On Thursday I went to the circuit, looked over my last years data where I had a very successful race. I walked the track with Will and then we went to the driving range when I had finished everything at the circuit. I have hardly ever played golf so I was doing good if I even hit the ball!
When we left the crazy golf Will didn’t put his seatbelt on and had his feel sprawled out all over the dash in ’The Beast’ and within 200 metres I could see red and blue flashing lights in my mirror! I started to pull over and Will was wondering what I was doing, I said we’ve got a bit of a problem! Will started to pull his belt on and I said he shouldn’t bother, that’s why we’re being stopped
Anyway, after having already had a parking ticket, we acquired our second fine in 2 days. A no seat belt fine for Will. I thought as the responsible driver I would have also had a fine but no, Will got a $141 fine! Poor lad as well, it was his Birthday! After that we decided to get off the road and go and abuse the van in an empty car park right on the edge of the island by the beach.
On Friday the morning I was looking forward to getting out on track. Phillip Island is definitely one of the best circuits we go to and is quite different to any other, and I normally go ok there so that makes you enjoy it even more!
The morning session started well, I was, in comparison to everybody else doing good times until we found the limit of where the chassis was at and we had to start changing things. There was one place on the circuit, the 120mph first corner where I don’t think anyone goes 100% until it really counts in second qualifying and it’s really time to stick your neck out.
The morning session was extremely windy and very unpredictable into the first corner. It only takes a slightly stronger gust of wind from the inside to lose the front there. It’s good to know that I always have a bit in reserve there until it comes to final qualifying and when you're in that do or die mindset of being on the limit everywhere.
