I wake up at 6:30am, with my bottom touching some large idiot’s bottom as he is moving around on the partially deflated blow up bed that we slept on. I am utterly freezing – my face is numb. Matty had decided the previous night that we didn’t need to close the tent. Sigh. I fall back to sleep briefly. Matty has gone for a cycle around the circuit and then a quick shower. I follow suit at around 7:30am.
The shower perks me right up – feeling ill mixed with a lot of effort in helping Matty the day before had left me pretty worn out. The sun is shining as I walk back to our little camping area, and life feels very good.
We know there is some form of super car experience day going on today at Donington, and of course we dive over to have a look once everyone is up and about – after a bacon butty of course.
Below is a section of what we see. Great stuff to be wandering down the paddock and pitlane hearing and seeing these things. Not a patch on the bikes, mind you, but still, as a motorsport and vehicle enthusiast it’s a great addition to the weekend.
During the afternoon, Gordon Wright of Spartan Racing gives Matty a talk through and a walk through of the track. This helps Matty focus on some areas of weakness on Thursday, and start to have his aims solidified moving forward for tomorrows qualifying. We discover that Matty has lost the end of his footpeg, and due to him requiring more foot space, we install the larger, flatter left hand foot rest so that his boot isn’t catching on the heel guard. That is about all the bike prep we complete, due to Matty having no issues as yet with the setup at his current pace. A thorough check, and we re-load the van ready for the inevitable rush across to the paddock from the holding area.
While we wait we construct, from an incinerator and chicken wire, a rather beautiful BBQ.
Look at the afterburner on that thing. Pyrotechnic beauty.
Once we get the go ahead after what seems like a life age of the earth, we rush into the paddock area and grab as much space as we can to save some space for Pitty and Gordon. We manage it, and everyone gets set up! Excitement starts to build heavily…it’s racing time!!
Matty Laws Racing 