One small problem
Discussion
Been out today at Lydden to get my last signature, in Precision Racing's 2 seater Tuscan.
To cut a short story short, I left my brain behind and having qualified 3rd on the grid, forgot I was just there for a signature, started racing, spun and was subsequently collected by a Caterham. The Caterham was very badly damaged and the Tuscan sustained rear quarter and suspension damage. I DNF'd and thus did not get the last signature I need to get out at Oulton next weekend. Fortunately neither I nor the other driver were hurt, but this has put a major spanner in the works for what was to be my first Tuscan Challenge race next weekend.
I have aready used a day's marshalling for one signature, and will be on the phone tomorrow to try and get on an advanced ARDS course, which also gives an acceptable signature. Whether I can do this in time for Oulton is doubtful.
If anyone knows of another means by which I can get a signature by Thursday (a midweek race?), please let me know!
In the meantime, thanks as always to Steve Howard from Insane / Precision for all your help. I really appreciate all your hard work to get my car ready for Oulton and I am so sorry to have messed it up today.
Andy (feeling a bit of a pratt)
To cut a short story short, I left my brain behind and having qualified 3rd on the grid, forgot I was just there for a signature, started racing, spun and was subsequently collected by a Caterham. The Caterham was very badly damaged and the Tuscan sustained rear quarter and suspension damage. I DNF'd and thus did not get the last signature I need to get out at Oulton next weekend. Fortunately neither I nor the other driver were hurt, but this has put a major spanner in the works for what was to be my first Tuscan Challenge race next weekend.
I have aready used a day's marshalling for one signature, and will be on the phone tomorrow to try and get on an advanced ARDS course, which also gives an acceptable signature. Whether I can do this in time for Oulton is doubtful.
If anyone knows of another means by which I can get a signature by Thursday (a midweek race?), please let me know!
In the meantime, thanks as always to Steve Howard from Insane / Precision for all your help. I really appreciate all your hard work to get my car ready for Oulton and I am so sorry to have messed it up today.
Andy (feeling a bit of a pratt)
Oh Bug*er!!
So, no 5, 6 & 7 in the awning then?... just 5 & 7 as usual :-(
I can just imagine Steve shouting:
just get your signature, stay out of trouble!
Did you listen?.. nope.. the dreaded red mist takes over and 'plonker' mode sets in.
If the force is strong you must learn to use it.
Hope you manage to get something sorted this week.
Later
btw.. I'm saving the abuse and wise cracks till the weekend.. I'm up to no.274 at the mo :-)
So, no 5, 6 & 7 in the awning then?... just 5 & 7 as usual :-(
I can just imagine Steve shouting:
just get your signature, stay out of trouble! Did you listen?.. nope.. the dreaded red mist takes over and 'plonker' mode sets in.
If the force is strong you must learn to use it.
Hope you manage to get something sorted this week.
Later
btw.. I'm saving the abuse and wise cracks till the weekend.. I'm up to no.274 at the mo :-)
Well, what can I say. After a night's sleep I don't feel any better about the situation. I am embarassed and disappointed in equal measures (not to mention even poorer!) but the worst part remains knowing I have let Steve down.
I am anticipating a load of abuse at Oulton, but this will be pretty minor in comparison to how I feel now about letting Steve down after all the support he has given me.
As regards getting out for Oulton, the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but I think I can hear here warming up...
>> Edited by griff2be on Monday 7th July 12:43
I am anticipating a load of abuse at Oulton, but this will be pretty minor in comparison to how I feel now about letting Steve down after all the support he has given me.
As regards getting out for Oulton, the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but I think I can hear here warming up...
>> Edited by griff2be on Monday 7th July 12:43
) .Mark said:
Andy, that is bad news indeed, I really feel for you!
Don't be too embarrased though, at least you were out there trying, giving it your best shot.
Sh1t happens out there, you were just unlucky, keep your hopes up things will be OK.
Thanks Mark. The embarrassment comes not from the spin/contact, but that I allowed myself to get sucked into racing. The stakes were pretty high - I only needed to finish to get my chance to play next weekend but I couldn't resist giving it a go. Bloody silly really!
The fat lady still hasn't sung though, and some wheels are in motion ...
griff2be said:
The embarrassment comes not from the spin/contact, but that I allowed myself to get sucked into racing. The stakes were pretty high - I only needed to finish
Yeah but when the red mist comes down your sunk... i think its also somthing that comes with experience...
just be thankfull you only need 6 signatures untill this year you needed 10.
The daftest thing i've ever seen is one guy ram up the back of another on the first lap of qualifying taking them both out of a double header weekend so you've got a way to go it the stupid stakes yet. Racing accidents happen. I suppose the important thing to learn it why did the accident happen and try ( says he still trying to get the tyre marks off the taz) not to do it again.
G
If it's any consolation, I lost the All Circuit Sprint Championship at Lydden a few years ago by crashing at Paddock on practice. I only needed to be within one place of my main rival but as a result of the damage, I could only manage a time that was about 6 seconds off my normal sprint time and I ended up two places adrift and lost by one point!
A whole season down the drain! Pushing too hard when I should have taken it easier.
It is a hard lesson to learn but if you learn from it that your head needs to be control sometimes and there are other ways of winning championships than winning every race, then it will be positive and you will be stronger for it.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
A whole season down the drain! Pushing too hard when I should have taken it easier.
It is a hard lesson to learn but if you learn from it that your head needs to be control sometimes and there are other ways of winning championships than winning every race, then it will be positive and you will be stronger for it.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Andy, how much of the race did you complete? Did you talk to the Clerk of the Course for the race? I have seen instances where clerks have given signatures where the driver has not finished - you see it more ususally in endurance races where the driver has driven his stint and the car doesn't finish - I'm not entirely sure what the Blue Book says on the subject - but if you're desparate it might be worth approaching the Clerk although time is not on your side (might have been more useful if I'd read this earlier in the week!).
I don't think that getting a drive in something else of the same bill works (although mini's are at Oulton as well), AFAIK the MSA have to process your upgrade it can't be done by the admin staff at the meeting.
Good luck!
I don't think that getting a drive in something else of the same bill works (although mini's are at Oulton as well), AFAIK the MSA have to process your upgrade it can't be done by the admin staff at the meeting.
Good luck!
Hi Piglet
Yes - you are right, the MSA have to process the licence and until they have, you are not covered under their insurance so you don't get to race.
I didn't manage to get the signature in time, so will be out at Rockingham instead.
There is an advanced ARDS course which gives a signature - one day of one-to-one tuition. Only Silverstone Race School told me that this course had not been ratified by the MSA and thus they, and Aintree, could not run it. I spent most of Monday and Tuesday last week on the phone to eventually find out that Silverstone were talking rubbish - the course has been running for a while now. The worst bit was finding out I could have done the course at Aintree on Tuesday... grrr
Ah well - perhaps it was not meant to be. Roll on Rockingam....
Yes - you are right, the MSA have to process the licence and until they have, you are not covered under their insurance so you don't get to race.
I didn't manage to get the signature in time, so will be out at Rockingham instead.
There is an advanced ARDS course which gives a signature - one day of one-to-one tuition. Only Silverstone Race School told me that this course had not been ratified by the MSA and thus they, and Aintree, could not run it. I spent most of Monday and Tuesday last week on the phone to eventually find out that Silverstone were talking rubbish - the course has been running for a while now. The worst bit was finding out I could have done the course at Aintree on Tuesday... grrr
Ah well - perhaps it was not meant to be. Roll on Rockingam....
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