Basher’s Blog

Silverstone Coys MG Live July 10^th-12^th 2009

Friday July 10^th Weather Overcast/Windy

We arrived at Silverstone early on Friday Morning expecting 2 Test sessions followed by Qualifying in the Afternoon, however due to Clutch problems which took the whole morning to repair the first look I got of the International Circiut was as we headed out to Qualify!.

I pushed as hard as I could but was obviously at a disadvantage having not been able to test and ended Qualifying 14^th overall and 5^th in class.

Saturday July 11^th Weather Showers/Windy

The Cars assembled in the collection area and whilst waiting to take to the circuit in started to Drizzle heavily, as we took to the circuit it was borderline as to weather I should change to Wet Tyres but I elected to stay on Slicks.

I made another great start which is getting to be a habit! And made up 3 places to elevate me to 11^th Place, however halfway through the Hairpin I was hit by Charles Hazell who had outbraked Himself and used me to stop! I was knocked sideways and down the order to 20^th place, I wasn’t happy and pushed as hard as I could best I could do in the 6 laps that remained was 17^th and 4^th in class which in the conditions was not too bad but would have been better if I hadn’t been hit!

Sunday July 12^th Weather Dry/Cloudy

Sunday was a much better Day and I made an ok start to hold my position and held station until I asked too much of the Tyres on the start of Lap 2 and spun 180 degrees to face the pack coming straight at me!

As soon as I could I set of I pursuit in last place, and very unhappy with Myself, over the last 6 laps I drove the car probably the hardest I ever had, making up 6 places finishing 14^th overall and 4^th in class, with very tired rear tyres and a car sounding a little sick but still driving ok.

I was unhappy about the spin but very happy with my performance to fight back up the order.

And so we head to North Wales and the Anglesey Circuit for rounds 9 and 10

Brands Hatch May 29th - 30th 2009

Friday May 29^th Weather Dry/Sunny/Hot

The Team arrived early on Friday Morning for the Test Day, after Fueling the Car and the usual System Checks I headed out onto my favourite Circuit my fastest previous time being a 58.3 seconds on an earlier Test Day, after the sighting laps to warm the Tyres and Brakes my Times were immediately into the 56 second mark and stayed around this time for most of the Day until late in the Day the team put on my new Tyres to “Scrub them in for a couple of Laps, I couldn’t resist going for a “quick one” and ended the Day with a Lap time of 55.5 secs.

Saturday May 30^th Weather Dry/Sunny/Hot

Saturday dawned with a beautiful sunny Day, We were qualifying quite early so the Team led by Katie the Chief Engineer set about getting the Car ready for me.

Qualifying went well and I held 7^th on the grid for most of the session until the last Lap when I was bumped down to 9^th overall and 3^rd in class still a great position and I was fairly happy with that although us Drivers are never 100% happy!

After Qualifying I was Presented with my new Crash Helmet by Jo and Mark from Jo Taylor Custom Airbrush Artwork and I have to say I was blown away by the quality of the paint design they did for Me, if you need a Crash Helmet Painted these are you’re People!!

Cobra Insurance were also represented and I really appreciate the support.

Race 1

I made a great start and made up 2 places straight away and then started to try to settle into a groove however when braking into the Druids hairpin the Car tried to push on and in was apparent that the throttle was sticking and would not drop below 3500 revs, I lost 2 places trying to get to grips with this and was then able to keep my position and nurse the car home, finishing 3^rd in class after a little scrap with Phil Standish who was having his own problems and finish 4^th behind me.

Race 2

Again I made a great start but lost 1 place in the jostling for position at Paddock Hill Bend, and another at Graham Hill Bend when I had to back off as Doug Cole almost lost control in his ZR in front of me, I expected another fight with Phil but after a couple of laps his engine expired which left me pretty much alone for the rest of the Race

I backed right off however in the last 2 Laps after suffering a bad vibration the I thought at first was a Puncture but fortunately was just caused by Rubber “Pick up”.

So the race finished with another 3^rd in class and a happy Driver and Team.

