Rockingham

Race 1 – 5th (4th place for championship points)
Race 2 – 5th (4th place for championship points)

Weather – very hot!

Tigger supporting a plaster after its small bash from Pembrey. I was kind of hoping it might have special heeling powers and suddenly undent the basket. Unfortunately this did not happen!

Thanks mother for this photo – What a great view! (Me changing my A frame bushes)

Tigger all ready to go racing

Tigger back in one piece after Race one. Other drivers did have a bit of damage. Luckily not including me this time.

Other grad racers – James Russell and Stuart Higgins

The classic grads grid

The car in one piece at the end of my first season. Roll on 2012!

Weather Forecast

This must be the best pre race meeting weather forecast. Or is it too good?

Additions to the Kit list – Rockingham – Oct

Water
Sun Cream
Sun Glasses
Bikini
Shorts
T-Shirt
Umbrella for Shade!

Pembrey, South Wales - Race 2

Qualified P2
Finished last after contact

The second race started better, the track was a bit damp and I had the advantage from the start, by being on the dry racing line compared with that of pole sitter Graham Smith on the damp side. I had a good start and was level with Graham going into the first hairpin. I Graham battled for the first lap. I had a good run out of the hairpin and managed to overtake Graham into Honda Curve to take the lead. I was leading on and off for the next handful of laps. I out braked myself into the first hairpin letting 4 cars past. Over the next few laps I battled my way to near the front. Getting just into second place behind newly crowned 2011 Classic Champion John Parker. Whilst going into the old hairpin I got hit from behind and spun round by Rowan. I had to wait for the whole field to go past before restarting the car. I stalled, my immobiliser had fallen onto the floor so I could restart the car. I managed to get it to restart but I had to undo my belts. It felt like a hard impact so I went into the pits to make sure the car was ok to carry on and to retighten my belts. After getting the green light to carry on I was a lap and half down on the leaders. I unlapped myself with 3 back runners and when the chequered flag came out I was a lap away from catching the penultimate placed driver Shelia.

This has been a mixed weekend, but there are a lot of positives to take away. My first ever wet qualifying session, I far exceeded my own high expectations, qualifying second was truly amazing. In race two I lead for the most laps I have all season. I had some great overtaking and defending moves throughout race two. I’m now consistently racing at the front with the front runners and I’m looking forward to next season and getting a championship together.

WOW – One race weekend left of the season. Roll on Rockingham

What a day at Pembrey!

Mum and I woke up at the B &B to look at of the window. To a brighter day however still grey but dry. By the time we had got to the circuit it was throwing it down. We quickly but the new wet tires on the car and then I had to drive round the paddock to get a heat cycle in them. Having never done any running in the pouring rain I was pretty nervous. The session started off well and I got some confidence. No hairy moments and over taking others felt great. I started to get some blue flags. It was feeling good. Knew I wouldn't be at the back but was expecting to be top of the mid pack. The track started to dry towards the end of the session. I was unlucky and caught traffic on my last 3 laps. To come back into the paddock to find out I had qualified 2nd in my first wet qualifying I was utterly amazed.

Our race was after lunch. At the start of lunch it was very grey and overcast however the circuit was dry. It looked like it could rain at any minute. So the debate began. Do I run dry tires or wet? That was the question. For us they are the same tire. However a wet set will have a full tread. I decided to change the front and then suddenly the sun came out. It was a lovely afternoon. Dry tires went on but they are starting to look very worn and hardly having any tread left.

So the race. I had a good start but Rowans was better from third. He took the inside line for the hairpin but out braked himself and went strianght on. So I was back to second. The next few laps I slowly lost a position here and there. It got a bit hairy when 3 of us were braking into the first hairpin. Me in the middle, Trevor on the inside and JP on the outside. On the apex I was getting squeezed. JP turn in. He had given enough room for me but I was getting pushed over by Trevor. I hit JP's rear arch. His fell off. My front arch was just a little scuffed! Race on. I had a great battle for 7th. Battling with Graeme Smith and Trevor Harber for the last 6 laps this was great fun but I lost out and finished 9th.

I've qualified again on second place. With Graham Smith on pole and Graeme Smith on third. So I'm in a Graeme Smith sandwich! Roll on tomorrow!

Castle Combe Race Video

First Podium – 3rd Place

A. Black–Video from Castle Combe–Aug 2011

Sorry about the quality – I need to sort it out. The camera on the car films in HD but when I put it on my computer Windows Movie Maker wont read the file, So I have to convert it to a different file and this has messed around with the quality. Will try and improve. Enjoy.

Skegness Standard – ‘Teacher on the Podium’

http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/sport/motorsport/teacher_on_the_podium_1_2969029

First Podium Finish

Round 8 – Castle Combe

Weather – Dry
Qualification – 3th – 01:24.352
Finishing Place – 3th
My Fastest Lap time – 1:23.856
Classic Lap Record - Castle Combe – 1:23.330

Some children may be wondering what teachers get up to in the school holidays.

