David Skeggs
My smashing DTM weekend.
It started for me Thursday evening with a nice drive down to Brands to set up and make the Friday a nice relaxing qualifying day rather than the rushed timetable we have been used to.
Qualifying
Friday started a little unexpectantly with our qualifying being brought forward due to low cloud grounding the air ambulance for the F3 and DTM guys. This made our Elise Trophy paddock a little manic at times! I seam to be making a regular occurrence of going out to qualify while bedding in new brakes! Not the best quall for me as after I’d got the brakes working a car off at Paddock made getting a quick lap a little more tricky. Still I was happy with 10th and looked forward the start….
Race 1
All was set for race 1 after the customary entertainment the night before with the added bonus of the 2 Eleven to play with. We headed out on the green flag lap, Brands looked a little different to the cold March day when we where here last. Plus this meet was a little more high profile. We formed up on the grid and the start sequence began. My attention was drawn to David Harvey right arm as he raised it to indicate he had a problem. In doing so he pulled off and I saw the 5 second board. Then out the corner of my eye I saw the marshals attending to David’s car. The question I asked was are we going to start… the question was soon answered by the red light going on. Then off.. I got a great start, with the empty grid lot of David’s missing car I had some extra space. I was tucking in behind Andrew Kell when I realised I was gaining on him quickly. Looking to the left of him there was space for me. I moved along side him and kept a close eye on the grass on the left as that’s the last place I wanted to be. As I got along side Kell then slightly in front I spotted Steve Williams at an acute angle heading my way……T bone.
I switched the fire extinguisher off and got out. The first thing I tried to do was look at how back my car was, after all race 2 was a day away. I got lead to the ambulance and in doing so I could head my name up from the Lotus on Track hospitality box, it made me smile.. Sat in the ambulance for a little while with Steve, we where both ok just a little stiff. We both left the ambulance and watched what we could of the rest of the race. I tried to have a cheeky look at my car and stated making a plan for fix it with my brother who was on hand at that point.
The race was finished and I headed out to see the car up close. It was dragged back to the paddock and I was greeted by lots of kind words, cheers all. By the time I had changed and got a drink I turned round and the front of my car was stripped. Thanks guys. We discussed the plan, calls where made and we where going to fix it ready for race 2 on the Sunday. It was possible but would be a long night and the chance of not getting it done was talked out. We decided to leave the car and get it done for Silverstone. The afternoon was occupied with champagne and beer to ease the pain.
My On-board video http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8287911786306589047&q=skeggs+elise&total=5&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2
Race 2
Well there was not going to be a race 2 for me until Simon Scuffham kindly asked if I wanted to drive Malcolm Sanders Exige. I had a think and said yes! I checked with Paul Golding that I was able to start and it would be from the pit lane…. Time to go and see if I can reach the pedals! All set I headed out behind the safety car and straight into the pit lane where I would start if one car failed to off the grid. I didn’t get the green flag lap as I wished so the two minutes driving the car in the paddock was all I was going to get. I sat and waited then I was told it looks like your on, we have one none starter. I got the low down on when I was able to go and only on this occasion I was able to go through the pit lanes red light. I heard then saw the pack leave the grid, I was off and into paddock on cold tyres and in a borrowed car that I’ve never driven…. Ace! I first corner was Druids where I saw Paul Golding facing me, I thought to myself mind the paint work! I took It easy for the obvious reasons, started to get into the swing of things but took it steady only over taking on the straights etc. the safety car slowed my progress down a little but I was more than happy. As I took my helmet off in the paddock I was a little relived it was over. Fantastic opportunity Huge thanks to Malcolm Sanders for Lending me his car. Also thanks to Simon Scuffham for getting it all sorted and enabling me to use it.
Also the weekend reminded me that all the people involved in one way or anther are top top people. So much support with it all.
See you at Silverstone.
