Arrived at oulton on friday and set up camp ready for saturdays racing with wirral 100.POOR RACE -LAPS NOT A CLUB I WOULD RECOMMEND JOINING.
We watched people doing the trackday on Friday and some people were testing , ( the circuit was wet ) its fair to say there was a couple of quick guys but their times were not as fast as race pace.
During the night it started to rain ( the forecast was wet to start drying later ) my rear wet tyre has now been used in dry conditions twice and has lost its sharp edges on the right hand side , so i thought i will buy a new tyre when the tyre guy turns up – guess what no tyre guy at the race meeting what kind of meeting is this going to be ? I rang a friend to go buy me a new tyre as I knew someone at the meeting (racer ) who has a tyre machine in the back of his wagon – so at least I would be able to change it myself.
Qualifying came but here’s another surprise, grid positions are already allocated not done via timed qualification ( I went out on my old rear tyre and it slipped in a couple of places FOULSTONS CHICANE & DRUIDS so I knew I could only go through there at a certain speed which may or may not be a good thing we will see in the race. Races are only 5 laps – what a shitter. Talked a mate into staying and racing as he had loose wets with intermediates on his wheels so he went out in qualifying on inters and we went and changed them over at TONY RAINFORDS van BIG THANKS TO TONY FOR LETTING ME USE HIS EQUIPMENT TO CHANGE THE TYRES OVER.
RACE 1 :4 laps
Grid position 8th circuit soaked, massive puddle 4 foot or so wide- formed on the inside corner of OLD HALL ( first corner after start finish ) set off on the warm up lap ( still on old rear tyre ) got a feel for the track I knew I was quick off the start even in the wet I seem to be able get a good launch.Waiting for the lights to go out while on the grid seemed like ages – lights out and were off got a great start passing some of the guys on the front row but because I was on the inside ( where the puddle is ) I had to let off to move over to go around the puddle, so I ended up losing a lot of places they were block passing me but it didn’t last long I got my head down passing a two riders going over the crest down towards CASCADES ,chasing the riders in front I had no idea what position I was but I was determined not finish less than what I started.Had a moment in FOULSTONS where the rear slipped but didn’t un-nerve me just made me wary , going over clay hill flat out in sixth get the same rear wheel spin/ slip /grip as my thundersportgb round on into DRUIDS I pass another rider entering DRUIDS up the inside on the brakes just before tipping in I knew the guy might try something to pass me so I got on the gas and made a break for it – no sign of him showing me his wheel for the rest of the laps . Then I saw a novice rider in DRUIDS not realizing he was a back marker until I exited DRUIDS and was coming up on him really fast the marshalls were waving the blue flags frantically at him and I nearly hit him up the back end ( his fastest lap time was 3.12.678 ) he was dangerously slow but we all have to start somewhere maybe he had never ridden a 600 before or not been out on it in the wet ? who knows,but I think he got a wake up call.
The remaining laps were spent chasing the guy infront closing in on him each corner but by the last lap flag I was on his arse at the line – gutted there wasn’t another lap.
FINISHED 6th with 2.03.331 only .5 behind the guy I was chasing. FASTEST GUY 1.56.568.
Mate arrived with new tyre but I thought balls to it I will use the old tyre for the last race ( and I’m glad I did as it turned out there was a dry / drying line by the time we were out )
RACE 2:
5 lap race
This time I was 10th on the grid , usual good start but got swallowed up in the first corner.
I went up the inside of one guy in SHELL OILS HAIRPIN mid corner another was exiting KNICKERBROOK another up the inside turning into CLAY HILL bit of an arse cheek clenching moment but it was my line and no one was having it.The remainder of the race was spent trying not to lose a place.FINISHED 12th with 1.59.816 FASTEST GUY 1.51.169
BIG THANKS TO :
Wife ,Courtney & Lewis ( for their support & help )
Mark Taylor ( for helping out and supporting me )
Paul Goodwin ( for helping out and supporting me )
Barry Gollins ( for going out of his way to get me a tyre that I never even used)
Tony Rainford ( for letting me use his tyre equipment )
www.kakaracing.com ( for their support & help)
www.lonsdalebike.co.uk ( website temp unavailable being updated )
www.inchcaperetail.co.uk ( for their support & help)
slowboy
