Wakefield Park FoSC meeting

12th/ 13th February 2011

In typical Goulburn style, it's late summer temperatures hitting 40 degrees regularly, and this weekend it's raining and in the 20's. Team Hunter had just two representitives on the track, and one running around the track as an official (that was me).

Matt Blanch was trying out his MGB in historic group Sb for the first time after several suspension modifications and some engine fix's. According to the results, our other representive was Carl Stevenson driving an MGRV8 in Regularity. Carl was in fact driving his JayBee Clubman that he campaigns regularly at GEAR, FoSC and HSRCA meetings (no one is sure where the MGRV8 came from... though if they gave him one he wouldn't argue).

For practice on Saturday morning, 95% of the track was dry. The only trouble being that the 5% that was wet was right on the lead up to, and on the final corner before the straight. Everyone that used their brakes here locked their left front wheel. The ideal entry was therefore to use the gearbox. This unfortunately isn't the quickest way but it was only qualifying and there aren't any sheep stations up for grabs. Matt started the meeting well with a fastest time to put him on pole for the first race.

We received no further rain and the track dried out nicely for the start of the actual racing. A poor start put Matt in 4th by the end of the straight. He was setting good times but the B started running rough at higher revs and Matt slowly dropped back through the feild to 13th and a 1':16":58.

A hard charge in the second race of the day saw Matt post a 1':12":76 and 8th place. The fuel starvation problem was getting worse. It seemed that  the fuel filter was being blocked by pieces of foam from the petrol tank. The filter was changed and hopefully the problem cured.

Sunday morning's first race showed that it hadn't. Matt improved a smidgen to 1':12":69 but things still weren't right. The fuel pump was putting out almost zero pressure and with some serious investingation needed it was decided to retire while the car was still going (kind of).

This left Carl Stevenson in his MGRV8 (oops JayBee Clubman) to fly the club's flag. Saturday for Carl had started with a 7th place in his first Regularity event (and a best lap of 1':20":42). The 2nd run on Saturday saw Carl pull out after 3 laps posting a DNF but improving his best time to 1':20":30.

Carl's JayBee had a failed starter motor and required a push start each event. You had to be careful not to be standing nearby with your hands in your pockets or you'd end up with doing the starter motor's job.

Sunday found the weather overcast and cool again but thankfully no rain. Carl nominated a 1':20" and dropped to 11th when his times varied from 1':24 down to a 1':18":97. Run 2 on Sunday, Carl again nominated a 1':20" but posts 1':25" to 21's for 15th.

The closest Carl got to an RV8 was the one he overtook during his events. This car then chased Carl as hard as he could but couldn't close the gap. That's him in the photo behind Carl.

By Sunday afternoon, both the Jaybee and Carl were tired and race out (having arrived on the previous Tuesday to compete at GEAR), so they called it quit's and stood on the wall and watched the last few events.

You are prety well guaranteed of seeing a member of the MG car Club Hunter Region at most FoSC, HSRCA and GEAR meetings. We'd love to see you, and we're always in for a cuppa and a chat.