Sneaking past – OnTheOval
Firstly, Guy is really looking forward to the European race as he feels they have “a realistic shot” at the title, but also saying that every other driver does too making for a “classic meeting on Saturday”. From meeting to meeting, Guy and his team clean the carburettors and filters, along with the spark plugs too. The power of the engine often makes parts come loose, so everything is checked to be tight, “it’s usually a busy week”.
Guy and the team prepare the new tyres and wheels for the meetings, saying “you don't want a tyre with a chunk missing for a big race you’re asking for a potential problem”. Each track, as everyone is different, requires a different setup. For Mildenhall, Guy changes the the diff to give the car “more RPM out the corners to avoid bogging down”, along with repairing damage from the last shale round at Stoke where the Panhard bracket on the back axle which broke, “you need to mend everything before a big meeting and all these things combined amounts to a lot of hours”. Guy would like to say thanks for the support of his team, family and girlfriend and of course not forgetting his sponsors. He hopes to have his new transporter out for the meeting if a “few bits can be sorted, but we won’t speak about that too much haha”.
Maintenance – Guy Jolly
Guy’s season has been really strong up to now, having a final win at Northampton Shaleway in April and another 2nd last Sunday at Sheffield. “We’ve cut back a bit this year focusing on being more competitive when we do race as opposed to chasing meetings and not being ready”. Guy’s pleased with the races they’ve had this year and he’s very pleased that tarmac is going okay running only one car, which as many drivers know is a constant challenge.
Guy wouldn’t like to pick a winner for the main race on Saturday however “the winner will have definitely earnt it by the end of the race”, he says that it will certainly be a tough race as “Mildenhall is a proper stockcar track. Small, tight and tricky which creates plenty of action”. Surviving a 28 plus car grid will create quite the spectacle, and Guy hopes that “a good run in the heats will get us towards the front of the reds for the final line up”. As in most championship races, “you have to make it round the first couple of corners”, but Guy believes “we are as good as anyone on shale but survival is key” for victory.
We wish Guy luck for the main race and thank him for sharing what his team and himself get up to during the week. Make sure to check out Guy Jolly's Facebook page "Team Meerkat Racing #222 Guy Jolly" for more updates on his racing.
Guy on the charge! – Photographer Unknown