Unfortunately, I haven’t had enough time or money to complete the rebuild as I would have liked, but we have tried to end up with a fast and reliable car. As it turned out, we had issues in both races (even though we ran a test day on the Tuesday before) and they hampered progress quite badly.

It’s a long old run up to Snett in Norfolk. With Dan the Mans T5 loaded up with car, wets, tools, spares, Me, Big Col (Dulfords), Neil (TVRcarparts), Dan himself and overnight kit…it took a while. Still, 5 hours later we were off loading for a few beers and prep for a later than usual “Scute” and “Qualy” next day. Scrutineering was no probs, until the car wouldn’t restart. Turned out to be an isolator switch on the steering wheel, so an easy fix. It was Qualy before we knew it.

Weather was great, but having never run (or seen) the new 200 layout before caution was the order of the day. Four banker laps to ensure we’d be on the grid the it was back in for a once over. The car was good and the news pads were bedding in. I told Col that I wouldn’t push too hard, but if I found some space I’d do one hot lap. I did, so I did. Then back in. Blimey, I’d Qualy’d 4th and was on the second row! Result!

Race1 and we were all glad that the weather was still holding. A strong start saw me hold 3rd for the first few corners before Kev flashed past on the big straight. You can’t hold back the GpA cars on the straights. They weight the same but have an extra 70+ bhp, Jamie Golby’s also has a sequential! All good fun hanging on where you can though. After 4 or 5 laps playing with Kev Gore and Darren Smiths GpA cars, 5th gear lets go. With its 2 big straights, Snett must be the worst place to lose 5th, but fortunately the rest of the box JUST holds together allowing me to maintain a reasonable pace. That said, I was loosing 2 secs per lap and I lost around 30 secs when it went looking for a gear and checking the box out!
A few laps from the flag, I started to catch Keith, Darren and Kev again. They’d all had issues, either with the cars or with spins and the sight of them back in view spurred me on. Dicing for position on the last lap, I managed to slip past Keith for GpB 1st, but was blocked by Kev. Keith was lightening fast on the outside with the overlap, so I ran as deep into the corner as I dared. Keith overdid it and slipped into the gravel on the very last corner. He recovered, but I had already pipped him to the flag for an ecstatic class win and fastest lap. All with a stuffed box!

The box was changed in about an hour ( a spare was borrowed from Tim Broughton) and with a couple of minor changes to set up, we went off to the bar for a well deserved Bailey’s or two. After all, it was my birthday!

Race2 next day and the Gods were with us again with a dry race. God loves TVRs. With an unknown Gearbox and a new set up, I decided to take it easy again on the start line. This time several GpA cars got away, with Jason Clegg getting a blinding start to pip me for 5th into Turn 1. Keith also piped me on the back straight as I tentatively put it into 5th for the first time. I wasn’t too bothered as I new I was quicker through both the complex’s and it was a long race after all. Seeing a gap at Corum, I put my nose up the inside…only to have it snapped off by Keith. We rubbed before I could lift putting him sideway at the infamous new corner at 70 miles an hour on cold slicks! He held it well and I fell in behind. Staying with Keith, he locked the rears into turn 1 and span out. Right, I thought. That’s given me a nice gap, all I have to do is pace the next car behind and I have Race 2 sewn up. Just as the words “Sewn Up” came into my head, the clutch went to the floor and I had no gears. Frantic banging of the pedal yielded no pressure and the chasing pack roared past as I struggled to find a gear…any gear. After half a lap or so, I was happy that 4th was there and was the only gear I could circulate in. A finish is a finish, so I went for the rest of the race in 4th only. 500 to 6500 rpm…it put a lot of strain on the engine so once again I tried to limit the revs and wear. The car held on well with the gift of a red flag a couple of laps from the normal finish time as Kev Gore clashed with the tyres, and lost. I was classified. Phew.

From the title of the piece, I’m a glass half full kind of guy. With a major failure in each of the races I came away with a class win and class fifth, keeping me in the hunt for the Championship. I wasn’t the only guy with issues either. Humacher Marshall lost a win in race one due to gearbox failure. Jason Clegg also had one let go in race 2 and as I’ve said, Kev Gore went off with some damage. Dave Chant (Tasmin) and Cliff Jobson (T350) both had miss-fires and Tim Broughton and Leigh Jones had some problems too. If you haven’t come to the races yet, I suggest that you come along. There’s always something going on!

Brands Hatch is next, on 11th/12th June, hope to see you there.

Videos of both the races are in our galleries as are the pics