F2 #213 Lee Fairhurst
thanks to Chris Clark
COWDENBEATH
World Championship semi-final
2nd August, 2008
Gutted is the word for Saturday, with
6 laps to go he was in 5th place, 6th car took him out as we think Lee was
not moving over but took himself out as well!!! 9th and 10th were at least
half a lap down so that sticks the knife in further....a few heated words
when eventually the car got towed off the track by 2 tractors, by both parties
and 4 hours of repairing on the night and 2 hours at Barford as the results
report they managed to get the car ready!!!!
Just another weekend of fun!!!!
Sunday 20th July, 2008
The 213 team arrived at the track early only to find that they weren’t allowed in until 9.30 am. Once in the track, the Ford team removed the engine from the 13 car and the Fairhurst team removed the engine from the 213 car and then the transplant took place which took a couple of hours to complete.
Lee went out for his heat and found the new engine to his liking, having passed about 4 whites and several other yellows, he was soon running at the front but then some of the faster star and blue drivers managed to catch him and one pushed him wide in turn 2 and the 213 car sustained some damage to the right rear corner and Lee had to retire.
The team set about repairing the damage and straightened out the damaged part and got the car ready for the consolation.
The consolation was split into two races and Lee was lined up for the first race. Quickly he again made his way to the front and pulled out a lead. Clearly the borrowed engine was just what Lee needed to confirm that he has what it takes to win races. With five laps to run, the yellows came out and Lee had to face a restart with a yellow top behind him and then star driver 606 in third.
Lee got a good restart and pulled out a lead , but the red top was past the second place car within a lap and set about closing down Lee’s lead. 606 was within striking distance with 2 laps to go but Lee found some extra speed on the last lap and maintained a safe distance to avoid a last bend attack.
Lee was delighted to have won another race, this time from yellow grade, and it made the engine change that morning all the more worth it.
Lee lined up for the final at the back of the yellows, but with a strong field of blue and red tops behind him, it didn’t take long before he was in the thick of the action trying to defend his positions from behind. Again he got pushed out wide in turn 2 and clipped the wall and damaged the car and had to retire from the race.
The 213 team skipped the GN so that they could remove the borrowed engine and return it to Andy Ford.
Lee would like to say a big thank you to Andy and Danny Ford and his team for the generous loan of his engine, so that he could continue to race on Sunday. Also a big thanks to Alan and Derek for all the extra work required to fit the engine in time for the meeting start on Sunday.
Lee and the Fairhurst team now need to sort out an engine to allow him to compete in his World Semi Final race at Cowdenbeath Racewall in two weeks time.
NORTHAMPTON
Saturday 19th July, 2008
Upon arriving Alan had the engine cover off Lee’s engine and was checking a few things out. Lee was not happy with his engine but was not sure of the cause.
In his heat Lee pulled onto the middle with engine problems.
The 213 car went back out in the consolation but soon ended the race when the engine let go in a big way. Upon opening the engine up, the team found the cam shaft broken into four pieces and the support bracket broken at one end. Also a piston was not working either. The engine is probably scrap. Several drivers then came to offer support with parts, but then pit neighbour Andy Ford offered Lee the use of his F2 or engine for the meeting on Sunday.
There was then a big debate between Derek, Alan and Lee about whether to accept the offer which ended with Lee making the final decision. Lee wanted to race so the team would spend Sunday morning fitting Andy Ford’s engine into the 213 car.
Hednesford
21st June 2008
Lee raced on Saturday night at Birmingham and came
away with some good results. 6th place in his heat, 5th place in the final
behind 152 Mick Sworder and 2nd in the Grand National, again finishing behind
Mick Sworder.
Heat 1
This was Lee’s first run at Hednesford and he had no practice so heat 1
was more a test than anything and Lee finished in 9th place having been
docked two places from 7th. A yellow flag spoiled a possible win opportunity.
Heat 2
Lee faired much better in this one and was soon at the front and lead the
most laps in the race. This one ran green all the way through and he was
only passed for the win on the very last lap by 700 Adam Ruby. Lee tried
to get on his back bumper and tried to push him out wide on the final bend
but couldn’t quite manage it and had to settle for 2nd place.
Final
Another good performance from Lee saw him claim a 4th place finish behind
race winner 522, 700 Adam Ruby and 732 Daz Kitson.
GN
Lee struggled a bit in this one and finished in 11th place, just outside
the points. The GN was won by 732 Daz Kitson with 700 Adam Ruby in second
place, also in a DK car.
Warton
4th May 2008
Went to Warton today with the Fairhurst team to watch Lee race.
The day had potential but sadly it didn't pan out that way.
Lee after spending all afternoon on Saturday setting the car up for Warton, was going ok until he got squeezed into the wall on the back straight, putting him out the race with all the wheels at the front pointing in the wrong direction. Derek, Alan and Lee set to work on the repair which at first just looked like a bent steering arm and bottom trailing arm bar. These were replaced and the tracking checked. A quick test through the pits revealed more unseen problems with the steering and it was discovered that the steering wheel shaft was bent and they had no replacement, also that the steering rack was also bent, again no spare part. A steering shaft was located from the Scottish team opposite as they were Randall parts dealers for Scotland. Jason loaned his spare steering rack to Lee and then helped the Fairhurst team to effect repairs.
It was all hands on deck but they managed to get the car back together in time to go out for heat 2. A massive pile up occurred with the pack of yellows on lap 1 and Lee was towed off having done only 1/2 a lap. Jason's spare steering rack had been destroyed in the pile up so Lee had done two racks in less than 10 laps of racing. Lee was done for the day and loaded up and head home to make more repairs. Hopefully Buxton will be better tomorrow. Also the cow catcher had been ripped off.
Hopefully he will have a better day at Buxton and Skegness tomorrow.