After missing out on Knockhill in 2014, I knew I had to make the trip this time as we are not sure when we’ll go back. Loaded up I drive for 8.5 hours straight to meet my father in Trossach’s on Friday – he decided to make a week of it. I then get up and head off to Knockhill first thing Saturday morning.

Arriving at around 10:30am the paddock which is not the largest was already full so we set up camp in the corner of the car park behind the Pits. Testing is at 5:30pm so its a leisurely prep of the car, sign on and scrutineer. Spotting the new temp sensor I installed is not working I am kindly given a spare by Alex of 4G racing. Time to enjoy the beautiful setting the circuit is in as well. Testing is fun, first time out on this track – the Duffus Dip at the end of the start finish straight takes a bit of commitment and Butchers through Arnold Clark WOW that is seriously seat of the trousers time.30 mins fly past and I like the circuit, its fast and a real test.

I qualify P5 in class in qualifying for race 1 and P4 for race 2 but I am confident of having a good battle with Martin Webber when we race. Race 1 was awful from the start, the people setting up the grid muck up the placing but I fail to take advantage as I stall then get angry and spin at Butchers – what a start. Then I’m flying, and settle in to a futile chase of Martin. Then the clutch starts slipping, its so bad I struggle round so have to retire. This issue is wrecking my season. With only a couple of hours between races I’m limited on what I can do, we change the alternator belt and VVC solenoid as they are playing up and wrestle the clutch arm to see if this helps. It doesn’t and although the car is much better running with a new VVC solenoid I do not get off the line in race 2 and limp round to retire straight away. Gutted I need 30 mins to myself as I am so disappointed.

Glad I did the testing as I loved it and at least I got some track time, the camera footage will be up soon with some photos.

View from the car park spot.

Having to withdraw from Oulton is disappointing but I know that with holidays and the move its impossible to get the time to resolve. Snetterton therefore must be the aim.

After Mallory and with an impending move of house in between Mallory and Knockhill I needed to be quick in diagnosing any issues and remedying them. A discussion over Twitter with fellow racer Alistair Rushforth pointed at the old cable I was still using so I purchased one of them and a new set of plugs to help with the rich running. I fitted the cable making sure it self adjusted properly and it felt good. Then after swapping the plugs I took a look at the O2 sensor. It was loose and bent (see photo) o a suitable new (to that car) anyone was installed. I packed a spare VVC solenoid just in case and it was ready for our trip north.

Well – sorry for the long break in updates, been a busy summer as I moved house, went to Knockhill and had the annual family holiday. Its all been a bit manic.

Mallory Park was an enjoyable day, I like the track but the car let me down again. Qualifying went well and I was confident of a reasonable time and a 58.9 seconds was significantly faster than my last visit. However, it was last in class and Dad spotted the car was very rich and lumpy on idle. Race 1 and I had a great dice with Paul Croker taking him up the inside on Shaws then managing to keep him behind but then the slipping clutch gremlins appeared and wrecked the race. The middle section of the lap the clutch was slipping along the Kirkby and Stebbe straight’s then it eased off for the last three laps but that was the race run. Then the red mist was going to then descend and I over cooked it a few times through Coopers and then had a massive off at Shaws – Alexander Montgomery thought I was off out the circuit for Pizza! The Marshall’s found it hilarious to point to the track and mouth that its over there.

Investigation didn’t show much and with little time , we plugged in the code reader, VVC Solenoid Fault and O2 sensor issues logged. Not a lot I could do but just go for race 2,  again the slipping clutch returned and I just had to keep out the way and limp to the finish. Must get this issue resolved before I traveled to Knockhill. Disappointing performance but the weekend was enjoyable and great to see Rachel and Lisa from ASSERT turn up with their families in tow.

Race 1 footage is on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlIiwMMM83Q pictures to follow.

Did get  to try my new Gazebo out though 🙂