CRMC Donington Park Race Report

[sidecar bloke]

DONINGTON PARK
Slidies suffer from Reliability and Rain by the Bucket Load

So, after the best part of five weeks, and several hours in a queue for some, we made it into the Donington Park Paddock II. We were one of the lucky ones – the sidecar area being clear, away from the artics, fork lifts and general paraphernalia, taking up most of Paddock II the afternoon and evening before the Donington Park Classic Festival and Round 5 of our CRMC Championship.

There was a bit of chopping and changing of passengers – I had Kevin back on, Clive Stirrat had pinched Vicky Cooke and Grant Tapsell had Kerry Charlesworth in the chair, then when Brian Gray turned up Saturday evening Roy Cunningham joined him after his and Terry Foxon’s BMW went sick – again.

Friday was hot and sunny, perfect for setting a good lap and at 15.34 hours out we went. I had been told that, due to the amount of time lost, practices were to be cut to three laps – what, hardly time to get the hang of things. Out of Garage 1 we rolled down pit lane and onto the track. We sat behind the lead bunch over the line – right give it some, round Redgate, down the Craner Curves, up around Schwanz into Coppice – hello, rain spots – probably not as bad as it looked, through the Chicane over the line into a downpour! Now for most of us we had a banker lap, Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell on the No.66 Imp set a time 5 seconds quicker than David Johnson and Des Kingsmill on the No.52 Imp, two seconds covering second to eighth. Tim Chapman found himself in 17th place – he had no idea it was timed practice – I thought the idea of a sidecar was there were two of you, hoping one of you read the S.R.’s. Another group falling foul were the Paddock III guys who hadn’t heard the call up and so missed the one dry lap. One of these was Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels with their newly finished right-hand chaired outfit. Why right hand? Why not? So that was the grid set for the first two races.

Saturday first race of the day and far too early for some. We had fine-tuned our outfit to the point it wouldn’t start – great. So we went to the Slidey Hospitality Unit, sponsored by Edmundson Electrical Supplies, courtesy of Fuzion (Clive Faulkner). Initially it was the two Imps of Kevin and Alan and David and Des who lead the field round, but by lap three the brothers Reilly, Jason and Dan, were passed the ailing No.52 Imp and setting off after Kevin. Battles were being fought all through the field – by lap two Tim “Fingers” Chapman and Nick “Sugar Ray Monkey” George had Phil Luhr and Dave Currell in their sights and one lap later they were passed. Clint Faulkner and Ben Gray were also heading to the front after their non-qualifying. They too would pass the No.52 on the last lap. In Period 1 the Reillys, Steve and Byron, were passing and being re-passed by Ron Blakeley and Belinda Coulson on their 750cc BMW and Tony Sawyer and Ginny Bourne, aboard their 750cc Honda were fighting with Mr Sideways (Russell Bleach) and Penny Daws, Tony’s outfit almost unrecognisable in its new livery. So at the flag Period 1 went to Steve and Byron, second Ron and Belinda and third Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas, Vince passing both Russell and Tony on the last lap. Period 2 winners were Matt Kingsmill and Paul Sands, second Tony and Ginny; Period 3 Kevin and Alan, second Jason and Dan and third Eddy Wright and Kieran Clarke. A great start to the weekend’s racing.

