AE86 Update: D-Day – AE86 at Dover! *Part 2

Our day of reckoning had arrived. It was the day before the season-opener for the 2013 Circuit Racing season, the venue was the intimidating 1.6 miles at Dover Raceway, the home of unforgiving creatures – think Pinky’s Bluff! AE’s performance a day earlier was not inspiring, but I had expected the challenges to arise and I was in no way disappointed. I was totally prepared for the interesting journey.

Qualifying – 31/3/2013

We arrived at the track very early because we had decided that there were a few things that we wanted to do before AE went on the track. The practice session was done on a set of Maxxis MAZ-1 tyres, but thanks to the Jamwest team, we got a set of Kumho race-tyres (at significantly reduced prices) that we planned to use for both qualifying and race-day.

Journal – 31/3/2013

Pit crew came rather early – changed tyres (Kumho) – Ready to go out – qualifying – Front tyre flat! Qualifying was a cry for sanity and clarity! I felt as if I was caught in the revolving wind/weather-driven monster at the end of Twister!

AE -present and waiting for qualifying.

I found out at some stage that I was 8th on the grid (qualified 8th). During qualifying – have nothing for the other cars on the straight = SLOW – NO VVTI – couldnt get VVT-I . Most of the machines ahead = boost/good machines – Kishore Williams, Rhon Gayle, etc.

Crew searching for the VVT-I!

Still searching!

Qualifying was difficult but we survived – slow but sure! Race-day was 1 day away!

Remember, the build began in 2010 and despite the fact that we were not performing at the level we would have preferred – we were at the track and about to compete at Dover Raceway! Would I actually sleep?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer