For the last 8 years I have been going to Mt Gambier for the Legend of the Lakes hill climb as part of the Goolwa Ford crew . This year it was my turn to drag out the Escort, after it had a major up grade . We arrived at the track on Thursday afternoon , well its not the usual track . Most of the year it is a public road down to a beautiful grassed picnic area next to Valley Lake, with approximately 150 cars entering the three day event .
Friday – is classic day so entries are down to about 80, so plenty of runs; which is a good thing as the only track time I have had before this stage was in the passenger seat of a 30 year old Landcruiser. Scrutineering went well as the car was all new and clean . The first run I had a bunch of nerves, so easy does it on he accelerator. New car, New track made it to the top in 1.47 , nothing to be proud of, but the car ran well . Only four runs for the day, but I was happy and finished with a 1.32 .
Saturday – after a few tips and a rev up by the team, and I was ready to go again . Still no tyre warm ups as the axles , diff , gearbox are a bit fragile I don’t think they will take 200 HP . My times kept getting quicker with each run, with Saturday finishing with a 1.29 . Unfortunately an oil spill on half of the track from another driver and rain put an end to the day two hours early . Our accommodation was at the caravan pk at the top of the track, so nice and close a the end of the day.
Sunday – back down to the track again at 7.00, soggy wet grass due to the over night rain, so no service crew vehicles in the pits . A quick check of the car and a run to scrutineering, all good to go. So its day three I haven’t broken the car yet, and all the parts I need to make the Escort bullet proof are on order. Still couldn’t bring myself to a burnout [ tyre warm up ]. My confidence is growing, so on day 3 I am looking for a 1.20, but the rest of the team said NO, aim for the teens so I had better pull my finger out. On the start line and the Green light means go. 1st gear – 2nd gear, hit the rev limiter and pushed the car, only two runs to pull this off, left hand into the bus stop turn, then right hand down jabbed the hand brake perfect slide on the rear [ all those hand brake turns at Border Town paid off ] power slide out, hit the rev limiter again and across the finish line 1.17-32. Made it one and a half seconds quicker and my fastest time for the weekend . I’m happy, the team is happy, but still one more run to go for the weekend. Final green light, GO nothing to loose, hit the rev limiter even harder this time using most of the 200 HP. Don’t bin it Grant, a little voice in my head said. Left hand into the bus stop, right hand down jabbed the hand brake [ you guessed it, over committed] only supposed to be 180 degrees, I went at least 220 degrees. Damn it, by the time I got myself sorted there goes a second or two finished the day on a 1.19-90.
What a fantastic three days of motor sport with a new car, and all I did was turn the key and put fuel in it, didn’t even put a spanner on the car . I can not recommend this event enough, and will be back next year . The South Eastern Auto Club do an amazing job every year.