Were you there in 1994, THE first truck race, the one that started it all, right across Europe (although I recall a minor event in France in 1993). I was, along with at least one other team member – I was “only” 13. A crowd of (reportedly) 300,000; the event closed East Midlands airport as the aircrews could not get in; and caused chaos on the M1 and surrounding roads – and that was before the racing started! It took my family 4 hours to cross the car park from our space to the exit gate on the way home – but I’ve been “hooked” ever since.
The Team was at the circuit on Wednesday ahead of 3 testing sessions on the Thursday for the anniversary event. The handling, cooling, rebuilt turbo and new clutch (thank you CLUTCHFIX) were working a treat on No 41, with very competitive lap times and a rare opportunity to try some different suspension set ups. Frankie was flying with driver (and team principal) Simon Cole in high spirits with a returning “mojo”.
All was not so rosy with No 40 however, with some continuing difficulties with gear selection, which Archie managed to handle admirably out on the track. The 3 test sessions served to get some excellent “track time” for both the truck, and for Archie, as he perfected his racing lines through this fast but twisting circuit. Once again, the gear box was out of the truck by the end of the day, however, with some lateral thinking, and a few beers – the original issue was finally identified, and the replacement part obtained from a fellow competitor not at the meeting (thanks Brad).
Friday saw a day of rest, but with a track marshal (THANK YOU) bringing up the new part from Kent, it was onto the tools to sort out No. 40. Several new and replacement parts later, and another clutch (sorry CLUTCHFIX) saw No. 40 properly fixed, with all gears available and an original issue finally resolved from when the engine was initially replaced.
Qualifying saw Simon and Frankie qualifying 4th, with barely 2 seconds covering the first 4 in Division 2, and Archie in No. 40 a few seconds further back – but getting faster every single lap.
In race 1 Simon came in a very competitive 3rd with Archie 4th in Division 2 – again with only 2 seconds separating the first 4 drivers fastest lap – Frankie was on the pace, and Archie was in top gear learning the truck and the track (with all the gears this time!).
Race 2 saw Frankie flying and coming in 3rd, this time only 1.3 seconds off the fastest lap of the winner and Simons’ “mojo” fully restored – even with hydraulic problems starting to manifest themselves. Archie getting invaluable track time and coming in 5th.
Returning to the pits saw the team complete the usual refuelling, “watering” (for the brake disc jets and the radiator and intercooler spray jets) and tyre inspections and changes. But for Frankie more was needed with a hydraulic issue being found in the clutch system needing a replacement cylinder. A “paddock whip around” located a replacement part (THANK YOU RYAN and ARNIE) – but it was of a different model and manufacture, so the team was on the tools until late into the evening making an “engineering solution” to the time-honoured problem of fitting round pegs into square holes (or is it the other way around?). By 11:00 pm the panels were on and No. 41 was “track ready” for Sunday.
After a solid day’s racing we are back leading Division 2 of the BTRC too.
Race 3 – and what a race it was with Simon bang on the pace – finishing the race only to pick up a 5 second penalty for track limits and be “robbed” of a well-deserved 2nd and “demoted” to 3rd – but we “knew” and that’s what counts! Archie once again keeping to the black stuff and bringing the venerable Volvo home safe and sound in 4th, while getting faster and faster lap by lap.
Race 4 saw a 4th place for Simon and 5th for Archie – with both trucks showing great pace but competitors having a little more luck than Team CTS, managing to stay on the track, be very wide, and to keep their own mechanical gremlins at bay. Archies best lap now only 3.5 seconds behind his dad – Simon you better watch out Archie is coming for you!
Race 5 – the last of the weekend, with the team already starting to take down the gazebos and the lights and pack everything away before the 5 hour trek back to Kent. A 3rd and 4th for father and son this time with Simon only one second down on the fastest lap compared to the winner, both trucks being brought home safe and sound, having finished all 5 championship races, leaving Simon and Frankie, leading Division 2 of the British Championship once again.
Four 3rd place trophies for the team (and a pineapple!) and 4 visits to the podium for Simon, and for Archie invaluable track time and a grin from ear to ear for only his second competitive meeting (after Pembrey, with mechanical issues forcing him out of Thruxton).
THANK YOU to ALL our wonderful sponsors; 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 now Archie, and put father and son on the track as much as the rest of this family and friends based team. THANK YOU. (but we always need more help of course)
Come and see us all, cheer on Archie and Simon and “THINK PINK” at the Circuit 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, Conner, John, Colin, Sam, Toby, Martin & Guy
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