30/09/2025
Racing Hondas Championship rounds 13 & 14
Knockhill, Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Fastest time in qualifying ๐
Race 1 win๐
Race 2 win๐
Fastest lap ๐
Maximum points! ๐ฅณ
With a hugely eventful weekend I am struggling not to turn this into a book so we are trying to keep this short!
Racing at Knockhill, on our home turf, we needed to make this a good one! ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
With Mike joining Bob and Fraser for a single round entry there were three Kilted Kswap cars lined up for Saturdays action. With a number of changes to the car since the last rounds, we would just have to send it and see!
Jumping in to qualifying and looking for a bit of clear track Bob pulls his finger out and tops the timing sheet as we knew he could!
Eventually bettering his own time with a 55.14, he knows there's a 54 second lap in the car (having done a 54 second lap in practice on Friday at the track day which we kept under wraps ๐ ๐คซ) and we knew that's where he was looking to go, though approaching the hairpin he dives infield and retires the car. This is not looking good!
Qualifying timer ends with Bob on pole, but with a car that doesn't drive! He manages to shout to us that it's the gearbox, much to Stevens delight! (Steven had already replaced a gearbox in Mike's car before qualifying!)
With the car towed back to the paddock everyone dives in, just as someone appears to tell Bob he faces being disqualified, as when he was recovered off the track they took him straight back to camp, forgetting weigh in at parc fermรฉ!
With everything thrown back on the car, the splitter balanced on the roof and no time to hunt down a tow rope, 4 of us had the bright idea of pushing the car from the bottom paddock to get the car weighed ๐ฅต not recommended when it was all uphill!
With that all sorted and the car back together with a replacement gearbox, pole position was confirmed and top points taken for qualifying.
It was time to go racing!
With all the testing Bob had previously done on a gearbox with wildly different ratios we could tell he was nervous and starting to loose confidence, but only time would tell.
With the lights out for Race 1 those worries melted away as he held position into turn 1 down Duffus Dip, with fresh air ahead of him all he had to do was get his head down, and get his head down he did!
Holding first position for the duration of the race Bob eventually caught back up with two of the Class C cars, who were deep in their own battle with eachother, but Bob took them both on the main straight where luckily they closed the door on Will and Tommy in time for the twisty bits! Aware he was getting low on fuel Bob was trying to manage the gap and remaining fuel to make the finish line!
With 2m30sec left on the clock and nearing the end of the main straight Bob was quickly closing in 2 more back runners in class B, As we all covered our eyes Bob was on a mission and took to the outside passing both cars through turn 1. There was no stopping him now!
Out of the hairpin for a final time to take his victory, all the sweeter on home ground! ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Second time on the podium for Bob with having previously won 3rd at Snetterton.
By race two the rain was well and truly on, Knockhill style, though no hailstones yet!
With the car setup tweaked for the wet and a 4 place grid reversal, meaning Bob starting in P4, he was quietly confident in the car and himself in the wet.
Lights out for race 2 and he knew he had to make moves early before the rest of the pack in front figured out wet lines and braking zones!
From 4th on the grid to second place by end of lap 1, things were going to plan but he needed to pass Phil Wright before he started to find grip and a rhythm. With a better run from Clarks, Bob was able to out drag Phil to the hairpin and start to build a gap!
All was going well until a safety car was deployed and having never led for a safety car release Bob had to try to remember Stevens advice from the night before!
Thankfully all went to plan and he was able to maintain his lead and build a gap all the way to finish line for a second consecutive home win! At one point he had over a 3 second lead.
Qualifying- P1
Race 1 - P1
Race 2 - P1
We were hoping for victory on home turf, but never expected it to go that smoothly.
Well done to the rest of the Kilted Kswap boys, an unfortunate day for Mike who had a gearbox change and throttle body issues.
Fraser had a 'wheely' good time loosing a wheel in qualifying, (exactly the same issue Bob had 2 weeks prior) follwed by an absolute stormer from the Japcom boys getting the car back together for Race 1 and a belter of a wet drive in race 2 for Fraser, comfortably coming home in 4th place!
We are looking forward to Snetterton on 19th of October and hope the car behaves. We are now hunting down those podium finishes again!
Thanks to -
Steven Watt
Nikki Dunbar
Charley Barron
Michael Barron
Connor Lyle
Richard Munnerley
Graeme Jeram - Whiteline
Keith Cowie - Deeside Elgrands
Richard Breakell - North East Brakes
Pjm services - Paul Jamieson
Jesse Halford - J.Cal EcuCalibration
Jeremy Young
Dan Hay
Tegiwa
Graham Morrison - Retro Restoration Scotland
Charlie Barron
Jean Barron
John Dunbar
Jackie Dunbar
Nicolle Gilfillan
Fraser Japcom
Sam Begg
Thomas Oconnor
Stu from Japcom
Molly Reeve
Raqeeb
Flat Out Photography
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Racing Hondas Championship
And special Thanks to Frances McKellar & Carl for always keeping us right, looking after us and just being genuinely amazing people.
And of course Scott Woodwiss for the best commentary out there. He keeps you on the edge of your seat that's for sure!
Thanks to everyone for coming along and supporting us! ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Bob Barron
Barron Automotive
