STUDENT BODIES AT THE STAGE FINISH

It’s been a really crazy few weeks. The Uni term has started again which means Formula Brookes has started its annual karting championship. The Opening event was entitled pre season testing and took the form of a series of open 10-minute test sessions to get the freshers used to the karts and circuit (Oxford Stadium) with a demonstration race by last season’s championship contenders.
 I went out in the first session and did a few slow laps to watch the new guys and then went to put some times in. I got my time in the session down to 23.67, a long way off my quickest lap of 23.11; I was a bit concerned but not too much. Then came the demonstration race and the start of the controversy that has rocked the two events so far. As this was only a demo race just to show some close pack racing and some good dices (and all manner of other showing off) no one was taking it that seriously and we started the race with a reverse grid, in theory anyway. I had scored the least points of the 9 drivers who were doing in the demo race last season, so I got to take pole. However in the warm up I had what I believe to be my most stupid motorsport moment ever (well maybe the time where I ran over my own bonnet at Lydden exceeds that!) I went out of the pits and did a couple of laps and instantly felt something was wrong. I slowed and went to lift my visor and as I did, almost took my helmet of.  I had forgotten to do the bloody thing up! I shot into the pits ripped off my gloves and threw them down on the track and got out to finish the session this time with my helmet done up!! The session ended and I returned to the pits to retrieve my gloves before going onto the grid. I headed for the grid picking my way between the waiting competitors but as I arrived to take up pole I found no pole spot as it was full. A marshal started yelling at me, clueless to what he was on about I got annoyed and drove a lap to take up last place on the grid.
The race started (to my annoyance as I was meant to be on pole) and I made a good start getting the jump on Craig Dawson. Arriving in the middle of the pack and then got sandwiched and lost ground, I then fell back into the clutches of Tony Simpson. Tony and me get on well and we had the mother of all battles passing and re passing more times than I could ever count. At the end I made a mistake and lost a bit of ground and as we are so close on pace I couldn’t pull back the gap he had got and Tony got the upper hand. A great race spoiled only by the mess up on the grid. As it happened I found out that the third place starter had rolled forward a place and left me no grid position. Otherwise the meeting went without a hitch.
And then came Championship Round One. It was to take the format of two heats per driver and a number of finals. Grid positions were out of the hat and I drew 2nd for race one and 7th for race six. The starting order was sorted in some chaos but did in the end work well. Sitting next to me in pole for race one was the ultra lightweight housemate of mine Scott (he comes in at 55 kilos and I weigh 71 and I’m not that heavy myself!!) So off the line he shot as I missed the lights and dropped to third. I battled away with an unseen driver who I could not shake from my tail. I did a rather quick lap and on the straight I had a look over my shoulder to see who it was harassing me. Who did I see but the familiar silver and yellow helmet paint of Tony. I gave him a thumbs up and we let battle commence. And so it went on, wheel to wheel, lap after lap, we lapped as one. Then two laps from the end, I heard an engine to my right as I came along the straight had a look and saw an all black helmet. Coming through the field was the 8th position man (and weighing 58 kilos) he breezed past Tony and me. It finished with me 4th and Tony a very close 5th.
The next heat put me on edge; starting from 7th I had made an average start and was running about 4th on the apex of turn 1, when to my surprise and anger I received a huge bang on my right hand side, and then again and again for the best part of a lap. I was trying to race but every corner I was being rammed by the same competitor. Looking to see whom the culprit was, thinking it was a fresher who had little or no experience and could be told the error of his ways quietly later, I was shocked to see an experienced racer who holds a competition licence. He hit me again very hard and half spun me. I dropped to the back and lost a lot of time. A couple of laps later (still annoyed) I threw it at the scenery but held it and put it back on the black stuff. After the race I had some strong words with the guy involved. He just shrugged it off as racing. Sorry but in my book racing may involve the odd accidental bump and a bit of door handling, not hitting someone until they spin out or crash.  I have no idea where I finished that heat but I missed the cut for the B final by a point. So starting the C final on pole I made a good start and led from an unknown fresher and Craig Dawson. Craig passed the fresher and got on with trying to pass me (I’m not as quick as Craig on a good day) but I was using every trick I know to hold him off. I was taking a super defensive line (but not weaving) and just making Craig’s job difficult. I was getting more and more pumped and wound up (I was still leading) and couldn’t understand why Craig was still behind me. On lap 15 the tension broke. Craig hit me, hard and I think possibly deliberately.  He claimed I bake tested him (I didn’t but I have now put it down to a racing accident).
What happened next was a little silly of me as I rammed him. When Craig hit me I lost the lead and he lost the chance of a win. So I hit him, I was furious. In the pits at the end of the race I was out of the Kart and straight over to Craig who shook his head and angrily blamed me for the whole affair. I saw red and lost my rag and told him just what I thought of his driving. In hindsight I think I was a bit stupid to react like that, I just thought Craig was better than to drive into someone because he couldn’t pass them. He probably is because what I didn’t know was that the guy who eventually won the race had been ramming Craig all race getting him worked up. Oh well that’s karting I suppose. Craig (with my support) has protested the guy who won. All together round one threw up three protests and as yet no final result. I feel that amateur motorsport is not the place to trade protests but being a committee member I have now to decide with others a solution to the situation. Bugger! The next round should be better. In the mean time I am aiming to do some Scatters and 12-cars to get ready for the NSMSC.
Also a new body is being set up to control student motorsport – the ASMS. It should be something big and make some major changes to the way some things operate.

No top ten this month, as I can’t think of a good one!

Gotta go I’m hungry

Sam Collins

P.S. Just got back from the Rally of Kent – great stuff. My first time marshaling. I was on the finish line with a nice chap called Roger. I was however a bit underwhelmed by Formula Rally. But the Clubmans cars were mega! At one point I thought Daren Hall was a goner for sure as a 106 sailed past me with no brakes and clearly couldn’t stop for Daren’s control and at one point it looked sure to skew left into the timekeepers. Well it’s great fun this marshalling lark and I will be back!!

The Acorn : November Edition