Stunning Debut for David

Formula Vee newcomer David Josef scored an impressive 4th and 5th place finish in his first Formula Vee race using Alan Forster’s GAC race car. The result is even more incredible when it is considered that David had not even sat in the car until a few hours before qualifying and with no prior testing of a Formula Vee race car at all.

David was impressed with the handling and performance of the Vee, indeed the modern GAC race car has taken the performance of these Beetle-based racers to new levels.

Formula Vee Race Car Makes Racing Return!

Even though Alan might not be racing this year, the GAC Formula Vee race car will be out in action in the hands of ex-Formula Palmer Audi racer, David Josef.  The Scotland based racer  is making his return to racing after paying off his debt from the 2001 FPA season! He has chosen Formula Vee due to the large and competitive grids. GAC will be running the car for David so it will be in good hands!

Alan wishes David all the very best for 2009

2009 Update – Racing Takes a Back Seat

Unfortunately, as with a lot of racers in 2009, the current economic crisis has led to a reduction in budgets and racing has had to take a back seat in 2009. Alan won’t be making it to the grid this year but it will provide some time to evaluate options for next season and to generate a racing budget.

Look out for updates throughout the year as a new project is always just around the corner…

2009 – Onwards & Upwards!

Following a difficult 2008, Alan is hoping to build on the hard work put in to building a competitive car in 2009. The last race of the year at Mallory gave an indication of the performance that Alan is capable of and the first podium finish can’t be far away.

Keep checking on the website to see how he does or better still, get yourself down to a race meeting!

Mallory Park Race Report – 12th October 2008

 After the excellent race at Mallory at the beginning of the year I was hoping for a decent result this time round.  Unfortunately I did not have time to test before the race which is something that I felt contributed strongly towards my performance last time.  As usual there was still something not right with the car and this time it was the brakes.  I had swapped the rear brake cylinders after finding out that I had been using the incorrect ones all season and the brake pedal was inconsistent, it would be firm for half a dozen applications and then would go half way to the floor.  I couldn’t get the problem sorted before race day and so it was off to see AHS after scrutineering to see if they could help.  Jason tried several things but the problem remained for qualifying which wasn’t ideal. 

 

Qualifying

 

Overall the car was very good, the gear change was excellent (finally!), the handling was good, and the engine pulled strong.  The braking was lacking efficiency and power but at least it stopped and I soon got used to braking a little earlier than usual. The only other area for improvement would be to experiment with the fuel jets to get the power delivery a bit further down the rev range, the car pulled like a train towards the end of the straights but if the power had come in sooner the times could have been much quicker. I knew the times wouldn’t be good and with the top ten being so close 12^th place was no surprise.

 

Race

 

I managed to get a good start off the line and made up three places going in to Gerrards before overtaking Jamie Conyers down the straight.  On the second lap Ian Buxton went off heavily at the end of Stebbe Straight and Jamie Conyers managed to get back in front going in to the hairpin.  The next time around and the red flags were out whilst Buxton’s car was extracted from the wall. 

 

For the restart I took up 8^th place on the grid due to the count back and there was a gap in front where Ian Buxton should have started.  I managed a good start off the grid, straight in to 4^th place behind Pete Belsey and then drafted past on Stebbe straight in to 3^rd.  I managed to hold on for a lap before I fluffed a gear change out of the hairpin enough to let Pete through and allowed the chasing pack to catch up.  Going in to Gerrards on lap six and Pete was facing the wrong way and as I went past Danny Hands did the same trick and I had to slow to avoid a collision.  Martin Farmer was several car lengths behind me and had a bit longer to react and managed to keep his foot in which meant he was right on my tail going down Stebbe Straight. For the next few laps I had to defend hard because he was all over me in to the braking zones.  Several times we were side by side but it wasn’t until the second to last lap that Martin managed to make a move stick to take 3^rd at the flag. 

 

It was great to have a close, clean scrap and Martin did well to get past so all credit to him.  To finish the season with 4^th place finished the job off that I started at Mallory back at the beginning of the season, if only I could rewind the clock and start all over again! 

