive it was just down to lady luck.

I'm glad our days are too short to re-seed after practice as you can probably sense for me just getting to grip with the shear amount of it was hard work & it was not too hot, but each lap getting more confidence on how hard i could push with each lap getting faster & more onto the pace.

Rnd 1 For me a good steady run a couple of mistakes as still learning costing  9+ seconds. Potentially a top 10 time was in there so happy but in round in the 20's but confident. Jon a good run to go 6th & Reece 11th so all 3 cars on the money but just bren to get his act together.
Rnd 2 Some little tweaks for me & a faster car, one mistake only  putting me again on the 20's but still happy. Jon another 6th & garanteed A main place now..
Rnd 3 Happy with pace as lap times were now on it or as close as i could for me. Clean run till nearly the end when Howlers & Jon inched up to me, I intentially ran wide to let Howlers through & tucked in behind perfect i thought no time lost. I looked like the basher from hell now as i did not expect this, howlers slamed on the brakes through the centre double where i then caught him a peach leaving both cars sprawled on the floor. Totally gutted had ruined his A final run & for me a top 10 time sorry bud just really did not expect him to brake. Jon put in a 5th in round which again made my error look even worse, Reece another good run .

For the finals as it stood Jon was 6th, Reece in the B & 8th, & Bren 8th in the C. For me happy so far as today was all about damage limitation on a surface i do not race on enough.

My final - a good start & up to 3rd, 4th onwards was battling & allowing me to get away. I was catching the first two & feeling happy in my position & pace, kind of went wrong now & jumped into some netting putting me back in the pack. Now it was a real battle with the car struggling to compete or feel as composed, the 10 minute stop gave me good position but i blew & lost any advantage gained with a real duff couple of laps so back in the battle. Still in 4th but 5th & 6th right on my tail & defending hard. The leader came through to lap & being told to move over when he had nothing to lose when the bump up spot was being hard fought was a poor decision by the referee but what we have to live with. Pulling wide to let him through put me off line, 5th & 6th took full advantage im now 6th with 2 minutes to go. I got 5th back but the 4th was just not possible & crossed the line 1 second back. Great race the loss was my fault mid race & the referee decision did not help. enough of me.

Reece drove a great B to finish 3rd & into the A couldnt see much as i was marshaling

The A, Jon had a good start not losing anything with all the front runners holding station. Reece an error gave himself a lot to do from way back but drove a great final to finish 11th. Jon's pit crew caught in the dilemma as 10 minutes did not fall perfect & he was in early d'oh, this cost him as I stood in as the Boss & had to do a splash right at the end as i knew he would not finish. Jon knowing the extra stop was coming pushed harder but cost himself in a couple of errors coming in, remaining in 4th would be close but the crash cost us & 5th was the final position. still a great drive & good start for the team well done guys..