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The Off-Season
13/02/09
With the start of the 2009 racing season approaching fast, a lot of hard work is going on behind the scenes as the less-glamorous side of motor racing gets into full swing. Even though the track action is reduced during the winter because of the climate and lack of events, this doesn’t mean the racing stops.
We follow Jordan on a typical Saturday of racing car work in the off season...
06:30
The alarm goes off and it’s up for a shower and breakfast. Having woken up an hour earlier by mistake (in my excitement to get working on the car again I managed to set my alarm a bit too early) I’m already quite awake and what grogginess is hanging around soon wears off as I meet my dad in the kitchen at a time on a Saturday when most of the population of Glasgow (where I work) has just went to bed.
By 07:30 we’re outside loading the car and tools to head down to Bridgend Garage in Banff. It’s freezing.
08:00
We arrive at Bridgend and are greeted by Peter and son Gary who own the garage. First on the ‘to-do’ list is measuring tyres, which is an important first step in setting the weights and alignment of the car, unless you are lucky enough to own a set of setup wheels. After some ride-height adjustments and various suspension tweaks the fluids in the car are set to the appropriate level and we get to work setting the alignment of the car, with much help and guidance from Peter.
12:00
Off home for a quick lunch with our other halves. My mum, Anne and girlfriend Karen have made some much appreciated soup and sandwiches which we consume whilst warming up.
12:30
Back down to Bridgend again and after letting lunch settle I record my weight in full race gear for reference with the benchmark setup. Dad gets busy setting up the corner scales and on rolls the car for the initial readings.
Much to-ing and fro-ing ensues as weight is moved relentlessly around the car in pursuit of perfection. It takes a lot of time and work (with, I have to say, most of the physical stuff being taken care of by dad as I hop in and out of the driver’s seat between readings) but the balance is eventually achieved and its off to work on the corner weights.
15:30
With the static weight distribution where we want it the car is rolled onto the hoist for access to the suspension and the fine-tuning of corner weight begins. This is another process of ‘measure, calculate, adjust, measure’ but is all worth precious fractions of a seconds on the track.
With darkness coming down outside and mum wondering if we’re coming home for supper or not everything falls into place and we eventually get tidied up.
18:00
After taking up space in their garage all day we say our farewells to Peter and Gary and head up the road. It’s been a long day with more work on the cards tomorrow to tidy up and get the car ready to run. However, the tiredness and cold all melt away when the chequered flag falls on a top result.
A massive thanks to our official sponsors Bridgend Garage in Banff for the use of their facilities and laser alignment setup equipment.
Jordan Gronkowski
Official 2009 Season Statement - Updated
13/02/09
Having previously announced in late 2008 that Jordan would switch to the single-seater formula ford category in 2009, the following is an update to the team’s intentions for the new season:
“Following my test in a formula ford at the end of the ‘08 season, our intentions were to move into the category full-time in 2009. This was due to the amount of fun I had at the test and the fact that I have always aimed of racing single-seaters, and still ultimately do. However, as the winter break has unfolded we have made a decision to stay in the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup in 2009.
This decision has been made mainly because of the global economic conditions. We decided that continuity in this difficult time is the best way for us to ensure our continuation in the sport which we love so much as funding becomes increasingly difficult to find. Add the cost of buying a new car and specialist equipment and it is clear to me we have made the right choice to return to the minis.
I would like to stress at the outset that this is by no means a negative thing for us and I am fully motivated and enthusiastic about spending another year in saloons. I really feel we have gained a lot of experience in the past two years and simply cannot wait to get back behind the wheel of the mini cooper. My father and I are working really hard, and have been all winter, to improve both the car and our knowledge of it in order to give us the best chance of fighting for race wins in 2009.
2008 saw us achieve numerous fastest laps and our maiden race win, which are experiences I am confidant we can build upon this year. Overall I am reveling in the opportunity to return to the track and our first test of the year cannot come quick enough!”
Jordan Gronkowski
New Site Design for 2009
13/02/09
2009 is a new season and a new look for the official Jordan Gronkowski website. All previous content is still where you left it, but with the addition of a few new useful things. The most noticeable of these is the season event calendar on the home page which gives you an easy look at the forthcoming track activities of the team as well as one-click instant access to the official Jordan Gronkowski report from that event, making it easier than ever to stay up-to-speed.
Old news stories are also now archived on a storage page so you can look back at the team’s history, starting now.
Please be aware that as the site is updated some of the non-vital pages and links might not load or work correctly due to the time it takes to update everything. This should only last for a short period and the entire site should be fully operational soon.
Jordan Tests Formula Ford
18/10/08
Knockhill Racing Circuit
As the date for the final round of the 2008 Scottish Mini Cooper Cup loomed, the team took the decision to forego the event in favor of a test day in the Scottish Formula Ford championship at Knockhill.
“We decided that the best use of our resources and effort was to focus on next season and get a head-start on things this weekend.’ Explained Jordan. ‘With our championship position all-but decided and especially now that the mini is up for sale and is in perfect condition, the last thing we wanted was to enter the final race and take some damage.”
The wet morning cleared to a dry but cold day at Knockhill for the two 20-minute sessions which Jordan would take part in at the wheel of a Van Diemen RF92 Formula Ford 1600. The test was organized and prepared by the Graham Brunton Racing team.
“Today has been a really amazing experience for me.’ Said Jordan afterwards. ‘The fact that I was finally able to fulfill a dream and drive a single-seater racing car hasn’t quite sunk in yet as we have had to be very focused on the serious business of driving this weekend and had no time to really sit back and take it all in.’
