TVR Racing Pedigree

Qualification

After a late in the day pow wow the Dulford Auto/Furious TVR Momentum race team decided to not put on new slicks as intended and instead we opted for the race rubber we used in Spa last time out. Mainly it was felt that I would get the car working better in the colder temperatures of an early morning session,with the used rubber I knew was in really good condition. I was aware that last year an early start meant the grip would be harder to find so the first 4 or 5 laps were spent steadily getting quicker and quicker and as it turned out the grip levels for me were really good. The car was moving around going through Druids but all in all I was able to push on harder and on lap 8 of my nine I recorded a time of 1:55.532 and good for 6th fastest on row 3 with an average lap speed of 83.88 mph.

Race One:

As the lights went out I had a really good start,a little to good as I had jump started. Those few seconds when you re dip the clutch to try to stop rolling tell you, you are to early and that puts you on the back foot mentally not just the car. We were adjudged to have gained a place unfairly at the first corner but as we got going into the first lap I lost the place,it was decided that the minimum 10 second penalty would be to harsh and I was told by the clerk of the course to pay more attention to the lights in race two. The leading cars were very quick out of the blocks and I was under a lot of pressure from car 20 behind me that lasted the whole race. I was quick in some parts of the lap with car 20 quicker in other parts and I had a hectic race long battle with Dean Cook in his new car. Some parts of the lap I was several car lengths in front in others Dean was on my bumper trying to force a mistake. I held the racing line most of the laps but was having to be defensive into a couple of corners,oulton park is not a particularly wide circuit so it is quite difficult to find a way round a car that is well positioned into the entry and exit out of corners. I crossed the line taking the chequered flag in 6th on track ,fourth in class "A". A good result with a fastest lap of 1:52.014 and average speed up to 84.97 mph.

Race Two:

I was on the second row of the grid on the out side,as the lights went out this time I had a strong start and I was paying attention to the lights,it wouldn't do to jump start twice in a row which would have been robustly punished. As the pack turned into turn one I was bumped hard by a fast starting car 22 from behind suffering some body damage but exited in third place. The first two cars were hooked up from the off and there was no way I could stay on there pace. A few laps later Dean Cook got by into lodge up the inside under a late and heavy braking move. The pace up front was very quick and I had the attentions of Hui Marshall in car 3 all race long again. We slowly reeled in the lead car running 2nd and third. Two laps to go Hui and I were side by side cresting into cascades on the limit, this was door mirror to door mirror racing. I braked a few seconds later than him and came out of turn 2, three car lengths infront. I held this gap until the last corner on the last lap when I saw Hui move again and was up along side me on the outside going into the braking zone. I braked at the same time as Hui but as I had the inside and racing line into the apex it was not going to be possible for hui to stay along side as he would have run out of track and onto the grass. At the speed you enter Lodge this would be a no no, as he dropped back to have a run to the line he spun out,going into the tyre wall. It is as I say a fast corner,I am glad to say he is ok, if a little shaken and a reminder to me that " Motor Racing Can Be Dangerous". I crossed the line in second place in class "A" with my lap time down to 1:50.145 an excellent way to end the season.

My thanks to Team Dulford

I must pass on my thanks to the Dulford Automotive team who have taken care of me and my cars all season long doing a first class job. Special thank you's to Mike my lead mechanic and I look forward to racing with you next year.

Perry Waddams

Well what can you say about the most memorable four days at Spa ,I've had. I won would be a good point as any I surpose. Arriving in the paddock on Thursday afternoon was the start of an epic trip for me. It was a" first come first served "to get a slot in Fridays open test day. I went early to the office at race control and as luck would have it I booked a 1.40 hour slot starting at 10.10 am on Friday morning. Great I would have a little more seat time as I have only driven the Rover car once before, last month at Silverstone. Things went pretty well just a small wiring issue effecting the shift light and scrubbing a new set of slicks in ready for Qually on Saturdayay at 9.10am.

Qualification

This was all I could have wanted clear blue skies and roasting hot sun. This is what makes fast laps come a little easier. So new slicks ,dry warm day and me feeling really racy this should go well I was thinking and it did. We were carrying a full 60lts of fuel, not ideal for a fast lap but as we have had so little time in the car we had no clue's as to what the fuel consumption was. so on Friday's practice I posted a time of 2.54.00 sec my target was to get below the 2.50.00.I ended up with a pleasing 5th on the grid with a time of 2:51.375 this was excellent on a full tank of fuel. Andy my team mate in car 89 got a 2:46.895 2nd row of the grid with me just a couple of cars back and with a rolling start set for the race, I was brimming with confidence.

