Steve Panas is obviously not a man to go to the bookies with!
Contrast & compare the prediction with the reality.
Prediction
Car 54 - Pret-a-boire
Another contender out of the dark horse stable. The entry was in doubt right up to the wire but thankfully completed. Very strong driver lineup with John Diffey breaking the lap record in a race at Donington. Nick and Pete have not raced recently but can be deadly on their day. Rod Stead has brought together a definite top ten finisher. Here is an entry that could almost do anything. I would not be suprised to see them in the lead group at some stage. Predict top 10 and even a podium if the favourites have a bad day at the office.
Reality
With his lack of recent race experience, Nick proceeded to go farming on lap 6, so 30 minutes into the race, we were already 12 laps down!
More agricultural moments followed in his other sessions.
Promptly ridiculed by the rest of the team for his performance, he announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the event.
Pete was deadly on the day, as anyone who followed him to the toilets will confirm, but his driving lacked the usual sparkle.
Excelled as a sous chef & bottle washer during the event.
Announced his retirement from the sport during the event, declining to do his final driving stint.
Is threatening to take up caravaning for a hobby.
Rod & John were surprised that on occasions the event degenerated into banger racing but thoroughly enjoyed the racing & will be back.
In summary, the team had a bad day, unlike the favourites & finished 32nd.
So, not much similarity with the prediction!
As we shared the Pit with you Rod, we may as well join in -
Prediction
Car 44 - BRM's
Bob Rice and Keith Shoebridge are two of the keenest supporters of the new enduro race formula the club has adopted this year. Yet again they and Steve Cowell bring the BRM car to Snetterton in great expectation. Another difficult one to predict. Keep the car on the track and pitstops to a minimum and this could make a top ten finish. Predict 10th - 20th.
Reality
Keith and Steve made it to Friday testing and posted some encouraging times, however disappointingly for Steve, who had great expectations, this translated to start position 20 after qualifying.
The car was nevertheless running well, and excepting some problems with the lighting we retired contentedly to our sacks on Saturday.
Sunday free practice, disaster, the Car refused to play, and the session passed into the distant past before a fault was found and repaired in the ignition loom.
The car ran well in the early stages of the race, climbing to a heady 14th (I think), before dropping back down the field following a fractured oil feed pipe, gear lever problems and finally a late engine change, which was rapidly followed by another engine out to fix a clutch 'problem. Eventually finishing 24th with Keith at the wheel.
"Banger Racing?, I thought it better resembled Autocross racing, certainly it was difficult to determine where the tarmac finished and the fields began!!
Steve and Keith enjoyed the racing, experiencing one or two 'offs' or spins, but Bob who was unable to match their wet weather pace had a miserable time, also declining to do his final stint, having, on Saturday evening, announced his intention to retire from 2CV race driving after the event. Certainly the conditions didn't diminish this intention.
So definitely a Race of mixed fortunes, as to next year, that depends on Keith and Steve....watch this space!!
Car 33 - Red Nose Scotland
Back to roots racer Derek Coghill has also spent time and even money this year on the car. Fantastic top ten finish at Brands last month ensured the car is now responding. This car will reinforce the Scottish effort on the race. Predict - Expect to see the car flirt with a top half finish.
We flirted with a second-half finish, but spent most of the race in the top half (don't think we got into single figures though). 17th so top half having gone for it at the end to get past car 88. Failed to get past Findlay more than once (it had to be 4 times!) and Whitwell (never saw them) though. Improved on the best lap time too. Splish splosh, what a lot of fun. Apart from being in the garage (wind tunnel) or on the pit wall (wind chill factor).
Nothing broke, absolutely nothing. A couple of stops for pull-the-wing-off-the-wheel stuff; apart from that it was just fuel. Can't have used more than a pint of oil either. So my nice new shell's still nice.
Car 76 - Argent Provocateur
Ben has to be one of the unluckiest entrants here this year. Several pages could be written just here. Expect plenty of drama both in the pits and on track. Life is not dull for this car. This was purchased from Fine Print a couple of years ago and in its day was fast with the right driver. Ben has only one ambition and that is to finish above Team Fine Print. Predict that that ambition will still be, an ambition. 2nd half finish
Trailer brake down before the race suggested usual luck would run. However, car ran tremendously in the dry and got 7th fastest at night 12th overall. New dances were invented and demonstarted in garage 25! Aided by the 1st lap whoopsee this was converted into lying 7th on the 2nd lap. The car then demonstrated that whilst Ben now understands engine preps he knows nothing about chassis. The "Greased Pig with Rabies" then spat its drivers off continuously throughout the race resulting in 2 tow backs, an engine failure, and 2 engagements with Fine Print. One up the chuff in the 1st session and then the air conditioning move. Ended 26th and no dancing.
is nine laps a country mile?
oh i 2 announced my gardening leave for next year, (dependant on offers)
"Bob who was unable to match their wet weather pace had a miserable time, also declining to do his final stint, having, on Saturday evening, announced his intention to retire from 2CV race driving after the event."
