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With the weather forecast for the Easter weekend far from promising John and I set off in driving snow from home in Sheffield bound for the Brookland circuit in Kent. When we arrived we found many of the regular’s trackside and ready to go. We unpacked our gear and were just about ready to go out for our first run of the season when the first of the day’s snow flurries blew across the track. No worries though the icy northerly blast of wind soon dried it quickly once the snow had stopped. It continued like that for most of Saturday with drivers off and on the low grip circuit trying to find a suitable set up. Sunday saw us back trackside in conditions similar to Saturday (don’t you just love Bank Holidays?).
The weather waited until free practice was just about over and qualifying about to start then the snow stared again, making the track not that wet but very slick. Mark Green made the best of a bad job and came out top following round one. Mercifully the snow gave us a rest, only to be replaced by driving rain that completely soaked the track and any of the marshals who had been out standing in it. A few brave souls tried to make a go of it but the wet track put paid to many efforts (ours included) and soon some drivers were packing up to go home. For most drivers in the lower finals it was a case of simply staying on the track and hoping for the best on the constantly changing conditions. The A main final saw Mark Green lead the field away. In the wet conditions both he and Richard Hicklin had decided to go out on damp tyres (hoping the track would dry) began to fall down the field. Neil Diver, who had decided upon Kissling full wet tyres, benefited from the wet track conditions and moved into the lead, followed closely by Chris Heath. As the rain stopped and the track began to slowly dry both Mark and Richard began to move up, but were both strangely beset by the same problem of keeping there engines running. (after the race there were a couple of theories put forward by both Mark Green and Scott Nettleton that both have merit, and will need thinking about before we race again in the wet) At the end of the 30 minutes Neil came over the line just in front of Chris with Iain Milford in a sound third place. With the trophy presentation over in the best weather conditions of the day, we were on our way home to a warm fire just as quickly as we could.
A special mention to race director for the weekend Dennis Jones who spent all Sunday in a none too warm race control, and to Andy Mollet who withdrew from racing but stayed to help with starting heats and finals, and finally a mention to Shane and Eric for there efforts at the track over the weekend. For those of you who entered the meeting and then didn’t bother to turn up and race, but stayed at home in your warm comfy house with your feet up. I hope you are all thoroughly ashamed of yourselves. For those who raced if you have thawed out by the 27th of April you can do it all again at the Halifax track situated in the lovely sun kissed Costa Del Yorkshire. Please try and get your entry for the Halifax meeting in as early as possible, so that the club knows where it is with trophies and catering. |
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