Silverstone – August 23rd 2008

Preparation

 

Once again there was much to do before race day.  After the suspected engine problems at Donington the car was stripped to remove the engine and sent to GAC for overhaul.  My concern for the engine was well founded with a broken compression ring and oil control ring missing on one piston.  While the engine was out it was a good time to get the gear linkage overhauled by AHS.  I was quite surprised when Alan from AHS saw the linkage and said the wear in the UJ’s was the worst he had seen in a long time; now that I have the linkage back the difference is quite remarkable.  Also from Donington was a bad vibration from the front that I suspected was a flat spotted tyre.  There was indeed a flat spot and whilst inspecting the tyre I noticed what appeared to be a small crack in the brake calliper mounting which turned out to be a clean break all the way through!  On further inspection one of the brake pads was missing the friction material which would explain the cause of the lock-up.  Along with a knackered front wheel bearing and crimped brake hose there wasn’t much left to replace on the front corner…

 

The first race was to get the car ready in time for the Friday test session at Silverstone. With the engine being collected only the weekend before there were going to be some late nights.  Long story short, things transpired to thwart my attempts to get to the test session including a burst rear brake hose while bleeding the brakes.  I would just have to hope that the installation and running in of both engine and brakes would be trouble-free for qualifying on Saturday.

 

Qualifying

 

As soon as I had got out on track I was making my way back in with a slipping clutch.  Fortunately Alan from GAC was on hand to brave the hot exhaust to adjust the clutch, thanks Alan.  Back out on track and I took it easy for the first few laps to bed the brakes and engine in.  The plan to ease the new engine in took a bit of a nose dive when I couldn’t select 4^th gear on the straight and the engine bounced off the rev limiter.  This continued throughout the session with 4^th gear being very much hit and miss.  I was unable to gain the confidence required to set a competitive time but at least the car had made it through qualifying without significant problems.  Qualifying in 21^st position was roughly where I thought I would be but left me ruing not being able to make the Friday test session.

 

Heat

 

I had relocated several components that required new hoses and fittings but all looked well after qualifying. Some subtle tweaks to the gear linkage and the car was ready to race.

 

Off the line and a slow start resulted in several lost places and I found myself wallowing in 15^th place.  Being in the middle of the pack meant there was some frantic action whilst everyone jostled for position with at times 4 cars abreast down the straights.  I was steadily picking off cars but soon came across my race long sparring partner, Tim Probert.  Tim & I slipstreamed each other and exchanged places every lap for the remainder of the race whilst also working our way up the grid.  We had overtaken so many cars including backmarkers that it was hard to tell what positions we were in.  We had a great battle with me eventually getting past on the final lap to take an enjoyable 3^rd place and fastest lap.  The battle was worthy of a mention in Motorsport News for “an entertaining battle for third place with Forster emerging on top.”

 

Final

 

I was looking forward to a solid top ten finish right up until the point where I couldn’t select second gear off the line and ended up last in to the first corner.  My effort to make up places was hampered by continuous waved yellow flags at the end of the straight, the main overtaking place on the circuit.  It was slow progress up through the field and I soon came across my nemesis from the heat, Tim Probert. We once again found ourselves working our way up through the field together but this time it was Tim who took the honours with some crafty use of backmarkers.  15^th place was disappointing but it was great experience.

 

My next race will be Mallory Park on October 12^th.

Donington Park Race Report – 19th July 2008

Getting the car ready for Donington was always going to be a tall order.  The list of parts that needed repairing after Brands was quite extensive to the extent that all that was left in the garage was a bare chassis.  In typical racing fashion at 11pm the day before the race, the car was still not completed or loaded on to the trailer.  A 4am start was needed to get the car loaded and over to Donington to continue the re-assembly.  Fortunately, Alan Harding from AHS had kindly saved me room in one of their garages and offered his assistance to get the car ready in time for qualifying.  It was a close one but we just managed to make it thanks to a 10 minute delay while the track was cleared.  A big thanks to Glyn and Alan who helped me with the car.

 

Qualifying

The track was still wet but was drying out quickly.  There not been enough time to set any of the tracking, camber or even suspension so the handling was interesting to say the least.  I therefore trundled around for 3 laps to guarantee a starting slot before trying to be a bit braver.  It took a couple more laps to get some heat in the tyres but once the grip came in the car was a bit easier to drive albeit the handling was still throwing up some surprises especially on changing direction.  A respectable 9^th was a good result, in fact just getting out on track was a result!

 

Heat

Due to the combined grid from session A & B my 9^th place turned in to 18^th overall and I lined up 7^th on the grid for the Heat.  Fortunately Jason from AHS spent considerable time setting up the geometry and suspension so I was looking forward to some better handling.  I wouldn’t be able to find out just yet as it had been raining and the track was once again wet. I got too much wheel spin at the start and lost several places.  The car was very nervous in the wet and it was a real battle to keep it on the track and lost further places, a spin also didn’t help, but as the track dried out I was soon able to start moving back up the grid.  I finished in 9^th place with 3^rd fastest time and the car felt much better in the dry conditions.

