Sour Racing - 2008 Race Reports

Race day 4 , No sleeping in the van this time, the journey up was surprisingly dry. Once we arrived at Mallory the heavens opened and through out the day there were sporadic down pours which left some races without time to change tyres, not a good thing.

Practice, I was totally rubbish and was a good 3 seconds off my previous wet pace... so after an uneventful practice, I managed to qualify 10th.

Race 1: Again first race of the day, WET WET WET, started 22nd got a slow start but got into a good groove. I went around the outside of about 5/6 riders through Garards, under another 2 into the Edwina's, as I drove out Nibbo passed me into the right hander of the lake Esses, we were both catching another rider quickly, Nibbo went around the outside I decided to go under them as they had left a good 4/5 feet from the apex of the left. As I hit the apex the back came around and I got spat off, now I understand why it's called the lake Esses, there is a lake on the apex of the left hander. So after landing elegantly on my elbow, I managed to shift myself out the way of my own bike as it chased me up the track.

I now had a prime spot to watch the race from. As I was relatively unhurt I stayed there but only for a lap, when another rider did a copy cat manoeuvre as mine unfortunately the rider behind couldn't get out the way of the faller and slid into my bike and the tyre wall. I hope they recover soon, it looked a bad one.

After getting back to the paddock a day of repairs followed mainly by Andy W and Dan Moss's friend, thanks a HUGE amount to you both and to Nicole for running around to find a drill (cheers Fred Burbidge), the bike did managed to go through scruteneering and I got my elbow cleaned up at the medical centre and SteriStrips for another race...

Race 2: 2nd of the F600 races, I didn't get out in the first one... I qualified 19th I have no idea how EMRA made up these places but I was happy enough... got a good start again passed a few people through Garads, was going good until as I came up to the hairpin out of the Esses there is a bump, the bike cut out, then went again.... I lost a position back to 16th, the cutting out was getting worse and worse with each lap and I was trying to be super smooth and avoid bumps I would not normally worry about I limped it home in 17th.. With a best lap time of a shocking 1:07.667.... I finished a race...

Race 3 : I wiggled the wires and hoped for a fix... I thought I would go out and try it, seemed ok in the warm up lap so I decided to race... As I gunned it off the line the bike failed again.. So I pulled out of the race at Edwina’s. My day over....

One to learn from…

Race day 3, I decided to sleep in the van, this was a mistake we got to the track very late (apologies to anyone we woke at 1:30am) with no time to get the bike out the van, I had to sleep next to it in a 18" gap. Anyone who's met me will vouch that i don't fit in that size gap easy. So I awoke (if indeed I had slept) to find some kind chap had parked up right next to our van leaving no room for us to set up, considerate hottrax rider for you... Ta fella. Anyway I moved away, hoping karma will take care of him... ( I was extremely grouchy).

In to Practice, holy *&£$ it was mad, 49 of us out on track with 10 minutes to get a good place; it was bedlam (I loved it). I have never been so cut up on track in my short racing career, it was madness lots of last minute diving under people compromising exit speed. I saw lots of bikes in the gravel and then came around the hairpin to find smoke at the exit of the bus stop; Sam Middlemas's new R6 was burning like a trooper. Anyway I got a 1:00.900 so not too chuffed, 15th on the F600 grid.

Race 1: Again first race of the day, nice short one to get into it! After that practice it was a mellow, too mellow I pulled 18th out of the hat, managed to get up to 11th on the first lap a couple of lads then passed me on the straight, I was struggling to put power down through the elbow all day... (Email me with some tips if you have a solution to drive on the elbow, more rear rebound required I think). So I finished a respectable 13th after 4 laps the race was red flagged due to a faller.

Race 2: First of the F600 races, I qualified 15th out of 25 starters. I got a cracking start, didn't bog down or spin up, made 4 places before Gerads, it was another enjoyable race with myself and Mike Wallis trading places form lap 6 onwards, he would take me in the esses/edwina's and I'd pass him into Gerards, had a nice grass tracking moment on the last lap coming out of the bus stop, Mike passed me I thought I had blown it, so I just gunned it and hopped for the best and managed to take him. Finished in 10th, 5 place’s up, so just in the points again.

Race 3 : Second of the F600 races, I qualified 10th out of 25 starters. I got an ok start, not a lot to write home about swapped places a couple of times, and finished in 10th, gaining another championship point again.

Race 4 : Buildbase Final, I qualified 13th out of 24 which was taken from the first race, I got away clean but not a great start and went down hill from there. I slowly moved back through the field, at this point the exertion from the previous day were starting to take their toll. Ended up a disappointing 15th.

This was however the first day, that I was never lapped, and I managed again to drag my times down kicking and screaming in to the 58's (just) but with consistent 59's all day. I got in to the top 10 twice last of points but none the less points. All in all one to smile about and that’s why I’m racing for the fun and thrill of it....

I awoke with shivers down my spine, Oh it's a wet race day, great, well you have to deal with the hand that you have been dealt.

Wet Practice went well with a 1:02 and I qualified 21st on the F600 grid. I Had decided to compete in the buildbase trophy, F600 and Novice races for this meeting.

Race 1: First race of the day, I'm enjoying the fact of not having to wait around to race for a long time after scruitineering, to get rid of the butterflies! This race was pretty uneventful, I pulled 29 out of the hat, so only one bike behind me. It was totally wet and truly an eye opener on how quick you can ride on a sodden track. It was a short race as it's a heat so only 6 laps to catch the guys in front, my start was good a bit of wheel spin but nothing major. Managed to pick up a few places and Finished 18th.

