Lesa takes the MX-5 Cup Challenge

30 August 2014 / Words: Greg Bunn, Photos: Greg Bunn & Bryan Shedden

The adventure started by putting in an entry form for the "DECKSPEED win a drive in the MX-5 CUP" during the June club track day at Wakefield Park. The draw was completed after last run of the day, and Lesa was declared the winner. At first I thought this must be a typo, Lesa would not have put her name in the hat. After the initial shock of winning, the excitement kicked in especially when Daniel Deckers of DECKSPEED racing, said "get your helmet and you can do a few laps before we finish up today."

The helmet was on in a heart beat, the seat was moved and Lesa was strapped in the NC and ready to go. The day had been fairly greasy however Daniel informed Lesa that the racing wet tyres were on the car so go and enjoy.

The three laps were completed and on returning to the pits the comments are still fresh in my mind, "Gee it brakes much better, turns in much better and has a lot more power than the NB." My first words were "Oh does it", my first thoughts were "go on rub it in, now our car not up to your standard."

Due to prior commitments like the 6Hr Regularity at Phillip Island, Lesa confirmed to Michael Hall of DECKSPEED racing that 24 August would be the best day.

Thanks to Matilda Mravicic for sending through the regulations so we could start to see what we need to do, to enable the racing debut to materialise.

Russell Maxwell mentioned that he had purchased a new race suit as a minimum two-layer race suit is required. Russell being the gentleman he is, offered his race suit to Lesa (there is a joke in this however, I am sworn to secrecy, so do not ask me about it). Tammie Hotz stepped up and offered her two-layer race suit to Lesa and the fit was great, so we were off and running. Big thank you to Tammie.

So over the next few weeks we looked to gather the rest of the safety goodies required to race. Peter Battisson of ACDC helped out with the new helmet and HANS device. This was actually something we started looking at upgrading to, since we had installed a race seat and harness in the gold NB (that has no brakes, does not turn in and has no power). Next was the fireproof undergarments, socks and gloves and boots - all FIA approved. On presentation to Lesa of the new safety undergarments I was advised that "this is definitely not Victoria's Secret, and there is more material here than all other underwear you have ever given me." (I checked those previous purchases and none had the FIA approval).

Daniel and Michael were fantastic and took care of all the paperwork for the car entry. The next step - to get the license. We applied for the AASA race license and with the correct paperwork and a doctors report, the license was now also sorted.

With the safety and licensing issues completed it was now time to start to think about the "THE RACE". The Marulan training day came around and Michael Hall had brought the DECKSPEED NC race car to Marulan for his wife Denise and daughter Brinley to do some training. Michael offered Lesa the NC to do some laps so she could get some time in the seat before race day. This was certainly appreciated and it made driver change overs at Marulan pretty hectic for Michael. The DECKSPEED NC still had great brakes, turned in well and had lots of power (yeh yeh).

In true MX-5 Club of NSW style, we had lots of offers of help to talk through any issues. Whilst at Phillip Island, David Lawler discussed his first venture into MX-5 CUP racing. Nick Martinenko and Matilda Mravicic in particular made themselves available to Lesa and were fantastic mentors and could explain everything in a way that Lesa could understand (I apparently struggle in this area). We decided to watch some of the MX-5 CUP videos on YouTube just to get a feel for how the cars are driven. On watching Stuart McFadyen doing a few MX-5 Cup laps of Wakefield and seeing some great overtaking manoeuvres, Lesa promptly closed down the Ipad and said "HOLY S#!T".

Matilda suggested to Lesa that if she could write down any questions she had and email them to her she would answer all of them if she could. We arranged to meet Matilda and Nick for dinner prior to the race weekend. Unfortunately Nick was unable to attend however Matilda spent three hours with Lesa over dinner explaining how the program works, how the race radio system works, racing etiquette, standing starts and most importantly "do not let those blokes push you around on the track, hold your line and let them pass you when they can."

We stayed at Trappers Motel on the Saturday night and had a great meal with all the drivers and friends in Trappers restaurant. As usual with the MX-5 Club a great night was had - good food and a friendly atmosphere.

