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drbob · 09-25-05, 07:47 AM

Graham, a simple check with race organisers would have shown I have always formally withdrawn from any races in good time so allowing reserves their entry - In 30 years motor racing I have never simply 'not shown up' for anything - ever. Unthinkable to be so discourteous. You do not know me and I do not know you other than by sight having exchanged but a few sentences only, and to make such a sweeping statement on a public forum without reference to the facts is unfortunate; I have accepted your verbal apology.

I have just returned from Spa with a badly slipping clutch. Other than a rash of other bad luck incidents and a 720 spin I was black-flagged in qualifying as another car was wrongly displaying my race number. 15 minutes lost out of 30 minute qualifying time as officials insisted I get out and report to the Race Director so only got in 2 speed laps. The other car was a mini, they deleted my times instead of his by mistake so I ended up with his time - if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all.

In any event, the time sheets showed many errors wehere a mix up where some transponders were mistakenly issued relative to car numbers resulting in many slow cars getting very impressive times including the number of laps completed so obviously many faster cars were posted way down the grid and it was agreed things were very clearly wrong for many drivers. But, it's the racing that counts and with so many much faster cars down the grid and less than the 79 who were qualifying will provide a superb spactacle and enormous fun and be the real proof.

Robin Batt was unlucky in qualifying to spin on an unseen film of oil finely sprayed from the previous session resulting in Frank Catt was doing his usual sterling work in realigning the offside rear suspension. Nonetheless Robin had courageously continued despite this 'off' and qualified with an obviously ill-handling car.

For me - home to spend a rare Sunday with my family rather than continue with the cascade of bad luck events and compete with 75 cars starting with a slipping clutch - so allowing a reserve car to have a race.

09-25-05, 07:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
drbob Rookie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 5	Re: SPA, 25th Sept Graham, a simple check with race organisers would have shown I have always formally withdrawn from any races in good time so allowing reserves their entry - In 30 years motor racing I have never simply 'not shown up' for anything - ever. Unthinkable to be so discourteous. You do not know me and I do not know you other than by sight having exchanged but a few sentences only, and to make such a sweeping statement on a public forum without reference to the facts is unfortunate; I have accepted your verbal apology. I have just returned from Spa with a badly slipping clutch. Other than a rash of other bad luck incidents and a 720 spin I was black-flagged in qualifying as another car was wrongly displaying my race number. 15 minutes lost out of 30 minute qualifying time as officials insisted I get out and report to the Race Director so only got in 2 speed laps. The other car was a mini, they deleted my times instead of his by mistake so I ended up with his time - if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all. In any event, the time sheets showed many errors wehere a mix up where some transponders were mistakenly issued relative to car numbers resulting in many slow cars getting very impressive times including the number of laps completed so obviously many faster cars were posted way down the grid and it was agreed things were very clearly wrong for many drivers. But, it's the racing that counts and with so many much faster cars down the grid and less than the 79 who were qualifying will provide a superb spactacle and enormous fun and be the real proof. Robin Batt was unlucky in qualifying to spin on an unseen film of oil finely sprayed from the previous session resulting in Frank Catt was doing his usual sterling work in realigning the offside rear suspension. Nonetheless Robin had courageously continued despite this 'off' and qualified with an obviously ill-handling car. For me - home to spend a rare Sunday with my family rather than continue with the cascade of bad luck events and compete with 75 cars starting with a slipping clutch - so allowing a reserve car to have a race.