CRMC Cadwell Park Race Report

[sidecar bloke]

Cadwell Park – a “belter”

Round four of the championship, or three if you forget Brands Hatch, and summer, Cadwell Park and 37 outfits – could things get any better? Well the rain on Friday night wasn’t quite in the plan – still out we went for our qualifying at 11 o’clock on a wet track. Kevin and I slid round, no traction, up the Mountain drifting wide on several bends, especially Hall Bends – not bad I thought; could have gone a bit better, but not bad. On seeing the grid slots we should have gone better – a lot better – a dismal 18th. There was a Johnson on pole but this was the younger version, David, with Des Kingsmill in the chair, 0.65secs quicker than Brian Gray and Vicky Cooke, with Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell another 1.00sec behind. The top 750 was Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels with their Moorespeed 15” BMW, a very creditable fifth place (I may have to ban them!). Due to the vast entry an extra race was put on, so once again it would be four out of five races – no balls – although qualifying as I do they could soon return.

Race 1 – David and Des on pole with Brian and Vicky alongside. We could just see the flag man if I stood up!! We had a belter of a start (belter – Northern term for very good) and first lap, crossing the line on lap 1 in eighth place behind Damien Perilleux and Nancy Detournay, memories of a few seasons back except the other crew that was with us then was now some considerable distance up the road leading with David and Des in hot pursuit. Early retirees were Jason and Dan Reilly after a scary moment at the foot of the Mountain; both Fuzion outfits would also retire due to smoking issues – no coincidence they are painted in Rothmans livery then! Lap 3 as we powered round Coppice the green machine of Sean Reeves and Martin Pither could be seen reappearing from the undergrowth after a very grassy moment. This was our best race for ages – then the belt shredded – hey ho. Brian and Vicky took the Period 3 win from David and Des with Kevin and Alan snapping at their heels. With no Period 1’s out on track the top 750 went to Russell Bleach and Penny Daws on their Norton with Reg and Kerry Charlesworth second on their BSA and Chris Adams and Bruce Pope third, also on a Norton.

Race 2 – Once again David and Des on pole – this time with Alan and Kevin alongside. The Period 1’s and 2’s were out in force meaning some of the P3’s were left to watch. Unfortunately this race was to be red flagged after Eddy Toombs and passenger (not Bob Dowty) went AWOL at Park – everybody OK though. Everyone re-grouped and a three lap sprint was on – once again the green Woods³ bike powered toward The Mountain, the quick left, the right up the slope and away went Des spinning like a star fish – fortunately to the grass and safety, shaken but not stirred he walked away. When asked “are you OK?” the reply was “nothing that a beer won’t fix!” Also out were Kevin and Alan with that pesky gearbox. All this excitement left Clint and Ben on the Rothmans Fuzion Imp leading from Sean and Martin and despite Sean setting fastest lap the well-deserved win went to Clint and Ben with Sean and Martin second and Jason and Dan third. The top Period 1 – the other Reillys, Steve and Byron. The two Daves, Crawford and Baxter, second and Jeff Smith and Evelyn Fox on the ex-Etheridge Norton in third. Top Period 2 was the Etheridges, Dennis and Christine with Russell and Penny second and Chris and Bruce third.

Race 3 – Sunday nice and dry – Brian and Vicky on pole with Jon and Ian (750) alongside. Second row Eddy Wright and Keiran (Mogli) Clarke with Nick and Shelli Robinson up front. Eddy took the lead initially chased by Brian. However on lap two the chain snapped such is the power of the 836 Honda (yes – the engine was measured it is 836cc). Jon was now in a fine second place on the 750 Moorespeed BMW. It was great to see the two Daves back once again dicing with Dennis and Christine just behind Steve and Byron – all 750 powered. So at the flag the win went to Eddy and Mogli, Damien and Nancy second and Tim Chapman and Nick George third. Top P2 Dennis and Christine with Russell and Penny second and Chris and Bruce third. P1 went to Jon and Ian (second on the road), second to Steve and Byron with the two Daves third also a Moorespeed BMW…..

Race 4 – Hardly time to re-fuel – it’s a good job the outfits are so reliable. David and a fairly battered Des on pole, Brian and Vicky alongside but it was Ian Ashley and Ted Hills who lead lap one after a great start from row 2. Unfortunately Ian’s joy was short-lived as his chain snapped ( a dodgy batch Brian?) this failure just happened to elevate Brian to the lead, a position he would hold to the flag, chased initially by Kevin and Alan; however, the gearbox was dreadful, by the time he had the gear it was too late, he wanted a different one; this allowed Eddy to take second. Top P1 was Jon and Ian with Steve and Byron second and the 2 Dave’s third. Period 2 went to Russell and Penny with Dennis and Christine second and Reg and Kerry third.

Race 5 – a bit of a gap this time to catch our breath. On pole David and Des, Brian and Vicky alongside, second row Kevin and Alan and Ian and Ted. Again Ian led on lap one and again he stopped, and again Brian inherited the lead; with both bikes prepared by Powerbiking do I smell a rat! However, Brian’s lead was cut short when Eddy and Mogli slipped past on the orange Windle Imp. Coming up through the grid was the No.69 Fuzion of Clint and Ben, along with the No.35 of Sean and Martin. Jon and Ian were now up against the might of the Period 3’s and even the Moorespeed 750 was losing out on track. Another team losing out was the No.52 Woods³ machine of David and Des – you just can’t passenger at your best with one hand. So, after retaking the lead on the last lap Brian and Vicky took the win from Eddy and Mogli with Clint and Ben third. Top P1 Jon and Ian with Steve and Byron second and Jeff and Evelyn third.

Another fantastic weekend’s racing. Sadly we once again got to watch more than we would have liked – however we did get to meet some very nice marshals, watch Eddy and Mogli nearly lose it at Barn - that’s after Damien spun at Barn forcing us to spin in sympathy (not that I’m bitter) and also watch Kevin trying to select gears – if you looked hard you could see the red mist surrounding him! So, apart from Des who needs a bit of time to fix, everything else just needs money to fix!

Next round – Pembrey – with another full grid and good close racing – I can’t wait.

Ian Johnson

[steve-e]

Great stuff Ian
I don't suppose you could post that sidecar crmc logo here could you?
The email with it on is in Luton on the big laptop - or I will carry on with the wrong smelly solo one for now

[Kieran Clarke]

Got to say i loved cadwell but it was hard work! How will the grid positions be set at pembrey Ian?

[sidecar bloke]

Got to say i loved cadwell but it was hard work! How will the grid positions be set at pembrey Ian?

It depends - IF we do make it and qualify really badly again - Balls

There will be a free practice and then qualifying according to the SR's. We've done qualifying all year so far so I can't see changing it for the remaining two meetings. Donington is a UEM round so you have to qualify anyway.

See you at the weekend.