Seven Heaven: A debut into Lotus Seven Racing

More about the Lotus

• Engine: Ford Rocam engine 1600cc, no mods apart from a controlled camshaft
• Gearbox: Ford Sierra / Escort Gearbox, Manual 5 Speed
• Brakes: Ford or VW based brake systems
• Power: 60kW • Acceleration: 0-100km/h 6.5 Seconds • Top Speed: 199 km/h. • Tyres: Dunlop Semi slicks

It had always been a dream to compete on other platforms and racetracks throughout South Africa. Up until November last year, I had become a bit of a one-trick pony having only had circulated Killarney International Raceway. Then came Aldo Scribante and the 3-hour which turned out to be quite the adventure and learning experience which served up the catalyst to lust after more.

What followed was a lockdown WhatsApp chat with my mate Miles who mentioned that I needed to get in touch with Andre who runs the Leet Racing business and who is solely responsible for the majority of L Class entrants, cars that you can rent. I haven’t quite got the self-control to back out of these types of conversations (I’m sure you know the feeling) and I firmly believe that the minute you start discourse with these like-minded individuals, the die has been cast and the rest is a mere formality.

Fast forward 3 months and here I am sitting on a COVID friendly Kulula flight to OR Tambo to embark on the first race of the season in a Lotus 7 at Red Star Raceway. Had you told me this two years ago, I’d shrug it off. This is now a reality (Inserts motivational jingle). We’re making this happen despite the morbid realisation that I should be spending money on a house or some other adult stuff like mature investments or an air fryer. Yolo right?

A realisation that has been unfolding in my mind is that to be good at driving you to need to focus your attention solely on driving and to be good at the media thing like posting pictures, stories and keep everyone up to date you need to solely spend time on that. It’s impossible to do both incredibly well. Add a third dynamic, being basic mechanic duties and you’re quickly seeing that help is needed. In steps my good friend, Waldo. Sure, I’ve checked pressures before, torqued up wheel nuts, filled fuel and done the odd repair here and there before but not as much as what is required in this formula. I can assure you that this is a breath of fresh air as the learning curve is steep but healthy. I remember going 1 second faster in the Polo all thanks to doing a complete nut and bolt check, myself. Somehow it helps the confidence knowing that everything is connected properly when stamping on the brakes at the 75 meter mark from 190 km/h. Mistakes were made when I had gone out for the first practice session on 2 bar pressure all round, having missed that initially. That won’t happen again.

Lotus Challenge - Red Star - March 2021_WS_001.jpg

About the track
Redstar Raceway is a labyrinth of a racetrack. It’s 13 corners originally built for motorcycle racing in 2009 is an entwined mix of fast and slow corners separating three straights on what is a bizarrely flat surface. I had forgotten my spirit level back in Cape Town, but I could swear that this is dead flat. Corner after corner you think “Didn’t I just do this 15 seconds ago?” and then before you know it, you’re on the back straight heading towards the last corner being a tricky chicane before getting onto the main straight to do the next lap. More on that Chicane later.

Practice makes perfect

In my third and final session for the day, I had posted the 5th fastest lap being a time 2.17.95 which was just 1.9 seconds behind the front runner at the time. Even though this was a rookie car, it proved to have some pace. Andre mentioned with the correct tires he could manage 2.17.00 so I was definitely on the right path (There’s another bite of the cherry at the end of the year).

Not just about the racing - F.N.G Duties

F.N.G duties were assumed by yours truly. You can figure that acronym out yourself or buy me a beer one day and I’ll tell you in person but it’s an enduring term for fresh recruits into Locost racing. Duties include arranging the wood and braaing that night amongst other things like being the sounding board for a barrage of chirps. Shooting the breeze at the end of the evening with new friends is the type of things that solidifies good times all around. The Locost guys are a fantastic group of kindred travellers. Add to that, a few beers, steak and a roaring fire (Yes, Andre, I’ll take the kudos for that) and you’ve got a perfect evening. Clinks glasses.

Qualifying false confidence

Earlier I had mentioned that 2.17. 95 lap time…Let’s expand on that. This had put me in a confident position that if I can keep it clean during qualifying, I could see myself in a proper mid-pack dice. The motivation was high. But here’s a big ‘ol dose of reality. In racing, seldom do things go the way you want. Come to think about it…they never do. But when the planets align and things go your way, those moments make up for the downturned moments which you seem to forget about quickly. Conveniently. Heading out and making a few stupid mistakes, missing a gear change a few times, out braking myself and going off twice meant that I was pushing things and learning the limits. These are the lessons themselves. The highlight however was being held back by two slower Class B cars (They run much quicker motors) who got in the way of what would have been the lap of gods. Humour me here. 8th quickest on the grid. Another 0.9 seconds and I would’ve been in P5. A true marker for the close racing that is L class.

