Cath Evans Racing

Wow what a day yesterday was.  Today was another day though!

Weather was again dry, less windy as well. Starting at 16th on the grid, so same outside spot, but a bit further up the grid. Same checks carried out on the green flag lap with the slope suituation. Got that sorted.

Red lights go out and we’re off. Off we are, but coming into Druids, I missed a gear and went into 5th rather than 3rd - nt the right way - then again the same happened into Druids. So by now all the good work from yesterday was undone. My competitors had taken advantage of me and were in front of me.

I made sure I got past a certain mobile chicane from Pembrey, but then found another!! Another lesson.

I was certainly faster but everytime I tried get past this chicane out of Graham Hill bend they took a really WIDE line into Surtees. 1st at being driven onto the grass I held back, but the 2nd time it happened - I USED the grass and then made my space.

I was catching the 3 cars in front of me, by full race distance I was sure that I could have past them. But, when you see 2 cars intimate with each other in Paddock, you know that the Race is over. The red flag was brough out, and game over.

As we had done 50% race distance - just - the race was called as final result! - Gutted. 50% of our races have resulted in this early finish. Another lesson - get your work done early as this is a regular occurance! Final position 19/26 and 7/9 in class

Thanks again to the gang for working on the car, and to Sally and Chris for coming to support and shout from the stands!! Sorry the result was not as grand as yesterday.

20th on the grid and from last experience, the further back the grid, the more of a slope there was! Sitting so forward in the car (little legs syndrome) what would l be able to do with the handbrake so far back. So learning now that practice greenflag lap - do what checks you can.

Yep I would roll, but a quick dab of the brakes and on the clutch seemed to keep me staitionery wihtour the handbrake - Sorted. At least at this track unlike Pembrey I could see the lights!

Green - Go.  The first memory I have is Druids where all I can say is carnage. Smoke from brakes and cars firtually stationary? Later to establish that 2 Class A cars came together and all had to work around them.

I had to brake hard to stop from bashing into another car, then saw a space to the left of me. I was in it. The next thing I saw in my mirror was another car driving up the side of my Car!!! I was still driving, I still moving forward and now apparent damage. So on I went.

I saw the black and Orange circle flag - mechanical failure to car. I kept checking the car number but not me. I’m sure not me.  I was flying still and then the flags went. The chequered flag came.

What a great reception I got back in pits. As home track lots of freinds came to see me. It was there that I was told that I was possibly 3rd in class!!!

Confirmed 16/24 and 3/9 in class.  My first, invisible, podium. Great to reward the hard work of getting the engine together, the support of friends and Rich. No hair pulled out on this race!!

However, the incident at Druids did lead to a lot of questions, my fault, the other competitors fault - I put it down to racing incident. The recent car club magazine - states however, that Cath Evans was hit….. That’s racing and we live to tell the tale and to race another day.

Thanks to Tracy, Paul, Ryan, Sam and Zac. Andy, Christine and bump. And Will for coming to support me!

Scritineering was early - 8.30. But thankfully, the majority of the work was carried out last night. My Beemer past through sucessfully. Keeping a close eye on the engine temp check, and that the brakes felt 100% - I got through the qualifyer session.

Lesson though- I was caught in a group. My mind wanted to pass, as I knew I was quicker. But pass I did not until it was too late in the session.  Remember that the qualifier is your chance to do 1 - only 1 - quick lap. Had I not been intent on pasing those in front of me, I could have clocked in a faster lap. 

I qualified 20/26 and 6th in class from 9, with a time of 57.019.

In between this qualifier and the race, I was approached by Southern Counties Radio, to do an interview, for their sports show that day. And obviously more than happy to oblige!!

My home circiut. We arrived early to locate our pitch for the weekend with the wheelie bins - well that’s what they are for really!!! Spot sorted, with good view of Paddock Hill from safe proximity behind the fence!

The sun was shining and it was dry. New Carbotech pads to try out, so first session was pedding them in and getting a feel for the track in the Beemer. Whilst the new pads were good, decision was taken that they were a bit too aggressive for me, so Carbotech 8’s put in on all 4 corners.

2nd session - spot on. I felt happy going into Paddock, Druids and slight dab coming into Clearways. However, having come out of first session we were keeping an eye on temp and also the catch tank. Afer this 2nd session the diagnosis was not good. Looks like the head gasket (I hope its only this) has gone, again. Testing was over for me. Weather was closing in, and gradually the rain came in.

Diagnosis showed that, yep, the head gaskett, had blown well and truely. The clock was ticking now. Thankfully a run around the pits, and we found that Garrie had one at home. His family just about to leave had an extra stop. The spare part got to us at about 8.30 pm and most of the work was finished in the rain by about 10.30. Garrie seems to have become my spare parts business unit. Appreciated though.

Cheers to all who helped in this. From the actual spanner work, to the support from other teams.

The 4th race meeting and coming up for half way through the championship. Last year I only had 4 race meetings, so its great to know I still have more fun!

Brands Hatch indy circuit is our next outing. We have the 2nd qualfying slot on the Saturday at 9.25 with our race taking place first out after lunch at 1.45 - a 14 lap race. Sunday we’ll be the fifth event on the track with our race taking place at 11.50. Times are approx.

With us at this event are the Caterhams, Max 5 cup, Austin Healey club, MGOC and the classic Formula Ford 1600 & 2000.