‘The test has been extremely rewarding and successful. We met all our objectives and even exceeded what we expected from a pace point-of-view, which is very encouraging for the future. I felt really comfortable with the car and after building-up my pace in the first session I was able to concentrate on getting my line and gear changes perfected in the second run. I was pushing a bit harder and got to within a second and a half of the fastest runner. That is well beyond what our goals were and considering I hadn’t sat in the car before today we are really pleased.’
‘I am itching to get back out in a Formula Ford again sometime soon and we now have to focus our efforts on preparing on the 2009 season. This means finding and buying a suitable car and engine, which is where support from our sponsors will essential to our success, as well as getting down to business and putting in some serious testing miles to ensure we are in the best possible shape come March.’
‘I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Graham Brunton and his team for making the test happen this weekend, and also thanks to my dad and my sister, Pamela for their support at the circuit.”
Hillclimbing at Doune
28-29/09/08
Doune Hillclimb
Scottish Mini Cooper Cup Round 17
On a break from the usual racing format, the drivers were to tackle the demanding Doune hillclimb track, with three practice runs up the hill on Saturday before a final practice and two timed attempts on Sunday. Changeable conditions persisted for the weekend but all but one of the mini runs were luckily held in the dry.
With experience of the route the most important factor of the weekend, veteran hillblimber Chris Knox was in a class of his own, taking the fastest time in all sessions. Championship leader Vic Covey Jnr also had experience at the hill and used this to secure 2nd spot throughout the weekend. The rest of the field was left to squabble over the remaining positions.
Saturday - Practice
After a shaky start on Saturday morning, the team posted a competitive time in the second run, 5th fastest from all runners. The heavens opened for the third and final run of the day, but Jordan found a speedy groove, moving up to fourth.
Sunday
The weather stayed kind to the mini drivers for the duration of the runs, leaving them to battle it out on a dry surface. Jordan’s first timed run ended with a solid 6th place, ensuring a ‘banker’ time was in place before the all-important final run.
After setting a blistering personal best first sector in the final run, Jordan unfortunately ran wide exiting the critical Garden gate corner and clipped the barrier which line the road, leaving a time improvement beyond his reach. Jordan was to finish 7th overall.
“I’m disappointed in my mistake on the final run as I had set my fastest first sector of the weekend and was confident we had the potential for 3rd. We’ve seen how important experience of the course is all weekend and the pace set by Chris (Knox) has been very impressive. I can only congratulate him on his success, taking the win and setting a new record for the minis at Doune.”
Final Results:
- Chris Knox 53.24 (record)
- Vic Covey Jnr 53.56
- Scott Morrison 54.46
- Michael Rowan 54.72
- Mark Dryden 54.89
- Kenneth Thirlwall 55.33
- Jordan Gronkowski 55.69
- Ian Milton 56.91
- Willie Struth 62.85
- Gavin Struth 85.39
Tough Fighting for Little Reward
14/09/08
Knockhill Race Circuit
Scottish Mini Cooper Cup Rounds 15 & 161
Overnight rain left the circuit damp for the morning’s qualifying session, which would kickoff a double-header for the Minis at Knockhill. A change from the three-race format, the eight laps races were replaced by two ten lap events.
Q - Damp
After a promising run in the damp conditions on Saturday, the team ended the session in the now all-too-familiar 6th spot.
“Again we find ourselves just shy of the front two rows, which is quite frustrating since we have shown we have the pace to be there in the dry. We’re still struggling to get to the bottom of our wet setup, although we saw yesterday that new tyres can make a lot of difference in these conditions and we only have the one whereas most of our competitors have opted to purchase two or more.” Commented Jordan after the session. “We are hoping things will dry out for the races so that we are at less of a disadvantage.”
R1 - Dry (Damp Patches)
Jordan made a good start from the dry line to fend off a hard-charging Ian Milton into the first corner. AS the race progressed, Jordan battled with Mark Dryden, with the pair swapping places twice. Milton again tried to pass on the exit of Scotsman but Jordan moved to the right to defend, with Milton taking to the grass on the inside to attempt to hold the inside. The slippery grass was the undoing of him though as he bounced onto the track, clipping Jordan’s rear and sending him sideways. Jordan managed to hold the slide, straighten up and continue, but Milton was not so fortunate, spinning off and into the tyres.
In the second half of the race, Jordan fought into the leading pack. Then, in a multi-car maneuver at the hairpin, Jordan went too deep under braking, hitting the damp inside line and missing the corner. A light impact with the tyres was luckily recoverable and Jordan regained the track to finish 8th.
“The race was really good fun and we were able to fight at the front,’ said Jordan. ‘But I made a mistake at the hairpin and that cost us a high placing. It’s disappointing, but there’s nothing that can be done and I just have to learn and not to do it again.”
R2 - Dry
The final race of the day saw Jordan start in 8th (after finishing there in the previous race). A good start and brilliant opening half of the race saw Jordan fight his way up to 4th after a string of overtaking and dicing maneuvers. However a top 5 spot once again slipped away as the car started to go-off in the closing stages and despite Jordan gallant efforts, he slipped back to 7th.
“Again, this race has been encouraging and yet disappointing at the same time. The lap times show we had the pace to win in the early stages (Jordan was faster than 5 of the cars in front of him, including the top 2), but the tyres started to go off near the end and we couldn’t maintain the pace or position. It’s a real shame to have fought so hard this weekend and to only come away with an 8th and a 7th. We have to go away now and try to remedy the problems we’ve encountered here for Doune in a couple of weeks and the final race of the season here in October. Thanks again to my team, especially my dad, who has done another perfect weekend for me.’
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