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News Article
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Springspeed Nationals 2nd-4th May
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Created On: 2009-05-06 at 09:17:00
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Just a few days after packing the trailer away we were filling it full of supplies ready for a three day meeting in Stratford Upon Avon at Shakespeare County Raceway. With just two events for Super Mod scheduled there this season we prepared ourselves for our first journey Northwards.
This was the maiden long journey for the new Dodge tow vehicle and the trip left Nigel pleasantly relieved. A much more pleasant journey without having to fight up hills and inhaling hideous fumes. Kyle helped to set up on Friday in the pits and then he dissapeared off for an evening in Coventry ( his University digs). Nigel headed home to a warm comfy bed.
Early starts all round with Graham arriving from the south and he and Nigel drove off in the new fast vehicle as I collected the small sleepy beings and scared other drivers as I roared my way the Avon in the Dodge truck. Not much got in my way!!
Following curfews set at the track our first run came around after tea and cake about mid day. Steve had arrived from York and the team was all set in a warm but breezy pit area. Not all the Super Mods had made it to Shakespeare but a group of 6 was better than 5!
First qualifier was against Tim Garlick and as they staged together I had control of the video camera. A good launch saw Nigel steaming up the track with a great off the trailer time of 7.60 @182.18 mph. After all Super Mods had run this left us comfortably in the number one spot. What a great start to the weekend.
The weather was becoming even more pleasant and coats were no longer required. The track was performing well and the different classes progressed through steadily.
Small tinkerings had occurred with the shocks following the first run and the second qualifier was called at 14.20. Another good pass followed with a second 7.60 at 182 mph. By the end of the run though Nigel had gained a small passenger, although there wasn't much left of him. Little tweety bird had decided to fly in front of Nigel at the top end at 180mph and all that was left was a sticky mess with a few feathers pointing up from the bonnet. He certainly new very little about the accident. Donned with gloves back in the pits I proceeded to remove the poor little chaps remains from the bonnet and Graham washed off the final residue which had managed to spread it self well. Kyle then re polished the car which he had already buffed to gleaming before the fatal event.
Final qualifier on Saturday saw us paired against Fred. In the right hand lane Nigel launched well and was a head of Fred for most of the track until just prior to the finish line it took a horrible squirreling left turn and headed into Fred's lane. Thinking he could right the wrong Nigel kept his foot in which resulted in crossing the line and annihilating the foam reflector in the centre of the track. Run disqualified, but no major damage to anything but the foam. This was soon replaced by the track team. It seemed from other racers reports that some fluid may have been on the tracks surface and to blame for the incident.
Sunday morning was another early start. Nigel was back to driving the truck and I got a much more relaxing drive in my mini to the track. A colder day greeted us and a little rain had fallen over night. One of the first classes out we we down at track side not long after 11.00. A few classes had run before us and the other Super Mods had too giving us the optimum track conditions for the time. Fred had run before us with an awesome 7.55 knocking us off the number one spot. In fact all the cars were running well and times were bunched closely together.
A great launch and Nigel pulled off an amazing run setting a new class time of 7.529. Brilliant, back in the number 1 spot.
We found ourselves back in the pairing lanes by 15.15 but oil on the track left us waiting for a while. The weekends driving too and from the track had taken it's toll on Nigel who we found to be asleep, strapped in his race car. Hardly like a cat on a tin roof, I guess his adrenaline supply had run out. After waking him we made it down to the start line and his sleep certainly hadn't affected his ability to drive as he backed up his previous time with a 7,57 @ 182 mph.
Another run was scheduled for later in the day but the team decided to call a halt on proceedings and focus on eliminations the next day. After the last runs the qualification table looked amazing. Times were tight and everyone was in with a chance. Nigel 7.52, Fred 7.55, Tim Mugridge 7.58, Craig 7.66, Rob 7.68, and Tim G 7.69 Tomorrow looked like a challenging day.
After such a great weekend of weather the typical Bank Holiday rain had arrived. Sprinklings of rain dampened the track and the racers mulled around the pits eager to start the days eliminations. Eventually they began to run around lunch time but the blackened sky hung over head threatening to ruin the racing at any moment. First round eliminations came at 16.30 after two burnouts which were then halted due to rain. Nigel paired against Tim Garlick eventually performed another great run with a 7.61 and a new Super Mod speed record of 183.3mph, knocking Tim out of the race. Fred went through with Rob as a no show and Tim Mugridge continued with his great weekend knocking out Craig.
Second round had also been delayed, this time by oil on the track and the light was beginning to dwindle. The chance of running the finals was looking slim. Fred was paired against Tim Mugridge, now a well matched pair after Tim's weekend of consistency. A tight race Fred again proceeded to run too fast for his chassis tech and broke the light with an amazing 7.46 but was promptly disqualified. Nigel was then on a bye run and managed a 7.60 @ 182mph.
Unfortunately the final never happened, the meeting was called and Nigel and Tim were left wondering who might have won. It would have been a pretty fab race to watch though. Never mind, another day.
The next race meeting is the main event, Super Mod are not running there so we are entered in Super Pro Et. A good fun light hearted event. This year we are going to be joined by fellow Super Modders Paul Mander and Martin Curbishley so a good time is guaranteed.
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