PCGB Race at Castle Combe

[964RS]

The build up to race day was interesting. Torrential rain and traffic jams en route to Castle Combe. A 4.5 hour journey towing a race-car with an estate car in traffic is not much fun. A bag of Fruit Pastilles helps though! []

Saturday night I ate out with the Strasse team at the Bluebell in Castle Combe which had great food and attentive staff. I'm sure we left well after midnight. [8D]

Sunday we went to the Pitch and Putt (BIG letters outside stating so) centre near Castle Combe to be informed that they stopped it 4 years ago as a result of a lack of interest. We then went karting (7 of us) in a hangar near Chippenham. Never again will I forget my gloves and helmet for a karting session - the smell of sweaty gloves! Ugghh. []

Sunday qualifying was at 0830hrs which called for an early start. The track was dry but I was slower than last year. Only the second time I've been to Castle Combe (racing excuse number 1). So I qualified near the back.

Race 1 practically everyone had dry tyres on but it started to rain just before the start. I was expecting carnage at the first corner having witness too much aggro in previous races this year, however we had a reasonable start. I backed off to make sure I had clear vision of anything happening but lost track of the pack in front of me. I started to pick up the lines of the front runners in Class 1 as they overtook me. My times started to improve and I realised I was far off the line into Bobbies chichane and I had been fearful of putting my foot to the floor after Camp corner (start/finish straight). My times started to improve towards the end however I'd run out of time.

The afternoon rain appeared as forecast and wet weather tyres were fitted. More before the start and mid-race. The race was shortened from 25 minutes to 20 minutes. My start was much better and I took 5 cars off the line. Lost 2 places when they managed to recover but started to pull away. Unfortunately - disaster - got my braking very late into Bobbies (good), the ABS kicked in (good) but I started to slide (I was warned about it being slippy in this chichane but hadn't experienced it - I obviously hadn't been trying hard enough). Then I hit the tyre was head on. Managed to push through and recover to the track by which time I'd lost my places. The blower stopped working and the screen misted up. Agghhh. I had to back right off. Decision was to either pit or push on. I decided to keep going. I managed to make way for the Class 1 runners but got clipped by Marcus Carniel as he tried to undercut me after Bobbies. the nudge pushed me off and I span and was running backwards alongside the barrier. The car had stalled by this time and took what seemed ages to re-start. No trouble with the starter motor this time. I managed to limp it home for a finish and only moderate damage to the front PU and badge panel. []

Overall a bitterly disappointing race day for me. 10 points per race is probably all I've pick up out of this. []

I'm really thinking that it is pointless being in Class 2 unless you have a 968. I'm considering now whether it is worthwhile doing Silverstone in September. [&o]

 

[RSGulp]

Sorry to hear you had a disappointing weekend. Stick at it Paul, you've gotta be in it to win it..!

 

[Melv]

B*gger!!

I know it's a time thang but the odd track day with an instructor with local knowledge would help you no end.....it's worked for me!! []

 

[Neil Haughey]

ORIGINAL: 964RS
I'm really thinking that it is pointless being in Class 2 unless you have a 968. I'm considering now whether it is worthwhile doing Silverstone in September. [&o]

Thanks for the write up Paul. I was feeling really gutted last week not to race at Combe, was a personal decision for me not to hit the CC, even though I would have paid it off within a couple of weeks its my one golden rule with this lark. However I am glad to avoid yet another wet weekend.

I half agree with your sentiment about the car, keep complaining to Steve as sooner or later he has to listen. Its not just the S2, its even worse for anyone wanting to race a SC (which is a huge shame IMHO) and to be frank as good as Stuart's boxster looks in the corners it is just dog slow down the straights. I said half agree and the reason for this is that looking back through the history book of results its still theoretically possible to win in an S2, thing is though the car would have to be perfect and driven 100% to do it, and then only on the circuits that suit the car. Combe and Silverstone however are the tracks where the gap is going to be most noticeable due to the high speeds and long straights. Silverstone will not be funny and given my dead season I am also half thinking of not doing it and concentrating on getting track time in the car instead. The fact which many don't get is that its not even about out and out lap times. When Marcus caught me for example at Silverstone last year I could have easily blocked him off as his car was only fractionally quicker on the straights and I can brake late, I did it for a bit of fun with Ross as I knew he was secure in 3rd, the mini mates battle with him was my highlight of the weekend. He was going 4 seconds a lap faster in the catch up laps so had way more pace then me at that point. With the 968s different story, most of them bar a couple just drove past on the straights, would take rule busting multiple moves of epic proportions to block em off which is not really what any of us want to see surely.