I go motor racing and competed in Round 8 of the Caterham Graduate Classic Championship at Castle Combe, Wiltshire. I qualified in 3^rd position, this was my second best qualifying of the season. After my pole position at Brands Hatch. Having not driven the circuit before the weekend of racing I was excited to learn the circuit quickly and get on the leaders pace. I do have to confess that I had some help this weekend as on Friday I had some tuition from Anthony Wilds. This enabled me to learn the circuit faster. It was my first visit to Castle Combe.

During the green flag lap, second placed driver, James Russell pulled off the circuit with a mechanical failure and was unable to continue. Resulting in a space on the front row.

Amanda didn’t have the best of starts and lost a place to Paul Hawker. There was cerement dust down at Quarry corner collecting an oil spill from the previous session. We were told that 25% of all motor circuit racing accidents happen at Quarry. I took the first few laps quite cautiously through there. James Carvey got a good run on me coming out of Old Paddock Bend and over took into Tower Corner. On to the second lap, Trevor Harber got a good tow behind me through Folly and over took into Avon Rise and into Quarry while on the cerement dust. I was down to 5^th.

I stayed in 5^th until lap 10. I wasn’t worried as I knew I had quite a bit of speed round the circuit. The racing this season has been so so close, the lead and positions are always changing. I’m learning all the time and thought it best to be tactical. I was pretty cautious at the beginning of the race and thought I’d let the others battle it out.

I caught back up with the leading pack. I over took Paul on the exit of Quarry after he had taken the tighter defensive line and therefore I had the lead into the next chicane. The rest of the lap and the next I used to catch up the 1.5 second deficit to Trevor who was lying in the third. I pulled off the same move on Trevor as I did to Paul 2 laps previous. I was happily up to 3^rd. Throughout the latter stages of the race the marshals had a black flag out for a Sigma driver but at the time I was worried it was for me but I couldn't think why! Thankfully it wasn’t and I achieved my first podium and the car is in one piece.

So I guess now its time to set more goals! Having achieved more than I ever imaged at the start of the season.
Fastest Lap – Silverstone
Pole Position – Brands Hatch
Podium – Castle Combe

Next goal - a win before the end of the season. There are 4 races at 2 race meetings left, Pembrey and Rockingham. With Pembrey the only circuit I have raced at before this year.

Championship Standing (With dropped scores)
1. John Parker – 206
2. Rowan Williams – 204
3. Graeme Smith – 198
4. Paul Hawker – 193
5. James Russell – 190
6. Stu Thompson – 179
7. Trevor Harber – 170
8. Amanda Black – 168
9. Pete Cannard – 158
10. Shelia Marshall - 153

Spa and Zandvoort in 1 week

Sunday 31st July – Thursday 4th August 2011

Having missed the Zandvoort race with the Catehams last month due to work commitments, the school holidays started and I got an opportunity to travel to Spa and Zandvoort with book-a-track.com.

Having travelled to East Midlands airport for a BMI baby flight to Amsterdam to find it cancelled I was able to sneak off to watch the F1 Gp and then return to the airport a few hours later for a the later flight. We arrived at Amsterdam airport to find our car rental company closed for the evening, so we had to re-book another one and we sent off for a 3 hour journey towards Spa. We arrived at 1:30 in the morning and had an early get up for the circuit the next day.

2 amazing days at Spa + sun burn! Some great cars out on circuit. Ferrari 250, Porsches, Lotus Exige, Caterhams, more Ferrari’s. Passenger ride with Sarah Reader in an R400 – mega!

Wednesday we travelled back up to Amsterdam and on to Zandvoort and were ready for a track day on the Thursday. Woke up Thursday morning to bright sunshine and another fantastic weather day for a track day.

Having missed the Classic Graduates racing at Zandvoort in July I was lucky to get a passenger ride in a Porsche GT3 around the circuit.

Having left the circuit early to rush to Amsterdam airport for our return flight it was delayed by 2 1/2 hours. So not happy with BMI at the minute. 2 flights in 5 days and over 8 hours of delays – not great!

Anyway home now. Countdown days until Castle Combe. Next week I have a Cadwell evening track day book – fingers crossed its not raining.

Donington Park – Round 7

Amanda Black #88–Caterham Classic Championship

Qual 4th
Finished 7th

Fastest Lap 1:59.316

Fastest in Sector 1
2nd fastest top speed – 163.9 kmh

New Championship Table position - 8th

Autosport quote ‘Epic Classic Graduate race’ ‘7 car lead battle’.

Next race – Castle Combe  - August 13th

Donington Park

Saturday 17th June

Round 7
Weather – Dry (Just!)
Qualification – 4th
Finishing Place – 7th
Fastest Lap time – 1:59.316
Lap Record – 1:58.861

Race Highlights – Battling for a few laps for 3rd place. 2nd Fastest top speed of 163.9 km/h (101.8 mph). Fastest sector 1 time.

Current Championship Standing – 8th