Tigger back from Arch & on the mends!

Nearly ready to go again. Hopefully for next Saturday at Donington Park. Itching to get back on track

Amanda goes Skiing, while Tigger visits hospital!

CGRC Provisional Race Calendar 2012

R1/2 – 31st March – Donington Park
R3/4 – 21/22 April – Brands
R5/6 – 19/20 May – Rockingham
R7/8 – 16/17 June – Anglesey
R9/10 – 28/29 July – Thruxton
R11/12 – 8/9 Sept – Cadwell Parl
R13 – 22nd Sept – Oulton Park
R14/15 – 12/13/14 Oct – Spa-Francorchamps

Amanda Black – Classic Championship – #76

6hr Birkett – Silverstone – Oct 2011

TEAM: Ecurie Graduates
#3

Graeme Smith
Amanda Black
Rowan Williams
Graham Smith
James Russell

Circuit: Silverstone International GP

I was the reserve driver at the start of the race. As you can see from my iPhone 5hrs and 58 minutes remaining. However that was for the first start. There was a very big pile up at the beginning of the race. it got red flagged and cleared up. I had to be in the car ready to go out for about 45 minutes being the reserve driver.

James Russell (Left) Rowan William (Back) Graham Smith (Right) and I’m in my car.

I ended up running for about 1hr 15minutes for the team. Having not driven the circuit before I was trying to learn it quickly. Unfortunately the rain started. As the circuit is so big. One corner would be wet and the next dry and never the same between the different laps. Good to have some practice in changeable conditions but I really need some more.

Ecurie Graduates when the handicap race for the class. Last race of the season and my first win. What a great way to finish.

6th in Classic Championship 2011

Yeppy! Roll on 2012.

Season Highlights

First race at Silverstone and getting fastest lap

Brands Hatch Pole Position

Podium position (3rd) at Castle Combe

First wet qualifying session – 2nd

1st Place in Class – Birkett 6hr Relay  - Silverstone.

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.