Getting on top of the pits...
Well, it has been a while since I dropped a line in here to update on how the team is progressing. But between uni and everything else, we at L&L have been very busy little beavers indeed! So, here I am to tell you all that has been going on of late!
As you may have noticed from the website (Also sadly needing an update of its own!), L&L last competed at round 2 of the NSW state championship at Eastern Creek Raceway. This was an awesome weekend for all involved... Well most of it. In true style we bowed out of the last race, 2 laps from the end as the engine dropped a valve on the straight. I sadly had to pull it into the wall as my baby died and had to sit as I watched the rest of the cars in my category finish... But the whole story of the weekend really puts a bit more of a happy slant on all that... if that is at all possible.
Friday April 28th, 2006
It was decided that the team would miss the private practice day at Eastern Creek to 'Conserve' the engine... Formula 1 style (Good thing as time would tell!). But the team loaded up and shipped out with renewed enthusiasm for the weekend ahead. Once arriving we found that we were going to have an awesome weekend racing wise as fellow-newbie Shane O'Brien would be making his racing debut in his 'Pretty' Polar. Once setup, once again joined with Brown racing team, we all sat back and had a pretty cruisey afternoon, knowing that Eastern Creek as a track can cause some stressful moments over the duration of a weekend!
Saturday April 29th, 2006
Finally, after 1 year out of the NSW road racing circuit, Lasts and Lasts Motorsport were ready to make their comeback! With all systems a go and the car starting first time to get down to scrutineering, the weekend was well and truly underway. We were determined that EVERYTHING would run to the marshal's time (Unlike qualifying the last round we were here! Almost missing it completely!) and that we would just get on the grid.
So with qualifying out of the way shortly after, we found ourselves on the grid for Race 1 in no time at all! A little wet weather in qualifying proved to be interesting for a few of the competitors who had just moved onto the new tyres for our category, but it was fun nevertheless. Race one saw me actually in the thick of some action for the first time in my state championship career. Finally, I was pitted against some drivers whose cars had about the same capacity as mine... But this was a short lived joy as I saw Shane O'Brien overtake me with sheer power at the lead in to turn 5. On the outside and EVERYTHING! I was so shocked!
I did my best to keep up but Shane continually pulled away in the remaining laps and took a position 1 higher than my own! Not bad for a debut mate! But I was desperate to get my own back!
Sunday 30th April, 2006
Scrutineering is always a great way to start a day, and this one was no different. Once through we prepared for race 2 of the weekend. My passion to get back above Shane not dimmed by the few hours we had been away from the track. Once out on the grid I took advantage of a good start and got down to the business of setting some PB's and keeping Shane and Mark Williams at bay. But after about turn 3 of the first lap I didn't see them again until we had all pulled in for a random check on weight and ride height in scrutineering. I had actually beaten someone! Now I am not one to get a big head, but this was the first time I was given the opportunity to actually get in the car, set some good times and not have people's names below mine on the timing sheet that hadn't had some sort of misfortune...
I was pumped for Race 3 as I knew that if I could just pull off the same sort of start that I would be in good stead to bank some points. Even of guys like Ryan Stott had exponentially (Literally!) more points than I did, I was going to make sure I had some sort of respectable placing come presentation night! hehehe...
So, out to the grid we roll. I get a GREAT start, but this time Shane and Mark are right there with me. And Shane stays very close for a LONG time! Then about 4 laps out from the finish I accidentally let him through and he pounced! As Shane pulled out in front of me I figured if I could just stay with him until the top of the straight, I might be able to slip stream him then slingshot in front... Great plan in theory... but very hard to pull off for my first time.
As I pull in close behind him at the top of the straight I feel the air start to pull the car along and start going faster than I probably have ever been down Eastern Creek! I get my shift to 4th in somewhere in there and prepare myself to pull out of the stream and try and overtake on the outside of turn one. I fail, but not miserably. Somehow Shane just still had something left. But he did leave the door open around turn 2 and I took my chance to pounce. As I got in under him in the inside, I realised that I might have a chance to get my position back. But no luck. Shane ducked around again in the same spot he did in race one and I was back behind again... But still holding close.
As I held on for dear life again, passing the part of the track where I had had my major sausage last year, I tried once again to slip stream Shane to get me down the straight fast enough to keep up with him. I knew there was about 2 laps to go and if I could put the pressure on, maybe he would slip up. But no luck. As I moved into position behind Shane again, my engine gave its last. With an almighty "POP" I heard what I latter learnt to be the valve dancing on top of the piston, eating away at my poor dear engine.
As I pulled over to the pit wall I gave the gearbox a bit of time off and coasted to a stall just below Dad on top of the pits. I could tell that this wasn't going to be good, or cheap. As I sat in the car and watched the rest of the cars go by on their final lap and then cool down, I waited for a tow to take me back to the pits. I cringed the whole way. Knowing that Dad would simply put this down to our run of "Bad luck" at Eastern Creek. Once back Dad and Jeff surveyed the damage. Whilst I had managed to not leak a drop of oil this race (As opposed to a mystery leak for the rest of the weekend!), we knew that something was very wrong by the sheer fact that we couldn't turn my baby over.
So ended our weekend. Thankfully it was race 3 and not 1 that it occurred in and that I was able to get in some serious racing before that time came. It was by far the best weekend (Apart from the last 5 minutes or so) that I have had in racing. I finally got to actually RACE.
In the in-between time since racing Dad has been admitted to the Emergency ward and released again(Yeah Dad, not getting out of rebuilding the engine that easy!) and is as we speak in the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand(At Poke-A-Kiwi of all places!). My engine is in the shop being pulled down in preparation for Round 4 at Oran Park and we are looking ahead. In order to get up some free driving time I have been working for a top group called Meditrak who attend alot of race meetings as medical support. It has been an awesome experience and steering the Ford around Oran Park has taught me that for cars like that there is LITERALLY only one line through in some places... (Especially through the S's!).With plans in the works to launch a new team initiative called "Team Pink" (Goes like Stink!) and with other ideas of building our own car from scratch (Any ideas for names guys?), things are still looking up for us. We are still planning on chasing the goal of a top 5 finish, even though it seems very far off at this point in the season, with the start that we have had... It is always good to have a goal in mind...
We would like to thank our sponsors Embroidme Liverpool, Bare Co. Ag. Services and Coastline Printers of Wollongong for all their support through the season. We will still be in the game and doing you proud.Heres to Round 4 guys!