Power Testing

We left Brands Hatch early and took the car near to Lakeside for its compulsory power testing. The results came in at 8 BHP under the allowed amount for Class A which is good. My engine will probably gain more power as the engine beds in, so I didn't want to be too close to the limit at this point.

After finishing the power testing we headed off up to Silverstone to stay overnight near the circuit in preparation for my track day tomorrow.

Brands Hatch

I was awake at 0500 this morning so that we could get up to Brands Hatch to sign on for 0730. Plus, I wanted to get there early to nab a garage as heavy rain was forecast. Today was a big day. This is the venue for my first race and I was having tuition with my tame racing driver so both the car and I would be under pressure to perform.

© Copyright eXtreme Sports Photography

Things went smoothly. There was a huge difference in my last laps compared to my first one of the day, and you'll be pleased to hear that I didn't spin once.

Again it was bitterly cold so I took to wearing a huge ski jacket, ski snood and big pink hat to combat the cold. Luckily it didn't rain until the afternoon but I got to drive the circuit wet and dry, which is very useful preparation.

© Copyright eXtreme Sports Photography

The only down side is that I still don't have my race tyres. They're currently on the container ship so I won't get to try them out until the race. This isn't ideal as they can have a big impact on handling.

ARM Logos

I'm absolutely knackered. Tuesday morning after the airfield day, I could barely string a sentence together! Roll on the caffeine. I think I overdid the driving at about 3 hours throughout the day. I've also got an interesting selection of bruises on my right leg from my rather undignified attempts to get out of the car.

We've just had the car stickered up with ARM's logos on. It's attracting lots of attention so hopefully it'll really stand out in the races as there are quite a few other blue elises competing.

Colerne

My first outing in the Elise went well...aside from me forgetting that the car didn't have ABS: On my first session I did a rather graceful slide off the circuit. Luckily it was just away from a coned section, so I remained on the tarmac! The other high point was a 360 degree plus spin on a rather fast (90 mph plus) left hand corner. The driver in front decided that he didn't actually want to enter the corner at the speed he had intended, so eased off; leaving me with the choice of hitting him or performing a nice lift off and spin! I chose the latter and did a rather spectacular pirouette (or two). Luckily there was lots of room.

On a more sedate note this proved to be a very positive day for the car and for me. The car didn't break and I learned that I could drive it reasonably well.

Frustrated Artist

Damn. It's a beautiful sunny day and my car is sat in a garage just begging to be driven. Admittedly it's about 100 miles away but still, I'm having to resist the temptation to sneak off back to my parents' house to take it out for a spin.

I've just spent the morning ordering an FIA approved balaclava, some sort of silenced decat pipe (I think I may have zoned out when my husband was trying to explain what it did...I just heard the words; very hot, fuel, exploding, nasty), a set of seat pads, a novice sticker and the race numbers (66) for my car.

I've also been chasing up on the delivery of my tyres. Unfortunately it looks like I won't have them on the car for any of my track days in just over a week's time, so I will have to run them in on the road before the race. Though, I discovered last year on a Track Day at Donnington that a car can do funny things when on only lightly scrubbed-in wheels!

Count Down

I'm writing this in advance of the coming weekend as it's going to be a busy week.

We're going back to my parents' this weekend to give the car a well-needed oil change.

The car will also get a liberal spannering and check up to ensure nothing's worked loose in the first 600 miles and that nothing is sickly.

Monday morning will involve a very early start. I have to get up to Colerne for about 8am to sign on for the airfield day. I'll no doubt be nervous for the following reasons:

1. It's my first track day since November
2. It's my very first track day in the Elise
3. I really hope nothing breaks otherwise I probably won't make it to Brands Hatch and Silverstone for the following Friday and Saturday which will make things very expensive.

To top this off I am currently running all manner of ill-fated scenarios through my mind.

I've been told by the "race crew" (aka Husband and Dad) that I have to take it easy and build up during the day. Both for my sake and the car's.

