20th May 2012: F1 & V8 at Buxton

"Do what your dad says, not what he does"....

Me, Dan and Phoebe are racing today. Phoebe’s out for practice and looks to be going well. It’s the first time that me and Sam have seen her race on tarmac, and feel really so proud to see her in complete control with a really good line.

It’s time for her first heat. She starts well but soon gets caught. I can tell she’s a bit nervous and it’s not long before a few others start to catch her up. She carries on the best she can and keeps her tidy line finishing in ninth place.

Me and Danny are out next. I managed to get a decent start, passing the other superstars. Me and Tom were exchanging places, tit for tat! Tom sent me in wide and I bounced into the wall ripping my front wheel off. This resulted with me climbing the wall and rolling over. It all happened so quick and the cars looks a mess! Danny went on to finish seventh.

I’m right – my car is a flipping mess! The front suspension has been ripped off, bent front axle, 3 shockers, 2 wheels, 2 tyres and a wing! At this point I’m uncertain if I will get out again today especially as Phoebe is back out on track and I’m not going to miss her race!

Charlie Sworder helps Frankie JJ straighten the wing

Before my track dramatics me and Phoebe changed her tyre. It’s still early days so experimenting with various things. She got sixth in this one and looked a bit quicker. She enjoyed the race and was happier with the car.

Now it’s time for the hard work to begin! Not a lot of time to get the car fixed and back out for heat 2? But somehow, we manage it! Thanks to the track staff who allowed me a couple of extra minutes to do so.

After the first lap it became apparent that the steering wasn’t right. We didn’t have time to set the caster on the front axle, so it was wandering about a bit down the straights, which isn’t much fun at Buxton! Even so, I crossed the line in seventh place just behind Danny in sixth.

Another tidy drive from Phoebe in the final. She finishes seventh and earns herself Blue top already!

The F1 final is out. Me and the team work hard getting the cars somewhere near… we think! It does feel and look a little bit different, but I feel pretty chuffed to get fifth in the final with it! Dan’s right on my tail in sixth.

Phoebe is struggling a little with tyres today. She finishes in eighth place in the GN, which is great, but tells me the tyres went off and the brakes felt different.

The last race of the day for F1s. Nothing special for me or Dan, but half decent places, sixth and seventh.

It’s been an eventful weekend to say the least!

Massive thanks to mechanics, family and friends for working so hard to help repair my car after the roll over. Cheers!

Frankie