If i am right in my assumption that this is Mr Rice's intention, (and not another Bob in the team), then after just two events in the new season with the new format, the man whom campaigned hardest for the format is withdrawing from it?? :?: :oops:
Since when did you ever do any gardening? I know you'll be wanting to tune the briggs and stratton!! Twin carbs or fuel injection!???
The 14 yr olds will miss you Geoff.
Is it uphill gardening leave that you are going on?
is a cuntry mile near turkey?
No, thats Cyprus. Its not in europe thoughcos they've never heard of a mile.
How did I get labeled with the "campaigning hardest" tag? I admit to playing the Devils advocate but would refer to the following quotes from last years forum..
QuoteWhatever you do it will need to be radical, from my own experience of two seasons involvement, I can tell you that I can't see me ever prefering this series over my Club level Caterham races (and believe me that has cost me less than the 2CV over the last two seasons), unless something changes.
and this...
QuoteRegarding the Chairmanship comments, I tried to make my position on all of this clear by comments within my postings such as "I don't pretend to know how to do that" and "See you at Silverstone - 9th, 10th September". But please don't interperate that as me not caring about the club, though I will be even less involved in the racing next year.
no change there then!
I will continue as always to prefer my Caterham racing, I will possibly race again in the Brit Car 24hrs, I will still wherever possible support our car, Keith, Steve and anyone else who elects to drive it.
Oh! and not having been at the AGM, I certainly didn't get to vote on this years format. But regardless of all of that, am I mistaken, or aren't the Grids so far this year bigger than in the recent past...I wonder why...
Geoff.
i think one country mile is equal to about 18 normal ones.
we'll get a scanner for next year.
i've never been to Turkey.
As for the Rice/Stead garage, jeez, glad i wasn't in there, that must have been some dark cloud over that garage, it appears half the field has bailed out. Bob instructs, Nick is multiple race winner and Pete is Pete (with shed loads of experience) Why have you lot now decided your no good? you just had a bad weekend that's all. Not being 'quick' doesn't mean you can't race, i know loads of people who come and have fun (Simon Leith) that struggle to steer a motor. It would be a great shame for anyone to leave under these circumstances, chill for a bit and re-group those thoughts into good thoughts, positive thoughts and get back out. Take a leaf out of Bens book, sounds like that went quite wrong but he is not giving up. Come on Rod - don't sell the car.
Pete, thanks, I appreciate your comments. Please don't misunderstand, as stated my decision to 'step down' was taken before the race, indeed even before the weekend and not as a result of the conditions. Indeed I have never enjoyed exceptional success in racing, so would argue that I have always Raced for 'fun'.
Also, my decision was implemented only at a time when I was confident that we could put together a team for next years 24hrs.
I would like to think that Keith and Steve (finances allowing) will continue to make good use of the car particularly as they both enjoy the driving more than I do, I am happy to continue investing time and, as part owner, where appropriate money into the Car.
As for me, family (who don't share my interest), and work commitments (to Caterham and Everyman), which I enjoy, are beginning to intrude more and more into my weekends. Therefore my opportunities to give up entire weekends without letting someone down are becoming more and more difficult. It's all a question of priorities.
And finally, just to confirm that as far as I am aware, our Car is not up for sale, and is a possible, I believe for Spa.
Thanks for those words of encouragement, Pete.
I'm keen to do the event again, as is John.
As you know, I'm more challenged by time & technical incompetance than money, so need someone to help prepare the car, what's left of it.
If Nick & Pete bail out, I'm stuffed.
Pete is sadly a definite non-runner as a driver, but might be persuaded to come back as cooks helper.
Got hold of Nick tonight & plied him with beer - there's talk of yet another comeback to deal with "unfinished business", so if he's up for it, so am I.
If he's not, I'll happily buy a drive.
that's the spirit chaps.
as you know Rod, help in reply for money can always be arranged by one of us.
make a list of what went wrong now while you remember and sort thought it this year in rediness for next year, easy really
rod i hope you and nick sort out and stay, bob i fully understand your point, i hope kieth and steve stay,
see my gardening leave (if i take) it is for only one year of the 24 hr, this was decided before the race to regardless of result,
the reason simple, time and preperation, the 24 hr race as paul/pete/wayne/phil etc will tell you is not just over the 24hr weekend, but its about turning up with a prepared car ready to run, which means solid work over the months with my buisness head on and as that puts food on my table, i need a year out to re charge, but i am willing to prepare a car for the 24hr on a buisness footing we will.
i am as most folk are on the end of a phone, we give no bullshit answers,
but please remember like all racing the 24 has to have luck involved, but i belive you make your own luck!!!!