So now on to the “Big One” at Silverstone!

Oulton Park Rounds 3 & 4 May 9^th 2009

Firstly I would like to welcome Cobra Insurance and Jo Taylor Custom Airbrush Artwork who join us from this weekend as Primary Sponsors, a very big Thank you from all at TGR Motorsport.

Thursday 7^th May 2009

We arrived at the circuit at 7.30am and set up for the following days’ testing.

Friday 8^th May 2009

The Team arose around 7.00am and after breakfast proceeded to finalise setup for the days’ testing.

Session One -  I went out on the circuit for a few sighting laps and to bed in the new brake pads that were fitted also to familiarise myself with my new “Set up” on the Car and after coming back in for the car to be checked briefly, went back out onto the circuit to slowly build up speed.  No times were taken for this first session as they were not going to be good as I had never been out on this circuit before

Session Two - I didn’t go out as some adjustments were being made to the car.

Session Three – I went back out on the circuit with a view to get some good lap times and started to push after a few laps to warm the tyres, ending the session with a spin (so at least I was pushing!).  A best lap time of 2:06.1 was achieved, which although not a fantastic lap time, certainly impressed a few people for my first time on the very Technical circuit, also I lost well over a second on that lap due to being pushed wide by another competitor on the last corner.

Session Four -  After having spun twice during the day and realistically going as far as I was going to for that day with that setup, it was decided to sit out the final session. Discretion being the better part of valour.

Saturday 9^th May 2009

Qualifying was early at 8:55am and so we all took to the circuit weaving to warm our tyres, after two laps I found I had a knocking from the front of the car on high-speed left hand bends, so I decided to get two “banker” laps in before coming in to have the problem checked.  After a quick check no immediate problem was found and it was decided the car was safe to continue, so out I went again.  I pushed as hard as I could but had lost some tyre temperature in the pits and so the official timing said I had a best lap of 2:07.9 which I knew I had gone quicker and the Team timed me on a 2:06.3, some 1.6 seconds quicker.  This was solved later when one of the track officials told us that they didn’t get all of our lap times as our timing transponder was working intermittently, which was both a relief and disappointment as I knew I had done a better lap.

Race One

I lined up on the grid in 13^th place and as the red lights went out had a reasonable start, not losing or gaining any positions and for the first few laps waited for the tyre temperatures to come up during which time I overtook one car, who then stayed quite close behind me to keep me honest!  This car soon got smaller and smaller in my mirrors as my tyres came in and I set off following Zak who appears to be my Nemesis for this year.  After closing in on Zak for a few laps I made a brave move to overtake him into the first chicane by out-breaking him which I made stick, not realising it was also the last lap of the race.  Going into the last corner of the lap I was very slightly off line, possibly due to watching my mirrors, which caused the rear end of the car to come round on me on the exit of the corner and going into a 360 degree spin.  As soon as the car was straight I was already back in gear and on the throttle, however Zak just managed to pip me at the line.  I crossed the line thumping the steering wheel in frustration but I guess that’s racing!   I finished 13^th overall and 3^rd in Class.

Race Two

I lined up 15^th overall on the grid 3^rd in Class due to my lost lap times during qualifying.  At the lights I made a fantastic start and shot straight down the middle of the pack, only to be blocked by two ZR’s who squeezed me, allowing Zak to come up past me and get the line for the corner.  I then set off in pursuit of Zak as I wanted to make amends for my lapse in Race One.  I looked in my mirrors to see the same car behind me that was also behind me in Race One.  He then continued for a few laps to follow me closely to make a few moves on me to overtake, however I was able le to keep him behind me and then pull away as I did in Race One.   I could then concentrate on chasing Zak and was never more than a few metres away from his car, until the safety car board and yellow flags came out after three cars had a coming together at the hair-pin.  We continued for two laps behind the safety car until the Race was declared a result, which both me and Zak were disappointed in because we were looking forward to renewing our battle.  So at the flag I finished 9^th overall, making up 6 places and 2^nd in Class.  Again a very satisfactory result for TGR Motorsport in only it’s’ second meeting.  We continue to gel very well together as a Team.