Race day is here. Time for a breakfast of champions, bacon and poached eggs at 8:30am (race drivers hours are very easy, scrutineering done on Saturday, drivers briefing at 10am, qualifying at 11:50am).

Sunday, the rain had cleared and the excitement was building. The support from everyone was great. We adjusted the belts and seating position and checked the mirrors were all good. Nick came over and suggested it would be a good idea to have a go at some standing starts down near the scrutineer shed. Under Nicks guidance, Lesa tested a few different ways to start. Well done Nick, no stalls at the starts thanks to you.

The qualifying session was a huge learning curve for Lesa, first time in a car on slicks, with a full face helmet and HANS device (apparently it still has great brakes, turns in and has oodles of power.) Lesa's time of 1:27 in qualifying was way above her PB in the NB (the one with no brakes, no turn in and no power). The nerves were showing.

Matilda and Daniel explained that you need to get some heat into the tyres and they will start to grip much better. A few words of encouragement from all the guys and girls and the apprehension changed to determination to improve and set a new PB.

RACE 1. Lesa started at the back of the field, I believe this was part of the plan in setting a slow qualifying time. The warm up lap was full of the heavy braking and accelerating to warm the tyres to ensure they were nice and sticky. To the starting grid, green flag, red lights out, as Murray Walker would say GO GO GO, we are racing. The start was tradesman like, no stalling and a gradual build up of speed with no burn out. Turn 1 tick, Turn 2 tick, Turn 3 oops, back on the track, lets go for it. Being lapped by experienced race drivers added to the feel of close racing. However on the positive side, on Lesa's third lap she set a new PB of 1:18.59. Race 1 finished after 6 laps, back to the garage for some fine tuning and some more encouragement from everyone.

RACE 2. The plan was to work on Turn 2 and Turn 10 and keep the heat in the tyres. Another good start, no burn out or stall so we are off. The rest of the field took off and set a gap. Second lap saw at 1:15, third lap saw a 1:14, fourth lap Lesa set her new PB for Wakefield Park, a 1:13.65 (in a car that has the best brakes ever, goes exactly where you point it and has so much power it unbelievable). At the end of eight laps, only Matilda had passed Lesa on her way to her own PB of 1:04.81. On returning to the garage, the apprehension was all gone, the car felt great. On getting the news of a great PB, Lesa was now feeling like "I can do this".

RACE 3. The plan was "now I know I can do this", so look to improve and be consistent, and most of all enjoy yourself. The race start improved - tick that box. Warm up the tyres then have a go, this is 10 laps. Out of the next 10 laps Lesa set another PB at 1:13.63 to prove the first one was not a fluke then four laps in the 1:14s, one lap in the 1:15s and two laps in the 1:16s. In 10 laps no one managed to lap her, due in some part to Daniel running low on fuel and having to drive conservatively in the last few laps. An experience that Lesa never thought she would have on the track was made all the better by the support of all the MX5 CUP competitors.

To finish the event Craig Durrant gave out some prizes for the class winners and Lesa managed to pick up a great trophy for class 5 to go with all the memories of the whole experience.

We would both like to thank Daniel and Michael from DECKSPEED Racing for putting up their car as a prize and giving MX-5 Club members a chance to experience driving a race prepared car in a race that was extremely well run and organised.

A special mention to some of the wonderful support people and our RPM mates who made the drive down to watch Lesa drive. RPM team members, Graham and Gillian Fletcher, Jean and James Cook, Ray and Vicki Legge, Grant Bunn and Tamara Warwick, and last but not least, the MX-5 Club President Bryan Shedden Thanks for the support guys.

I can absolutely recommend the MX-5 CUP series to anyone doing club track days and supersprints and wanting to try the next level. Once again the MX-5 Club of NSW supports all its members to enjoy their cars at whatever level they wish to, from just washing it, to racing competitively.

Footnote: The gold NB still has no brakes, won't turn in and has no power. Looks like an NC in the future.

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