RC racing again, and fresh out of movie references. This installment of twaddle concerns round 5 of the SRS, held at The Clanfield RC track, which although is near Clanfield, I would say is more Hambleden, and has never moved sites in the 11 years it's been going. Anyway, enough of that.
Nice and late start as I live only 8 miles away and booking in is open till half 9. It never used to be this late. I later find out out by a reliable source that it's because of the locals and that racing can not start till 10am, but at the same time, there are perfectly audible barking arse dogs at 9am in the dog kennels up the road. Bloody nimby bastards again. As my wife would say: "I bet they all vote tory too", but that's soooooo another story left to be told never.
I roll in at half 8 and get set up. Turns out my starter box isn't set, even though I set it up when I got it, so engine out at lots of twiddling of allen drivers ensue. Tony Bolwell did do a toilet speech, but it wasn't his famous toilet speech, oh well, I guess you can't carry on with the same phrases forever, ok guys?
I've not been on this track since 2009, and it's changed a lot, for the better I may add. Back then it was loose, dusty and pot holed, and easily broke up during a days racing. Now, years later, it has been astro'd in some places, but still dirt everywhere else, but oiled now too, and as such, stayed consistent all day long.
Right, let's be quick and to the point here, Round 1 of Q: 6 crap laps, eyes watering on the rostrum, unable to judge the left to right and back again segment due to it narrowing, undulating, & bending. Only 2 people I beat didn't actually start.
Round 2 saw me improve in time but not a place, Fellow SWorkz guys Stumpy and Kevin Brunsden had been on hand for pitting and tuning respectively.
Round 3 saw advice from Stumpy turn out fruitful and I manage a 7 lapper, happy days.
The Final, I plum for new tyres and Tony RC is pitting for me. I'm 11th in the C Final, not impressive in the slightest. I make an ok start and a lap or so in I'm reeling people in after getting some kind of rhythm going. 7 minutes in and I'm pitting for fuel and up to 7th. I leave pit lane,.......and cut, after Tony Scotts frantic effort to get me going again, it cuts again, we change the plug, it cuts. Game over. The new tyres were shit hot though.
Quite disappointed that the engine had let me down. It's always ran as clockwork and been reliable as the day is long, however, now it has let me down, I've lost faith in it, time for a new one. This is how I struggled years ago I think, I'd have a cheap engine, and struggle, and struggle more, and try and get round the problem. Nowadays, I bought a better engine and had better days due to it's reliability, now that engine has stopped doing that, I'm not fucking about struggling with it like the old days
The track, I found it hard to judge a couple of bits but over all, fun to drive and like the Kent track, there's a learning curve. I think everyone apart from Bolwell himself and maybe that forum guy Tortoise-ei8ht, has taken the piss out of Clanfield for one reason or another, or both, over the years. However, having now been back after all these years, it's as good as I remember it ever has been.
(and not a hammer in sight)
