My first competitive trip to Curborough near Lichfield in Staffordshire proved to be a good start to the season.
After a 5 hour drive (not pleasant in a Kirkey seat!), I arrived at the B&B to be told they'd had a robbery the week before. Crikey! Anyway, I managed a good night's sleep and rose early to get to the circuit by 8am.
It's the first time I've driven Curborough for real (only the second time I've been there) and didn't really know what to expect in terms of times etc.
The pleasant surprise was that there were 4 MX-5s competing - myself, Barbara Fogden (2008 class winner), John Gallagher (a seasoned competitor but first season in MX5) and a guy called Rob who usually drives a single seater but turned up in his MX5 ('cause the race car was broken).
Format was the double-lap layout so two goes at the twisty bit and an excruciating hairpin.
First couple of runs were fact finding missions. I reckon it takes about 4 visits to a venue to get a good idea of where the corners are - never mind how to tackle them! Anyway, I posted around 75 secs on my two practice runs. Barbara was around 79 secs and John Gallagher was around 74secs. Rob was down at 72 secs!
I had a chat with Rob at half time and he and the guy next to me in a super quick S2000 gave me enough hints to get my first timed run down to 73.16 secs. Barbara was now around 75 secs and John did 72.58secs.
Rob was out of sight at 71secs.
Final run and I nailed the twisties but missed 3rd gear out of the hairpin and sat stirring the soup for at least a second (racing excuse no. 352). That cost me big time - I posted 73.06secs. Barbara posted 74.47secs and John 72.56secs. Rob did another 71 sec run.
So, championship honours go to John Gallagher but I'll get him next time!
Biggest surprise of the day was the speed differential between the different cars. The finish line speed trap consistently showed 69mph for Babara in her Mk1 1.6, 74mph for John in his Mk1 1.8 and 77mph for both me and Rob in our Mk2 1.8. BIG difference. This is the first season that anyone has entered a 1.8 in the championship and I think it will be the only way to go.
I'm off to Teesside on Friday and back on home turf at Kames on Saturday and Sunday.
Yee Ha.........
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