The transformation of spare parts from a bunch of spare parts into the winner is a story about how we went on a race built by ourselves. Roger Green looks back in the last season
I still can’t believe. Who would have thought then, in March, when Peter Tomalin was sitting with me in a bunch of spare parts, sets of keys, a riveting hammer and countless cups with coffee that we will come out winners in the Westfield Aerrace championship? Any other, but not we.
The third place in the overall standings and the first in its class on the final round in Rockingham was a worthy ending of the season, which began to be fine and cool in the morning in the garage of Harry Metalf. Peter and I worked with Westfield before, so we could not occupy experience. The problem is that this time a too dense schedule with the first race in two weeks pressed us too much. We needed help, and she appeared in the person of Rassa, whose knowledge and experience turned out to be priceless. With him, we could continue the assembly without constant residents with the leadership, which in itself saved an incredible bunch of time.
I was very pleased to see how our car took shape, but even this can not be compared with the pleasure delivered by the first trip. He becomes a continuation of the body – what you will not feel with the purchased car. We had very little time left for short test rains in the reserve before we went to Snetteron for the first round, where stormy enthusiasm was cooled by destructive disappointment.
We obviously did not keep up with the “senior” vehicles B, it was clear that our standard 2-liter Zetec could not compare with the tuned 1. 8-liter versions, for which we got 12th place out of 17 possible. Later it turned out that we had a junk of the engine, aggregating 145 liters. With. Instead of ordinary 167 l. With. The trifling breakdown was quickly repaired, and the improvements were evident: just two weeks later I qualified the third in the overall standings and took fourth place in both races. Huge relief for all of us – the reason was not in “artisanal production”.
Many proceeded that the new car would drive a little faster than old models, so the Westfield series attracted a lot of people. I was able to lead in some cases and even for some time the leader in Castle Combe, but the “old-timers” always took a step ahead. There is something to work on the following years, but, to be honest, such trifles did not stop at all from holding other riders behind! The race itself went perfectly: tense, in the “close battle”, although the drivers were careful enough to avoid close contact of cars with each other. My greatest failure was Trudon, where I damaged the “Westy” body. There was also Brands, where there was a breakdown of the coolant hose – I could not finish that round.
The Westfield series is a spontaneous zero -level race. There are no teams, and if someone has problems, then everyone will provide help, and this, in turn, gives rise to a sense of mutual assistance and friendship. In addition, this event is one of the cheapest, in its own way exciting and justifying ways to engage in racing-especially if you built the car with your own hands!
We thank Li and Simon Westwood for help and support throughout the season.