Jon Davis is determined to make a good finish this year. Specialist Citroen knowledge and bags of experience of the event could well see the dark car coming out of the night in a influential position. Enthusiasm from Francis can only add to the potential result. Predict top 10 with anything up to 5th possible.
Hmmmm! Well Jon (car 77) decided that the cursed Fine Print car from the last two years should be purchased and turned into a winner. Sadly the curse went with the car! Jon decided that the front wheels weren't sloping in enough so more negative camber went on with the result that the car looked like an elephant had sat on it. The race engine seized after about 15 laps of practice and a new engine hurriedly constructed til 02:30 on Sunday morning. Ran okay but only 5100 at the end of the straight... We had moved up from late 20's to about 20th and going okay when I decided that there was a fly in the car during a safety car thing. While I was chasing it out and not looking where I was going, the SC did one of its "slow the cars down now" and I mounted poor old car 30 from behind (sorry again guys) which resulted in a heavily modified front and 20 laps fixing the only motor we had. Jon was very understanding after he had broken all his knuckles against my solid bone head.....
My only claim to fame is three times holding full power - no more steering lock - slides at Richies (scared the ECAS car witless once!) and a warning from the CoC about using the grass at Coram. I told him I thought that was where the circuit went... it gives you a great line into Russells though. Sundry oil leaks, holed inlet valves, parking in the mud hole at the end of the Esses and various other misdemeanors left us about 29th at the end.
I know it was a tad excessive but it is bloody good fun in the wet! Jon avers that he is going to build another new car for next year which mean four different cars in four years. Any suggestions anyone?????
I think Steve got us pretty spot on - he predicted
Car 40 - Crisis Racing
By name and by nature here. On effort alone from the driver lineup here the car should expect a top half finish. But, a crisis will probably have the inevitable effect of sending the car towards the rear. This is a long race and almost anything can happen. Predict - 2nd half finish.
What he knows is that we ask a lot of stupid questions and try to listen to the answers. What he did not realise was that lady luck can shine even with all that rain.
The car was setup for endurance over the last couple of months. If the parts worked we left them in but had a spare for the expected crisis for most of the car.
We qualified with the first engine on Saturday afternoon 29th but had no Friday testing so did not expect a high place. Our times however were a lot slower than last year so swapped to the Brands engine which we had warmed up for half an hour during that race without a fan. At night even with a full fuel tank it ran much better (Q 27th) so we used that for the race.
We decided on the tortoise approach so resisted the urge to take some Sunday test time. Put our feet up and stared at the weather forecast.
The race started well and we moved up pretty much every hour. We had very few problems. 10 or so off's (particularly through rusell) to check on the ploughing abilities of the car (excellent) combined with 2 or 3 spins to shake off the water gathering in the car were down to driver errors. We found we had lost the top part of the right front wing after 4 hours at a pit stop (helped cool the car and keep the electrics exposed for inspection from pit wall). A couple of knocks with other cars ensured we could beat the panels to release tension. A broken fan base was spotted by Rick Meyers (our secret weapon in the pits) at a pit stop which necessitated a new fan but probably saved the engine and at the end of the race the right light bar had snapped off but the 2x15 amp wiring was holding it all together.
The drivers were lowering their lap times as we realised the rain was not going away and racing like this was fun. Our position was helped by others problems but by the last session's 3 of the 4 drivers were lapping in top 15 times so we held our position quite easily. One driver (Simon) complained of headaches only to find he was using the wrong helmet (it was 2 sizes smaller than his) and we somehow lost 2 sets of balaclavas. The Lucky Jon catering division kept us fed and warm.
13th was above what we expected but deserved on the day we feel. Next year in the dry may be a different proposition but if its wet we are ready and aiming for top half again. Preparation clearly helped but was inexpensive if you draw on experience over fashion (archer for engines, pembro for gears/ steering, lady luck for electrics and sparrow / whitwell for pretty much everything else). Best of all the car is ready for the 2008 24 hr (we will keep racing it as is this year) without need for a rebuild but we will need to remove the rookie sticker..
Panas perdicts:-
Car 48 - Whitwell Motorsport
This car is a complete freshbuild. Mark Turner of Whitwell Motorsport is close to finishing the project which was started soon after the race last year. Little expense has been spared in time, over 1000 hours so far. Driver lineup is the same as last year with Rocket Dog. An unclassified finish at Brands from Steve Panas does not bode well for the event with Andy Smith and Mad Pete due to race at Silverstone shortly. No doubt the car will look very good but with no tracktime, new components and untested engines any success here would be suprising. Predict - 10th - 20th.
Well what can I say?
The crystal ball was spot on, but if any money was bet on this prediction a stewards enquiry would be started. Too much inside information I think!!!