The day was a big learning experience as a competitor. They reportedly let 285 cars run which meant it took too long between runs - 1hr 28mins between 1st & 2nd and then 2hrs 08mins till the 3rd. It progressively got better after that but still 50mins between 4th & 5th runs at 8-9 o'clock. Too bloody long when its all over in 14 secs. You also don't get to see other cars run.
I am looking for a good driving school to perfect gear changing - make that just how to find the gears! Its harder than you think when your trying to beat the clock. On my second run I missed 3rd three times and on my 5th run I was trying to pull reverse instead of 4th. Good thing it didn't go in but people in the stands confirmed the reversing lights came on!
Its a bit like trying to do a perfect lap at a track, you have to get your launch right with no wheelspin and then not muff any gear changes. I didn't manage to successfully combine any good launches (too much wheelspin except for the last) and then missed gears when the rest was OK. The secret is not to try too hard, relax a bit and drive it like you drive on the street - well not quite. A shift light would definately be a big help so you can optimise gear changing points.
Anyway I beat sbutler in the 1st after he tried to launch too hard and got a big axle tramp so he had to short shift into second. 14.304 @ 99.85mph v 14.965 @ 101.26mph and we both wondered what it took to crack a 13 sec pass.
Didn't take long to find out when in the 2nd run I finally got 3rd gear after 3 stabs for 14.213 @ 96.24mph v Steves 13.591 @ 100.43mph!!!!!!!
Steve acheived his goal and called it a day but I plugged on looking for that elusive 13 secs pass. I thought its a good thing there are no BA guys out here, they might even have a chance at this rate of failure on my part.
Three more passes and I still couldn't get it right. I was definately on my way to a 13 something on the 5th run as I coasted the last 70 metres trying to pull reverse at 160kph!! Finished with a 14.33 @ 84.94mph so it would have been a good run if only I found 4th gear and finished at 100mph plus. If only!!!
I ran low 14's on 4 passes for a best final speed of 101.79mph.
So the car has the ability judging by the finishing speeds but the driver needs some more practice. Might go back for another crack at it after installing a decent clutch - mines glazed and lets go at times so need some better equipment to perfect those launches
Shayne
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