My Trip to ShelbyFest

[LoBelly]

Ok - this post is a little late in coming due to a number of thing but I thought some of you might still like to see some photos.

This photo is emblematic of the sprint day


Victoria had just been through some severe fires, on the way to Winton from Melbourne you spend quite a lot of time driving through burnt out areas.

The track conditions were hot and fast, causing many cars to boil or cook their brakes.

I was sharing my drive with my brother Peter and we generally didn't do full sessions to preserve the car a bit but overall it did about the same laps as the most hard working cars and I was very pleased with the way it pulled up
(although I have since found a leak in the - almost new - radiator)

The hot track and a new set of tyres got me around some corners at quite a clip - we had previously set the car up to roll over the wheels a bit more to suit the street tyres - with the new set I scrape the sidepipes.


Following Stiffy - I figure that he must have a few smooth lines to keep him in quality tail...


Armin makes it an international event by travelling all the way from Tasmania


My nephew David checks my vision after observing some of the lines I took during the session

Gav is in the foreground - if you listen carefully you can hear the faint '...there is no spoon...' chant


I was however not the only one to try alternative lines



Meanwhile back in the pits...

El presidente Tony prepares to 'wang' Lindsay (who looks like he's still recovering from going through the sound barrier)


Stiffy does mind meld with Phil's car - thus ensuring later calamity...


The fast racing was causing lots of fuel consumption - Peter had a spare jerry can of Pulp that Leigh and Phil needed to keep going (thirsty things those LS's)

A highlight for me was the shootout - here 'gentleman racer' Leigh is making room for Peter during the qualifying - karma?


Peter came in and I went out - only got my out-lap recorded when the session was red-flagged due to Pauls unfortunate mishap.







Ultimately Peter qualified 5th and me 6th for the 10min session - so I left it to him

Phil - who's car was the recipent of Stiffy's mind meld - had qualified for the final five shootout but was unable to start due to a lack of tyres

phil loses tyre


that left 4 in the staging area for the standing start (individual lap) shoot-out
Ross went first and was looking great until the last moment when he left the track

then it Lindsay's turn..



This left Peter and Leigh - I took the opportunity to ask Leigh if I could get that extra fuel back and he told me I'd just have to wait a moment....


Results and a selection of Pictures are available here:
http://www.cobracarclubvic.org.au/ShelbyFest2009.html

LoBelly