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Mallory Park
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23rd May 2004
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This was the first and only race outing for
me in the TOM's 037F. |
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Testing
We tested at Llandow on Tuesday 18th for a shakedown after the recent gearbox / input shaft rebuild. The car was reluctant to start despite a newly re-built starter motor and
new starter linkage, so we needed to tow-start the car each time. The vibration problems for the driver was cured by using thicker foam insulation, although the vibrations were still causing components to shake
loose. The car went well at Llandow, recording times of 41.23 seconds, but was massively overgeared, resulting in use of only 1st, 2nd and occasionally 3rd. The exhaust fractured after 25 laps, so we needed to
remove it and get it brazed. After 36 laps the throttle cable snapped and ended the day.
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Qualifying
Prior to qualifying at Mallory, Dermot replaced the throttle cable and starter linkage, but the throttle was very stiff. It was not possible to change the over-gearing from
Llandow as we need to replace the crownwheel and pinion and I don't have a lower spare. This should be done prior to the next race at Spa. (I will not be running at Croft or Anglesey.) It was very difficult to
launch the car from a standing start, due to the very high first gear, sticking throttle and short clutch travel. As an added incentive, if I stalled the car (which was almost a certainty), I would not be able
to restart it due to the starter linkage being broken. The car felt good for the 1st half of the first lap, but at the hairpin I found it was very difficult to get round due to the first gear being far too high. I had
to coast around the corner in neutral, then feel the clutch out as gently as possible to stop the car powering into a spin. This cost me at least 1 second a lap, as it severely limited the exit speed onto
the longest straight of the track. Unbeknown to me, the vibrations caused the oil breather pipe from the camcover to come loose, which started blowing oil over the engine and exhaust towards the end of the
session. This caused flames and lots of smoke to come from the engine compartment, but no marshalls flagged me so I wasnt aware of this until I pulled into the parc ferme after the session. I finished the
session in 8th place from 27 cars, which was pleasing for the first outing. However, after qualifying I was informed that the race was oversubscribed, and that I would be placed on a reserve list unless someone
withdrew. I would then have to start from the back of the grid. Luckily for me, and unluckily for Richard Purcell, his engine blew in qualifying and he agreed to withdraw before the grid was signed off,
allowing me to race in the correct grid slot. |
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Race
I managed to get the car to the grid without stalling or catching fire, which was unexpected. At the start, the engine bogged down slightly, so I had to de-clutch and lost
some places. I regained 2 places round the outside at Gerrards, and chased down another couple of cars into the hairpin. I ended following Russ Giles for several laps, unable to pass as the problems with
incorrect gearing meant I lost a lot of time at the hairpin and straightline speed on the straights. I finally got past him around the outside at Gerrards again, when he was trapped by a back marker we were
lapping. I found out after the race that Russ only had the use of 4th and 5th gears for the last 3rd of the race! On lap 18 of 20 I was lapped by Jim Blockley who subsequently won, and in the process Andy
Keeling sneaked through as I let Jim by. This dropped me down from 6th to 7th place, where I stayed until the end of the race.
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