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Rockingham 3/4 April 2004
Race report from David Penlington
So a brand new circuit for the CFFC. The opportunity to drive at this, the most
modern and expensive circuit in the country, was going to be some
experience. The massive stands loomed
larger and larger as you approached and the adrenaline glands could not help
but stir after a 6 month winter lay-off.
The facilities did not disappoint. For visitors in the paddock, all it took was
a short walk underneath the main straight, a lift ride and they were presented
with what must be the highest spectator point in the country. This vantage point offered a perfect view of
the track where there was no hiding place from the knowledgeable racing enthusiast. My only small grumble was that there were no
changing rooms. Maybe they think that
everyone who comes to Rockingham has motor homes, but for me, alas, it was the
customary change into overalls in the car park!
Qualifying
Arriving at the circuit the question on everyone’s lips I’m
sure was ‘would the circuit dry out in time for qualifying?’. Having tested on the previous Friday morning
when the track was damp and took all morning to dry, the thought of having to
qualify on a greasy track and ‘push’ around the banking gave a rather
unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach.
That concrete wall on the outside of the track, from a driver’s
viewpoint, is intimidating to say the least.
Ten minutes before we were due to go out I took the
opportunity to have a walk down the pit lane to have a look at the track
conditions at the chicane. There were
patches of light and dark tarmac with a definite shine on the black
patches. This was going to be fun!
As it turned out by the time we actually set off, the sun
was out, there was very little wind and the track was bone dry. Perfect conditions to set that blistering lap
time……...!! Then disaster. Going through
the chicane at turn one on my out lap, the car suddenly wobbled and then shot
right, towards that very solid looking banking wall. This was definitely not due to those damp
patches I had seen a little while earlier.
I managed to avoid contact and recover to the pit lane where the rest of
the qualifying session was spent looking at the clock, while frenzied activity
was taking place on my broken suspension.
No luck and it was a very disappointed driver who emerged thinking that
he would not even be able to race.
Thankfully a very kind Clerk of the Course allowed me to go out with the
qualifying FF2000 boys and start the race from the back of the grid.
Meanwhile it was all action on the track with a great dice
for pole position between Paul Walton and Anthony Wills, closely followed by
Simon Davey. It was Paul who emerged the
victor pushed hard by a very strong performance from Anthony. Richard Shelton unfortunately suffered a
problem with his car and found himself in the unusual territory of being in the
bottom half of the grid. Next most
notable performance was Dave Malpas, who had never turned a wheel at the
circuit before. The Race
Lining up at the back of a mass of cars, I thought to myself
I would just have fun and try and stay out of trouble. There was no way, I thought, I could get a
good result and so there was no point in taking any un-due risks. Off the line everyone got away reasonably
well…and I managed to gain a few places going into the first corner. Everyone protecting the inside line, leaving
a clear run around the outside. As the
lap unfolded, my focus on racing gradually heightened as the opportunities to
overtake presented themselves. This was
becoming far more fun than I had anticipated.
I had managed to gain about 6 places, when the unfortunate incident
between Richard Shelton and Steve Bradley brought out the red flags.
So it was back to the grid and back to the back for me! Round two.
The re-start was again ok for everyone, except for the spluttering Lotus
of Dave Lowe. Everyone behind managed to
take avoiding action and not hit his rear end.
This somehow created a slight opening in the traffic ahead for me
(thanks Dave!) and I managed to gain quite a few places into the first hairpin.
As I came out of the corner I was side by side with Colin Williams and was
faced with going into the tight right-hander two abreast. Full credit to Colin who kept a tighter line
all the way through the corner and didn’t try and push me off the track. Next up was a fast charging Dave Malpas. I managed to get close going into the infield
hairpin and he was forced to defend and slightly compromise his line. I took a very wide exit (the one where you
drive across the rumbles that lead into the back paddock entrance) and we found
ourselves aiming at the same piece of track from completely different
angles. Again superb driving from Dave,
who could have easily closed the door and put me straight into the
barrier.
At the end of the first lap I was 5th and looking at the back of Anthony Wills car. It was then that I realised that a result could be on the cards. In the next lap Simon Davey had an unfortunate moment ahead, but I didn’t see why as the gearbox of Anthony Wills was hampering my visibility as I tried to line up a move into the hairpin that precedes the long run onto the banking. I had been struggling all weekend with what gear to use at this corner. It was right in between my first and second. Second was too slow on the exit and first meant pretending I was in a rally car and sliding all the way around. I must have got it about right on this lap as I managed to squeeze by Anthony on the exit and had good momentum to get in the tow of Paul Walton.
From previous experience I knew Paul wouldn’t let me pass
without a fight. I guessed he could see
me looming large in his mirrors and so held the middle ground on the track
waiting to see what I would do. I made
my move down the inside and instinctively, as is his right, he moved across to
push me further and further down the banking.
With the corner looming ahead this was definitely going to be
interesting. It got to the point where I
was half a cars length alongside of him and had been forced off the banking and
onto the flat dusty surface where the drains were!! Not a piece of track that I had ever thought
I would use.
All I can remember thinking was I haven’t got a clue what
the grip is like down here and please can I get back on the racetrack! This was not only a new experience for me but
apparently also too for the race commentator, who said he had never seen an
overtaking manoeuvre using this part of the track before. Our wheels were only inches apart when
thankfully Paul let me go. If he had come over any more we would have either
touched or I would have taken the short cut down the pit lane! Very close, fair racing right on the limit. This was definitely fun.
I was then clear and managed to post my fastest time of the
day. On the next lap oil flags came out
when the unfortunate Oliver Robinson deposited his water and anti-freeze
contents at the first hairpin. As I
braked on the normal line I had a major moment and subsequently kept well clear
of the racing line for the following laps.
I guess Paul and Anthony may not have experienced this and gradually got
closer and closer, to start and put on the pressure on. Paul had a massive ‘moment’ at the 1st
chicane dramatically taking out the bollards and Anthony missed his braking
point a few laps later at the same point ditracted by a wayward plastic bag
that was floating across the track.
A huge thanks to my sponsor Tresham Institute from | |