Back
Up

2000/2001 Journal

April 1st - Brands Hatch

My first ever race!  in a car prepared by myself and never raced either!  Almost a recipe for disaster.  It took 3 attempts to get the car through scrutineering - they took exception to the non-working electric cut out switch, fuel leak, and dodgy roll cage. This experience caused me to miss my qualifying session and instilled in me a deep fear of scrutineers that will now stay with me for the rest of my life...

After the clerk of the course allowed me to do 3 laps qualifying with the Fiesta Si's, the race also proved interesting with me starting at the back of the grid.  However I was determined to not finish last, and with that in mind I soon overtook an Escort moving rather sedately and despite my engine pumping out huge clouds of smoke managed to overtake another XR2 this belonging to Sarah Dyson.  Result - not last!

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 53.802
8 C Nigel England Fiesta 56.421
11 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 56.903
17 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:07.108

April 22nd - Donnington Park

A bit more fun this one with a new reconditioned engine and lot of scrapping with Karen Hawker who fell off the circuit eventually on a patch of oil thus giving me 4th place in class!

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra 1:21.033
10 C Nigel England Fiesta 1:27.417
13 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 1:27.639
15 C Tony Sturgess Fiesta XR2i 1:29.321
20 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:40.330
22 C Karen Hawker Fiesta 1:44.053

April 29th - Snetterton

Somehow not very memorable...

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Bob Ross Escort Cosworth WRC 1:19.717
10 C Nigel England Fiesta 1.6s 1:24.705
11 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 1:26.082
16 C Tony Sturgess Fiesta XR2i 1:29.529
18 C Karen Hawker Fiesta 1:36.777
19 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:37.125

May 12th - 13th - Anglesey

Sorry, but I wasn't going to drive that far for a race!

June 3rd - Cadwell Park

See above.

July 1st - Lydden Hill

Race 1 was quite a result with several other drivers not starting giving me my first trophy!  Race 2 was shaping up to be fun as well - until my exhaust fell off and I was shown the meatball flag.

Official Results - Race1

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 47.690
7 C Nigel England Fiesta 1.6s 50.419
8 C Roger Norman Escort Mk2 51.209
15 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 54.474

Official Results - Race2

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 47.985
8 C Nigel England Fiesta 1.6s 49.712
9 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 50.071
12 C Richard Smith Fiesta XR2 50.739
DNF C Roger Norman Escort Mk2 49.865
DNF C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 53.782

July 14th-15th - Mondello Park

Definitely too far to go - even if it was Ireland.

July 28th - Oulton Park

After yet another brush with the scrutineers, this turned out to be a disaster of my own making when after battling for and taking 2nd place in class, I picked 2nd gear instead of 4th and overrevved the engine breaking nearly all the valves on my recon engine.

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 F Mike Newton Falcon 1:06.731
9 C Nigel England Fiesta 1.6s 1:14.467
12 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 1:23.528
DNF C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:22.103

August 27th - Mallory Park

Back with a scrap engine and I pick up another trophy!

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 52.041
4 C Roger Ebdon Fiesta XR2 52.615
13 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 59.023
14 C Karen Hawker Fiesta XR2i 1:00.732
DNF C Roger Norman Escort Mk2 57.008
DNF C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 58.090

September 2nd - Snetterton

My scrap engine showed it's worth by running on 3 cylinders towards the end of the race - still I finished and picked up more points.

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 1:31.723
6 C Roger Ebdon Fiesta XR2 1:34.578
11 C Nigel England Fiesta XR2 1:38.461
13 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 1:38.869
17 C Karen Hawker Fiesta XR2i 1:45.784
18 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:54.973

September 15th - Castle Coombe

Now upgraded to £80 worth of scrap engine!  Unfortunately I had a lot of problems getting past the Capri of John Samson which caused me to loose contact with the 2 other class C cars in front - otherwise I would have done better!

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 1:17.090
4 C Roger Ebdon Fiesta XR2 1:20.212
10 C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2 1:21.475
11 C Nigel England Fiesta 1:20.645
13 C Roger Norman Escort Mk2 1:23.135
16 C Tony Moore Fiesta XR2 1:31.315
17 C Karen Hawker Fiesta XR2i 1:31.286
19 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:32.366
DNF C Graeme Mundy Fiesta 1:26.062

October 14th - Snetterton

Last race of the season and I was in with a chance of a good championship position - I just needed to finish and I would clinch 3rd in class in the championship!  Not only did I finish but picked u p some more silverware - excellent!

Official Results

Position Class Driver Car Best Lap
1 A Graham Wait Sierra Cosworth 1:18.947
6 C Nigel England Fiesta S 1:23.267
12 C Kevin Obrien Fiesta Si 1:31.354
13 C Dominic Ryan Fiesta XR2 1:33.435
DNF C Graeme Mundy Fiesta 1:36.935
DNF C Chris Lester Fiesta XR2