This was the date for the final two races of the Tasmin Challenge 2001 season, held at Pembrey in West Wales. Although the forecast was for very poor weather, it turned into a very nice weekend, the racing also proved to be close and exciting.

The TVR Wedge Pages would like to congratulate race winners Simon Bowes (race 5) and Steve Lewis who came first in race 11.

Bowes, Lewis & Fenton (Pic: Mark Jenkins)		Champagne reception! (Pic: Mark Jenkins)

The results and timings for the two races are as below:-

You can find more informtion about the Tasmin race series on the official website, which can be found at: www.tasmin-challenge.com. The site contains previous race reports, driver profiles, pictures and other information.

Pembrey race report by Graham Walden

The test day started wet making the first time back in the car 'um interesting to say the least, Steve Lewis ran round in front of me for a few laps to show me which way the circuit went and the lines to use. The morning was an open session so people were popping on and off the track, overtaking 4 2cv’s almost glued together is a bit interesting to say the least. The track did start to dry a bit but then it started raining again. Quite a few people had been off into the grass, requiring a red flag and a tow truck as once on the grass, you would be lucky to get out on you own it was so wet.

On one red flag stoppage, we all piled in to the pits and it started to chuck it down, fine if you have a roof, but I had an erm swimming pool, and the car decided to stall whilst we were sitting there. When the Green flag came out everyone streamed on to the track, but my taz wouldn’t start, so I sat there getting wetter and wetter and maybe a little annoyed ( I do seem to remember chucking my gloves somewhere oops) eventually we push started the car and by now the rain was torrential and everyone had come in… but I just had to go out for a few laps before lunch … It was like surfing it was difficult to even make out where the track went the rain was so bad, never mind look for puddles and lines. Still I managed half a dozen laps before the end of the session and kept it on the track. I was later presented with some yellow plastic ducks for my efforts !!!!

By the end of the day I had managed to work out which way the track went and acquire the rather embarrassing tally of 10 spins, only missing one corner to complete the set, and including 2 impressive 720 and carry on in the right direction out of Honda.

The day started rather abruptly and early with a bang on the caravan window, Team Widdowson had blown the clutch on the tow car about 20 miles away, and could we pick him up, Pops once again jumped to the rescue and headed off to tow their trailer in.

There were two qualifying sessions on Saturday the first being quite early and the second late on in the day. In the first session it was still fairly wet and my overriding aim was to keep the car pointing in the right direction with the resulting qualifying position of last but two. mmm and I was still suffering from the car refusing to idle and trying to stall every time I took my foot of the gas during braking, forcing a few bump-starts at the hairpin.

Meaty roll-bar		All action in the Walden camp

For the second session we tried to fix the stalling and refusing to start without being pushed problem, this was traced to a very weak spark and eventually a barley functioning ignition module, a replacement was found and swapped over, my ace pit crew of Pops and Marcus Bradey ( that’ll teach you to come and watch) were franticly finishing things off as I strapped in and prepared for the off, just as they were about to release the cars on to the track, I was finally off the axle stands and into the holding area.

The Track was now dry and the lap times tumbled, although not enough, a spin at spitfires early on dented confidence a little. I slowly built up the speed, backing off a little when some of the faster guy’s came round, then Simon Bowes had a spin into the grass at turn 4, leaving him with a broken rear hub carrier. I also let Jonathan Berny through only to have him slow and pull in with a problem. I got back on it again and my last lap felt really good until I got to Honda and had a very big spin after the apex, with the grass being wet and the car still trying to stall, all I could think about was keeping the car moving and the engine running Unfortunately this meant clutch and throttle rather than clutch and brake as all sane and sensible people would think, resulting in heading rapidly across the track backwards forcing Patrick Weightman into the grass..(sorry mate) I don’t think I’ll be doing that again that was a little close.

My attempt to get back on the track turned out to be fairly pointless as soon as I got going the chequered flag came out. The resulting times were disappointing as I was now last but one for the second race.

Time for a beer I think. We spent the next couple of hours fiddling with the fuelling and in the end managed to get the car to behave, start when asked and keep running when lifting off. This was followed by the Car club AGM, a tasmin drivers meeting and the awards. Pops was well chuffed with the spirit of the challenge award and is busy persuading Mother to let him put it on the mantelpiece. For my bravery (or stupidity) in the torrential rain on the test day I was presented with three plastic ducks mmm think I’ll try for the decanter next year.

Simon Bowes now had real problems, and it looked like his title hopes were in tatters, until Richard Thorpe managed to source a hub carrier that could be borrowed for a few days, and a chap in Sheffield was dispatched to take it off the car and bring it down over night. Paul Fenton also had problems, he had also suffered a spin ( see its not just me) and during the spin the tailgate had come open whipping round and smashing the windscreen. Fortunately the Scrutineers agreed to let him run without one.

Race day emerged bright and early if a little cold. We soon established Marcus hadn’t frozen to death sleeping in the back of the transit and started getting the car ready, This preparation included mounting one of the yellow ducks to the top of the car. We had to use tie wraps as Duct tape wouldn’t hold it...Simon Bowes was busily getting his car back together and would make it for the race.