 

Final

 

The sun had come out and the track was completely dry for the final and I was looking forward to a good race…right up until the remote brake bias cable snapped on the warm up lap.  I had been moving the bias towards the front as I had backed it off for the wet conditions in the heat. The snapped cable resulted in the back brakes being partially stuck on and it was no surprise that I lost several places at the start plus a few more down the back straight.  Fortunately the problem didn’t get any worse and I was able to continue racing right up until the second problem occurred.  It’s rather odd but my helmet was lifting going down the straights to the extent that I couldn’t see and I needed to hold it down with one hand. I carried on for several laps but it was getting a bit too dangerous and I bit the bullet and pitted. This problem was one that I had experienced during testing at Snetterton but at no other tracks to the same degree. It was a problem in this race because I hadn’t done my helmet up tight enough but the long term solution is to get much lower down in the seat to avoid the air getting underneath the helmet in the first place. 

 

After the pitstop I had the track to myself and decided to throw caution to the wind and push the car very hard to see what times I could get as I suspected that the engine was not producing the power as it was making nasty noises at high revs.  I really drove the wheels off round the corners and enjoyed pushing the car to its limits.  There was a bit more time to come in the braking zones but my best time was still 4 seconds off the pace and the leaders passed me a bit too quickly for comfort. 

 

The engine is well overdue for a rebuild so the car is coming apart again, the brakes and seating position need looking at too!  I have a feeling I’ve been here before…

Brands Hatch Race Report – April 19/20th

Race tracks south of the M25 have never been kind to me. Goodwood, Lydden & Brands have been home to my worst motor racing experiences to date.  I was therefore more anxious than usual for what the weekend might have in store for me.

 

Friday – Testing

Things didn’t get off to a good start,  I was late getting the car loaded as I was still changing the dodgy gearbox after Thruxton and didn’t arrive at the circuit until after the start of the afternoon session.  This meant I would have just one session to check the car over and get the car set up.  Things didn’t get any better when the car refused to engage first gear, just the same as the previous gearbox, and then to top it all off the test session was red flagged 3 times and I only managed 8 laps.

 

Saturday – Qualifying

After the hassles of the previous day I was hoping for things to get better.  It didn’t start off too well, it had rained during the night and the cover I had put on the car was as much use as a chocolate teapot.   As I bailed the water out of the car and dried the harness I was wondering what might be next.  I didn’t have to wait too long to find out as the car stubbornly refused to start, flattening the battery in the process.  Fortunately Alan & Ric from GAC came to my aid and got her going just in time for practice but with no time to charge the battery I hoped there would be enough juice to start the car in the pitlane.  Of course there wasn’t and I sat there waving for assistance as everyone left the pitlane.  Jason and a colleague from AHS volunteered to push start me the entire length of the pit lane – well done lads!

 

Once out on the circuit and the car felt good in the damp conditions but a misfire low down in the revs left me a bit too slow out of the corners to set a decent time.  12^th and 10^th place wasn’t great but it was enough to take me straight through to the finals.

 

Saturday – Race 1

I managed to get a reasonable start and stuck to the outside around paddock to pick up a few places.  I was running at the back of a long train of cars from 3^rd to 8^th place, all very evenly matched and running close together.  I eventually managed to get past Jamie Conyers around Druids and then I was stuck behind Jenny Anderson.  I got alongside at Graham Hill bend but we made contact that slowed me enough to allow Jenny to stay ahead.  Another move this time in to Druids ended in yet more contact but this time it allowed Jamie and Jason Mills through.  On the next lap I got wide coming out of Druids and lost time.  The car behind made a move in to Surtees but lost control on the kerbs and spun off backwards, hitting my front wheel and breaking the steering arm, putting me out of the race.

 

The rest of the night was spent repairing the car (thanks to AHS for using their facilities) but there was no replacement for the bent suspension pushrod so it was going to be an interesting race on Sunday.

 

Sunday – Race 2

The weather was dry, the car started, and I had a better starting position on the grid, so things were looking up!  I managed a decent start to hold my position but it soon became apparent that all was not well with the car.  There was a lot of blue smoke coming out the back but I didn’t know if it was from the engine or a leak on to the exhaust.  The bent pushrod and a continuing lack of grip from the rear, something that has plagued the handling all season, meant I couldn’t carry enough speed in to the corners and rapidly dropped back.  Trying to push the car in to Paddock and the back stepped out and I lost a position to Paul Taylor in to Druids.  Going round Paddock Hill on the next lap I had Jason Mills and Martin Farmer behind me but not close enough to make a move in to Druids, or so I thought.  As I began to turn Martin Farmer shot up the inside, I made room but he had too much speed and careered in to the side of my car which pushed us both in to the side of Jason Mills and off in to the gravel at Druids.

