For an excellent Brands Hatch track guide from CircuitDriver.com click here.
Well, well, well. What a tardy boy I am. 2 months later and I'm only just writing this report!! To be fair, we tragically lost my father to a sudden illness which I'm still trying to come to terms with and I've been up to my eyeballs in work. So I haven't really had the time or inclination to keep my adoring fans (both of them) up to date. Anyway, I'll dust off my braincells and try to recount what took place at one of the most famous circuits in the UK.
I was really looking forward to Brands having only driven it in a roadcar before. It's a fantastic circuit for drivers and spectators alike being situated in a natural amphitheater which gives a great view of the entire Indy circuit. It's not for the fainthearted though - no way! It's easy to fall off and the gravel traps are fairly unforgiving.
3 things of note took place in addition to the usual racing type stuff. Firstly, my brother was to have his inaugural race (albeit with the 750 Trophy boys as the Locost grid was full) and secondly, Hels was to make yet ANOTHER appearance on TV - courtesy of Channel 5's 5th Gear. Finally, we would have the pleasure of ex-Top Gear and now 5th Gear presenter, Vicki Butler Henderson's participation in the Locost race in Tim Grey's car (he must be madder than I thought!).
So, on with the report. We travelled to Brands on the morning of the race as it's only about an hour and a half away from home. The weather was 'top-top' (in a Snatch stylee) and we looked set for a great day. We got there early enough to have a walk around the circuit where I got a chance to discuss lines with my brother and Hels. Poor Stu, he was as nervous as hell and our emotions were running very high making it a bit of a tearful experience. But, we held it together for qualification where we all put in fair performances although, I'd have liked to be quite a bit further up the grid being sat in 6th (you'd never have thought after last year's performance that I'd be saying that!!). Hels was sat behind VBH in 24th and Stu was far from last sitting in 30th from 34. Top job fella! Had a bit of spannering to do to the car as I'd fitted a quick rack. The car was SOOOOO much better with it and once we'd set it up, it was tip-top.
Next up came the hardest part of the day for me. Watching Stu race. After all this time, I really know how he feels. I could hardly watch his race with the Trophy boys. He was doing a grand job however, even if his overtaking manouvers were a bit errr... 'sharp' to say the least. We had a nightmare moment where he disappeared over Paddock Hill bend out of sight and we heard the commentator announce that a car flipped throwing the driver out!!! Fortunately, it wasn't Stu and his beautiful Locost (mine looks like a shed now by comparison) came back in one piece. The race was red-flagged which disappointed him, but he'd done 8 laps and finished...... 13th!!! I was SO chuffed for him.
On to the Locost race. The pre-race preparations were made a bit more interesting by having the camera crew and VBH around, she asked my advice re. gear selection for the circuit - so being a gentleman, I told her.... the wrong ones ;) Hels would have killed me had I given decent tips!!!
I made a decent enough start but was a bit too cautious into Paddock and conceded a couple of places - bah. Still, better to survive the 1st corner. In the run up to Druids I lost another as someone dived up the inside. I had the line but didn't want to make contact so let them go on the basis that I'd catch them again (which I did). The dry conditions made for a very consistent race despite VBH's best efforts to punt everyone off! Oh, to drive someone else's car with no thought about repairing it if you stuffed it! Gradually though, more and more cars fell victim to the gravel trap out of Paddock and I was getting ready to make a last 2 lap charge when we got red flagged - how annoying is that :( I'd slipped from 6th to 10th which was crappy, but, that's still decent points and the car is still in one piece so I can't be too peeved. Hels had a great ding-dong battle with the VBH's bumper car. VBH was moaning about the lack of straight line speed which had nothing to do with engine power and everything to do with he poor cornering ability. In the TV programme, she punts Ged Sidnell right up the ar$e and moans about the brakes - try using them luv!!! Anyway, Hels hung on in there and finished a fantastic 14th in the points with VBH just ahead.
So, we compared war stories, loaded up the cars, then stood around like pillocks waiting for the 5th Gear team to interview Hels with VBH. They got on like a house on fire and the end result was good TV. We watched some of the races for a change, the highlight being Glenn Boyer do a Red Arrows impression with his 'blade powered Locost dumping it's oil round Paddock (and most of the circuit!). The chaos that ensued was entertaining - poor sods. So that was that. Oh, I almost forgot. Brands gave me my 10th signature (finally!) so I could get rid of my 'noddy' cross at last :)
Finally, I'd just like to say that this race was dedicated to our dad, who was tragically taken from us on the 21st. I'm sure he was watching from above - at least the tickets are cheaper pops! X