| Formula Ford: Silverstone Review | | | | had happened on Saturday, I was just glad to be |
| Last weekend represented the half way point in | | | | racing. I had gone about 4 tenths slower in |
| my season with two rounds of the National | | | | qualifying than I had during the previous race but I |
| Formula Ford 1600 championship, one counting as | | | | think that most of this I can be attributed to not |
| a round of the Midland South Formula Ford 1600 | | | | really getting a clean lap. Of course, I cannot |
| championship. It was a very difficult weekend for | | | | blame anyone but myself for this! |
| me, underwritten by mechanical woes and other | | | | It is hard to believe but as we were sitting in the |
| difficulties. | | | | collecting area waiting to go to the grid, it started |
| This was the fourth straight race weekend I | | | | raining. It rained hard enough to warrant a change |
| would not be testing the day before. As such, | | | | to wet settings but with barely two minutes |
| qualifying was my first opportunity to drive a | | | | before we were released to the grid, we opted |
| Formula Ford 1600 on the National circuit and in | | | | to stay on dry settings. |
| regards to set up and gear ratios, we were | | | | The circuit was very greasy and as the rain fell it |
| running the same as at Donington Park (which | | | | brought the previous weekends Formula One |
| ultimately didn’t actually happen). | | | | rubber to the surface. The wettest portion of the |
| Both Saturday and Sunday would be run as | | | | track was at Becketts whilst Copse, on the other |
| independent races – the Saturday had | | | | hand, was just damp. |
| qualifying and a race for the North West Formula | | | | Off the line I made a good start and was up to |
| Ford championship whilst Sunday had qualifying | | | | fourth position on the first lap going into |
| and a race for the Midland South Formula Ford | | | | Brooklands. However, more bad luck presented |
| championship. | | | | itself as my gear linkage broke again (this time in |
| First qualifying on Saturday was marked by a | | | | a different place to Saturday!) and the linkage sat |
| slow puncture (caused by a faulty valve core). I | | | | idle in my lap. It took me a lap or two in order to |
| qualified on row four, 7th on the grid. | | | | learn the technique but I realised that I could |
| When it was time to race, we were absolutely | | | | continue to drive but needed to physically hold |
| baking in the heat on what was the hottest day | | | | and line up the gear linkage as I approached a |
| of the year. After making a decent start, I was | | | | braking area. Likewise, going up to the gears, I |
| quickly engaged in a race long battle with Matthew | | | | would have to pick the linkage up from my lap |
| Parr and Neil Pattern for 5th position. I have to | | | | and move the rod forward and back in the hope I |
| admit, this was the most enthralling duel I have | | | | would correctly move the selector forks! I can |
| had since 2007 and Formula Vee. We continually | | | | think of one moment, driving through a wet |
| changed positions, twice or even three times per | | | | Woodcote corner with one hand holding the |
| lap. The racing was hard, but fair. However, with | | | | linkage off of my lap and the other correcting |
| about 4 laps to go, I started to be unable to shift | | | | lock as slid sideways through the turn. |
| into third gear and gradually lost touch with Parr | | | | I brought the car home in a respectable 6th, |
| and Pattern. I eventually retired to the pits on the | | | | disappointed and frustrated with not being able to |
| last lap (unknowingly), crossing the line as I made | | | | push to the maximum in conditions I enjoy. But |
| my way to my pit garage. | | | | none the less, it was a good result considering the |
| Whist investigating the gear selection problem, we | | | | circumstances, the bad luck of the weekend and |
| noticed we had a different and much more | | | | how hard everybody had worked. |
| serious problem. It quickly became obvious that | | | | It is now time to leave the silverstone National |
| the clutch itself was slipping to the point it was no | | | | Formula Ford 1600 championship as the next two |
| longer possible to pull away from static. | | | | rounds at Oulton Park and Knockhill, together with |
| Interestingly, there was no clutch slip during the | | | | the final meeting at Mondello Park (Ireland) will be |
| race. | | | | too expensive for me to compete. I will instead |
| I was able to purchase a new clutch from Medina | | | | consolidate where we are in the Midland South |
| Motorsport and we all worked hard into the night | | | | Formula Ford 1600 championship (currently leading |
| to change the clutch. A really huge thank you to | | | | Class B) and concentrate on improving the car for |
| both Neil Paxton and my Dad who worked | | | | the end of season trophy events. After |
| tirelessly to get the car ready in time for Sunday | | | | contemplating the weekend, I think I can draw |
| and to Justin Dawkins who helped us with the | | | | parallels between this season and 2006 when I |
| gearbox and initial diagnosis. | | | | had a difficult (and unreliable) year in my GAC |
| For Sunday’s race we again lined up 7th and | | | | Formula Vee. I kept my head and the following |
| on row four. This time I was a bit disappointed to | | | | year I went on to win the championship. |
| have not qualified higher but after everything that | | | | |