Race 1 - Short lived happiness

After a solid start, I had made up 2 places into P6 and was on the charge. You need to get a move on in these cars otherwise the pack will easily edge a second here and there and then eventually peel off into the distance. Not ideal. Things going well, I felt settled and determined to edge forward. That’s when lady luck played her part. The Alternator on the car, decided to give in, causing the motor to go into limp mode with no power. Only 3 laps in, my debut race ending in a beached Lotus seven at the marshal’s post, parking right in front of, a Volkswagen Polo. Oh, the irony. What followed was the classic ‘walk of shame’ being towed back at the pits after watching everyone else have fun. Sour grapes. But as you’ll learn that, if you choose to ever dive into this sport, that this is racing.

Lotus Challenge - Red Star - March 2021_WS_010.jpg

Race 2 – Redemption is at hand…almost

With the car back in the pits, Andy my teammate and stellar helper and genuinely wholesome dude, helped me strip down the parts, removing the intake manifold to inspect the alternator for any wrongdoing. After a quick multi-meter check-up, it quickly showed that the charge was at 11 volts vs the expected 14. Turf it as Andre had a trove of spares, including a brand new alternator on hand to ensure that the show goes on. Whilst we were at it, a slow oil leak has been detected on the adapter plate for the oil cooler thanks to a stripped bolt. A quick visit to another friendly neighbour for a tap and die set to rethread the hole for the plate to marry up tightly sorted it out. Two birds, right?

We were all prepped and ready to take on the next challenge being race two. P9 on the grid, I was quite amped to make amends for the loss of experience in race 1. The lights go out and it’s a race. Get a move on but do it smartly I remind myself. No points for heroics. With the experience accumulated in Clubmans and GTi Challenge, I felt a lot more comfortable with the situation around me going into Turn 1. Slowly starting to assess the situation I could see where the opportunities lay and when the door opens, take it. Always take it. Lap 1 saw a position taken. Pressing on I now needed to catch Nick. Not only that but I had Juan to fend off. Dynamic situations to learn that don’t get taught in school. On we go till eventually, getting a draft on the back straight, coming alongside nick, I managed to make it stick through the chicane. 2 laps, 2 positions. Onto the next…Jurie who was ahead and pushing, I realised that he wasn’t too aware of me lurking in the background. Again, like a two-for-one special, I lunged into the chicane. Again the car found grip and turned. Fantastic I think to myself. Something about passing, especially in formula cars, is that you always have to assume that the driver you passed is going to want that position back. Always expect it. The result is that you have to push even harder to create a gap to break the spirit of a potential return serve. This became an eventuality when on the middle straight into the tight hairpin, Jurie attempted a rather ambitious lunge himself but overcooked it, badly. Luckily I had seen him at the last split second. A quick input adjustment on the wheel, a potentially missed crash later and I was off on my way. Up to P6, I was then left with the task of defending for the next 5 laps. The bruises I have on my arm and shaking leg at the end of the race are physical marks of the immense effort required to drive hard. Trying everything to create gaps, I was braking as late as I could. The risk of this is the potential error that exists if you get it wrong which is exactly what I did allowing Nick to close the gap and eventually repaying with interest the pass at the end of the back straight. This was short-lived as I immediately pounced at the end of the main straight, claiming it back. Good racing.

This being the last lap, I knew to secure P6 in a solid mid-pack dice, I just needed to keep it clean for one more lap. Remember that Chicane I mentioned earlier? Together with lady luck playing a part once more, I had out braked myself into the corner causing the rear to step out and to correct the slide meant that I went off onto the grass only to re-join with a massive whack on the rear right caused by a raised curb. Ouch. This had gifted Nick with the position. Despite that, one last twist of fate meant that right behind Nick I knew Juan was in hot pursuit. Regardless if you’ve got three wheels or four, you have to race till the end. Pushing it I had just managed to nose ahead of Juan with a gap of 0.012 seconds. Close Shave.

All in all, my first outing in the L Class Lotus was a tremendous learning curve and serious banking of knowledge, experience and most of all a heap of fun. Meeting kindred travellers like the guys from the sector just made it that much more special (I wish more girls would join). In terms of results, my P7 in race 2 served as the right type of motivation to come back and improve upon. There are some adjustments to be made on the car including an invoice altering bent upright to replace before I’ll be back in the car, campaigning once again.

Join me as I set off on heat 2 after a dismal retirement in heat 1 thanks to a broken alternator. This was a great opportunity to put to practice, defence an...