After some tinkering we managed to fix our bike (we thought) and Grant fixed his slipping clutch; Terry and Roy were out, as were Matt and Paul – this was going to be a tough weekend on outfits. Still, unperturbed the Slideys filed back into Sue’s corral ready for a rather late second race. The grid formed as in race one, Kevin and Alan on pole with David and Des second and us in third this time. We had a plan – however, our sidecar fix hadn’t quite fixed things as well as hoped and instead of blasting into the lead, we held third until Jason passed us, then before we had time to finish lap three the motor turned into a boiler and we retired. Kevin and Alan were also in trouble, they retired on lap five and to make the set David and Des pulled off on the last lap. Top Imp honours went to Clint and Ben in fifth place with Phil “the Pirate” and “Buddha” two back. So at the flag it was Jason and Dan with Eddy and Kieran second and Jon and Ian on the right-hand chair in third. It was noted Ian was wearing an orange bib – not to indicate his passengering ability but to try and get his fellow competitors not to run him over. Period 2 winners were Tony and Ginny and Period 1 Steve and Byron, second place Ron and Belinda with Russell and Penny in third. It was a great shame the twin-engined Triumph of Steve Mann and Phil Wade failed to finish but good to see newbies Philip Boote and Andrew Haynes aboard the ex-Nick Houghton Wessie going over the line in twelfth. Phil and Buddha, ignition tweaked, finished comfortably ahead of “Fingers” and “Sugar Ray”.

With the outfits tucked away after two great races and multiple taxi rides, which raised some £1,800 thanks to the efforts of Emma Kingsmill and her team, it was time to party at the Gristwood BBQ. This annual event goes from strength to strength. The slidies had their own trophy presentation for Saturday’s racing and a special award was presented to Rod Chapman who after many years supporting the class had decided to retire – a great shame (a great shame the boys can’t have the outfit!). Then on to party time – no Christine and Dennis Etheridge Karaoke but Buddha and Luke Chapman live on guitar and vocals – a great night of music and food; the food once again prepared by Lisa Johnson and her merry gang of helpers, Gary and Hayley etc., and the music ably supported by the Pirate on percussion and Ginny on harmonica, plus various backing singers, most of whom best forgotten…..

Sunday dawned a tad wet although there was practice. Before the chairs could go out a halt to proceedings was called due to the now appalling conditions. Two o’clock the MET said it would be OK and almost as if they knew what they were saying the sun came out. A much depleted grid headed towards the track for their third and last race of the weekend, with more gaps on the grid than occupiers. The front row comprised Kevin and Alan and Jason and Dan Reilly; row 2 Clint and Ben, no Eddy Wright and rows three and four were missing. Anyhow, Martin dropped the flag and off they set. Jason and Dan took the lead followed by Kevin and Alan, then Brian and Roy a few seconds back, then another gap to Phil and Buddha and a further gap back to Fingers and Sugar. Lap 2 and the No.84 BMW dropped to the back of the field when Nick missed a hand hold and the outfit went grass tracking. Lap 3 and the Reillys were slowing – a faulty kneeler tray dropping them down the field. Their loss was Brian’s gain, elevating him to second and the Pirate and Buddha a comfortable third. Just two laps to go and as the outfits roared into view Kevin and Alan were still in front, then the silver of Brian and Roy, then the orange of Grant and Kerry – where was the Gristwood green of Phil and Buddha – sadly gone with a shredded belt, disaster. At the flag it was again the No.66 Imp of Kevin and Alan, second Brian and Roy’s Honda and third a delighted and well deserved Grant and Kerry on the Triumph Triple. Period 1 winners were Steve and Byron with Ron and Belinda second and Russell and Penny third. Although decimated by mechanical gremlins and the appalling weather, a great race and a great result.

Next stop Cadwell Park – time to fix everything I hope. Sadly Ray Reeves left the meeting after his son, Sean, had a nasty accident in his F2 at Brands Hatch. We all wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to Ray’s return at Cadwell.

Ian Johnson

[Ginny Pigg]

Nice write up Ian, a very enjoyable read. Good to see you have rediscovered the art of writing, the absence of reports has been noted by me and my pedantic brain I did notice though that you say we were second in P2 in the first race and Matt and Paul won it. I was under the impression they DNF'd. Anyway we got the chocolate coins at the end of the day and that is all that matters - well, apart from the fact I STILL cannot get the chocolate out of it

[Haynesy]

Excellent report! Great to meet the crews and an excellent party Saterday evening.

Phil and I really enjoyed the meeting and are talking about doing more CRMC next year and poss Snetterton this year.

See you all around.