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GP Sweetnap, Frome - UK 2008
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Got enough skill to drive the hill?
GP no2 at Sweetnap has been won by Ian Oddie who chose the right tyres. |
Not one single jump, so no flying cars, so was it boring?
On the contrary !
Early friday moning the 13th, june 2008 we took of to the promised land of white beans in tomato sauce. The journey went well and in the afternoon engines were started for a first training run.
"Difficult, difficult, need to get used to this", were the first comments of the guys. But soon things changed for the better and a good set-up was found, this did bode for some good results.
What was so difficult here?
The people who layed the track had chosen a huge steep hill for this. The astro turf track was very technical with hardly 1 straigth piece, but it was fast, huge and above all difficult.
Big differance in height with fast sweeping corners and a straigth line that was going down pretty steep. Also parts where the car had to climb up the hill starting with almost no speed. The utmost was demanded from car, engine and above all concentration of the pilot. Though no jumps were build in the track the track was by far from flat.
Challenging and deffinately worth he trip to race here was our conclusion at the end of the day as the Cleons went over the track as struck by ligthning.
Qualifikations went all smooth on the Saturday. It was a pity that not many turned up so we saw not too many pilots attending the races, but the level was deffinately high.
After the Saturday Renze called it a day and had pole position. The other team members were not far behind and all guys made top 10, so this was deffinately satisfying!
The organisers did truly everything they could do and had raised some funds for a free party for all that came over. All kinds of refreshments + a BBQ and a pig were presented. Even a live band was hired showing the newest fashion and playing some good music.
Truly excellent done, thanks Sweetnap crew!
Sunday saw another round of qualifikations. Oddie took his chance and went half a sec under the fastest time and put Renze in second. After the lower finals were run it was time for the semi finals.
As if it was history repeating it started to rain. Exactly the same as at the last GP in France, so it looked like we were going to have a big tombola again. The ref and people in race control gave the pilots some extra time as the circumstances did change fully, people could prepare themselves and their car. The extra time for changing the car was warmly welcomed.
In the first semi final Renze, Tim en Curt did pull of a superb 1-2-3, save and through.
Johnny also performed well and took no risks in his semi final, he came 4th.
Simon Ward en Darren Curtis both running a Cleon as well performed outstanding, they had no problems going through.
We looked at the skies and were in doubt. In the end we decided to go for a wet set-up for the main final. And so did 9 other finalists except for 1.
Ian Oddie informed himself well by a weather station and checked the track which seemed to dry faster as we all thought. He went for a dry set-up and this prooved to be the correct choice.
Not a single moment his 1st position was threatened and he could keep a pace faster as the others, his win was fairly easy.
Best of the rest was Tim, not far behind came Darren, followed by Johnny and Simon.
Renze had to visit the pit during the final to re-adjust his engine. Curt also had to make a stop for a short fix. They ended on 7th and 8th.
Sweetnap was deffinately a "let's go there again" experience, count us in.
See you guys next time,
Cheers!
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1. Ian Odie (UK)
2. Tim Vander Elst (BE)
3. Darren Curtis (UK)
4. Johnny Lantman (NL)
5. Simon Ward (UK)
