Lydden - 23rd October 2010

The last round of the year took place at Lydden Hill on 23rd October and promised to be another damp horrible day.

As expected the day was very grey but I really hadn't expect the circuit to be a slippery as it was, far worse than the wet day we'd had earlier in the year.

I really struggled to get any temperature into the R888's and as a result had quite bad traction issues with the car constantly feeling like the back end was going to brake away.

A spin on the practise run and seeing the fairly large dent in a skyline after the first timed runs resulted in a slight lack of confidence as I wasn't intending on taking the car home on the back of a recovery lorry so I held back from pushing the car too hard.

Result was some disappointing times, around 13s off of my best at Lydden this year in the Honda and a fair few seconds off of the wet times in the summer.

At least most others seam to be struggling as well so I ended up 5th out of 9 starters in my class which wasn't too bad and won the best Tunbridge Wells Motor Club member.

I believe the result leaves me 2nd overall in the Tunbridge wells motor club all circuits championship which was the only championship result which was yet to be decided going into the last round.

A huge thanks to all the organisers, clubs and marshall who have made this years sprinting possible, fingers crossed I'll be back next year, probably in a new car but not sure what as yet

Debden - 3rd October 2010

Arrived at Debden under some very grey clouds expecting heavy rain. A good turn out of 15 cars in class meant there should be some close racing.

The first practice run took place on a damp track which as always proved entertaining in the S2000 on R888's

Luckily the track tried for the second practice and first times runs where my times were 75.26 and 76.62 respectively.

After the first run I was in third place in class and looking forward to a more attacking 2nd timed run, however the weather stopped that as it started to rain.

Ended the day 3rd in class and 27th/86 Overall.

The result today meant I had managed to win the Sevenoaks & district motor clubs speed league and come first in class and 2nd over all in the Association of central southern motor clubs speed championship.

Just the TWMC all circuits sprint championship to be decided at Lydden on 23rd October. I'm currently in second place overall with the class win already decided. The overall championship is still achievable so all to play for at the end of the month, fingers crossed for dry weather.

Brands Hatch - 12th August 2010

Another fairly eventful start to a sprint when I had to spend most of the evening before repairing the front wing to the point I could compete having hit a deer on the way home from the Brighton speed trials the day before.

Arrived at brands hatch slightly concerned that the organisers would be less than impressed with my taped up front wing, but luckily they were fine and the first obstacle was overcome. Having read the provisional entry list I was not expecting to do all that well as there was a Lotus elise and the modified S2000 of Matt Carter in my class.

As it happens Matt who I was sure would have beaten me around Brands Hatch had also managed to have an altercation with an animal in the form of a cow and wasn't able to compete, therefore leaving the competition wide open.

by the end of the sprint I finished 1st in class which was a very welcome result and not expected with a time of 98.96s which was a good improvement over the previous years event in the Integra type R and achieved my goal of a sub 100 second run.

Brighton Speed Trials - 11th August 2010

Not really the ideal event for the S2000 but the 1/4 mile run down Madeira Drive, Brighton is an event I've fancied having a go at for a while.

Due to license restrictions I was only able to run in the handicap class which meant just one practise and one timed run. Managed a 1/4 mile time of 15.48s which is about what I expected leaving me 30th out of 56 in the handicap class.

North Weald - 29th August 2010

The 29th August saw anther trip back to North Weald for the Sevenoaks motor club's sprint. Unlike the last attempt at this event I thankfully managed to have a less eventful journey to the venue, avoid the local wildlife.

Due to the poor surface and being a tight git I opted to run on the standard road tyres rather than the Toyo R888's which were likely to suffer from significant wear on the old concrete parts of the course.

The predicted rain managed to stay away until the beginning of the third timed run, but for some reason my times rather than improving where dropping off slightly over the 3 timed runs.

By the end of the second run I was looking good for 2nd in class behind the MX5 of Mark Robbins, however It wasn't to be as Ross Martin in the other S2000 managed to go quicker on his third timed run to push be into third in class by just .03 seconds. best time of the day was 80.56s

Lydden 14/15th August 2010

Rain, another spin and fastest time at Lydden all in one weekend.

Another early morning start on the 14th August found me heading off to Lydden looking at a weekend of very mixed weather.

After the usual signing on and drivers briefing we started practice on a wet Lydden circuit, the slippery surface isn't ideal for the S2000 and self preservation kicked in leaving me second in class after pra

ctice with Mitchell Perry out in front in the clio 182.

after a brief spell of torrential rain we were back out for our first runs, a signifiant improvement on the practice time was welcome but as everyone else had also improved I stayed in second place.

By the time second time runs took place the track had dried significantly so I was determined to put in a good lap, unfortunately I went into Pilgrims a little to fast to find a small amount of standing water, just enough to help me spin, oh well something to stick on youtube! as everyone else had improved with the drying track I was now last.

luckily the rain held off of third runs and I was able to put in a reasonable time of 91s, which left me in first in class although I'm not to sure if the third runs will count for all or any of the championship positions.

As this was a double header the second round of the weekend took place on Sunday afternoon, the rain had gone and I could concentrate on improving on my previous best time. The second run gave me my first sub 90s, 1 3/4 lap run of lydden and the third run of 89.88s improved on this.

Another successful weekend completed and great trophy for the collection, back to North weald in 2 weeks, somewhere I've struggled in the past so am hoping the recent good form continues

Goodwood 07.08.2010

After nearly a month off it was back to Goodwood at the beginning of August for the Brighton and Hove Motor club Eagle sprint.

First practice run was on a very damp and slippery circuit and whilst entertaining wasn't particularly fast.

Thankfully by the time the first timed runs started the track had dried out and I could try and push the car a little harder, without so much concern over the tyre walls which always seam very close at Goodwood.

First timed run was 105.07 seconds which was an improvement of over a second on my previous fastest time at Goodwood and left me running first in class.

After lunch it was time for the second timed run, a time of 105.6S wasn't quite as good as the first but still better than I'd previously achieved. Unfortunately the competitor in second place after the first run bettered his first run with a time of 104.5 so I ended up second in class but still reasonably happy.