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for more info on the Smartycars.com Mini Cooper Championship www.scottishcoopercup.co.uk Huge thank you to all who came to support me at the weekend and as always to my Sponsors: William Waugh Metal Recyclers John Clark Mini Andersons Butchers Dalkeith Transport Construction & Property Recruitment
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mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk Mark Dryden's Smartycars.com Mini Cooper Cup 2008 Croft Rounds 7&8 Wet track bad, dry track good Qualifying: There was light drizzle falling at the start of qualifying but the circuit still had a good bit of grip in it. It was going to be a case of trying to get a lap in before the grip disappeared. Sadly, the one lap where I really felt that I was going well I lost the back end at the start of the complex and spun it. This then put doubt in my mind as to the grip level and qualified on a lowly 10th. Race 1: Starting 10th in these tricky conditions was going to be a real test as I really had to get my head down to try and make the top 6. I made a reasonable start but I got hung out on the first corner and lost 2 out of the 3 places that I had made off the line. After that the race was quite processional as there was plenty grip on the racing line but none off it. Chris Knox made an error on the way into the very fast Barcroft corner and I was able to make up the place although I had to slow to avoid collecting Knox and that let McGowan get passed. I finished in a dejected 9th and knew I had to pull something special out of the bag for Sunday’s race. Race 2: No clouds and a dry track filled me full of confidence. I started 9th and again made a good start. I muscled passed McGowan and Pearl in the celebrity car and I was up behind Championship Leader Milton. At the hairpin on the first lap McGowan ran out of brakes and destroyed my passenger door. I was able to continue but it was to be the end of his race. I knew being a longer race that tyre conservation would pay off so I let the scrap unfold in front of me before picking my moment to overtake. Milton is very hard to pass so I had to take him by surprise and I did that by nipping round the outside at the very tight hairpin. As I rounded Milton, Winchester had a slow drive out of the corner and I was able to keep my momentum and also pass him down into the first corner! I then managed to catch Thirlwall, Crocker and Knox and in doing so I set a New Lap Record on lap 6. Thirwall and Crocker were fighting for position with the latter running wide to avoid contact which allowed me also take the position. I followed Thirlwall and Knox for a few more laps. Knox had obvious tyre problems and had to drive defensively to keep Thirlwall back. I got passed Thirlwall for 4th spot at the first corner and set about trying to get onto the podium but I took too much kerb at the hairpin trying to get up the inside of Knox and my car popped out of gear which was enough to drop me back 2 places on the very long start finish straight. I finished 6th with the bonus point for fastest lap. This leaves me 6th in Championship just 1 point off 5th.
Mark Dryden’s spin in the country
Qualifying: The conditions were perfect for some quick times. We had new tyres on the front and the set up had been fine tuned from the day before, so I was confident of a good position. I was not going to make the same mistake as last time and get caught up in traffic so I allowed plenty room in front of me and set about putting in some quick laps. I secured my 2nd ever pole position and it was a full tenth under my own lap record.
Race 1: I got an ‘ok’ start but Thirlwall got a slight
advantage and took the lead going down Duffes Dip. I didn’t let it
fluster me and set about filling his mirrors for the next 2 laps. I got
a great run through the chicane and then through Clarks and I was close
enough to make the move up the inside of the hairpin. The move worked
out and I pulled a 2 car gap out. 2 laps further on and I entered the
hairpin but Thirlwall had a brake problem and came piling up the inside
of me. I had already turned in though and he hit me on Race 2: Starting 9th (from finishing positions of race 1) I had my work cut out to get into the top 6. I made a good start and picked up a place off the line. I then went about some of the best racing I have done to date to get up behind Covey and Knox who were fighting over 3rd and 4th places. I followed closely for a lap then Covey made a move on Knox which didn’t quite come off. I had carried a lot more speed through the corner as I was on the racing line and I took 4th. I only had a lap to try and get 3rd and I feel I would have had it but we were again interrupted by backmarkers. I finished 4th only 15 hundredths behind Knox. In doing so I also got the fastest lap. Race 3: The reverse split was 5th so, as I finished 4th I lined up 2nd on the grid along side Covey who was now on Pole. I got a good start and took the lead round the outside of Covey going into the first corner. After 2 laps leading I realised that I should have changed my front left tyre and it was now totally off. I was getting horrible understeer at all the tight corners. I knew I was going to have to defend my position pretty soon. Covey had been passed by Winchester and I could tell he was catching me but I was certain I could hang on for the win. Lap 7 out of 8 and I was making a move on a backmarker up the inside of the hairpin when Winchester tried an ambitious move further still up my inside! Needless to say he hit my rear quarter and spun me round. Fortunately the red flag was shown seconds after that move, as Gronkowski had rolled at the exit of the chicane. Therefore positions are classified as per your position of the previous lap which handed me the victory, my first of this season. On reflection and with the use of ifs and buts I could of come out of the weekend with a lot more points than I did but I am sure my run of bad luck has come to an end now and I feel confident that I can build on my race win and get onto the podium consistently from here on in. pics Richard Pascal 11/56 Motorsport
Knockhill Race Report 30th March 2008-03-31
Qualifying: The
session was very wet, very slippy and was littered with slower traffic.
I was unable to even get 1 flying lap. I knew as the session was ending
I only had 1 chance left to get a lap in but Winchester spun at the exit
of Scotsman’s Corner and I had to come to a near stop to avoid him. I
qualified in 9th which was very disappointing. Race 1: Starting from 9th with just an 8 lap race was going to be tough. The track was still very wet but I made a good start with no wheel spin and I was able to get past Gronkowski off the line. In Lap 2 Geddie retired from 4th place and I was up to 7th. I was in a great battle with Crocker and I was still having to fend off Gronkowski. I made a good exit from Clarks and got alongside the outside of Crocker going into the hairpin. I braked well but he parked it on the apex and had no choice but to nudge him. This brought Gronkowski right onto the back of me and we ran like that for another lap. I followed Crocker through the chicane but I didn’t get my car turned in time and I ran ever so slightly wide onto the slippy exit kerb. My car went one way then the next as I tried to save it until, finally it snapped back and threw me backwards across the very wet grass and into the tyre wall. I ended up almost over the tyre wall with my back end about 3 foot of the ground. I had heavy damage but the boys at C. Noble Racing did an amazing job and I was going to get out for the next round. Ian Milton won his first race in the minis with Covey 2nd and Thirwall 3rd. Race 2: Starting 16th and it was going to be a tall order to get into the points but the track was dry and I was determined to make an impact on the race. I made a good start and I was 10th after the first lap. I then made some good moves and by lap 5 was up to 8th. I was again behind Crocker who was struggling with his car coming out of the hairpin. I managed to get past and I focused on hunting down the leading pack. On the last lap Covey, McGowan, Gronkowski and Thirlwall was all slowing each other down and I caught them up very quickly but couldn’t quite managed to make an impression before the chequered flag was shown. I was very happy how I had got through the field although I just missed the reverse grid split by 1 place. So I would start 7th in race 3. Race 3: With
a dry track I was really confident about making up a few places. I got
boxed in at the start and lost a place to Crocker
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the front inside wheel.
Milton tried to capitalize on the move and did exactly the same this
time it broke my power steering. I managed to drive like this for 2 more
laps until we came up to lap a car. Without proper steering in the car I
couldn’t change direction quickly enough and spun out. I rejoined in 9th
where I finished. The Clerk of the Course called all three of us to
discuss the incident. Had I remained 3rd perhaps something
may have been done but as it stood I just had to get on with it. 
