TKM 'o' PLATE at SHENINGTON

Despite the rain, a much better organised event than the Festival. Despite being part of a club round, there was plenty of practice on the Saturday and a couple of heats, with the third heat and final on the Sunday. We were pleased to find that there was also a clun round for TKM, so we took advantage of this and Mike was able to have a further three heats and a final on a different TEC-MEC chassis which allowed us to compare notes. In his first heat Mike finished 3rd and gained the fastest lap. In the second heat, Mike managed a top 10 finish. On Sunday, despite being in pole, his carb failed so he again just kept in the top 10. With about 50 top drivers in the TKM class, Mike was able to qualify 10th in the main final and held that position throughout in a very wet and windy climax. In the club event Mike used the Banchee chassis but with an experimental seat and a new brake system. He also used practice fuel and old tyres as his best were kept for the 'o' plate. Starting last in every heat as he was a late entry in a field of over 20, he managed to get three top ten finishes, and was in 4th for the final grid. Once again he experimented with a practice engine set to different ignition timing in the final, and the plan backfired as he slipped down to 7th. We left before the results were finalised and the trophies presented, as we feared that our race truck would be stuck in the muddy grass and wanted to get out before it became too dark and cold. Unfortunately no pictures as yet.