Race 2: I qualified 21st out of 30, this was my first truly equal (if there is such a thing) race, all people on similar machines. I got a cracking start, didn't bog down or spin up, made 2 places before Gerads, it was a balancing act all the way through this race, grip vs brakes and going around the outside of people, I was not worried about my grip, I had excellent feel all day, I however was really worried about others grip. So I decided to REALLY square off corners and only pass on the exit of the corner. The race went well although I did "lose" the front at shaws hairpin, luckily I was close enough to the wall to use it as a prop, and pushed off it to regain control. Finished an amazing 11th 10 places up.

Race 3: Buildbase Final, I qualified 18th out of 24 which was taken from the first race, I changed my start launch strategy and well it was less than successful, in fact it was pitiful, I should have thought about my last race day, where again I changed it in race 3... Live and learn I guess. Well this start was truly bad, in the horrific sense, I somehow managed to stall it (it's quiet easy to do, honest). I Have had better starts :) everyone passed me, before I even had time to raise a hand, off they all disappeared around Gerard's and boom the bike fired and I was off, it seemed to be for ages but i'm sure it was only a few seconds. I was resolute not to come last so fought hard and determined I managed to get back to 17th, and only lost 16th by 0.011 seconds.

Race 4: I qualified 4th!!! out of 18, second race in the same class qualified 4th great I thought, a chance of a trophy, I had a good start (although any start would be better than the last) yet 3 people passed me before Gerard's, including Steve Tomes who started last, that man can ride, I can not praise him enough on his ability. This race was smooth drying out managed a 1:02.091 in the damp. finish in 7th.

Race 5 : Pulled 9th out of 17, This was the novice race, which I am so I got a great start the track had a definite dry line with puddles. so I went for a wet front and a Intermediate rear. From the off I managed to get 2 places and then charged to 3rd on about lap 5, from then on myself and Michael Wallis were battling it out for 2nd/3rd. If I recall correctly we passed each other every lap on the second from last lap I thought I had done enough, I put(I thought) a back marker in the way but I'm guessing he was not much of an obstacle. Coming in to Edwina's still my worst corner, Mike stuck it up the inside and ran me out a bit, I had noticed that he was only going down 2 gears like my self and we were both struggling for drive out of Edwina's in to the esses. So this time I made sure that I went down 3, coming out of edwina's I had the drive, and passed him and held it to the line...woohoo a 2nd!!!!

Many thanks to Keith Pringle (www.pringleracing.co.uk) who was able to give me some on track coaching and the advice on Edwinas.

With my championship hopes GONE! :) I was looking forward to the first race day at Mallory as an opportunity to put in a solid performance and hopefully make it home in one piece and with my bike in one piece. It was very windy and cold but dry, which was a huge bonus.

Race 1: I had some problems in getting on the grid as I was not down to race, therefore missed the warm-up lap and had to start from the back of the grid 33rd position. Lights went out, launched too hard and a little uncontrolled which made me loose a little time, in the back of my mind was a thought about cold tyres and having to scrub up some new rubber.

After a few bends I settled down and got my head in gear and built up the pace. I started passing people and was up 4 places when a rider crashed in front of me coming out of Gerard’s and the bike almost took me off! Well that’s' another position gained I thought. On that same lap when arrived at the devils elbow and there were two riders down and not moving.... Red Flag, race stopped, we were all parked up at Shaw’s hairpin to wait for the unfortunate riders to be moved. The race had only run 3 laps so a restart was in order. 1 warm-up lap and Go, back to 33rd position on the grid, I'm not sure if I should have moved up or not, well live and learn. This time I got a better start with lots lots going on in front of me yet I didn't pass anyone in this restarted race, finished 23rd!

Race 2: I qualified 18th out of 24, I had been thinking through a strategy for this race, trying to work out a way of not getting wasted and to find an extra turn of speed out of Edwina’s, to eat into the apparent power disadvantage I had. But I needn’t have bothered, from the opening lap it looked like it might be a replay of Race 1 although at this point the pack was bunched much closer. At the start I had a battle with Fred Burbidge on his 250 Yamaha but he had me beat with pure corner speed through Gerard’s and buggered off, I managed to pass Keith Davis (R1) and Glenn Coombes (CB1300?) early on, then followed Gary Anslow (zx10) for a while and managed to set him up coming out of Edwina’s through the Esses, that was it for me every one else was pulling away from me. However when I was lapped, I managed to tag upon the coat tails of the leader and drop a whopping 2 seconds off my lap time.

Race 3: I qualified 23rd out of 24 which was taken from the first race, I changed my start launch strategy and well it was less than successful, it was only due to luck that I did not lose a place. Fred Burbidge passed me again on lap 2, then it was pretty much a procession, I had got in to a follow my leader track day mode, which annoyed me greatly, then on lap 6, managed to pass Tim Fergus (k5 1000) but on the 7th lap Andy Carpenter (k5 1000) stuck it up the inside of me on the way in to Edwina’s that was that, eventially finished a disappointing 21st.

Race 4: 18th out of 19, by this time I was mentally drained and physically shattered, I don't think the early start (3am) helped. This race was the hardest of the lot but I got a better start and managed to pass a couple of riders on the first lap, then he passed me again yes you guessed it Fred Burbidge, from then on the back of the pack the positions hardly changed and finished 1 position up at 17th.

So a good start in all, Next time it should be a closer balanced race, I’ll be in the correct class!

My apologies for the poorly detailed write up and some overlap with my journal, I must try harder and write some reminders at track side