Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

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Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby eastlmark » Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:09 am

Back again at the Birkett Relay race at Silverstone this Saturday, 25th October.
Although my dream of an RAOC team is on hold for anther year......... last years Birkett thread

I am in garage 11A and again racing for the Herts County AAC team, we have 2 teams this year as we have been infiltrated by loads of Minis. We also have the Morgan, Caterham and another Clio on the team though. Make sure and pop by if you are visiting, it has to be the greatest clubbie race of the year.
never thought I would want a list but now find myself needing one just to remind me: Clio V6 230, 5 gt turbo, 5 Gordini turbo, Megane RS 300 Trophy.
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Re: Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby eastlmark » Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:55 pm

Have 1 spare pass for this if anyone is interested. I can leave it on the main entrance gate with a name on it but you need to let me know before Thursday as I am off on Friday morning early. Race is on Saturday, I am in pit 11A, car number 52A.
Entry is cheap if anyone else want to come along, you can buy a ticket on the day.
never thought I would want a list but now find myself needing one just to remind me: Clio V6 230, 5 gt turbo, 5 Gordini turbo, Megane RS 300 Trophy.
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Re: Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby eastlmark » Wed Oct 22, 2014 1:23 pm

I am also at Silverstone testing all day on Friday if anyone is about. You should be able to gain entry, say you are bringing parts for me. Garage 11A.
never thought I would want a list but now find myself needing one just to remind me: Clio V6 230, 5 gt turbo, 5 Gordini turbo, Megane RS 300 Trophy.
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Re: Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby mogster242 » Fri Oct 24, 2014 11:38 pm

Good luck for tomorrow, hope all goes well.
Can't be there as mini mogster birthday :D
Fantastic race, hopefully will take part some day...
Looking forward to hear all about it ;)
1989 GTA V6 Turbo Grey
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Re: Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby eastlmark » Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:25 pm

mogster242 wrote:Good luck for tomorrow, hope all goes well.
Can't be there as mini mogster birthday :D
Fantastic race, hopefully will take part some day...
Looking forward to hear all about it ;)


thanks!
never thought I would want a list but now find myself needing one just to remind me: Clio V6 230, 5 gt turbo, 5 Gordini turbo, Megane RS 300 Trophy.
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Re: Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby mogster242 » Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:09 am

How did it go? C'mon give us details... How many cars in your team? How many times do you change car /drivers? Guess time on track is limited by fuel on board...
Looking forward to reading your report ;)
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Re: Birkett Relay 25th October 2014

Postby eastlmark » Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:09 am

Weekend started with testing booked for me to get a bit more familiar with the track then I was last year. They use the Grand Prix circuit for testing but the race on Saturday would be on the "historic" circuit which is even faster as Club corner loses its tight entry chicane.
Booked a pit garage for this one:

IMG_1336.JPG


we were sharing with West Tech who were running F3 cars and on the other side were SWB motorsport with their Formula Renault Tattus so we had plenty to keep us occupied between sessions.

During the day other team mates for Saturday began to arrive including this Clio who once inside decided to change the engine there and then!

garage shot james engine out.jpg


By Friday evening most, but not all had arrived and we seemed to be invaded by Mini's

garage shot.jpg


Got some good practice in on Friday morning but rain fell in the afternoon so we called it a day, got the car scrutineered and now ready for Saturdays race.
Thankfully, Saturday dawned fine, if foggy, and with me being team leader (well allocated the letter A anyway) I had the honour of first qualifying at 9 am on a still soaked track. You only need to complete 3 laps to qualify and the times don't count for the grid position so its just a matter of getting around safely and bringing the car back in one piece- something many had problems achieving as cars seemed to be flying off or around on every corner. I kept it on the tarmac though, but had to dodge an MR2 that span right in front of me on my final lap.
The Morgan in our team was taking the start, for some reason we were on the back row- row 67! and the fast lead cars had almost caught us before we even crossed the start line. As I was the second driver out, I had to sit for the full 30 minutes helmeted and strapped into the car in order to quickly get out on track should any misfortune hit the driver out on track. Although calm at the time the nerves soon start kicking in as I watched the pit wall crew count down the time before they called the Morgan in. All too soon I was out and heck, it was busy out there. Cars passing each side into corners, good mirror work is essential as the speed differential is unreal. Had one scare at Luffield when I strayed onto some wet grass.... wont be doing that again.
For reasons I have yet to look into, my gear display had packed up on Friday so there were a few tense moments when I released the clutch in what I hoped was second gear for the tight Village/ loop ( or shit corner 1 and shit corner 2 as they are commonly referred to) Invariably it was 3rd (better than 1st I know) which would result in a slow wide exit and about 10 cars streaming past me.
Our team was probably one of the slowest teams this year, we comprised of 4 Mini 7's a Morgan 4/4 and my Clio which was the fastest of the lot, but even with the handicap system we were way off the pace although we were up to an amazing 17th at 4 hours, this fell by the wayside though by the finish and we ended up 54th by the end for unfathomable reasons.
A great event though but must admit the speed differential is scary and this year there seemed to be a lot more really fast stuff out there and less of the classics of the past which is a shame.

familiar face on the pit wall.

IMG_1340.JPG


I used to spend whole weekends watching Porsche 935's in the Silverstone 6 hour races in my younger days, never though I would ever race against one.......and definitely not in a Renault Clio.
BirkettExtraPics_05-L.jpg


Will sort out some in car video when I can edit it down a bit, but to get an idea of the event, look at this from a Citroen Saxo that took my apex just as I was about to pass an MR2 (unseen) into village. It was my final lap and I was heading for the pits by the way.
http://youtu.be/aFoTL7-woeo

thanks to James Ashton for use of his photos.
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never thought I would want a list but now find myself needing one just to remind me: Clio V6 230, 5 gt turbo, 5 Gordini turbo, Megane RS 300 Trophy.


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