Saturday 12 July - Pembrey

We were spoilt again - this time not just by the glorious weather, but also by a free demonstration by the RAF Red Arrows at lunchtime - an air tattoo just a mile or so away. We also had the joys of a double header in 1 day, meaning no heats, just "A" races for the top 20, and "B" races for the remainder, with points on offer as normal for "A" races, but just glory for the "B" races.

With the track already warming, I was in the first qualifying session, and recorded a time of 1:12.80 putting me in 11th place on the first "A" race. The start at Pembrey is a straight run down to a hairpin, with often disastrous consequences. However no such antics today, and we were all clean through it, with me passing Colin Beckwith (39) on the exit - he seemed to have taken a very cautious but wide line. A couple of spinners over the next few laps saw me in 8th place, just off the back of the 4th-7th placed battle. Although I could keep up with them, I could not catch them, and certainly not take them. However a mistake might have gained me a place or 2. It was not to be, despite place swapping amongst 4th-7th, it was all clean, and I ended up 8th - my best result yet.

The grid positions for the second set of races were worked out on the best lap times from the first set of races. I slipped to 9th place since Brian Mitcham (62), an early spinner in the first "A" race, had a better lap time than me. Other than that, it was the same old faces as the first "A" race. Again a clean start, however this time I could not keep up with the battles ahead, but had no difficulty pulling ahead of those behind me. Brendan Dudley (38) spun from ahead of me in the first half of the race (which was 12 laps), and then spent the next 6 or so laps slowly catching me. By the last lap he had caught me, and it looked as though I might hold off. It was not to be, I knew he had the better of me, and was trying to make sure that I did not knock him off as he went past. Too much time spent looking in my rear view mirror meant that I missed my turn in for the fast right-hand Esses. Going too wide on the exit, my left rear wheel caught the grass and spun me around, spitting me back on to the track in a double spin. Just as it seemed I might get away with it, Brendan caught me and spun me back the other way. Luckily it was a glancing blow and we were both fine, although both unable to continue. A frustrating end to what would have been another 8th or 9th place. Luckily the chassis was not bent, and the car is now repaired with a new wishbone and bracket, new steering rack and mounts, and just a new wheel to find. Brendan had been promising to re-build his car for a couple of races - he has all the pieces and now may well be his opportunity. Sorry!