7th April 2012: F1 & V8 at Coventry

Maiden voyage (Photo: Martin Fitzgerald)

We left earlier as I wanted Phoebe to at least have a few laps in her V8 before her debut at Coventry this evening.

We arrive at Birmingham at 3.00pm and Phoebe, who is feeling a bit nervous, goes out. She’s a little bit worried about getting the right gears but manages to get it straight away. She takes the first few laps steady and gradually increases her pace. 12 laps later we load up and set off for Coventry.

She really enjoyed her quick practice at Birmingham and now feels less nervous about going out to race. The pits are heaving when we turn up, and as usual Coventry pulls in a big crowd. Lots of people are keen to look at Phoebe’s V8, she suddenly feels nervous again!

Phoebe’s favourite driver from the Mini’s Karl Hawkins is there too making his V8 debut. They both have to go out for 5 laps before they can race. Both do very well and Phoebe is grinning away like her Granddad when she gets back to the pits! “I love it” is all she said.

It’s time for her first race. She decided to do her first meeting off the back but doesn’t want a black cross on the back. Straight away she looks really good and seems to have very good control of the car. She avoids any trouble and finishes her race without any hiccups! I cannot tell you how proud me and Sam were!

Max on the spanners (Photo: Martin Fitzgerald

Last minute instructions from dad (Photo: Martin Fitzgerald)

The stewards inform us that Phoebe must do her meeting with a black cross on, so fair enough, the black tape comes out.

After watching Phoebe I didn’t really care what happened in my F1! In my heat the car felt crap, my brakes were all over the place, I finished in sixth place. Dan was in the other heat and drove well again, finishing in 5th.

Phoebe is out again she’s going very well and looks really good for her first meeting. Chris Bracher V8 No1 climbs over her but she stays composed and continues to drive great race!

F1 final, and my car felt a lot better after making a few alterations. I finished in fourth with Danny in sixth, just behind me. All was well in the Grand National until I came under attack from 198 which left me with a flat. Mr Consistent Danny went on to finish sixth.

Phoebe is out for her final. Once again she starts from the back and does very well holding her own! A lovely smooth drive and she is over the moon to finish 10th just behind Karl Hawkins (175) – well done to you both!

So no winning occurred this evening but we left on a massive ‘high’! We get home at 2.50am – thank goodness no meetings tomorrow but a full day’s work ahead to prepare cars for Monday.

Frankie