My sprint season 2012 review

[Justin]

Thought I'd post a quick review since the ongoing thread got deleted back when the database went awol

I entered 2 MSA championships - the Borough19 and the AEMC in class A6, roadgoing production.

18th March: MSA round at North Weald airfield, 6 in class. My season didn’t start well due to a dispute raised by a competitor regarding my Dunlop tyres - that are on the allowed 1B list. Scrutineers sided with him regarding E marks (mine didn’t have them) and I wasn't allowed to run them. luckily I had my road set so used them, but they were old and very hard, low grip but luckily managed 2nd place by a few hundreths.

1st April: back at North Weald, 7 in class. I had got clarification from the MSA that my tyres are legal for class, but decided to save them and use a different set of 1B tyres – kumhos this time. Was beaten into 2nd place by an extremely quick and well driven sierra saphirre cosworth - my wife was there and she noted that it was much quicker on the straights, so must have had more power than my paltry 400hp!! That set my mind thinking – I need more power!!!


_V6J3857 by Sprocket Photography, on Flickr


_V6J4214 by Sprocket Photography, on Flickr

22nd April: 3rd time lucky at north Weald! 5 in class and Mr dispute was there so I took both sets of 1B tyres, I used the E marked Kumhos and set a good time on my 2nd run, close to FTD so put the Dunlops on to have a go at FTD having told my competitor they were OK’d by the MSA. No issue but TBH a moot point since my run was 5 hundreths slower!

13th May: Honington airfield, a double points round for the B19 series, very important so dunlops were used. I also put on a bigger turbo and was running approx. 440HP. Surprisingly only 3 in class this time. The course was very open and fast, suited big power and got the class win, beating my main competitor by quite a margin – a great result considering how the points are awarded ( your time relative to the class winning time). However my tyres were again disputed – this time at the end of the day. Luckily I had proof with me and the scrutineers were satisfied once they had read the MSA response to my Email seeking clarification for the dunlops. Now I was leading both championships!!

20th May: Blyton sprint – not an MSA one but the 22B.com sprint series. I decided to do this because it didn’t clash with the MSA sprints and I wanted to see where I was compared with other 22B members competing for a place in the 22b.com TOTB team. 14 in class. I had a great day on a fast big power track, met up with loads of friends, got the class S2 win and 4th fastest Subaru – beaten by the Lateral Banana, Andy Forrest in his race car and Rob Wakelin (WRX Bart) - all in class S3 and all no surprise there! Well chuffed with my day and very impressed with the sprint format run by the MLR.







3rd June: Snetterton, the 100 circuit, very fast usually but it was wet, very wet. Only 2 in class and decided not to run the 1B tyres but used my fresh new road tyres with pretty much full tread - did the job, 1st in class and with me playing my joker it was double points!! Glad to get home unscathed – did a bit of grass tracking but avoided the tyre wall luckily - quite a few cars weren’t so fortunate that day.

8th July: Debden airfield, 5 in Class. A wet one again but not as wet as Snett, so used my kumhos this time, saving my Dunlops for TOTB now that I was in the 22B team. Debden is a favourite and in the damp/wet condition posted FTD for most of the day, I didn’t do the last run as I thought I had got the most out the car that day and didn’t want to risk another run – only to be pipped into 2ndFTD by a sports libre car on its last run. Gutted! But a class win and a nice lead in the championships


29th July: Ten Of The Best XI. The big one of the year. No classes here I’m in with the mod prods and the big tuner cars. And there are lots of them!! 30-40 cars in the 4WD catagory on the handling circuit. I’ve come 13th in the past 2 years on the handling circuit and the aim is to score points for the team by getting in the top 10. Elvington is quite a specialist track and I have a lot of experience here from previous grudgement days and Scooby shootouts – the car seems to punch above its weight here relative to say Snetterton or a Blyton type track. The car deliverd – this time getting 9th overall on the handling circuit, a very proud moment. I’m used to coming home with a bit of silverware this season, the only time I don’t and its my best performance yet! Fine by me.





5th Aug. The following weekend and I’m at Lotus test track at Hethel for a MSA sprint. An awesome track, by far the best one I’ve done all season, just amazing a blend of pretty much every type of corner and a huuge straight! First time I’ve had to use 6th gear (UK ratios too) then a massive stop on the brakes for a chicane. Proper circuit. Still on a high from TOTB I really enjoy this one and perform well, a solid class win which gives me the Borough 19 class A6 championship! An incredible 8 days!


27 by James Waters Photos, on Flickr



7th Oct. Back at Debden. With the class title already won, I could also come 2nd in the B19 Overall championship with a win here – and also bag the AEMC class title too. Five in class and I’m back at my favourite venue – corner speeds seem perfectly suited to my gearbox and I enjoy the technical ‘Go kart Esses’ section towards the end of the circuit. Another class win gives me what I set out to achieve way back in March

8 MSA sprints - 6 wins, 2 2nds
1 MLR sprint - 1 win
TOTB XI - points scoring 9th on handling circuit

A great season very enjoyable despite the odd competitor induced scrutineer issues, but to be fair that isn't representative of the otherwise great paddock atmosphere amoungst competitors that I've usually experienced.

A big thankyou to all those that helped along the way, no particular order

Simon JGM, CJ and Charlie - the SRR posse always on hand at the shortest of notices
Curtis at AST suspension
Alyn at AS Performance
Andy Forrest - AFPerformance
Steven Darley - SD Motorsport
John Felstead
All at team 22B for the support at TOTB XI - arguably my best result achieved in my 3 years of sprinting

Well done Justin, Looking like a true celebrity now.

[BIG"E"]

Well done Justin,

and what a good write up

[Lucky]

Great write up mate. Thanks for posting it

[Bolesroor]

Looks like you have had a great year


Well done

[Tomma]

Very good read and impressive results!

Clearly a very talented driver, nice one!

[Justin]

Thanks everyone. Not sure about celebrity status though, but my 5 year old son tells his friends at school that I'm a racing driver, LOL

[asperformance]

spot on, well deserved.........

[Steve_PPP]

Sounds like a great year for you, thanks for posting the write up

[Hongkongfooi]

Nice one Justin, how much does a season like that cost you?

[Justin]

MSA sprints are the cheapest and closer, so approx £75 entry fee and half a tank of fuel to get there and back for North Weald and Debden. Snetterton, Blyton and Hethel are £120 entry and an overnight B&B and at least a tank if not more of fuel. TOTB is more expensive because it is so far away and 2 nights B+B.

So entry, fuel and travel was approx £1800 for 10 events. Although I seem to have 3 sets of worn tyres at present and didn't buy any this year, it averages out to one set of tyres a year, so another £600. Then if you don't have it already the startup costs getting you and the car ready for MSA competition - namely timing strut, fire extinguisher, MSA approved overalls, helmet and gloves - the last 3 coming in at least to £500. Then you have to join a club at £24 a year for B19, then another £10 - £20 to enter the championship.

10 events is a lot for me - I doubt I will do that many next season

[jura11]

Nice one Justin and really well done and great write up


Jura