 

[MarkK]

I can Sympathise with your frustration Paul,this racing lark is not easy,we put a lot of effort into these races and often the outcome can be a let down,especially when an uncontrollable factor like rubbish weather comes into play,wow that was horrible eh? especially race 2 ..(My biggest spin ever ever ..at least 2 full 360s at a fair speed [&:])
Really hope you come to Silverstone I am sure the great guys at Strasse will get you to come,you have an awsome team there some of the nicest people I have ever met at the track.You all looked cool huddled up in your A team van!!
Hope to see u at Silverstone with Sunshine,smiles and ice cream all round[]

 

[Hacki]

Tough luck, Paul, better luck next time.

Thanks for keeping us posted, there´s better news to come.

Hacki

 

[h_____]

A bit different to the last report then. The long hours and endless towing, and bad weather are all just part of british club racing. IMHO opinion if you do mixed class racing you need to accept that someone will always have a more competitive car than you. No good now you've got a 944, but racing in a single make / spec series (boxsters / 924s etc) will at least level the field. Otherwise, one way or another you need to get your head around the challenge.

That said in CSCC at Mallory, there were stacks of 944s this weekend, and one going for the outright win (was driven really really well).

Then even when you've got all those things right, it will still go wrong some days. There will still be times that you will be thinking why the hell do I do this? Stick at it!!

Oh and I hate combe, in the wet its a nasty place, and yes I've lost a car at hammerdown and broken the front chassis in the wet. Not a good day, but there is worse.......

And although you dont want to hear it right now, try testing the day before if you dont know the circuit.

Keep at it, we love the reports - and you are out there living the dream (dont forget it!).

 

[carreraboy]

Unlucky Paul .... faint heart and a pig (pork) comes to mind ... it's more than obvious the 944's need a better weight penalty ... keep going and only brake when you see the white's of the marshalls eyes!

 

[vitesse]

Paul,
Really appreciate your honest ,true to life reports-just waiting for the glamour of racing to appear.[&o]

 

[h_____]

ORIGINAL: VITESSE

Paul,
Really appreciate your honest ,true to life reports-just waiting for the glamour of racing to appear.[&o]

They might not be much glamour, but the buzz is fantastic and very adictive. Sitting on the grid, watching the lights count and then go out, there is nothing quite like it.

Its what makes the rest worth while.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Keep going Paul!!! []

Race report now up on the club's motorsport website:

http://www.porscheclubmotorsport.co.uk/news/sumpter_and_eacock_double_combe

..interesting that Pete Morris tried out the traction control in his 996 in the wet conditions...shouldn't be allowed! (even if it was no use as he says in the report []).


Oh...and great to see that Mark Sumpter is still showing them all how good 964s are. []

 

[964RS]

Thanks all. I've lost too many points through the suspension failure and the poor show at Castle Combe. Let's see how the weather is nearer the time for the Silverstone rounds. I'm not interested in a repeat of the wet rounds including Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Castle Combe.

Link to the race report on Porschesport.com:

http://porschesport.com/Wet%20and%20Wild%20Ride%20for%20Strasse%20at%20Castle%20Combe.html

 

[ChrisW]

Telling it how it is, when it isn't going well, is a brave thing to do ...

And if you can do that, then you can deal with the rest [8|]

The good guys are very good, the good cars are exceptional ... and test days and tuition would boost a lot more than your morale []

I suffered the same last year and took a rest this year.

Even the track days are now expensive in tyres and brakes --- and every instructor has their own way.

But, this is only your second season .. and how much have you learned ???

We need a plan ....

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: ChrisW

But, this is only your second season .. and how much have you learned ???

I'm sure if Paul looks at his times last year he'll see that he's going quicker in his class 2 944 this year, than he was in the class 1 968 last year. Although you had more than your fair share of problems with that car last year, I think it still shows the progress he's made in a relatively short time. []

 

[964RS]

Thanks Steve. I did actually get a good haul of points by finishing the races. The weather was the worst I've experienced on the track - worse than Rockingham last year. Several times I thought about pitting the car - turns out several others thought it. Brian Robinson did finish early - understandably as it was Paul L's 968 he was shaking down.

Yes the times are coming down as I'm getting familiar with the car. Castle Combe I had little experience of. The same with Silverstone but we get 3 races which helps.