Gill E

Dual Drivers It would appear that I am looking at this from a totally different angle .... Speaking as a regular dual driver, going first allows me the ‘luxury’ that all you solo drivers have of being able to take my time to get into the car, making sure that I am comfortable, settled and feel safe. As those of you who have had the dubious pleasure of being in a paddock position close to Shaun and I will know, I like to get into the car early as I have to use 2 separate seat pads to be able to both reach the pedals and be able to see the front wheels; because of my ‘booster seats’, it take additional time to get the 6 point harness adjusted before I get into the car. It is easier and quicker for me to get out of the car and remove my ‘driver aids’ than it is for me to install them. I firmly believe that the 500 driver should run in class in number order because they have been judged the competitive driver and numbered according to their position in the class’ competition. I have always tried to put myself in the running order to allow enough time to carry out the driver change over and for Shaun to slot comfortably into his class position, allowing time for the tyres to cool (not that I ever get them warm for him!). Whenever I have felt that there was not enough time, I have spoken to the organisers to try to move my position further ahead in the running order. I can see that there are a lot of people who feel strongly about the “warm tyres” aspect to dual driving, but no one seems to be taking into account how this proposal might affect the 600 driver. I have always felt that we have an inclusive championship and that everyone is welcome – in the past I have tried to encourage ‘pit crew’ to have a go (the same as people did to me), because I feel that people have been patient and supportive of me. If I started to feel under pressure and that I did not have enough time to feel safely installed in the car I might start to think about whether I wanted to compete at all. What we should be looking at is getting the 600 driver running a suitable distance ahead of or after the 500 driver, to allow tyres to cool and to allow the second driver sufficient time to safely get into the car both physically and mentally!

I think Mark D must have been listening to the conversation Shaun and I had about this last night, as he has made many of the same points I made. After dithering about making a decision, this has pushed me off of the fence. I like sprinting because I like being on the track on my own and testing my own limits, I don't like track days because I worry about other cars being around me and I don't feel confident to deal with them. LDMC's plan looks solely at the car and gives no consideration to the driver (who is the person paying after all). Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me! I'd love to see their risk assessment for the event!

Hi Chris, Do you know what the vegetarian option is please? Thanks, Gill

Michael's conversion of a spin into a doughnut on the apex of the hairpin in front of the crowd was truly amazing and got a round of applause - impressive MC!

Sorry Shaun, I'm ahead of you on the reserve list and you're not having my space unless you clean the house from top to bottom (properly) for a month (that's 31 days) - then I'l think about it

Thanks Clive

Did anyone in Class 6 print off the times for T3? In my disappointment on my time and my haste to leave, I forgot! It would be nice to know which bit I actually was braver at. Thanks, Gill

Loving the colour but I might need to get the sewing machine out - it's a little l-o-n-g! Thanks Chris and his support crew Shame that the Class 5 (and 4) Refugees do not seem to be eligible for The Purple Cap Competition - they look rather nice too - pesky tyre-reclassification!!!

Shaun's line through the Chicane looked a little different to Spectators than it does on the video No doubting the commitment though!

... and so the season begins And we's like to thank Chris B for towing us out of the mud, Nigel for the use of his pristine tow rope (not quite so clean after we'd used it) and the various people who helped Shaun to get the trailer onto tow bar on the van after the jockey wheel clamp sheered off! I do hope that the weekend's non-track 'events' are not a sign of things to come!

In answer to your question re class, NO - Shaun presented the 3 cases very clearly to me last night and I managed to dodge making a decision by asking stupid questions! BUT them grains of sand are rapidly running out! Where's that head-shaped hole in the ground? I was beginning to like it in there!

It would seem that my power lives on I'm not sure how much longer that will last!

Happy New Year Everybody! Looking forward to having a lot more free time now that I've handed to keys to the filing cabinet over Gill

No she doesn't

just BTTT