I'm back!!!!!!
Wow, that was amazing really... Lots of hard work, lots of waiting around, lots of dampness, and a smidgen of track time...
As previously mentioned, qualifying was wet. And I mean WET! With a car in front of you it was difficult to see anything other than their rain light, let along braking points or people behind you in the mirrors... But out of about 36 people on track for qualifying, about half spun at some point, and I wasn't one of them. Admittedly I was 11 seconds off the 'pace' but for a first time at the circuit in that car, the first wet track session ever (other than a bit of drizzle in a kart once), and being a bit scared of crashing I think I did okay... A few bit moments, either out of Camp (I wanted full throttle, but the rears didn't), or braking for Quarry (big fishtail, somehow kept it on the track and then whilst running wide had a Formula Ford spin inside me in slow motion...).
I was about half way down the list of qualifiers, but once the classes were split up again it left me 12th out of 14th on the grid - the only novice (i.e. person with less than 6 races) on the grid.
By race time it was dry, so we put the (very old) slicks on, and off I tootled to the grid. The formation lap was very slow, with a bit of pushing and shoving so I didn't weave much or spend time getting heat into brakes - I was too busy making sure I didn't run into someone or do something unpredictable. Formed back up on the grid. Waited for 1 light, 2 lights... 5 lights, GO! Nearly stalled, but a quick whack of the clutch brought the revs up and converted stall into wheelspin. Didn't lose a place at the start, and didn't want to be stupid into T1 so kept back a bit. To start with the two people behind me gave a bit of pressure, but within a lap or two I was pulling away, and going faster each lap!!!!!! At one point I left my braking (I brake like a pansy at the moment) too late, and had to unintentionally trail brake into a chicane, which was scary and exciting at the same time, and showed how good F3 brakes really are. At no point did the car step out of line, despite me braking later and later, getting on the power earlier and earlier (often before the apex towards the end), and carrying more speed through the corner.
My best lap was just three seconds shy of the winners (and he is VERY quick, with a much newer cars, and slicks that aren't 19 years old). I finished 51 seconds behind the winner - over 10 laps (our race was shortened for some reason, and I'm cross about it) that's 5 seconds per lap - sounds a lot, but trust me it's not for a novice!!
Martin, my Dad, reckons if I hadn't been such a girl for the first two laps I'd have caught (and maybe passed!) at least two cars... I finished 10th in the end, only because two cars ahead retired...
I loved it. I want to do it again!
But I have to go and do some work, so I can't talk about it any more. Photos are still on Andrew's camera. The camcorder trackside footage was a bit crap. The onboard camera didn't work - I've got 7 seconds of footage of me in the paddock checking the camera works, but none of the car driving. Bugger!
I'll do a write up on my website after work, and put as many photos online that I can, as well as my datalogging (I got all of qualifying, but forgot to turn it on until half way round the first lap of the race - there's a lot to think about when it's all new)...
To quietus, karl, chris and callous hooper - thanks for coming, thanks for finding me and I hope you liked what you managed to see...