Another event completed successfully. How to define successfully. On our road to historic racing, success means:

1, Bringing Fossa home in one piece, 2, with fun had, 3, with all her mechanical’s still in reusable condition, 4, ready to race again, 5, and with more lessons learned to apply in future races.

Using the above scale, this event was a “5”.

Petrus Motsoko from TOTAL SA applying a coat of polish and bringing the Total logo to a nice shine

I had some plans prior to the race. One of which was to not hold back and wait for things to happen, yes sure I am a slow learner, but to go to the action.

Qualifying. I had a feeling the brakes were not up to scratch after taking Fossa from the scrutineering bay. That is however a difficult call as she has in the past given that impression and then have perfectly nice brakes in action. Heading out on track, I take it easy, putting some heat in her semi’s and lightly feeling the brakes. Then the first hot lap, I find she does not want to rev in her usual smooth way to 7000rpm, rather feeling as if she has a rev limiter fitted topping out on the high 5000 to low 6000’s. Then the fun, getting to corner two applying brakes to realise the gearbox and engine is going to have to help! Second gear and twitch of her tail. Despite the brake challenge we run a respectable  01:30.33.

Back in our pit, the gloves comes off and the brakes is quickly bled.

The race in pictures taken from our GoPro. Race one.

We are bundled nicely and it is the first time I actually see the red lights go out

For a while we run with the Austin while the rest of the field gradually disappear .. Behind me the Alfa of Jaco Taylor Snr and flashes of Mel Spur’s 315 Ford Consul. Unfortunately Mel withdraws to due to a technical issue.

Jaco’s Alfa passing us with just over a half lap to go …

Race two

The Austin and the Alfa at the start of race two

I manage to pass the Alfa in corner three, but the Austin starts to build a nice gap

Brian Rowlings Ford Anglia not completing race one catch up and pass as Jaco Taylor Snr’s Alfa pulls up next to us

Corner five, Brian takes a tighter line and we manage to follow through

For a little while I manage to keep Brian’s Anglia sight which is slowly pulling me closer to the Austin. A glance in the mirror, it appears that Mel and Jaco is keeping each other busy with a slight gap, not that there is any moment of rest. Then a safety car so that they can remove a car that has retired in a unsafe spot.

All gaps created are zeroed, and soon after Mel pass me. I follow for a while and am passed by Jaco’s Alfa with just over a half lap to go.

The change in strategy made our race much more exiting with some acceptable lap times, 1:29.06 in race one and a 1:29.41 in race two. It was also a learning curve looking at the pro’s racing lines. Two or three wrong gear choices made, but that’s the way to learn.

One has to comment and congratulate Zwartkops Raceway with it’s cleanliness!!  This was really appreciated, thanks.

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Next event, Kyalami Motorsport Festival, 21 – 23 October. Our schedule there has changed to a practice session late Saturday afternoon, qualifying Sunday morning followed by an early morning race and a late afternoon race. This will also test a different Total oil!

See you there!!!