Once again, the car was superb. Drove down on the Friday in convoy with a couple of TR3s. Sorted out a minor problem with the brakes (new brake pads - backing plate rubbing on the hub) when I got down there and then a nice "nana nap" in the early evening. Did a hillclimb early Saturday morning. A 150m run in a relatively straight line before a chicane and then a fantastic series of left right bends and curves (apex to apex to apex to apex) to finish at full noise (6500) in third. Had a problem with fouling plugs in the stop start run to the start line which meant the car was breaking down at revs off the start line until plugs came clean (about the time I was swearing and cursing and changing into third). I was running about 41 seconds but felt a sub-40 was definitely there. For my last run, I got a couple of mates to push me to the start line. Nice and clean through first and second and I knew this was the one. It was do or die through the twisty bits and I came away with a 38.3, piping all but two of the Escorts (there were many!!) Brilliant!!
Pub for the afternoon and then an early start on Sunday. Driver's briefing at 8.30am. All you usual guff (don't do anything silly as this event is totally unique - don't be the fool who kills it). Essentially, we are "recreating" the way motor racing in Australia started (and continued for quite some years) – street circuits around towns with straw bales to "protect" the spectators and make the circuit. Of course, the straw is now concrete and this event in Albany is one of only two sanctioned by our national motorsport body. Pity about the experienced driver and one of the head guys in the organising committee who stuck his Alfa into the wall on the first lap or the first race, causing a chain reaction of nose to tail accidents with four other Alfas. Hopefully this has no major ramifications (over and above a major delay to procedings and marshalls sorted it out), because the event is absolutely brilliant.
Personally, I had my best weekend since puttting the car together. I was one of a few road registered cars placed in with the historic touring cars. I had four fantastic races with these guys, running well in the top ten and not holding anyone up. It was wet for half of the day, and my car was particularly good in the damp conditions. The highlight was chasing for the entire race an XUI Holden Torana (think slightly larger Vauxhaul Viva circa early 1970s with 3.3 litre straight six - Peter Brock won Bathurst in 1972 with one), and then having the driver apologise for holding me up as I approached him to say thanks for the entertainment!! He was one of several people who commented on just how good my car was under brakes and through the corners, particularly in the damp.
The silver Sprint has competed in many events now since I completed the build around two years ago, with pretty well no problems worth talking about. The only thing that would make me happier now is some more power at the rear wheels so I can challenge some of the faster cars in a straight line and not just under brakes and the corners. It took quite some time for the smile to disappear from my face after the weekend.
Some pics - hope you like them.
Cheers
Paul Roberts
Perth, Western Australia
