Well we are at round 4 already and i must say it went a hell of a lot better then round 3. Qualifyiing saw me into the 55 second bracket but i never really got a good clear track so i reckon there is still more to come. First race was my first race in the wet and it was very enjoyable i must say. Finshed 4th overall and 3rd in class. Had a great battle which you can see from the video with a number of cars. Second race was okay and i finished where i expected to be honest. Finished 5th overall and 4th in class.

Have to say my Elite Transmissions gearbox is awesome and i am very impressed.

http://youtu.be/dmsQZAkVhZg Race 1 Video

You guys were really unlucky to have the heavens open just before your race. With all that power, it's very much "point & squirt" in those conditions isn't it? The straights seem incredibly short. Couple of moments on the paint too where you had absolutely no traction seeing the other cars sail away - entirely different sort of race to mine.

Did you end up off track and have some damage Richard? We will get a chance to speak yet?

Yes it was very entertaining however i felt like when i wasn't on the painted stuff i had relatively good traction to be honest.

Yes, Marco - see my thread in "Other Cars" - I was rear-ended into the first corner. Finished an exciting race (link to the video in that thread) but all my rear lights were wiped out.

Yup - we'll catch up one of these weekends. My next race is the support to the BTCC which should be fun

Looks like you had a good race Marco. Did that white cosworth drive into the back of you after you overtook him, around 6:30 as that is quite a loud bump / clonk. Also, that black Astra seemed to be pretty quick

That black Atra is actually a 4wd Scirocco mate but i won;t hold it against you. Runs evo engine and running gear. Quite a quick car too i must say but not really meeting with the regs i'd say.

I don't think so but maybe just a little love tap.

Richard i'm very jealous that you are getting the glamour meeting along with the mini's. You'll have loads of people wanting to lend a hand that day i'm sure. I'm doing track scotlands sprint at ingliston so i won;t be up unfortunately.

I'll have a look at the video now mate.

I'm heading to ingliston too, I wondered who owned the 400bhp coupe! I expect mine to be shown up in a big way!

Well if it's dry maybe not as i won;t be able to get heat into the tyres. I'll see if i can get a scrubbed set of R888's for the front at least.

See you there.

Yup - though it's about time the Classics got some recognition from the SMRC - we've some pretty big grids (even at Cadwell there were 24 of us) and there's always some good racing somewhere in the field. You can imagine the grid is somewhat oversubscribed for the BTCC - so at least 34 starters.

Good luck at Ingliston

Race 2 video

http://youtu.be/TIcDiqxysRI

Good races Marco, particularly the first one in those conditions. Looked like you were a bit lonely in that second race.

Dave thanks. Yes the first race was great and the second was a bit lonely. I missed 3rd gear 3 times coming out of the hairpin trying too hard to keep with the westfielsd and the caterham and my lap times showed this as did my front bumper which tooka bit of a battering. In the wet the car was great and i always loved the wet when i raced karts so it's not left me. Can't wait to see how motors tv have it covered from the outside!

Some good photo's courtesy of Andy who doea all the video work.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/42427406@N05/sets/72157627436594218

Wet race was superb! Very suprising traction considering very wet conditions and power through FWD!

Well driven Marco

Lovely Marco!!!!!!

The link to the photo's isn't working?? MMMMMMM!!!

Motors TV coverage is on the 8th September at 19:00 hrs. Should be interesting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42427406@N05/sets/72157627436594218

Have you ever been 'out-braved' into a corner Marco?

Car is looking very very awesome Marco

Thanks Matt and no i don't think i have to be honest. Once people know you won't be buillied on track you can use that to your advantage i suppose. Assertive driving, not aggressive though!

Thank you Sparkyman i think it's looking well too. I just love the fact that i have been there and competeing with cars that are a lot more capable than the coupe as standard and we have been aquiting ourselves pretty well.

Wow pretty impressive stuff Marco. I love watching your vids.

Just watching the BTCC (itv4). They lap knockhill around 53/54 seconds. There isn't much of a difference between them and you Marco!

Marco, the coupe certainly doesn't look out of place! Love the shot of it next to the Porsche going into the corner.

I remember you showing me a pic of your car when you first got it...and looking at it now, how this beast has changed!!

Nobby not bad for an old Fiat eh? I reckon i can get into the 54's, maybe not the 53's mind but it's still a very good lap time considering the car. I was at the Touring cars yesterday and how nice it must be not to have to worry about damaging your car!

Thanks Kelv as long as i can keep that behind me i'll be doing fine.

Clear shot of my car getting rear-ended in the programme

Richard i've not seen it yet but i had a few phone calls saying the wet race was a bit exciting.

This was in the dry - fortunately I had my rear-view camera running for an all-action shot of the impact...

You can see it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hMY_msvEdU

Pretty interesting race, including the punt up the rear, Elan losing a wheel, and an exciting rollercoaster ride down Duffus...

That was a cracking watch! Must be sooo frustrating that with all the full blooded commitment and smooth lines, to be a few horses down on powah down the straights? Case in point you against the Porsche, you were sooo much later and quicker through the twisties, and all that skill to be blown back on the straights. I could feel you whipping the car out of the window! Do like the eventual overtake of the Porsche, push him into the gravel

Take it no real damage done to the rear? The Elan was lucky that wheel broke off on the straight and not under stress on a corner The Marcos looked like a barge through the corners, looked great fun

Bugger, missed this Anyone know if it is repeated?

And just noticed it's repeated now on Sky, half way through already

If only the coverage from motors was a bit longer and a bit more comprehensive including more in-car you would get a much better feel for what is actually happening.

Repeated most days for a week usually. Obscure hours though so hope you have a recorder

Yup - desperately need more horses - unfortunately the Alfa Nord engine's combustion chamber isn't the best. Eventually I need to go down the GTAm route to compete properly in that class in an Alfa - trouble is, for the price of a GTAm cylinder head, I could buy a reasonably well prepared Alfa Sud.

The pass on the Porsche was reasonably robust but he knew I was there and had the choice to contest the corner or back out. We aren't in the same class so we aren't competing for points but I needed to get past him to get to the Marcos with whom I am competing.

The back was quite a mess. All the rear lights smashed, the rear panel lip bent in about 8", the lower valence comprehensively bent up under the car and creases in the rear wings above the wheel arches. On the plus side, the rear of the Giulia is just one huge crumple zone so nothing critical in there. On the downside it's going to take quite a lot of needless effort and expense to put it right. The rear panel is £350+VAT. The light units are the same again (each) if I were to buy new. I bent it back into shape for the BTCC weekend but it's a job for the winter to tidy it up.

Afraid not, I checked the sky planner for the next week and nothing

That's very odd

Anyone going to Kirkbride Airfield on the 24/25 Sept?