The weather reports were looking good for Sunday and they were nearly right as we arrived at the track with blue skies overhead but wet track under-foot.
This time, Clubmans had our own race (previously we raced with the post-classics) with 13 entries and the programme was for 3 races with a somewhat optimistic 4th round scheduled if time permitted.
Clubman qualifying was last but we were race 3 in the schedule. I hoped this would mean that we would definitely get at leat 3 races in the day.
Qualifying (Clubmans)
The track was dry with the exception of Castrol so I had to be very careful getting on the throttle going on to the back straight, but I felt pretty good with my pace and I gave it loads on the rest of the dry track.
I qualified 6th out of 13 but my fastest lap was also my personal best with a 1’09, on a less than perfect track!
Race 1
The track was now fully dry but it was pretty cold even though the sun was shining. I tried a different starting technique this time, held the throttle at about 7000rpm and when the lights went out pulled a monster wheelie so had to shut the throttle loosing a few places, I managed to get on the gas again hard and got back a couple of spots around Jenians so I was in 7th behind Richard Driver on his Triumph 675. I chased him for the first 2 laps then managed to out-brake him going into the hairpin, but I was in the wrong gear for the exit so he came straight past me again through the first left-hander. I hung on to him again for the next 2 laps and managed to get past on the straight because my bike was a bit quicker at the top end. I could see we were catching the 2 bikes in front too but with only 2 more laps weren’t quite able to catch them. Michael Cross went wide at Castrol on the last lap but rejoined just in front of me, I chased him down the straight and nearly went into the back of him braking for the hairpin, I followed him round the hairpin and again nearly went straight into the back of him on the exit as I got on the power earlier. I throttled off for a heartbeat to avoid a collision, which was enough for him to pull away and beat me across the line so I ended up finishing 6th.
I managed to go even better in the race and got a new personal best with a 1’07
This was the most fun race I’ve had because I was doing some proper racing and there were a few of us running very similar times so there was always someone to chase.
Race 2
It just started spotting with rain as we went out to form up on the grid and it was getting very grey, but the track was dry so lets race!
I really wanted to get a good start this time because I knew I could run with the 2 600’s who were ahead in the first race. Unfortunately I got too good a start and jumped the lights. It was great! Into 4th behind the 1000’s and I was just hanging with them for the first lap. As I came over the start line I saw a black board with my number on it, I thought I was being black flagged so I went round again and the board was still out so I pulled off the racing line and slowed down and came into the pits. Asked why I was black flagged only to be told it was just to tell me I had a 20sec penalty for jumping the start. Bugger! Off I go again. One lonely lap, then on the last lap I get lapped by the leader and manage to overtake the guy running last to grab 12th out of 13 across the line. I think the penalty was still added even though I came into the pits so my official position was 13th.
The result is rubbish but that first lap felt so good and I really think I could have held that position for the race to finish top 600.
There was only 1 more race after ours and then the rain really came down and the rest of the meeting was cancelled. This must have been very frustrating for about half the guys there as they only got one race, but there had been some bad crashes in the dry so I think cancelling for safety was the right thing to do.
Big thanks to all the AMCC staff and marshals for putting on the day so we could race. Also thanks to Richard for towing me along to my best times and to Gar for helping out in the pits.
See you all next season
Chris Birch #77
Pictures here
Results here
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Sorry about blackboarding you - really neat to see someone who understands that's all part of racing though and not only doesn't throw their toys but totally accepts it! GREAT ATTITUDE - you'll go far!!!!!
Originally Posted by kittytamer
Bikes For Life "Misfit Racing"
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