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Pembrey team report
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The team were not expecting much from this event as the #69 truck (with carburettors) is currently underpowered compared with the fuel injected Vauxhall engines and the newer Ford Duratec engines.
Lee’s normal spotter was working with Danny Brosnan for the day as this was Danny’s first meeting in the pickup trucks so it was Annie (Lee’s wife) who would be spotting for Lee today.
Qualifying in session 1 went well although the team did not have access to any timing screens and therefore they were unable to assist in getting the #69 truck into 10th place which would give Lee a pole position start in the race. For session 1, Lee managed the 8th quickest time and therefore would start race 1 on the second row.
Qualifying 2 did not go well at all when Lee suddenly slowed and pulled off early in the session. First indications were that the truck was out of fuel (which would have been an embarrassment as it was Lee who had fuelled the truck before the session) but on closer inspection back in the paddock it was found that the fuel pump was at fault. The team stripped the pump down and cleaned it out and got the #69 truck running again. Lee was classified as 12th and therefore would have to start race 2 off the back of the grid.
Race 1 certainly was a surprise. Lee was running in 8th place for the majority of the race and Annie was doing a great job in only her 3rd race as a spotter. Lee was hanging onto the lead pack but was unable to creep up on them but it all changed on the last lap when some of the front runners were clearly trying too hard and started to fall over each other and Lee made the most of their errors and picked his way through and got up to 3rd with only a third of the lap to go. It was a strange feeling for the team as they couldn’t really believe Lee should have been there and were unsure why and how but Lee kept his nerve to bring the Chocolate Pizza Company sponsored pickup truck home in 3rd for Lee’s 2nd podium result of his pickup truck racing career.
Race 1 (round 3) result:
1. Nic Grindrod
2. Michael Smith
3. LEE ROGERS
4. Carl Boardley
5. David Longhurst
6. Neil Tressler
7. Phil White
8. Paul Tompkins (Rookie)
9. Charlie Weaver
10. David O’Regan (Rookie)
11. Steve Dance
12. Danny Brosnan (Rookie)
13. Simon Carr
DNF. Nick White (Rookie)
Normal ‘predicted’ service was resumed in race 2 and whilst Lee did well to keep within reach of the lead pack, there was just nothing more to squeeze out of the truck and a slight error by Lee with only two laps to go dropped him a place down into 9th.
Race 2 (round 4) result:
1. Steve Dance
2. Nic Grindrod
3. Carl Boardley
4. Phil White
5. Michael Smith
6. Simon Carr
7. David Longhurst
8. Neil Tressler
9. LEE ROGERS
10. Paul Tompkins (Rookie)
11. Nick White (Rookie)
12. David O’Regan (Rookie)
13. Danny Brosnan (Rookie)
DNF. Charlie Weaver
The grid was calculated for race 3 which saw Lee start on row 2 and with the race underway, it was clear to see that like race 2, Lee was struggling to attack the lead pack although he was managing to hold onto the rear of the group. Race 3 was over a longer race distance and Lee was certainly looking quick and tidy although for the vast amount of time he was out on his own although he was slowly closing in on the #93 truck of Michael Smith. Lee finished race 3 in 8th.
Race 3 (round 5) result:
1. Nic Grindrod
2. Steve Dance
3. Simon Carr
4. Phil White
5. David Longhurst
6. Michael Smith
7. Carl Boardley
8. LEE ROGERS
9. Neil Tressler
10. David O’Regan (Rookie)
11. Paul Tompkins (Rookie)
12. Charlie Weaver
13. Nick White (Rookie)
14. Danny Brosnan (Rookie)
Lee is currently in 7th place in the championship after rounds 3, 4 and 5 at Pembrey.
