So why did I choose to race on a bitterly cold, wet & windy day at Silverstone in November? Must be bonkers. Hey ho
The weather forecast kept changing all week & we hadn't got a clue what tyres to travel with, so after scrutineering on Saturday we had 2 & 2! The wind howled all Sat night & we froze watching the stunt & firework display, taking refuge in the BRDC building! Anyway, the track was "slippy slicks" for qualy. And believe me, this lovely smooth new tarmac IS slippy. So I did 4 or 5 laps as the drizzle started to get heavier & came in! That left me right on the blunt end of the grid, but considering the sharp end had Nathalie McGloin in her Porsche Cayman & Katie Milner in a Ginetta on the front row I wasn't that bothered. Give me my slicks on a dry track & I'd be away like a mad thing!
Half an hour to go before they called us & I was ready to do battle. Then the drizzle turned to rain. Quick change on to my lovely new Michelins, fix the bicycle lights to the wing ends, another Fog-off on the visor & get ready to be covered in spray for 20 laps!
2018 has seen me do some cracking starts. This race was no exception, thankfully. 12th to 5th in the first 2 laps & Mick, Bill, Paul, Andrew & Conway were getting excited in the grandstand! The commentator even said I seemed not to be bothered about the rain (assorted laughter rippled through my supporters when they heard that!)...they know me better. Very very tippy-toe through the corners, especially when you're level with the wheel nuts of someone who doesn't know you're there next to you (those that have done the Birkett will know exactly how that feels). Having passed Tina Cooper & Sharlie Goddard early in the race, they both got brave & determined & managed to both get me back. (Oh slicks, where were you!! If only!). But I held off Liz Walton in her Mazda MX5 for a good few laps to the line even though she tried everything she knew to get past (ah...the little Darvi can be SOOO wide sometimes!!)
So I finished 9th, & managed to clock up a few 98mph times through the timing beam (what! Me? In the wet??). But in one piece & I stayed on the black stuff (just). Jeff Bloxham has taken some fabulous pictures, as he always does, so if anyone wants to see some more, & a video of my first couple of laps, they're on Facebook (Sue Harris or British Women Racing Drivers Club sections).
Hopefully I did the 750F proud (would've been MUCH better in the dry! My normal slick times would've put me 3rd or 4th, but hey ho). There were lots of people interested in the car in the paddock & wanting to know why I was 750F & not Clubmans & asking what it was all about, & even an ex-750 driver, now in historic clubmans.
She's now in the garage, bodywork stripped down, cleaned & put away ready for April, panels off & cleaned, drained down, hoovered, WD40'd & ready to go again.
Thankyou to my supporters at the weekend. it was not the best weather for spectating & your presence was appreciated. See you all next year
- Maxine Nicholls & Maddy McGuire
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