9th of April marked a Sunday, it was no doubt also someones birthday, it wouldn't surprise me if it was also some inane "National something day", like National Percy Thrower day or some such, the kind no one actually gives two fucks about. However, it was also the first round of the 2017 South Coast RC Summer Gangbang, its unofficial name I hasten to add. Unfortunately, it clashed with the Truggy National in Kent, so a few regulars were missing, thus making its attendance lower than it would be normally. No matter, I chose to run the Sworkz Evo 2 and its Pro 8 Italia engine, which last saw use at last years Slough SRS round.
I'll admit it was only a half arsed attempt on my part at first. The alarm went off and I'd had such a shit weekend so far that it was a toss up between that, taking a motorbike out for a few hours or more diy. I chose to go racing. Pitting next me was a recent Sworkz/Answer RC signing, Andy Sullivan, we strike up conversation and exchange ideas, as he too is driving the Evo2. It's all good in Sworkz corner. I have a few laps practice and soon realize it's a damn sight more nimble than the truggy, and I will need to make some changes to the car. It also turns out it's the hottest day of the year.....so far, sending the mercury rising....hang on....that sounds familiar.
1st round of Q and I get 5 laps, which is a bit pony, even by my standards. Not helped by driving over the bank or cutting as I leave pit lane. Amongst a couple of chassis changes, I change tyres for the 2nd round, going from Schumacher mini spikes in yellow compound to Pro-line Pinpoints. Which felt like a mistake at first, but having paid good money for the bastards and only used them once, I decide to persevere. I made a couple of other changes and try a couple of things with my driving, and I manage the mid/late 39s. This was enough to plonk me in the A Final.
First off though, my services as pit man are requested by fellow Sworkz driver and car park neighbour Andy. Who is in the B. Due to low numbers though, marshalls double as pit men with drivers having to drive to their pitmans marshalling position to refuel. This was to become party to Andys undoing though as I didn't notice he had cut as I was marshalling. I fuel him up and try to restart the car but to no avail. We swap plugs, still nowt. As it turns out, he told me afterwards, his glow starter was flat.
Final time for me, and I'm dead last of course, but the A is still the A. Simon Asquith was politely press ganged in to being my pitman, as he has done so before, and being of electric pursuasion, he needs the practice. I get off the line successfully and being last, I navigate the inevitable first corner balls up that usually gobbles up a third of the cars. Unfortunately, my throttle connection pops off the carb 7 minutes in, leaving me going nowhere fast. I finish the lap though as a lack of throttle return meant the carb was open enough for my car to move under it's steam. I reconnect and get back out. Only for it to happen again, so a DNF for me I'm afraid. Still, that's racing and just like the National Lottery, It could be you.
Once home and the circus unpacked from my car, I did find the front prop shaft had loosened off the pinion, thus loosing drive at the front. Also, an ominous notchy feel and noise coming from the rear gearbox, so a stripdown is in order which will result in those good chaps Pete and Karl at Answer RC sorting me out in exchange for some GBPs
So, with some track time once again under my belt, I'll hopefully be in a better position next time. I have a few massive projects at home though so racing will not be a weekly occurrence. I'm putting a fence up to hide my neighbours conservatory, much to the neighbours annoyance, so that could get messy (if you've seen a recent fb status of mine, you could take that either way). There's also a summer house and a patio in the pipeline. All with my fair hands. So stay tuned.
Stay safe kids, and remember, Cadburys Boost is slightly rippled, with a flat underside.