One hour endurance race:

Again the sun gods were on my side, race day dawned blue skies and warm, what more could you ask for your first race on Europe's premier race circuit. I was right up for this and thought I would do well. I have not done a rolling start before so I had done plenty of watching other race video's so I knew the theory and it went well for me.

I was on the inside line to the first corner which I don't favour as it is really hard to defend from attacks from outside and behind. I tucked under the wing of the Radical in front on the turn into La Source hair pin, only to have two cars drive round the outside of me as I had to wait for the radical. Heading into turn two Eue Rouge was amazing and I knew I would be quick as I exited over the top I was flying ,Fantastic. Onto Kemmel straight and down into Les Combes I out braked the two cars that took me at the start so back to 5th.Double Gauche was also Fantastic,a double apex left, very fast and down hill what a great feeling of been on the ragged edge.Blanchimont is a flat out straight with a slight kink in it and on my way through there I was no dought going as fast as I have ever cornered in a TVR Tuscan. Hard on the brakes into the chicane that leads onto the start/finish straight and my first racing lap of Spa was done and in 5th place as I started, result.

I got into a good zone for lapping for an hour and my lap times were in the 2:48,s and dropping every lap till on lap 9 I did my fastest lap of the race in a" big grin" time of 2:46.757.A car had a big off at " Fania" and the safety car came out on lap 10.Most seized the opportunity to pit for fuel. My lead pit man Mike kept me out as I had a lot of fuel on board and wasn't planning on stopping till over half way through. This proved to be an excellent call and I jumped to the lead under the safety car period and 2 laps later the race was stopped as it was to dangerous to continue. I crossed the line in FIRST place and well deserved a win. It doesn,t get much better than that in your first race at the world famous awe-inspiring Spa Francorchamps Circuit.

Andy's Race...

A very well done to my team mate Andy in car 89 he had not had the luck during the safety car laps but none the less showed he is a formidable team mate who pushes me ever upwards on the lap charts. You can view Andy's race report by clicking here.

Thanks to Team Dulford

I must thank my team Dulford Auto who did an excellent job with me and the car all weekend, a cracking group of people who really know there stuff ,they won the race for me.

Perry Waddams

"Donington Park - the very top of my 'best track of all time' list".

So Friday at 6am was unexpectedly sunny,well allmost. The day I had been looking forward to for months had arrived. Donington Park has been at the very top of my "best track of all time" list, since I did a track day there some years ago.The track after the debarcle of F1 was in excellant shape and really was in tip top condition.I know that world touring car was there but i,m sure the track will stay at the top of it't game and well recommended as a premier track you should all drive. I was very confident I would go very well there. I wasn't wrong. After having a slight drama at scrutineering when the seat harness failed inspection due to a slight nick in the anchor strap,we fitted a new set of harnesses curtersey of Rob Huff world touring cars and set about Qualification.

Qually - The session was set for 15 minutes and as I had on a new set of rubber all round I took the first 5 or so laps really quite gently and got into the rhythm of the track which I have to say was in superb condition. It was obvious after only two laps ,I had much more grip than I have had on older tyres, due to new tyres and apart from some slight under steer round the last corner onto the start finish straight car 77 was set up really well. A big thank you to the team work back at Dulford Automotive base and Philip in particular, who with me, has worked hard on the settings, to get the car handling just how I like it. So as not to disappoint and with limited time left on the clock I significantly leaned on the car and was pushing hard to be rewarded with on lap 9 a time of 1.44.667 sec with an average speed of 137.39 kph. That was great and I was fourth quickest of the championship contenders only 1.2 sec off class "A " pole. All was set for an excellent race starting from row 2.

Race 1 - The car felt very good on the green flag lap and the new rubber was sticky almost from the off. I had trouble breaking traction in my warm up procedure and confidence was running high. Lining up on the grid with lots of adrenaline flowing as the lights went out I slightly bogged down and got away in fourth place but been attacked from the off from the cars behind, everyone was up for this. The first couple of laps were spent in line astern getting the car upto temperature and my first opportunity to overtake came under heavy breaking into the hairpin when the third place car a Marcos mantis left a gap on the inside and I filled it,getting good track position and drive out, I got along side my friend and rival Andy race in car 89.We have been having a really good tussle with each other over the last three races.As we turned into the last corner of the lap, I came up along side trying to push Andy over to the left onto a more tighter line and not the quickest.He wasn't to be moved much but it did compramise his drive out onto the start/finish straight and tucked in on the rear of car 89, then blasted past on the straight into second place. I held off car 21 for quite a few laps but made a mistake,missing fourth gear into turn one and slipped to third place. I didn't have the best of luck with passing back markers and car 21 proved to be as quick with no mistakes to capitalise on.Martin Crass in car 21 was on it and i was able to keep within a couple of car lenths so a very positive drive for the team. I crossed the line in third place all be it in a cloud of steam. I thought I had burst a cooling pipe and coasted into the pits.After mike my pit crew checked the engine out it was clear that a head gasket had blown,that made it impossible to get out for a repeat in race 2.Third place, excellent,with a best lap of 1.42.828 sec on lap 9 and only 1.3 sec behind the winner that bodes well.For seven laps we were able to lap consistantly in 1.43 secs with only three laps out side that pace probably explained by back markers.I have now dropped to 8th in the championship table from sixth so clearly not the best result we could have come away with but just a race win away from 4th.

Race 2 - I did indeed burst the bottom radiator hose in race one but subsequent checks revealed I had also blown a head gasket after over heating, so I,m afraid I collected my first DNS of the season.We are at present, completley rebuilding the engine before the Rockingham round in four weeks time.The engine should be back in car late this coming week then a trip to South Wales Llandow circuit to run in new engine and it will help me understand more about this new to me car that i'm getting quicker in, all the time.

Perry Waddams

Images Courtesy of & Copyright © 2011 Mal Gwynne

Team Furious-TVR-Momentum had an excellent weekend down in Kent. A completely different story to Snetterton.

Qually - It was dry conditions for the session so not much to worry about except getting to grips with the AJP engined car I was using this weekend. I have not driven this car car before but right from the off it felt very good and had a great time getting quicker and quicker. I got into the groove and found the car comfortable and no issues, so found some space on lap 17 and turned in a time of 52.585 sec's at last a time good enough for 3rd on the grid on row 2.I was only 0.606 sec's off pole position all excellent news for race 1.when I came back into the paddock Mike,Phil and Aaron were beaming from ear to ear. I was really pleased for them after our recent let down at snetterton. Just what we needed to have a chance of a good race.

Race 1 - Because we had such a good qually it meant we were on row 2 in an inside slot just behind the pole sitter,as the lights went out the pole car bogged down off the line and I carved through in the space on his left hurtling into Paddock bend right on the bumper of car 89 and was very tempted to go round the outside but knew that was not a great idea and tagged behind up to the hair pin where the pole car slid up the inside. As the opening laps unfolded I was holding third after an excellent dice with the car behind me which lasted for most of the race but could just not hold him off in clearway's at the end as my tyres were over heating and crossed the line to finish 2nd in class and 4th car over the line. So 2nd place podium in class "A" which has helped my points tally no end.we were just 2.57 seconds behind the winner after 20 minutes of Furious action.

Race 2 - This took place on Sunday morning as rain was blowing in the wind. I was really looking forward to this as the grid was decided by the first race result putting me on row 2 but with an out side slot this time. As the lights went out I had a cracker of a launch and found myself in second place heading up to the hairpin with the pole car just inches behind me. We were treating the slippy conditions with respect and as the tyres came up to temperature I found myself easily staying on the tail of the lead car and fending off the pole car who really wanted past.

It was going really well in 2nd place as the three of us were pulling away from the pack quite easily. That was until lap 8 when I was been pushed very hard on the brakes into the hairpin ,missed my braking point and had to take to the grass to avoid crashing into the lead car at the apex. This let the car behind get through and as I slid back onto the track the engine had stalled. I had two goes at restarting the engine which did fire up but by then the fourth place car was on me he had been 6 seconds behind before I dropped off the curbing. I took it gently for a few corners not sure if crashing over the curbs had done any damage to the car, by this time it had allowed enough of a gap between me and third place to be too great and I finished 3rd in class "A" 4th on the road to claim another podium and yet more good championship points. It has been a brilliant weekends racing and now a little break till Donnington Park on the July 23/24.

Perry Waddams

Grand Finals Day - 2nd October 2010

Castle Combe at dawn was damp and misty but forecast dry all day. Yee Haa that is what we got. Not that I don,t like the wet,because of my driving style been so smooth and fluid I go quite well in the wet. We were at combe for the Sports/GT championship race and the Open GT race. Two qualifications followed by two races.

First Qualification session was at 9.30am still on a damp track but the sun was breaking through. I went out on a new set of slix to bed them in for the racing. I didn't get very far as I changed gently through the gears into fourth and wham the car snapped round and I was sliding backwards onto the grass at 80mph all of about 20 seconds on track. I was amazed I slid about 200 mts into the infield before coming to a holt. I was just a passenger on the grass.

Still fortunately for me it all happened so quick from entering the track, my pit crew the team at Dulford Automotive didn't get chance to see it, so I could blame it on sticking rear brakes. Our best lap was a 1.23.82sec which put us on row 8 for the race.

Second Qualification was for the Open GT at 10.45 which went really well, dry track and bedded in rubber, resulted in a much improved 1.17sec lap. We made row 5 for the race.