An added worry is that I won't be able to restrain myself! An even worse worry is - what if I drive like an old woman?

Only time will tell. My own imagination is my worst enemy! Can you imagine what I'll be like on the run up to my first race at Brands Hatch - did you know that Paddock hill is my first bend in a race? Have you seen Paddock Hill? Go search on the internet for some video footage of it to give you a feel for it. Eek.

It's a beautiful day

We've done it. We've just completed the final 250 miles out of the 600 needed to run the engine in and I actually got to drive my car. It's superb, so a big thanks to John and my Dad for their back-breaking work since October.

The handling is light to the touch, the brakes work really well, the ride is smooth (bone rattlingly hard by normal standards if you're used to normal road cars) and the engine is a dream. All together it's a great little car, and there isn't a single rattle to be heard on it.

The harnesses are taking a bit of getting to used to though: driving for long periods of time, strapped in so tight that you can hardly move, can be a tad uncomfortable! I'm sure I'll survive though...

Valentines Day

Well my husband exceeded himself this year. Last year he gave me a lovely helmet for my track days. Not the most romantic of gifts but I was really pleased.

This year? A Halfords bargain bin prize..... pedal extensions. Since driving the car I've been debating the need for the clutch to be a little more accessible. For various reasons, I can't move the seat closer, so we're going to put an extension pad on the clutch pedal.

We're also debating the need for a replacement steering wheel as I need to be about 1 inch closer to the wheel.

What's a mere inch, I hear you ask? Answer: A lot, because if the steering wheel isn't close enough I won't have a firm enough grip for when I need to go around very tight bends.

When on track you don't take your hands from a fixed position on the wheel (I favour a quarter to three position on the wheel, instead of the ten to two that we are instructed to use when learning to drive), instead you cross over your arms when you turn a corner.

As I don't have a huge amount of upper body strength, I need to be closer to the wheel to get a good grip. So when I'm struggling to cajole my car around a bend and my arms are crossed over, I need to ensure that I'm not doing it with the tips of my fingers where my grip is weakest.

Interesting stuff eh?

Painful Muscles

I hurt all over.

Since Boxing Day I've been doing my best to attend the gym daily, alternating cardio and weights. Now I'm not the most atheltic of builds, but I'm really hoping that all my hard work will pay off and the extra fitness will help me through both my marathon week of track days and the subsequent racing.

In the last week I've had to update my workout schedules, which is why I hurt everywhere. On a positive note I can see my fitness increasing markedly; I can now run without falling off the treadmill, which has got to be good. Right?

Oh and sorry, I'm not posting pictures of me sweating it out at the gym - there are some places you just don't go.

How to spend your money...fast

Well I've booked up the first few track days for me to:

a) Drive the car for the very first time at a track I know well: Colerne on Monday 25th Feb

b) Refamiliarise myself with Brands Hatch in preparation for my first race there, and have my first lot of tuition with my tame racing driver: Friday 29th Feb

c) Get to know Silverstone and have some more tuition with my tame racing driver: Saturday 1st March.

Three track days in one week and the first time I drive the Elise: Nothing like a bit of pressure to help you perform! I hope I'm fit enough for all of this as one day on its own is tiring.

Right, where did I put my helmet and gloves?

Lift Off

Much excitement today....H&F (Husband & Father) got up at 5 a.m. to tow the car up to Guildford to get the geometry set up so that we can actually start running in the engine. It needs 600 miles of very careful motoring following a carefully laid out plan by the engine specialist who rebuilt it.

Several hours later everything is ready to go. H&F (after much manly bonding in the garage over the last 5 months) have decided that I can't be let near the car until it's been run in properly. Apparently I have too heavy a right foot and the attention span of a gnat so will forget to run through the correct procedure for running in the engine.

All I know right now is that there's a fantastic little car out there being driven around and I'm not allowed to touch it!