Finally, the first event of the season had arrived. After a long wait since the last event of 2009 and a last minute rush to get the car ready it really was fabulous to be back at Goodwood. It is my favourite track of the season so I was really looking forward to it, especially as it would be my first time there in my Class 3 car. I won Class 1 at Goodwood in Dad’s car last year, my only Class victory thus far, with a 102 second run.

I arrived nice and early with the intention of having a jog around the track but in the end I couldn’t be bothered! At least it meant I had loads of time to take the car of the trailer, sign on, set up the video camera and get noise tested. In fact, I managed to get all of that done before Dad had even arrived. For once I was nice and relaxed at the start of the day instead of being all stressed that I had too much to do and not enough time.

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Ready for the off

After a lot of queuing I finally lined up for my 2 lap practice run. I was feeling good so decided to try hard straight away. I had a very good run but there was still a lot to find as I had got too much wheelspin off the line, braked too early everywhere and used the wrong gear at Lavant. I was amazed to find myself fastest in Class 3 and only a second off the winning time from last year.

A video of the practice run is below. I’m sorry about the sound but it’s not bad for an £11 camera.

The first timed runs came along and I had an absolute stormer for the first half of the run. The start really hooked up and I carried more speed through Madgwick, No Name, St Mary’s and the first part of Lavant. In fact I took far too much speed through the first bit of Lavant and ended up going over the exit kerb and onto the grass. I tried to keep my foot in but it was obvious that the only way I was going to steer it back towards the track was to lift. This cost me loads of time down Lavant straight. The rest of the lap was clean enough but my heart wasn’t in it. I was therefore amazed to find that the lap was a second quicker than I’d gone in practice and that I was in the lead. I later found out that both of my main rivals had forgotten to use 6th gear between Madgwick and St Mary’s.

My second timed run took another second off but, apart from staying on the track at Lavant, didn’t feel as quick. I managed to get some charge back into the camera for the 2nd run so the video is below.

That run managed to keep me in front but Jeff and Grahame were now only half a second away.

The third run was fine. I didn’t take any chances and went a bit slower. Jeff tried taking Madgwick flat but changed his mind halfway through the corner with oversteery consequences that lost him a chunk of time. Grahame had an excellent last run and beat my fastest time by 3 tenths. Having led since the start of the day I was a bit deflated but I cheered up a bit when I realised that the 3rd runs didn’t count for the organisers (although they would for the Club – I thought) so I would get the trophy.

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Over the line

It was only the next day that I found out that not all of the 7 Club members had managed to get a 3rd run in before the curfew. As a result it was decided that the 3rd runs would not count for the championship. I had won! It wasn’t the way I wanted to win as Grahame had beaten me fair and square.

It was a wonderful event and a great start to the season. I am very satisfied with my performance and amazed that my standard 1.6 K-Series Supersport managed to do the business against those with 1800s and 1600s with ported heads, on what is more of a power circuit than any other we visit.

My next event is due to be MIRA but following on from Goodwood I may yet be tempted by Curborough in 3 weeks.