And so to Brands Hatch I look forward to seeing some of you there!

Ash

Rounds 1 and 2 Donington Park April 4^th 2009

Fri 3rd April

Well the Team finally arrived late on Friday Night after an 8 hour drive thanks to the M1!, immediately my Engineers set about preparing the car for Scrutineering the next Morning, we finally settled down for the night at around 12.30am.

Sat 4th April

We all awoke around 8am on Saturday with the car ready to go we had a little time to relax. At 9am we took the car down for Scrutineering which after a little confusion over paperwork the car passed no problem.

I put my race suit on for Qualifying at 10.05 am and headed for the collection area.
The Cars rolled out onto the Track a little after the allotted time and I got my first look at Donington park as a Driver, making my way around the First lap gently at first while weaving the car to warm up the new Dunlop Slicks, on lap 2 I started to "squeeze it on" and build speed.
Lap 4- While coming down the back straight the Bonnet started to lift and it was obvious that one of the bonnet catches had come undone, so I was straight in the pits for it to be secured - then back out again.
Lap 6-Going through the first Corner I ran a little wide on the Exit and bounced over a little area of dirt, I used the remainder of the lap to clean the tyres, then went for it again on Lap 7. Seeing no reason for concern over my little "off", how wrong was I? on the exit of turn 1 I felt a little vibration which I thought odd? But with the car feeling fine I headed down the Craner Curves, at the bottom of this right left series there is a right hand bend called the "Old Hairpin" which is a hard braking area then a sharpish bend, however when I stood on the brakes to downshift to 3rd the pedal went straight to the floor!!, not what you want to happen there at all!, I had to think quickly and dropped down a gear then threw the car into a slide which luckily got the car round the corner and I was able to then limp slowly back to the pits with a rather odd feeling car, I pulled straight into my Pit Garage for a very quick diagnoses from the team of a collapsed near side front Hub!!, the Stub axle had snapped and was nowhere to be seen!.
I had qualified 3rd in class for both Races and 12th and 13th respectively overall, not bad considering I only did 6 laps, with the times of 1 min 30.080 and 1 min 32.512

Now the Guys along with Kaytee my Chief Engineer had 4 hours to repair the car.

Race 1

After frantic phone calls, begging, stealing and borrowing and help from loads of people who I would like to thank, the Car was ready 15 mins after we were called for race 1!, but we made it and lined up on the Grid.
The lights went out and I just went for it overtaking about 6 cars before the first Corner, I had to give 3 places back as I was on the outside line through the corner and the inside had the advantage, then I tried to settle into a "groove" after about 5 laps a ZR came past with ZAK written large on the side which I wasn’t having any of!, so off I went in pursuit and Zak and I had a little scrap which lasted for the rest of the Race with my car quicker but Zak covering his line very well so I was unable to get past, we were separated by 0.433 of a second at the flag.
I finished 2nd in class and 9th overall with a big smile on my Face and a fastest Lap of 1 min 27.346! Nearly 3 seconds quicker than my fastest Lap in Qualifying!

Race 2
As the Lights went out for Race 2 I got another flyer only to have the guy in front of me stop! I jinked to the right and had the inside line for the corner and so made up a few places, the field spread out a little over the next few laps until I came up behind 2 Cars on the back straight and thought "Right I’ll have you both at the chicane, I pulled to the right and they didn’t cover the line so with some hard braking and a little sliding I was through, I then got my head down and pulled out a 7 second gap by the end of the race despite struggling the get 3rd gear on the downshift since Lap 2,a problem which was evident in Race 1 also.

So at the Flag I finished 2nd in class and 9th overall again with a best lap of 1 min 27.134.

And the best bit was when at the Trophy Awards I was given a Special Award of Driver of the Race for Race 1.

All in all a very good first meeting for TGR Motorsport and I couldn't have done any of it without the Team working so hard and all of my Sponsors so a very very big Thank you to them all.

On to Oulton Park now!



Ash Shuttlewood- Director TGR Motorsport

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