The year started somewhat awkwardly with the build of the 300bhp/ 8000 rpm engine based on the stock 3.2 I put in the car over a decade ago.
This engine gave 298.7 bhp at 6800 as a virgin 'tight' engine fresh off the engine stand, and some will remember, it was a lot of grief to finish it.
The season was kicked-off in the Midland Hillclimb Championship which I have done for 30 years, my most success has been in this Lola car and the intent was to win the class for the 5th time, i oddly felt very competitive about this as I hit 70 at the end of March, a month before the first event.
Plan was to win the Class, to better previous PB's (person bests) and keep the new comers behind me, and above all to keep the engine and car in one piece.
The newcomers were in the form of Mike Luck in a 5 litre TVR Championship car and a few others. Mike planned to do all the events for 2022. There is usually between 3 or 6 in the class, each event has 2 race runs, and each run is awarded points depending on numbers starting the event and positions.
First event was at Prescott, a venue I like a lot in the Cotswolds in late April.
The weekend was fine and dry and went well, the new engine taking some getting used to as I could now hear it screaming...
Beat the TVR and came 2nd in class behind the might MiniEVO but the gap to this car was far closer than before, all good!
However, the car handled poorly, squirming about and definitely not like it was in 2021. Tyres?
Indeed, the slicks were in their 3rd year and had gone off, and a new set fitted after (£1400) and I took the opportunity to change the fronts to A20 grade compound rather than the super soft A92, much better!
The engine started to loosen up. There is a lot of friction in this build but it all started to ease off nicely.
Events came along as the year progressed, Shelsley Walsh and then to my favorite, Loton Park, but no PB's despite the engine, probably my age and the shoulder injuries I sustained building the engine(!) hampering progress.
With the TVR still behind me on points we went on holiday. The TVR did well and suddenly he was right there with me.
Back in the seat for Loton again my PB fell! The whole car felt like it had come to me and I suddenly felt very comfortable even though injuries continued to invade my poor body, I felt like an 80 year old.
The fresh slicks were on the job too and all went well, DRY weekends (that is most unusual) and a string of PB's, one meeting at Prescott I cut it 3 times in 4 runs which got up the nose of the TVR and at times the MiniEVO.
Points built up steadily, and the car's reliability was 100%, but I could not better my times at Shelsley Walsh with one or two lurid drives into bottom Esse which is tricky to run as a few on here know.
The engine opened up more and I think it is now around 320 bhp, rock steady tick over (at 1250 rpm) and a good starter, hot or cold. Fuel consumption got better, around 6 mpg to about 10 mpg!
Prescott in September was simply The Best, and the most pressure. The TVR could gain some ground if I cocked it up and the practice runs I did were not the best...
Feeling determined, all risks were taken resulting in more PBs and even a Class win. Been a long time since I won the class, a special feeling and although I was forgetting the pain of the engine my 90 year old body was in trouble!
As I went into the event at Loton in Sept I thought I had done enough to win the Class, but as I have learnt many times; do not count your chickens too soon, there are points to drop and a few other rules that can irritate.
After a storming Loton, the Class Win was confirmed, so my name will be stamped in silver for the 5th time on the Trophy, the TVR came in second, so we will all assemble in December for the fancy Lunch and collecting the glassware on the silver base.
A great great year, there has been many ups and downs and challenges and a real need to focus.
The TVR gave me a great incentive to push, and I'm sure he will be back next year with a vengeance and a score to settle!
The car will get some TLC (already started), lots of tinkering to ensure reliability (good fun) and in a few weeks the suspension geo will be checked by Sean at McClurg Motorsport who did a superb job 10 years ago.
Have a mod in mind for the engine to get more power and torque, but that is a story for 2023.
Anyway, just a quick precis of my year with my little club race car.
I think I may have another 5 years left in me, maybe more!
I have seen many DDK'rs at these meeting and others too from my past and I especially thank FCD, Rob, Chris, 491, and Wayne, oh, and the Master, Jonathan and Gary and Neil for lots of encouragement and taking interest.
Most of all, my wife of 44 years who has only missed one event in 32 years of this all consuming motorsport.
