27th August 2007
This weekend saw the Rob Compton Racing / Team Air Ambulance squad go to Rockingham for rounds 7 & 8 of the Mac Tools V8 Trophy. The previous meeting was fraught with problems, from weather delays, to a nagging misfire which slowed the #59 Pontiac Grand Prix in the rounds 5 & 6. Additional backing from Domino’s Pizza franchises has helped keep the car on the grid. More details on www.teamairambulance.com
The weather looked like it was going to interfere again, and it did – with the first practice session cancelled due to rain.
Thankfully, the circuit was dry for their second session, and qualifying.
The misfire refused to go away. New sparkplugs, and ignition leads did not cure the problem. However, Rob qualified the car, ready for Sunday’s race posting a time to put him on the back row of the grid, though as a Rookie, that is where he would start under the championship rules, regardless of his time.
The team worked tirelessly on the car, and found the problem – a faulty fuel injector. With the problem fixed, the team hoped for a good result on raceday.
The weather was kind to the V8 Trophy for raceday. A decision was made to run both races back to back, with a short ten minute refuelling break between the two. The sun shone, but it was raining in the #59 car when it blew the sparkplug out of the No.2 cylinder. Rob pitted, and the crew went to work. The car was pushed out of the “hot pitlane” so they could work on the engine in safety, and a new plug was fitted. Rob returned to the race, 14 laps down, and used the final laps to see if the problem had been cured. The misfire was still there, though not as bad. At the chequered flag, the #59 Team Air Ambulance Pontiac Grand Prix became a “Non-Classified Finisher” as he hadn’t completed 60% race distance.
The car was quickly refuelled, and made ready to go in race 2, and once again started at the rear. The misfire was still there, and thinking of championship points, Rob continued nursing the car, but once again, it blew No.2’s sparkplug out again. This time the officials wouldn’t let it rejoin, which was disappointing, and there were only six laps to go, and this time he would have been classified as a finisher, and championship points.
Soon after the race ended, the sky darkened, and the heavens opened. The teams in the Mac Tools V8 Trophy breathed a sigh of relief that they had successfully completed two races in glorious conditions.
After counting the few points scored to taking two starts, there is only a slight mathematical chance that Rob can be caught for the 2007 Rookie Championship.
Further inspections of the Team Air Ambulance Pontiac found a burnt valve, which requires fixing before the final two rounds of the season at the finale meeting “Motorfest” on September 14th/15th, once again at Rockingham
Rob Compton
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