After a long winter break the new season commenced with a double header round at Snetterton circuit, one of the fastest tracks on the calander!

Having never driven at Snetterton, I decided to book a half day test session in order to learn the track and get to grips with the demands of the track. Also since my last race at Mallory Park in 2008, I had done a lot of work to the car, more so on the electronics and pedals, seating position. It was almost like starting again. I arrived nice and early at the track, and was joined by Stuart, who has worked with some Formula Ford teams in the past.

Testing did not start untill after 13:30, so we went through the car, did all the usual spanner check, applied the champinship decals, I also went through again to check all the setting for my digitals display and data logger were correct. Having discusses tyre pressures with Stuart, it was decided that I should use 16psi front and rear. All other suspension settings were left alone at this point, as the objective was to out and get a feel for the car and how its behaving.

By now it was approaching lunch time, the only thing that was left to do was a noise test. Easy I thought, as the car passed at Mallory park and was not driven since. Wrong!! the car has failed the first noise test!! I was told to rev the car to 5500 rpm, based on the limit of 7000 rpm (I regret telling them that, I should have said 6000 rpm, as this would mean I would rev to about 4500 rpm) I began to panick, not knowing how I could sort this problem out with out a new back box. I returned back to the bay where I was stationed.

To cut a long story short, after trying a silencing can which is clamped to the end of the exhast (not allowed as the exhaust would stick out too much at the back) the only other option left was to re baffle the exhaust silencer. I managed to track down someone who has exhaust baffle and promptly began to drill out and re stuff the silencer. By this stage we had lost almost all of the first session of practice, but all was not lost as there was another 45 min session to go.

I took the car back to get noise tested and this time it had passed!! I was excited that I can now go out on track and get on with it. As the session started I was ready to go out on track. For the first few laps I just took it easy and tried to learn the lines. The car initially felt good, but was not being pushed.. as I came out of Russell chicane, I floored it, 3rd, and taking 4th as I cross the start finish line and hitting around 120 mph before braking down to about 70 mph in 3rd for the Riches  corner (it can be taken a lot quicker, around 85-90 mph is possible) the idea was build up to it rather than spinning off!

A short burst and still in 3rd gear before braking to about 50 mph for Sears. The exit of Sears is very important as it dictates your maximum spead down the Revett straight (if the car is geared properly it can hit 150 mph) which is very fast, considering you have to brake hard while turning and changing gear into a left right chicane. Unfortunately, I was almost hitting the limiter at 7,000 rpm at 125 mph 3/4 way down the track! As you guessed it I had the wrong 4th gear, I really need a gear that would allow the revs and speed to increase further, to around 135-140 mph.  

With almost 3/4 of the track completed as a faster pace than my previous laps, I was safely through the esses approching the Bomb Hole in 3rd gear around 85mph, I did not have the confidence at this stage to just keep my foot in, so I lifted off a bit before going back on the power heading toward Coram which is easily flat (if you have full confidence in the car) I was lifting a lttle through here and then back on the power all the way to Russell chicane. The idea is to attack both kerbs and some extra part of the track, trail braking can also help make you quicker, ie a method of braking while turning into a corner... how ever I was still finding the ideal line, and ideal spead... so that was at the back of my mind for now.

Next laps disaster strikes!! The car starts to miss fire, I am loosing power and speed... I coast around back into the pits where Stuart is waiting for me. Engine cover off and a quick check of all the plugs, all seemed ok. I went back out the missfire had cleared, I will do another 3 more laps before the session is over for me due to spinning off at the first corner. I tried to start the car, but the starter motor kept spinning (dead starter motor!!!!! ouch!)