 

It was a bad end to a bad weekend and the damage to the car is sufficient for me not to be able to go to the next race at Pembrey.  Things can only get better…can’t they?

Thruxton Race Report – March 24th 2008

Qualifying

After clearing the snow off the car before setting off for Thruxton, I was glad to see that there wasn’t any of the white stuff at the circuit! It was however very wet but by the time our qualifying session was ready to go out it had stopped raining although the circuit was still wet.

As expected, the circuit was slippery in places and I thought it would be best to have a steady 3 laps to ensure I qualified for the race and then start to push for a quick lap. The car felt quite good in the slippery conditions but I couldn’t lean on the tyres enough to know how the set-up would work if it was dry for the race. It would have been nice to get to know the car a bit more on this unfamiliar circuit but I knew there was more time to be gained in these conditions from the driver than the car.

The traffic was heavy and I wasn’t able to get a decent lap in the whole session so on the final lap I pushed for a quick time but then came across a painfully slow car at the chicane which forced me to almost stop but I still set my fastest time so it could have been a lot quicker. 8th on the grid wasn’t the best I could manage but at least the car was in one piece!

Race

After qualifying I decided to take a gamble on the set-up of the car for the race by changing the jetting, camber, toe-in, tyre pressures, rear shock settings and pretty much anything else I could find to play with. On race day I fired the car up in the paddock but I struggled to get the car to idle, anything below 4k and it would die. It could have been dirt in the carb, a cold engine, or just that the jets that had been changed. I didn’t have time to remove the bodywork and start checking things so I crossed my fingers that it would clear.

Upon leaving the paddock I couldn’t get first gear, the same thing had happened before qualifying but I thought I had sorted it, and I had to get to the assembly area using second gear. In the assembly area it took about 10 attempts to find first gear but I didn’t feel confident about getting it back in first again on the grid.

Sure enough I couldn’t get first gear so I had to try and pull away in second gear. The combination of a sickly engine and second gear start led to a stalled engine….not good. I managed to get going again but by now I was right at the back with the slower cars. I managed to pick a few off on the straights in the first lap and then I met a slow car in the middle of the complex and had to back off which spun me round and..I was right at the back of the pack again!

Once I’d managed to get going again it was a case of working my way back through the field. I managed to get to Paul Taylor’s red AHS car in 12th and we traded places for the rest of the race which was fun but I couldn’t get the pace out of my car that I would have needed to be up in the top 6 anyway. The rear was just too loose to really push hard which is exactly how this track needs to be driven. It was another disappointing result and I have yet another list of things that need doing on the car before the next meeting at Brands Hatch. No rest for the wicked!

Mallory Park Race Report

Following the recent 750MC test at Mallory Park I knew that I was about 1.5s off the pace but I knew that there was more to come from myself and the car with some more front end grip.  A new set of tyres on the front and the car was much more positive through Gerrards in qualifying.  I was soon able to push and set some reasonably quick times until oil was on the track through the hairpin that soon spread around the track.  I was disappointed not to have been able to complete the session as I was hoping to get in to the 51sec bracket.  It was of great surprise that I had qualified 3^rd and all of a sudden the time and effort put in to getting the car ready seemed worthwhile.  I didn’t let myself get too carried away as the times in the B session were slightly slow due to the oil on the track.  With 2^nd to 6^th covered by 0.5s it was going to be a tough race.

 

I managed to get a good start, edging out Jason Mills and going side-by-side with Dan Hands through Gerrards.  Ian Buxton had made a good start too and I ended up in third place behind Ian.  I managed to keep up with Ian and Dan but on the second lap I couldn’t get 2^nd gear coming out of the hairpin and lost about 6 car lengths to the lead pair. John Hughes managed to get past and I had a queue of cars climbing all over my gearbox.  Two laps later and the same thing happened again.  Now I had Pete Belsey and Martin Farmer right with me.  A few laps later and Ian, Dan and John all went off at Devil’s Elbow which briefly put me in to the lead before John and Dan came back past.  I was under a lot of pressure for third place from Martin Farmer and going in to Gerrards on the 11^th lap I went in too deep and got on the slippy part of the track and lost the back of the car.  Unfortunately for Martin he clipped my back wheel which sent him spearing off in to the tyres.  I was extremely worried for Martin as he didn’t get out of the car but I was relieved to see him later in the paddock, a little bit sore but otherwise OK. 

 

In summary it was a day of extreme highs and lows.  In one respect, I can take comfort from the fact that I was able to keep up with the front-runners but the disappointment of thinking what might have been will remain with me for a long time.