Paddy Piston

[Bren]

The Nemo euro tour this week destinations would split so Jon was off to France and I would head to Ireland or more precise northern Ireland for the paddy piston race. This week a more relaxed feel for myself If you can say, straight from a night shift but would fly from Manston a small local airport some 15 minutes from my house in the far south of the uk.  Distance some 600 miles so the chariot this time flybe a small twin prop plane, the journey interesting but felt more fly be the seat of your pants as the only bit I felt comfy on was on the ground or mid flight. Any thing in between i.e. Take off and landing scared the liveing daylights out of me as it twisted & turned all over the place due to turbulance. I tried the let's sleep and it all goes away ploy but funnily couldn't sleep ekkkkkkk.
 
Arriving touch down ahh relax and kiss the ground, emerald isle yep it was raining but who cares the rain would help the track. The wife tagged along this weekend for the trip away, can't mention though it was one of those special big birthdays but a great night out for her & a lovely meal. One thing that stood out was how friendly the locals where over the whole trip, pride they took in there food & always wanting to chat to a total stranger. So different to back home but so nice.
 
Friday and relaxed till midday before heading to the track for some practice. Greeted by a perfect track and venue , something many uk tracks needs to take heed of as this small band of enthusiast have produced one of if not the best track I've seen and raced on. There goal to produce every kind of bend or fearture which they achieved to perfection. The surface hard packed & dead smooth with many elevation changes, each jump dead square so no matter where you hit it the car jumped perfect what a dream. A big lap at 50 seconds meant allot of learning but after a while into the swing of things and hitting the lap times required to be classed as quick , rewarding when on the line and rhythm but punishing if off it.
Friday was soon over as the rain set in again but forcasts said from Saturday it would be dry.
 
Saturday sunny & a scorcher, had a delay to allow the track to dry a wee bit from the overnite rain but all got a 30 minute practice to settle in. A shame for the organisers as a small  turn out kept numbers down but gave us all more track time so if you didn't go your loss. The locals where fast  but the uk lot I.e.  sloppy, cree and yours truly where quick and in the top 10 straight away. The top spot was traded between sloppy Cree & abernathy all event   , with 10 minute qualifying meant a perfect engine tune and no stopping. With the long lap 11.30 minimum in a tank was needed but for myself a new engine ruled this out so always losing 10 seconds to the top runners and one stop for fuel.  Saturday due to late start meant 4 qualifying rounds, a continually drying track kept setups critical & forever changing. For me in these conditions a mountain to climb as a lone ranger, no one to compare setups with so not always perfect but up there & a good showing for the small nemo outfit. Still in the top 10 at the close of play but needed a bit more as the event would hot up from now..
 
A bit of time to reflect over night with some changes for sunday and rnd 1 gave good promise and a sterling run,  but binning the runs after meant I had a bit of work in the finals from the B.
 
A few tweaks gave a finals car and easily won this by 2 laps on second during this 30'minute run.
Onto the 60 minute main and a reasonable start saw myself to 7th and looking good although having to run more fuel stops. This unfortunately cut short at 14 mins when things where looking good but very odd & a cut.  Out in 9th & chasing down the lost time but several more cuts meant somthing wrong & a retirement, later on turning out to be a small split in the fuel lines to the tank drawing in air. As it is but gutting as the pace was good and not a true reflection of what could have been for the agama & bullitt engine but racing as they say.
At the end the surface still spot on with a smooth hard packed dirt which had grooved up, no bumps or holes just perfect consistency all event of jumps and surface. These guys have it sussed so thankyou for giving us this perfect track to race on.
 
Well that was it sloppy took home the top prize and deserved win , I had the early shower but a great weekends racing. I stayed for the extra day for some sight seeing & a change here as how many of us can say traveled the world but seen none of it, I also hold my hands up here but finished my break totally relaxed.
Oh the flight again ahhhhhhhh turbulance all the way but home safe to write the report.
 
Thanks to all those at BADMCC for a great event and weekend.
 
Bren.