Greg Viles Stockcar 84R

Well with the wet weather this weekend I figured it was about time to update the website. Its been a busy few weeks for the team with the World 240's and the North Island champs in Stratford the following weekend. Ive been working out of town the last few weeks so the team has had to do a lot of the racecar prep and I just come back to town and go racing so a big thanks to them. Last weekend as we tried to go racing for the Rascals in Kihikihi but the last two days wet weather has put that off for a further few weeks....


Rotorua BoP Stockcar Champs

We were looking forward to this meeting as last year we had come away with a top 6 placing but this year we sure didnt come away with any sort of result we were looking for.

First race we made a good start and got through the first corner but on exit Dale Stuart  95r was hitching a ride on my front bonnet and after getting off the front left shock tower was now rather bent but we carried on and the car was handling ok considering the damage until a car spun up in front of me and then the right front was damaged as well. DNF was the result. With a total front end replacement including tractor links and the repair of the shock tower we just missed the second race by 2 mins.

For the third heat we headed out to make sure the car was handling ok and the slight miss we have been trying to find was sorted as we were teams racing for the rascals the following night. Everything was good so we stayed out of trouble to keep the car straight for the following night. Jason Brown took the tittle away this year from Brent Stewart and Shaun Stewart third. So wasn't anywhere near the result we were after but this season seems to be going that way with always being caught up in someone else's incident.


Rotorua Rascals vs Gisborne Gladiators

In the warm up laps the car had a couple of splutters coming out of the corners and although I could have maybe raced I sat this one out for the team. Its a hard thing to do, but I think when you are racing for a Team the last thing you want is for your car to break down. So Dale Stewart took my position and did an awesome job along with the rest of the boys to come close to winning but the pace of Brett Lloyd kept them just in front.

It was the Rascals first race for the season and for a Team that had no teams race experience it was a brilliant effort. Back in the pits we changed another coil and replaced a spark plug lead in the hope to find this ongoing miss that was really starting to piss me off... We went out for the next race and got some decent laps in without any engine problems so hopefully I have finally found it. Was a good race with the gizzy boys taking on the locals and some fairly decent hits going in.

Race 2 went much the same way and with the car not giving me any problems we decided that was enough and loaded up to keep the car in good shape for the following weekend in Stratford.

Night One

Well after four nights we eventually got the two nights racing done, it was a great meeting but the car just wasn't co-operating. We were seeded in blue group which was the second group from the back for the two night championship. Race one and with a rolling start the first corner action didn't take long to eventuate, four cars into one turn didn't go well for me or 99r Shannon Orr with my car ending up on the front of his and coming o so close to being on my side two laps into the race. We eventually got free but finished well down the field. We had some handling issues and found a bent shock so replaced it which was better but we were still struggling for grip coming out of the corners. Race two and this time only one lap and the first corner got us again with the front left wheel getting hammered and not wanting to turn so I decided to stop on the pole line just short of the start finish line which was off the racing line so I could get some points as we definitely needed them. With two laps to go I got a full noise hit up the rear which was always a possibility when i chose to sit there but to pull off we would have got no points. So we did two laps and got 16 points which was better than finishing the whole of race in race one and only getting 21 points. . Race three and all was good until 3 laps from the end when we got spun up and again finished well down the field, the car handled better but its still not quite right.


Night Two

On Monday we gave the car a clean and a nut and bolt check and we were ready for a better nights racing hopefully, although the weather looked a lil dodgy we headed to the track. Race one and with light drizzle falling we headed out for race one of the night and although making up five spots the lack of traction was still a problem. We finished the last half a lap with the car mis firing due to the crank sensor giving up so lucky for us the meeting was postponed til the next day due to the weather. The second race ended up being two days later and with a new sensor the car was sounding good until two laps in it started missing again so we had our first dnf for the season. Would like to thank Nick Johnston and crew for the help in repairing the car and although missing the next race we made the last which for us was just a race to make sure the car was firing on all cylinders. We started on the rear of the grid and made up quite a few spots but not enough to claim the cash. So after some seven races and four days we finished with some engine issues sorted but some handling ones still to work on....


Greg

30 December 2009

27/28/30 December 2009

Group Placing - 5th

Championship Placing - 19th