Only one test session was booked for the weekend, Archie on the Thursday. Testing is always Thursday at Donnington, extending the “weekend” by a day; so, we arrive on the Wednesday and leave Sunday night. The highest speed of the truck, as confirmed by the stewards from their own installed systems, was 160 km/hr – so bang on the money. The session went well with no significant issues, so Friday the truck was washed, checked over, and the GRP panels fitted. These must be in place for formal racing and qualifying, in line with the rules, but can be omitted for testing.
Then the problems started, when Archie arrived at the track, he tested all the clearances on the front wings… and the steering decided to take control of him, rather than the other way around! It was fine on testing, and the truck had only been washed, so why this now – who knows! But better now than during a race. So, steering box out, stripped and …. nothing out of the ordinary. So, a bit of a walk around the paddock and a “consultation” with “those that might know”. (Thanks to Craig and Terry, and also Tim Frost from the European FIA Truck Race Series for their advice and “consultancy”!). But to no avail, so it was flushed through with a solvent cleaner and fitted back onto the truck. The best diagnosis was that some form of debris was on a valve seat that was preventing it fully closing. The “flush through” did the job, even though nobody quite knew why, and the steering gave us no further issues – at least this weekend!
Qualifying on Saturday only included Archie, as Si was still working hard at the office (workshop) with no end of jobs for clients and a few MOTs booked for the following week. Archie suffered significant “wheel wobble” from the truck and a broken shock absorber. It was possibly due to a wheel bearing, or a buckled rim and a tyre with a flat spot. Also, it’s not clear if the shock absorber could have caused the wheel wobble or been a result of it. The shock absorber was changed (see the pictures in our gallery) and the wheel replaced, which solved, mostly, the issues.
Race 1.
Si wasn’t out for Race 1 unfortunately.
Archie had a great race, bringing the truck home 4th in division, which was later amended to 5th due to a time penalty due to exceeding track limits. It was good to see, once again, Archie completing full race distance in what is, still, a new truck. And, with significantly less “wheel wobble” and working steering ! Just a standard service required between races.
Race 2.
And, with special permission, both trucks out on track this time.
Once again, both trucks had a trouble free (by our standards) race, completing full race distance (you’ve got to be in it to win it as they say) and coming in 3rd for Si and 5th for Archie, again with a time penalty for Arch. We think that our old tyres were costing us 3 seconds a lap.
Saturday night
Frankie was treated to a set of front discs and pads on Saturday evening, and a little revision to some water spray jets as the Donnington weekend was very hot, and the truck was heating up a little too much for our liking. A boost pipe was also removed and refitted to cure a slight loss in boost pressure, although it was also noted that the turbo was quite worn.
Archie’s truck had a set of front discs and pads too, with a few odds and ends fixed.
Race 3
Again, both trucks started and completed the race, or rather two races as there was a red flag and a full re-start. Si brought Frankie home in 4th with Archie not far behind in 5th, with no real issues, just poor tyres and an “inefficient” turbo holding the trucks back. At least Frankie’s previous “diesel” issue was fully resolved, and Archie could steer the truck, rather than the truck steering Archie!
Only a standard service required between races, with the best of the second hand tyres put on the front of each truck for the last two races of the weekend. By this time both trucks had sustained cracked windscreens with Archies being particularly badly damaged. Donnington is well known for this with fast corners and lots of gravel traps, Any errant truck therefore spreading gravel onto the track.
Race 4
A sound performance by both trucks, again doing the full race distance and coming home. Simon in 3rd and Archie going faster with each lap as he gains confidence in the new truck, in at 5th, especially with the failing windscreen.
A quick service, water and diesel, and a bit of a check-up for No 40, with Frankie needing the sump to be re-sealed due to a small oil leak. All done and ready for the next one!
Race 5
Ultimately, following 2 red flags and a serious crash, race 5 was cancelled and considered void. We take this opportunity to send “Team Reid” our best, while there were no significant injuries to Simon, it’s still a bit of a shock to roll a truck through a full 360 degrees and back onto its wheels! The fact that Simon literally walked away within a very short time, unaided, is testament to the strength of these trucks, the build quality from “Team Reid” and the regulations themselves. The truck will, however, take a lot longer to fix than Simon!
So, both trucks completing the full race distance for each of the 5 races once again. And Simon coming home with some “silverware”. Archie gaining a lot of experience in the new truck too.
A huge thank you to our supporters, we will be back – great to meet you all.
Check out our “Gallery” page for more pictures from the event!
THANK YOU to ALL our wonderful sponsors, especially LPM and TTP; to the businesses who help us out in kind, or with cash (although we accept cheques too of course!), we could NOT do this without you ALL. No matter how big or small your help – this team of family and friends could not do this without YOU. YOU made it possible for Simon, and Archie, putting father and son on the track. THANK YOU. (but we always need more help of course).
Please check out our “Partners” page to find out more about our sponsors.
See us all, cheer on Archie and Simon and “THINK PINK” at the Circuits if you can – we are always happy to chat and show you our race trucks. Unless we are repairing them of course, in which case best to give us some space to work safely.
If you cannot visit the track, then remember to check out the “BARC” live feed on YouTube – or of course on “catch up” later.
CTS#41 and CTS#40; Simon, Archie, John, Colin, Sam, Toby, John, Zeki, Lou, Olivier and Kev.
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