Toil and Trouble – Joy and Frustration ——— Result = Good Days Racing with Records Set!
That’s how the first televised Beetle Challenge Race could be summed up.
7 Beetles on the grid – That’s a record!
This was only achieved by many many hours hard labour – That’s Toil and Trouble!
(Could have been 10 but a combination of blown race fan, engine issues - due to missing parts caused by this pesky ash cloud and unforeseen circumstances meant 3 cars had to pull their entries for this race - that’s frustration)
Normally Dave ‘The Bandit’ Charlton’s reliable beetle finishes in top spot but today it was Simon ‘Monster’ Sergides who took a win in both races. Dave qualified ahead of Simon their times being 1.01.268 and 1.01.317. This was going to be a very close battle especially with them both having that desire to beat each other. Simons 2.1 was just too much for the 1600 of Dave’s on the straights and despite Simon’s interesting racing lines he took the win in race 1 (That’s being very kind! - Have Novice Cross Sticker and is prepared to use it erratically!!! ).
Being ahead on the grid for race 2 should have made Simon’s job easier however Dave stuffed it up the inside on the first bend into Gerrards, and took the lead but again the straight line speed of Simon meant he took the lead back after a bit of a dogfight. There was a great moment when Dave and Simon went either side of Florence in his No 98 Bug on Gerrards.. three abreast on the fastest corner!!! However it was still not over, Simon had an incident! at Gerard’s resulting in Dave having to take avoiding action and reverting to rally mode but actually ending up facing in the wrong direction. He managed to get back on the track and continue.
Simon by now was way in the distance but Dave was gaining on him all the time and when he had caught and passed him it was assumed Simon had some sort of problem. Suddenly Simon was back on the pace with the lead once again changing. There was a real race going on between the two of them and Simon took his second win of the day. Questioned on the possible problem with lack of power after his incident Simon disclosed his strategy! (which for sure F1 teams will implement?) Quote “I was waiting for Dave to catch up so we could race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)    - That’s Joy and frustration!
The other beetles are all to be commended:
Nick ‘The Vicar’ Whitty completed without any real problems and ever improving times. There was a momentary blip when he was called for to the Clerk of the Course… but it turns out they needed car No.1 not Nick in Car No.11… Phew… Maybe this accounts a little for his improved times in race 2, as clearly he had lost some excess weight having crapped himself! Nick only did one spin this race too.. and didn’t caress the tyrewalls this time (even though he has an obvious fetish for rubber)… so that’s progress.
As with last time Nick was out this is one to watch out for in the future.
Also unknown to The Vicar - he actually won the BARC prize for ‘Best Prepared Car‘ !!! (Thanks must go to Nick and his friends, the College of North West London, Morelli Paints, and of course Thingamies Beetles) So Nick took home some Champagne and two well earned 3rd place podium finishes – That’s Joy
He received notification of his prize via txt, as he had just that moment left the circuit, and Simon collected it on his behalf… then a traffic jam on the M1 allowed Nick to peg it down the hard shoulder on foot and grab the Champers! Aswell as removing one of Simon’s socks and lobbing it into the abyss of the hard shoulder - very funny!… but not as funny as the stealth return which is the other stinking sock which now resides in the Naca Duct which feeds Nicks face with - not - fresh air anymore - poetic justice me thinks!
Craig ‘Grandpa’ Winfield unfortunately was off the pace he had hoped for despite a change of gear box from last time out. In race one the Rotor Arm went kaput.. a 15second fix that blew his entire race - gutting. The race two unearthed some misfire issues which ultimately ended in another DNF. As always this car is turned out immaculately, and he should have definitely been on the pace at the front of the Class, but his day was ultimately– Frustration!
Phil ‘PerftecPhil’ Thompson was producing the ash cloud! And was asked to exit the circuit in race 1 (Made for some hilarious commentary on Live TV… Naughty Naughty..  ). He had a better run in race 2 but slowed the pace for the last few laps when the ash cloud threatened to re-appear. Prior to this he was putting in respectable times. – That’s Joy!
Steve ‘Cookie’ Mcgillivary was another without any real problems (apart from his rear-view mirror flapping around - it would be a distraction to everyone else apart from Cookie though, as he is used to re-adjusting the rear-view mirror as he applies his make-up on his way to work in the mornings) He had ever improving times until a spin on lap 8 of the second race (Which looked like oil on the track rather than driver error to be fair.. but we’ll give the track the benefit of the doubt and and call it driver error!). Watch this one for the future – That’s Joy
Lawrence Butcher was the only beetle that tested on the Saturday which turned out to be a useful exercise as it uncovered a couple of problems which would have definitely ended his day in qualifying. This enabled him to resolve for race day and he completed qualifying with consistent times. His races were a little more frustrating however, his rocker gear came loose in race one! and he has some work to progress with for next time. His day was topped off, when he saw the TV coverage and got a Name Check on from the commentators, ‘Florence‘ Butcher… (Something to do with driving like a girlie apparently! LoL!!) On the whole – That’s Joy and Frustration!
There is plenty of in car camera footage to check out shortly, plus the Motors TV coverage will be repeated together with access to DVDs.
Anyone interested in studying actual lap times can find the information on www.tsl.timing.com
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