After fuelling up ( this will become important later) I tentatively pressed the starter and wow it started first time and started to idle without a problem, I was soon sat in the holding area awaiting to go. Then it was forming up on the grid, one advantage of being at the back is that you get the impressive sight of all the cars in front of you, something you only get from the track. For the green flag lap I tried a semi practice start for the first few feet, one of the other racers had suggested second, but when I tried it the car just bogged down, mmm first gear for the race I think. Maybe that’s the difference with the five speed that we use over a four speed.

Off the line I had a blinder taking a couple of cars before the hairpin, at the Hairpin I got up the inside of Patrick and then forced him to take a wide line through spitfires allowing me to make a break for it through Dibden, and set of after Carolann. Another lap or two saw us pass Richard Thorpe parked in the grass in the grass at the hairpin, and then another lap saw Patrick Smith up to his axles in the mud, although rumour control has it he was helped.

I had made it up to about eighth and was well chuffed, I was faster than Carolann through the second hairpin at turn 5 but slower trough Honda and Dibden, the result of my spins I think, but starting to real her in slowly. I then had a big fish tail out of the second hairpin, saved by dumping the clutch bringing the car back on line ( probably not the correct method but it sure worked).

A scrappy lap saw me dropping back from Carolann, but I was in clear air with no immediate threat. For the first time the car was starting to feel nicely balanced, slight understeer on turn in which could be balanced with power oversteer, I was starting to really enjoy this.

Then disaster, coming out of Honda on to the main straight I saw the black and orange flag out with my number….B*gger what was the problem everything felt fine. The next lap I pulled in and the scrutineers crawled over the back of the car. I was chucking fuel out from the back. They soon had the boot lid off and the fuel filler had been leaking, filling the boot with fuel, which then poured out from the drain holes. As I heard comments like "no way can he go out like that’ and my heart sank I started to unbuckle and take my gloves off ready to get out and set fire to the car. Pops then ran over and asked what could be done, he grabbed some gaffa tape off Herb and taped everything up. I pulled my cloves on and bucked up as the boot was replaced and managed to get out on the track just before the leaders came around to finish.

As I headed to the paddock I was smiling, relieved to have finished but disappointed over what could have been. Back in the paddock we tried to work out what had happened, we removed the filler and put it back on making sure everything was tight. Then we emptied the tank to discover almost 20 litres still in the car. We had miscalculated on the fuel usage and been putting too much fuel in the car. When we fuelled up before the race we ended up with over 30 litres in the car in a 30 litre tank… oops no wonder it threw it out of the filler…which was a poor fit.

For the next race we filled up properly and taped everything up again just to make sure.The final race. It was now quite late in the day and the sun was sinking quite quickly which would make turns 2 and 3 tricky. I lined up on the other side of the track from the first race. Red lights green lights GOOOOOOooo, I’m off again another good start and Kevan Gore gets away slowly bunching people up before out braking himself and giving Struan a push from behind forcing him wide, at his Liam and I dive for the inside line going round the hairpin together and then side by side through Spitfires.

Liam on the inside me on the outside, the opposite to what I did to Patrick in the first race. Struan had blasted round the outside of the hairpin whilst recovering and had pulled level at spitfires… meaning we were three abreast. I breathed in and Struan turned in as we hit I was pushed into Liam and Struan spun around into the front of Liam sending them both in to the grass with a huge shower of mud and grass filling my windscreen the car and my helmet, but fortunately I stayed on the track and kept ahead of Steve Hall who was right behind me..I was no in trouble I couldn’t see a thing and had to fight to hold Steve behind me. I couldn’t use the wiper as it would just make things worse. Kevan then spun in front of me at Dibden.

As we came around for the next lap both Liam and Struan had got back on the track, although Struan got called in for them to quickly remove his front spoiler. He went back out again with a scrapping noise which eventually turned out to be the front bumper trapped under the car. This finally came free and found its self in the middle of Spitfires right on the line… It took me a few laps to work out what it was.

After about 6 laps I was knackered and a bit scrappy holding station ahead of Steve but unable to close the ground on Patrick a few hundred metres ahead. A few laps later Kevan came storming through at the hairpin, I hoped he would out brake himself so rather than risk a tap I let him through gambling he would go too wide and I would keep the place. He went through but I also messed the corner up and so lost the place. I clung to the back of Kevan and started to loose Steve a little.

Then all too quickly the flag came out and my final position was 11th after Paul Fenton parked it in the grass at Spitfires. Driving back to the paddock I unbuckled and peered over the side to look at the car not knowing what to expect.. the damage isn’t to bad, a little filler on one side and some GRP work on the other, but it shows how strong the car is. Interestingly neither Struan or Liam realised I was involved, so I should have kept quiet.

	Time to go home! (Pic Mark Jenkins)

So that’s it for my first years racing. It really is totally different to anything I have done before, and with a bit more practice I might ( sorry will) get the hang of it. I must thank Steve for Organising it , Pops For helping with the car, the marshals and organisers for putting the races on, the other competitors for making it such fun, and everyone else who has helped and offered encouragement through the year.

All I can say to anyone thinking about it JUST DO IT, See you all next year…