Tuesday 31 May 2011

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Before Brands Hatch and After

Before

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After

 

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Sad smile

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Poor Tigger. Currently in Cat Hospital getting mended.

Thank you to everyone that is helping get Tigger back on his feet. Get Well Soon. I miss you x

Saturday 21 May 2011

Teacher tears up the track at Brands Hatch

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Column inches in the Skegness Standard
http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/sport/motorsport/teacher_tears_up_the_track_at_brands_hatch_1_2690574

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A SKEGNESS school teacher tore up the racing track when she took to the historic Brands Hatch Indy circuit at the weekend.

Amanda Black, 28, who teaches at Skegness Grammar School, bagged a pole position for the first race of the day - an achievement made all the more impressive by the fact it was her fifth race.

She eventually finished fourth.

She also started fifth on the grid in race two, and rose as high as third before an incident took her out.

“This weekend I was able to purchase some new tyres. I had been racing with five-year-old ones,” she said.

“It’s very hard to race on a budget and at the start of the season I just simply could not afford them. I didn’t think they would make the different.

“I thought it would be down to me being a novice driver. I was wrong and should have bought them at the start. Who knows where I would have been?”

Amanda is hoping to get her car repaired in time for the next race meeting at Donnington Park.

“It will be a great shame if I can’t race at Donnington for the next round, but I can only do what I can afford,” she added. “I am aiming for a podium at Donnington, car depending.”

Amanda would like to thank Signs of the Times, Skegness for their continued support. She is also on the lookout for additional sponsors

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Wednesday 18 May 2011

Brands Hatch – May 2011

Sorry its taken so long to update my blog. What a weekend! Not too sure where to start. I had a really good practice session on Friday. Even better in the afternoon when I got rid of my 5 year old race tires and but on brand new boots. What a difference. The car handled differently but was amazing.

Qualifying – I had a great battle with 4 times champ Graham Smith. It was pretty cool and I knew I was quicker than him. We spent the whole 15 mins battling it out – not the best tactics. I posted my fastest lap on the penultimate lap. I travelled back to the paddock to see my mother jumping up and down saying I’m on pole. I did not believe it. WOW. How amazing. Wasn’t expecting that in my 5th race with the club!

Race 1 – Pole position
Finished 4th

A great race. Unfortunately my camera did not work. Lead the race for a few laps. Loads of over taking. Was running in 3rd for the latter half until the last lap when 4 time champ did a late lunge into paddock to take 3rd.

Race 2 – 5th
Finished – DNF

Can watch it for yourself! 18:25 is the crash that finished my race – Unlucky. A lot of damage. Pretty costly – gutted. Was in 3rd and so close to my first podium.

Amanda Black #88–Started from 5th–DNF

There are a lot of positives however to take away from the weekend.

1. I had my first pole position
2. New tires are now on tigger and have made a big difference.
3. Was close to the lap record around Brands Hatch.
4. Ran with the top back and was competitive
5 Pretty much 3rd for both races.
6. I think people now know – this girl means business.

Fingers crossed that the car is ready for Donnie and I have enough money to race. Target = podium.

Thank you to everyone that has been and are involved in helping my poorly car ‘Tigger’ get back on the circuit.

Amanda x