The main target for the days racing was to get the car into 1.15sec laps. The first race was at 2pm.and by now I was getting into the groove and having been able to get passed a few cars into Quarry bend after the start got into an excellent scrap with a Mallock MK34 single seater all race long swapping places back and forth,I took him on the inside at Tower corner on one lap,which was my most satisfying overtake move all day. When I came back to our pit I was greeted by two Cheshire cats namely Mike and Colin who look after the car. They were buzzing as the fastest lap we did was 1.14.82 sec under the target time we set, Fantastic is an understatement as to how I felt as it was the fastest I have ever gone round the circuit by quite a few seconds.

Race two at 3.30pm was more of the same as far as lap times go, consistently doing 1.15 sec laps and very satisfying , but I spent the race circulating on my own. Perfect, really to push myself and car on a bit and get used to the awesome power of the car .Both races saw us up against serious ground effect cars, such as the Radical SR3 RS and not forgetting the super lightweight Caterham's which were lapping 10 sec's faster. with such stiff competition we were all very pleased with the progress of car 77 and are now really looking forward to mixing it with the other TVR's in the final round of the TVR Dunlop European Challenge on October 16th at Oulton Park where the playing field should see us, mid way in the grid with some exciting racing to be had with the similar TVR Tuscans that I,ll be up against. Thank you very much to my Sponsors Dulford car sales .co.uk,tvrcarparts.com and Dulford Automotive.A very special thank you to Mike & Colin my race day pit crew, on-top of the car preparation as always.

Perry Waddams

My first race of the year in the TVR Tuscan Challenge was later in the season than I had first planned,but “better late than never”. In fact it was to be my first race ever in a car so for it to be in a Challenge Tuscan group “A” car was something very special indeed. There were a lot of first boxes to tick over the weekend.

The car was finally wheeled out of the garage at 2am Sunday morning 29th August towards the lorry some 13 hours before scrutineering taking place in the outer pits at Rockingham motor speedway,we only had time to run the engine up for half an hour,it was not ideal preparation for your first race. The targets the team set were to first run the engine in during qualifying and race one then to push on a bit in race two. The car sailed through scrutineering and all credit must go to the Dulford Automotive team namely Philip, mike and Chris who are seriously top guys. The scrutineer told me that he was very impressed with this beautiful car and how it had been prepared passing it to race was his pleasure.

1st box ticked Qualifying was at 17.10 Sunday afternoon so not much time to get the car fuelled up and levels checked. Putting on my race overalls for the first time in the back of the lorry was an emotional time for me and something I will remember for all time. I had at times over the last two years thought it was never going to happen,but here I was climbing into the hot seat of my own Tuscan race car. As I had not been able to drive the car before I was all fingers and thumbs and would you believe it the engine refused to fire up. Now the nerves were really jangling,eventually with some encouragement from Mike and Philip it burst into life and we were off to the collection area to form up for qualifying the sun was out and a dry track and fat slicks, what more could a petrol head ask for.

Filing out onto the track to emulate my boyhood hero's is the highlight of my recent life. All nerves now gone the green flag waved and I was off on the formation lap,my first chance to feel the car and what a car it is. We had decided to follow a group B car round to be sure of the three laps needed to qualify for the grid. As I only had a quarter of the power to use due to running in this seemed the best plan although I could tell instantly we had built a very quick car and as the tyres came up to temperature the car was quite a hand full. After 20 minutes of lapping we qualified 12th out of 16 cars, which was excellent for the first time out and we all had big TVR grins on our faces.

Race one was on the following day at 11.55 and it was to be my first race so a bit special. Row 6 on the grid with plenty of cars around us to think about. I got the car sideways off the line and ended the first lap in 11th place and really getting myself and the tyres warmed up only for the car to develop a miss fire at 4000 r.p.m. as we could only rev to that anyway I carried on and we finished race one in a superb 11th place and another first box ticked. The car handled very well and braked true and hard so we were really chuffed. The car had now been on track for 40 minutes and it was time to sort out the misfire which turned out to be a cooked coil and king lead or so we thought.

Race two was at 17.05 and was a bit of a mixed bag. As soon as the lights turned out we were off again sideways action off the line. As soon as I had sorted that out it was evident we hadn't sorted the misfire but I decided to tour round to complete the race and get my new licence signed for the second time so again a result. You might think I would have been a bit deflated but not a bit of it,I had got to drive my dream car that had taken two years of planning and building, completed 60 minutes of track time running in the engine, certainly a top job was done by the whole team of www.dulfordcarsales.co.uk.

Now we are looking forward to a frantic month or two till the season finishes at Oulton Park October 16th see you there with car 77 running strong.

Perry Waddams