2nd Round- Magnoll’s farm near Manchester (again)

A return to this venue again with the wind direction changed made for a very different course.

This was to be another 3 day weekend but as it was right in the middle of uni exams i had to leave a day early (and still failed Tuesday’s exam but hey). This meant i could only compete in 4 out of the 6 races but i also tried an open race which was great fun. These races are open to all of the adult formulae and mean you can try your luck against craft in higher categories.

In race 1 in had a good start getting off in 2nd but kept getting the craft airborne giving the crowd a good look at the bottom but losing me places. In the end i came 4th after a cycle of taking back places and losing them after getting airborne! Thanks to Shell Stead for getting pics of it flying. During the worst airborne moment the craft got extensive hull damage and lots of aluminum was riveted on!

In race 2 i managed to keep it on the ground but made some errors and let Dave get through coming 4th again.

Race 3 on Sunday was one of my closest to date.. I got off in 1st around the hairpin and for the next 3 laps i increased my lead to about a third of a lap while others were fighting amongst each other. However as i came upto the hairpin i was about to lap a backmarker who got in my way and caused me to spin the wrong way giving enough time for the leading pack to go through putting me in 5th place which i where i finished- i never got it back together that race!

In the 4th race i came 4th again having not really found any pace and saving the engine slightly since it was over-revving slightly.

I decided to try my luck in the open race and it being my first one i started right at the back of the grid. It was 16 strong field of completely different craft and i managed to take quite a few people at the first corner. Throughout the race i was battling with another F3, Dave and we were both moving up the field taking 503 and F1x craft- sometimes an overtake could go wrong giving the person directly behind a chance to piggyback both places and Dave and i swapped places loads throughout the race, eventually he beat me into 6th but my 7th starting from the from the back of the grid was a great result.

The next race of the season will be at Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield and i could potentially have the course advantage here as it is a predominantly water course, however i have broken my elbow so wont be able to compete. For live video commentary of the racing go to Keith Oakley’s site