Here is three thousand words!

Kyalami, Photographer: Meghan McCabe

777, Kyalami, Photographer: Kerry ??????

777, Kyalami, Photographer: Kerry ???????

Thanks!!!

With our race debut 21 July 2012, this is as close to an anniversary event as possible. We have come a long way since that day at Zwartkops Raceway two years ago.

Taking Fossa out of her lair into the road her exhaust system scrapes on the driveway. Fossa is loaded and we are on our way, usual time arriving at Kyalami, 05H30. There are so many opinions around the future of this track, we can only trust that it will remain a race track. The track has SO MUCH potential.

Kyalami Banner

In the region of 06H00 we enter. Annalie immediately start getting us some hot cappuccino made and Fossa receives final check-up. Documentation done, scrutineering done.

Qualifying: The qualifying takes place from the pit lane. Pull out of the pits .. access the race track and the first moment I touch the brakes Fossa feels to either grab severely with her left front only or yet another wheel alignment issue. It literally felt as if Fossa wants to tip over onto her right hand side. Hair raising is not the word. Do some laps trying to use the brakes as little as possible. We run a 2:35.357

Fossa Ford Anglia

Back in the pits we recheck Fossa’s wheel alignment. We bleed Fossa’s front brakes. And hope for the best. Very few of the other “Little Giants” entered into the Pre66 Saloons. Most opting for “Sports and GT”. It was going to be a lonely race. Not to much of an issue, it will give me some valuable practise on a track that I do not know that well.

Race one: Head out on track feeling the alignment, feeling the brakes. Everything is just peachy. I race Fossa, thinking I might be able to keep in touch with one of the Mini’s and for a short while it looks as if I might be able to achieve this ….Fossa’s handling is completely different since dropping her closer to the tarmac, for the better I feel. I run wide on the exit of the second last corner twice and her tires scream can be heard attempting to keep her on the black stuff. I make use of the opportunity to test every corner, get a feel for it and with Fossa’s new characteristics have the option to slide out Fossa’s rear end using only third and fourth gears. It is very difficult to explain the feeling of touching on drifting the little car. Just can not bring it to words. Best lap time, 2:28.369.

Race two: Pretty much a repeat of race one. Fun, fun and more fun. Our best lap for the race, 2:29.591.

With Fossa being playful occasionally sliding out at the back, I expected worn tires at the back, not so, her fronts are very close to full slicks. Is this just the Dunlop’s? Is it the setup? Well, we still have a almost a full seasons worth of tread left on the Yokohama’s used last year. So we have a backup plan. New semi’s priced today at over R1000 a piece ….. a little steep right now.

Fossa, next target, the chequered flag

Our biggest win of the day, had a lot of fun, gained experience, completed some further extreme testing and Fossa is in one piece! Can hardly wait for Zwartkops Raceway, 11 October.

Then our experiment with Ustream. A bit in two minds. We have to make the cellphone holder more secure in order to have smoother footage. Then there was some issues with either bandwidth / signal strength or the ustream application. The events broadcast are broken into many pieces and often video feed cease with only audio continuing. We also “broadcast” a “Formula One” demo which gets stuck when we are waiting for the car to come past at speed. Check the recordings at http://www.ustream.tv/user/visagiecj

We will be receiving our high pressure, high volume oil pump. that will be fitted and we have to have her exhaust system raised. It is going to be a long period of no racing for us. Next race, Zwartkops Raceway, 11 October.  May try and attend a Super Trax Day at Zwartkops prior to then.

Cheers

………………. web streaming from within Fossa!

Fossa Ford Anglia Live

Now this is all dependent on:

1. Fossa’s reliability

2. Our network used, MTN

3. The cell phone used, Samsung S4

The approximate times, GMT +2:

1. Qualifying, 08:40

2. Race 1, 11:50

3. Race 2, 16:00, these times are a guideline and may vary due to damaged vehicles having to be removed etc.

The website, http://www.ustream.tv/user/visagiecj

Our feeling about testing is mixed, call it Beta testing. There is a delay from the action to your screen of about 20 – 25 seconds. We trust that more light will improve the view to the outside.

Kyalami program, but 12 July, not 14 …

It is not tv, …. but if you can not join us track side, watch us on your screens and keep an eye open for some other live race snippets!

 AND ….. The Ford vs MGA, tuxracing vs Steven is not going to happen. Steven was entered into the Sports and GT race …. Pity.