andersonracing.org.uk - Morgan - Silverstone & Mallory. 

The Last Three Races and the end of our racing the ARV6 - Bumble 2.

Silverstone 4th August 2018.

Testing.

We went testing on the Friday only to find a leaking fuel tank; it had split on the top right hand edge on the weld, it was impossible to see with the tank in place. Yet again we were told “we have had that problem before”, and the replacement tank had been modified. There are two theories as to why they split, one being as the chassis flexes it tries to twist the tank and the other for whatever reason the tank can get excessively pressurised.

Graham rushed off to the Morgan Factory at Malvern while Ian was removing the tank from Tony Hurst’s old factory car. Paul form Richard Thorne Classics removed the old and put in the replacement. Our thanks go to all concerned especially Ian who probably was looking forward to an early finish as it was a Friday.

I only got to do half the first test session but it was enough to prove the car was still suffering from under steer, I didn’t get out again.

Qualifying.

Thirty one competitors took to the National circuit for the our 30 minuet qualifying session. I did my best struggling with the understeer on Bumble, there was no balance in the car and I felt I was losing so much time especially around Luffield.

I found space towards the end of the session, going quickest on lap 14, which paced me 10^th overall and 4^th in class “G”. The grid slot was 5^th row on the outside.  

Race1.

The start was good, I got ahead of Simon Orebi-Gann (6) who was alongside, I also got ahead of Phil Thomas (46) on row4 and Roger Whiteside. I got alongside Dominic House (67) while Roger retook both of us on the inside and all by the exit of the first corner Copse.

I couldn’t hold off Dominic into Beckets but I clearly had a better exit onto the Bentley Straight and power past also edging ahead of John Emmerson into Woodcote but I was unable to keep the spot under braking and he came through on the inside as did Dominic.

Avoiding Dominic into the first part of Luffield I ran wide allowing Phil ahead, but Phil was slow out and I re-passed him before the exit. Now I’m hot on the boot of Dom, he seemed to brake early and I went down the inside at Copse.

Gaining on Andy Green (85) I couldn’t quite get alongside and with two wheels on the grass (by pit exit) I backed off, which allowed Dom to pass me on my RHS and as I took the racing line there was less than a “fag” packet between us.

I got just got ahead in the braking area but could keep the place being on the outside, and again had to take avoiding action. Simon got on the inside same place a lap or two later and I returned the maneuver into Copse and stayed ahead.

It was pretty much a lonely race after that lapping some back markers, some 4 times. I couldn’t get back with Dom and finished 8^th overall and 4^th in class. 

Race 2. 

Where we finish in the first race is our grid position for the second race, so one place further up the grid in 8^th alongside Dominic on row 4, which meant there was 22 competitors behind making a grid total of 30. 

I’d made up a car length on the row in front before they had even moved, “A” class combatant Roger Whiteside (81) who started 4^th on the 2^nd row had a slow getaway and closed the door at the clipping point of Copse and I had to back off, he then proceeded to rocket away past Andy Green (86) towards Maggots.

Dominic came past from nowhere on my outside into Maggots with no chance of making Beckets and promptly put four wheels off the track way out on the left hand side.

Andy Green appeared to be held up by Roger and I had a better run out and took Andy, all this with only half the lap completed.

I’m not sure what the lap was but Dominic got past into Luffield. I chased him for a couple of laps and then we caught the back markers, and Dominic pulled ahead. With a clear track I started to catch him and got past just at the pit entry.

From lap 12 it was a case of threading through the back markers some for 4^th time!  

Mallory Park 11 August 2018

Testing 

The Thursday before proved two things, a trailing link was fouling its bracket on the axel end and we still had understeer.

It was a track day not a general test and we decided as the first half hour was dedicated to sighting laps David would passenger me in Bumble.

Right away in two places around the track it was obvious something was amiss - there was a loud clonk! This turned out to be the trailing link mentioned above. Even without a passenger it was really bad. The solution would be to raise the rear ride height by 15mm; this cured the problem even with Graham in as a passenger.

In a rather strange accident I hit the unique Triumph SLR at the hairpin; it just came to a dead stop without warning. We later found out it just died and the unfortunate driver who’s farther was the owner was driving the car for the first time. 

The impact was light, I hit the right rear wheel spinner and there was not a mark on the SLR, unfortunately Bumble did sustain minor abrasions to the bottom part of left front wing. David was so sympathetic and understanding towards the driver. 

We have since sent him a video of our experience.

In the afternoon we had a few laps in David’s McLaren - who got it very sideways on the exit of Gerrard’s displaying excellent car control! 

Qualifying.
 

The fifteen minuet session was in reality was more like 11, although the paperwork says different. Anyhow, despite Bumble feeling very nervous through the Devil’s Elbow I qualified in 4^th place overall and class, so we would be on row 2 on the outside.

Race. 

It was most unusual with a flag start, unusual in that being so far forward on the grid I had to look almost 90° to the right to see the starter, and I jumped it, realized and stopped. Then the flag came up and then “down” signifying GO for our 20 mins race.

I got my right front wheel level with Andrew (66, 2^nd on the front row) Thompson’s left rear wheel while passing Dominic House (pole), but not for long.

Dom squeezed passed on the inside at the beginning of Gerrard’s, he defended heavily into Shaw’s Hairpin, and pulled out yards through the Devil’s Elbow, I really wasn’t comfortable through there. 

Mallory is a short track only 1.35 miles so we soon started catching and passing the back markers, from then on it was a lonely race but with a good result, 3^rd overall and 3^rd in class, so it was to the podium, interviews and the presentation.

Our best ever result overall and sadly most likely our last race in the Morgan Aero Challenge.