RF40 Race debut completed

Ross Nicol · 07-21-03, 09:17 AM

Well the pressure was on with quite a few RF car owners and
Robert anxiously spilling petrol over the car(he did get some in)before the first race on Saturday.With so many onlookers I just had to keep it together.I was concerned that I had not done any practice starts, and when I got to my 25th grid position I found I had no view of the starting lights. Oh well I'll just go when I hear and see the others
take off.Ok drop the clutch and..... clutch slip, finally got away, wow power is veeeery nice and I'm down to turn 1 in a flash, very crowded and almost feels like you have to slow down and wait for cars to clear before taking turn 2.Back into 2nd gear for the long drag up back straight, over the top of the hill and down to hairpin at Dandenong rd corner,brake heavy back to 2nd damn not seeing apexes too well(not used to low seating & lay back position)ooh the power is good on this little straight, round the corner and back onto the front straight (1 lap out of 8 complete)back into turn 1 braking early at 200m not confident of late braking at this point.Quite a good tussle with an Alpha GTV6, I blow him away on the straights and he gets me back in the corners.Unfortunately i don't have enough straight to get past him before the flag so I finish in 25th spot back where I started but in one piece.phew pressure over.Best lap 1min 27.81sec not brilliant but good enough for now (fastest lap Cobra 1min 16 secs).2 races on Sunday unable to finish last race as throttle body covers came off and jammed throttle open 5 laps out of 10 so that was it, weekend complete and pretty successful even had tyre marks from porsche that tried to run me off the track.The car attracted a lot of interest and I had trouble concentrating on the task at hand ie Racing but I know I'll have to get used to it. Next Race Phillip Island early September.
Regards Ross

**patbarry** · 07-21-03, 05:45 PM

Seems like you captured the emotion of the event fairly well. Having the manufacturer spill fuel on your car can't help! Sounds like you had fun, hopefully soon I'll have an opportunity to 'relive' your experience.

Bill Hara · 07-21-03, 07:08 PM

Well done Ross, it was a great weekend against some tough, seasoned competitors.
It was a thrill for me just watching you leave the staging area and entering the circuit! I've got some great shots which I will post later on tonight.
Also, I'd just like to say thanks to Ross for his time spent talking to me, always a smile on his face, even when his throttle had jammed and a Porsche had left rubber on his front right guard after the last race!
Well done again.

Cheers

Bill.

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:14 AM

Here are some pics from the weekend.

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:15 AM

Another in the staging area, low 3/4 view

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:16 AM

Another of Ross' beautiful car in the pits just after 1st qualifying session on Saturday.

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:18 AM

The results of some action right in front of Ross during 1st Qualifying session.

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:22 AM

And another... This guy was high up on the barrier before his front end dug in the sand and rolled a couple of times, both drivers were unhurt.

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:23 AM

Here's Norman with his beautiful car, not to be confused with Ross'

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:25 AM

And Robert Logan with another owner's car! GT40's were the stars of the weekend without a doubt.

Bill Hara · 07-22-03, 08:28 AM

The fastest sportscar of the weekend was this mighty Cobra with a touring car (nascar) engine producing over 600hp.

Gary Gibbs · 07-22-03, 08:59 AM

Sounds like way to much power to me [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img].
How can he handle it???

ChrisL · 07-22-03, 10:42 AM

Well done Ross,
I get the feeling that there is still alot of speed left in that thing. I noticed your times were coming down considerably as the weekend rolled on. Needless to say, a great day was had by all.

PS. Sorry to all that I couldn't get online earlier to put these images online. Anyway, here they are.

ChrisL · 07-22-03, 10:45 AM

The crowd died down enough to allow Ross to check the tyre pressures.

ChrisL · 07-22-03, 10:48 AM

The dummy grid, waiting to go on the track. Ross's GT40 is the red flash in the distance.

Gary Gibbs · 07-22-03, 01:57 PM

Looks like a lot of fun!!!

norman falkiner · 07-22-03, 07:09 PM

Great day. Well done Ross. BTW that yellow Elfin was rebuilt overnight and raced again the next day. Amazing!!! Regards

Pete. · 07-22-03, 07:37 PM

Terrific effort Ross your car looks fantastic, great colour red, what is the paint number and manufacturer? Also
your stack filters look really cool where did you source them from?

**patbarry** · 07-22-03, 09:29 PM

Ross, that is one fine looking car!

Hershal Byrd · 07-23-03, 01:35 PM

Ross,
Outstanding Mate!! Once the comfort factor sets in you will
blast around the track. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Ross, where can I get those neat lookin' screens and trumpets you have on your fuel injection ? I like them alot!
Got to have a set.

Hersh [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]