Oulton Park

Scottish Legends Cars Championship

Brace Boys Back in the Groove…

The team had decided that after the bad start to the season a trip out with the Scottish Championship contenders, who were racing at Oulton, would be a good test for the cars after the non stop work since we left silverstone.

So, we left Friday for the one day meeting on the Saturday 02nd June.  All the bank holiday traffic meant it took twice as long to get there but, as it turns out, it was worth it. Oulton is arguably one of the best tracks for legends and is on the top of the teams favourite list, along with Donnington.

Nick and Dean, along with James Holman and Robert King, were all there representing the Nationals.

Practice went well, with Dean topping out the list 1.3 seconds faster than Nick followed by James Holman in third, giving us reason to hold our heads held high after our first outing on the circuit.

Race 1 was wet after the rain, and as Nick had shown he was quick at Brands in the wet he was quite happy with the conditions, but Dean needed a good race in the wet as he had yet to have the car handling to his style for wet conditions.  Nick had drawn 17th on the grid to start, and Dean 15th, so they had their work cut out to get to the front.  Nick followed Dean through the traffic and the boys were 2nd and 3rd by lap 3.  While pushing hard to close down the quick Carol Brown, Dean lost it and spun out, leaving Nick to restore the BraceMotorSport honour.  With 2 laps to go Nick caught up with Carol, he didn’t need an invite to out brake her at the first opportunity and went on to take the first win of the day. Dean, after having another spin, came home in 5th and took the fastest lap by 6tenths from Nick.

Race 2.  With Nick on grid 3 and Dean on grid 5 to start the boy’s were well placed for a one-two finish but with a tricky track as it was drying out who would be the victor?  They hit the front almost straight off with Ross Marshall hot on there tails.  Ross knew he would have to drive out of his skin because he now had to deal with the drafting that he knew we would start using to our advantage.  Nick got on the back of Dean and pushed him hard for 5 laps, Ross had no option but to watch us pull away from him.  Nick had told Dean before the race that he wouldn’t let him win if he could pass him and, on the last lap, Nick went to the inside on the start straight and managed to make it stick (Dean was being a bit kind to his dad and gave him just enough space).  Dean got alongside on the last lap but with Nick covering the inside lines it wasn’t to be for Dean and Nick took his second win of the day.  Nick had the fastest lap by 1 tenth from Dean.. 1 tenth seperated the boys at the finish flag which should make for some good TV, as SMRC races are shown on Motor’s TV.  As it turned out this race had seen Nick lose second gear,

Race 3 and as it turned out Nick had lost 2nd gear during the previous race, but we could start the race in 3rd and it was decided that we would run the risk of Nick blowing his gearbox completely.  Nick started on grid 18 and Dean on 16,  they made their way through the pack well and Dean and Ross hit the front.  With Ross leading, Dean made a titanic move around the outside and Ross said after the race “Dean, you had big balls to pull that off round the outside”.   Nick had just caught up with Dean and Ross, who were way out in front, and Ross knew what was coming and he fought hard not to let Nick get on the back of Dean.  At this point Nick lost all gears except 4th so he had to just bring it home, which left the boy’s out front to fight it out.  Ross shadowed Dean all the way until the last lap when Dean missed a gear, lost it through the second chicain and span out.  Ross took a well deserved win and Nick limped home in 5th, Dean managed to finish 6th after his silly mistake robbed him of what would have been another win for the Brace’s.  Dean got the fastest lap by 7 tenths.�

So with 3 fastest laps, the Scottish lap record for Oulton International, 2 wins, the overall win and a BraceMotorSport 1-2, the cars are back on form and so are the boys!

The real work starts at Anglesey in 2 weeks, we will be hard pushed to repeat this result against the cream of the UK Legends Championship.  But it won’t for lack of trying!!

See you there.

The Team