Amanda Black

Saturday, 2 April 2011

Fastest lap race 1

Wow what a start to my caterham graduates career. I qualified in 7th place. I was very happy with this for a first race. Grid size was 18. The car was again running really well. Qual was very difficult to get a clean lap in and I managed 1:14.3 which was roughly the pace I was running yesterday during testing. Qual is very tactical you need a slip stream to get a good laptime. So I let a few people past but then they got slightly in the way. So didn't really feel I got a clean lap. But very happy with 7th place.

Before our classic race we went down to Luffield to watch the mega's and super's race. This started to make me very nervous. It was a long wait for our race at 4:20. I got myself ready quite early but really there was too much time. We were grided up in the pitlane and we must have waited there for 20 minutes. My grid slot was on the right of the grid. I had a terrible start and lost about 4 places. The first handful of laps were amazing. It was so close and tight. At one point I had to run wide to avoid someones wing and lights bits! The tow down the back straight was great however it meant that we had 4 cars going into the next corner. People say f1 is boring. It is! Come and watch Caterham racing. Purely amazing. I knew I had the best view in the house but it was really entertaining. About 3 laps to the end I unfortunately spun. But still managed to finish 10th. I was disappointed with myself that I spun but I'd just driven my first race of the season and my 4th race ever. Was very happy. However driving back into my pit garage my mother told me I got the fastest lap in the race. Omg! How amazing. Something I had never expected. Unfortunately no points for fl. If I had performed that lap in qualifing I would have got pole! So all that is really left to say is "roll on Sunday and race 2!"

Friday, 1 April 2011

Morning of first race and qual

Wow. This time has finally come. It is the morning of the first race of the 2011 caterham championship at Silverstone. Had an amazing day yesterday during testing. The car was running very well. The weather held out who ch was a big bonus. Didn't want April showers this weekend! I spent the afternoon on probably mid pack pace. But who knows. Just happy to be keeping up with a few that raced last year. So, my targets for this weekend where to have fun. This has already been achieved! To get faster. I made good progress yesterday and hopefully that will continue today. The last target was to bring the car home in one. We will have to wait until tomorrow for that one.

Yesterday was amazing. We had garage 9c which was buemi's during the 2010 grand prix. I bought a new set of tires but they are going to be my wet set. Fingers crossed I don't have to use them! Testing ran as sessions. I was in group 1 with most of the caterhams. To start off with it was scary. The mega's and super's are so much faster they were overtaking in all sorts of places ! Once I had a bit more confidence it was fine. Copse is a great corner. Not quite flat but because of the wide run off you can really attack the corner. Maggots and becketts are interesting too. There is apparently two lines but just need to think about the striangt coming up. The tow you can get in these caterhams down the back straight is utterly amazing. It's almost like some has installed the f1 Kers button! Brooklands and Luffield. Some room for improvement here! Important part to get the exit out for the stop/start straight.

Really can't wait for what today is going to bring. First sign on, drivers briefing, scuritneering etc. All I'll say is...... I think it's going to be fun!

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Not long to go

The countdown is getting very close to ‘go, go, go’. Tigger’s brake cylinder appears to have decided to leak. So the car is in the capable hands of McMillan Motorsport. Looking forward to getting the car back for Friday’s test sessions. Not long to go.

2 more sleeps until testing. (Or should I say attempted sleeps until testing!)

Thursday, 17 March 2011

Booked, Booked, Booked!

Silverstone Test Day – 1st April
Snetterton Test Day (pm) – 14th April
Donnie Test Day (Evening) – 1st June

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Rockingham Track Day

Saturday 12th March
Weather – Dry
Rockingham – McMillan Caterham Track Day

The weather was great at Rockingham. Just what the doc ordered! We arrived and got the car off the trailer and invaded garage #18. Had a drivers briefing lead by Steve Lewis chief instructor at Rockingham. Overtaking only on the left and on the straights. Not sure all drivers were listening to that bit! The morning lessons I really lacked confidence and felt a bit bullied by the faster Caterhams. I really didn’t realise the speed difference between the Supers, Mega and Classics. Maybe one day I’ll be lucky enough to get my hands on one! (www.rich man needs a wife.com needs to start working I think!) There were a few red flags throughout the day with the odd nose and wing coming off. The break for lunch did me a lot of good. The first session after lunch was a novice only 20 minutes. This was great, as I didn’t have to worry about the faster machines. The afternoon sessions worked a lot better for me, I had more confidence and found it rather exhilarating. The satisfaction of getting Tarzan sorted was great. Also gambling with Deene’s breaking point from 110mph was getting the adrenaline flowing. Fab.

I also got a new windscreen fitted. It was great to drive after that. I could see where I was going! Got a few things to do on the car now, especially as the club doesn’t want any duck tape on wings. Bummer! So it looks like this weekend I am learning how to glass fibre a rear wing! Any tips on the back of a postcard please! I also have the challenge of changing Tiggers A-frame bushes replaced again. Fingers crossed I can beat my last time (4 hours!!!). Also need to put this years decals on the car. Sort out the fire extinguisher. Check Oil. Sort out a rear view mirror. I’m sure the list was longer!

Thank you very much to my groupies! Dad, Mum, Jez, John, Graham, Alan, James and Laura for coming down and supporting. I hope those who went out in the car enjoyed their hot laps. I also hope that Dad, Mum and Jez enjoyed their trip to the Rockingham Scenery!

P.S I forgot to mention that I lost my front number plate out on circuit. Not sure where it ended up but it was kindly returned. Tiger seal is on order!

Sunday, 13 March 2011

Rockingham Testday – WOW!

Report to follow. AB

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Rockingham Countdown

I am now counting down the minutes until the Rockingham Testday on Saturday. I have just researched the predicted weather. It says white cloud 8 degrees. Happy with that! Fingers crossed.

Need to start doing some homework on the circuit!

Monday, 14 February 2011

TRACK DAY #2 – Cadwell Park

Sunday 13th Feb
Weather – Dry in the morning, raining in the afternoon.
Cadwell Park – Focused Events

What a day at Cadwell and what a circuit. I love it. We were very lucky to have dry running in the morning with a very wet track in the afternoon (Was able to use my rainx). It was nice that it was dry in the morning as this gave me time to learn the circuit and get more confidence in the car. I took out my first passengers around the circuit. Mark Julian trusted me first and then my mother. I told her she was not allowed to scream. She was very good and really enjoyed it. I think she wants her own race suit now. Focused Events delivered yet another great track day and I would recommend them. We did however have 4 red flags but nothing they could do with cars being unreliable and/or spinning off. Tigger was runny well, it is backfiring a bit regularly but maybe this is what caterhams do? Next time out is Rockingham on the 12th March. However I need to change my A-frame bushes before then. What a delight. Do they really need changing after every time out on the track?!! Well at least I will get faster at changing them. Thank you to Mark for towing Tigger to Cadwell. Tigger loved it and I loved it. Mum also loved it. Thank you also for the pictures below.