First drive at Goodwood.

After driving around the track as a passenger in a Mondeo, Noel is first off the line while others still struggling with their noise levels. It's a very difficult circuit and will take a lot of practice so Noel is taking it carefully.

Past the use-by date!

The box has worked really well but we don't need it anymore. The car will go in a trailer Noel bought here sight unseen. Needs work but will do the job.

Oh what a feeling!

Unpacking the Gemini. First time he's seen it since end of June. It's still in one piece. Some help from Dan Setford.

Here at last.

This is a beautiful part of England. Big trees, big fields, small picturesque villages. Just look at where we are staying: the Hampshire Hog!

One sleep left!

Not sure if we will get any sleep as there is still so much to do.
Noel racing round working on the next car! He has also spent some time on a simulator. The only driving he's done in a while. However I'm sure his natural instincts will kick in. He's looking forward to being reunited with the Gemini.

Counting the sleeps...

We have received the final instructions from Goodwood. Twenty eight pages! Plus the drivers lists for all the races. There is Noel's name! Must be true!

We have been waiting and waiting for the entry forms to enroll for Spa in Belgium. It is the weekend after Goodwood and therefore requires quite a bit of organization to get there with motor home and trailer. They  have appeared at last. Noel has to pay a fee to race there and unlike New Zealand, it is a hefty GBP695 - for one race! No wonder everyone likes to come out here and race. For a few hundred NZ dollars, you can race 4 or 5 times in a weekend, plus practice and qualifying. Anyway, Spa is on " the most wanted" list and in for a penny in for a pound - or two!

Spa-Francorchamps is apparently a very pretty area near the German border. The track is one of the oldest Formula One circuits and one race takes about 30 minutes, so should be quite a test for both driver and car.
www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/

Next project.

Down in Christchurch at McGregor Motorsport, Mark has been working on rebuilding Noel's next car, a Lotus 22 with a special history. We went to check on progress. This is unusual in that Noel has not been hands on at this point although has been totally involved in the planning.