CRMC Pembrey

[sidecar bloke]

PEMBREY - PERFORMANCE IN PRECIPITATION

So, as I sit here in my dining room on Bank Holiday Monday, the sun shining through the window I think………..why the hell wasn’t it like this on Saturday? To be fair our first CRMC championship round of 2016 had looked like being a total washout according to the good old Met Office, but we got off pretty well in the end.

Friday’s test session was dry and bright – the slideys had two sessions one at 12 p.m. and the other at 4.30 p.m. As there were only the two sessions Phil Davies had made them extra long……….this is fine but after ten laps most slideys are cream crackered! Younger teams like Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas had time to do some laps, come in, change gearing, and head back out – the rest of us mainly did our ten laps and came in for a cup of tea and a sit down!

Most crews met up in the clubhouse Friday evening because clearly its warm and light in there to discuss the winter break; how they had successfully made subtle changes to their bikes… and some of the other changes – well there hadn’t been enough time due to starting so late after Christmas. People like Reg Charlesworth who is still building the new Norton outfit, Steve Reilly who has made some engine changes (and is still making them) – a bit like Tony Sawyer and Ginny Bourne and may more…

So Saturday dawned, not so light, in fact cold and damp and grey – yesterday had been great! The grid was set – David Johnson and Nancy Detournay on pole with Eddy Wright and Kieran “Mogli” Clarke alongside. In wet conditions we – that’s Kevin Roughan and I, were first into Hatchets Hairpin from our second row start; Vince Biggs and Vicky Cooke came up our inside, whilst others streamed round the outside so we left Hatchets in sixth place and set off behind Phil Luhr and Shelli Robinson. Two places behind us was Clive “the Boss” Faulkner and Brian Robson on the MRE Imp sandwiching the Period 1 outfit of Barry Phethean and Ron Hardy. Second lap it was David and Nancy who went straight on at Hatchets, re-joining in front of us; up front were Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell fighting off Mike Bellaby and Dave Gristwood. As Phil and Shelly exited Brooklands Hairpin in front of us and headed down the Speedway Straight his chain made a break for freedom and slithered to a halt in the middle of the track, whilst Phil desperately prodded the gear lever wondering why he had no drive! Lap four and Clive and Brian were passed us – how I hate the wet! Doug and Andy Street were making progress up the field, eventually finishing eighth. Kevin and Alan held their lead until the last lap when Mike and Dave saw their chance and snatched victory for the D&D BMW. So the win went to Mike and Dave with Kevin and Alan second and Vince and Vicky third. David and Nancy set the fastest lap trying to catch up after their oops… Top Period 1 machine was Mike Cookson and Alun Thomas with Barry Phethean and Ron Hardy second and Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas third. DNFs were Phil Luhr and also Dean Edwards on the Honda; non-starters were Eddy and Mogli whose outfit died en route to the grid and Andy Nourish and Alan Bedford who blew the head gasket of their Weslake before the race started.

Our second race was Race 12 on the schedule – the worst of the weather had been and gone – David’s fastest lap put him on pole with fellow team mate Mike and team owner Dave alongside; second row Vince and Vicky and Kevin and Alan. We found ourselves on row three with the Fuzion team owner Clive next to us. On Row seven were Eddy and Mogli but they soon charged through the field, finishing lap one in fourth place – this was a four lap sprint race so no time for messing. As we crossed the line to finish lap one our chain headed for the great unknown and we coasted into Hatchets to watch the race with the marshal, Andrew Taylor, family and friends. Lap three and David took the lead from Mike, whilst Kevin and Alan fended off Eddy and Mogli, with Mike Cookson top 750 aboard his BMW. At the flag David took the win with Mike second and Kevin third. The winner of Period 1 was Mike Cookson with Vince and Paul second and Andrew Thomas and Joanne Clements on her first race weekend third.

Saturday night for many, another night in the clubhouse to discuss tactics and such stuff. Mogli and Vicky were on about a Fuzzy Duck but Michelle Luhr and Vince Worthington had no idea what they were on about!

Sunday morning the wind had changed direction – it was dry-ish and at 9.29 a.m. we headed out; Keith Walters and Joe Thomas had joined us on their Honda. Again David and Nancy were on pole with Mike and Dave alongside. We, after our DNF, were way at the back and were going to need a great start – however, with our sick clutch nothing was guaranteed. We slotted in front of Phil and Shelli as we braked for Hatchets with the track very greasy. Mike and Dave were leading the field around with Alan and Kevin second; by lap two David was in front of Kevin. We were chasing “The Boss” and Vince and Vicky – Vince seemed to struggle with Hatchets; on the second lap he lead Clive and Brian deep into Hatchets - as he again overshot the hairpin we thanked them and gained two places. The two Welsh teams of 231 and 123 were having a battle mid-field, Mike Cookson catching and passing the Honda of Keith Walters. Lap four and I messed up Hatchets, allowing Vince past. Last lap David and Nancy passed their sponsor – is that a good idea? Period one winner was Mike Cookson with Vince Worthington second and Andrew Thomas third. Period 3 David and Nancy, second Mike and Dave and third Kevin and Alan.

Race 34 – our last outing for this year at Pembrey – Vince Biggs had gone home sick and Eddy was also tyred! Our times had got us up to the third row alongside Phil and Shelli, with The Boss on row two with Kevin and Alan whilst Mike and David hogged the front row again. The track was now dry, the sun shining, perfect, perfect weather – at last time to press on without the fear of sliding off. Another great start took us into fourth place whilst David took the lead with Kevin and Alan in second. On lap three The Boss could smell burning – his clutch was cooked! Lap times had tumbled, Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas were ahead of Andrew and Joanne but Mike and Alun were too far ahead to catch in Period 1. We had been slowing catching Mike and Dave on the BMW and on the last lap we slid up the inside at Woodlands; Despite Mike trying to squeeze round the outside at Honda Curve, the Rodwell Imp had the legs on the Moorespeed BMW. A great race with Kevin back in the chair after his nursing duties. Period three win David and Nancy, second Kevin and Alan and third us…Ian Johnson and Kevin Roughan. Period 1 winners were Mike Cookson and Alun Thomas, second Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas and third Andrew Thomas and Joanne Clements. A great weekend for Joanne – her first race weekend – perhaps she could lend her Dad, Ron, some tips for Croft.

So ended a great weekend, the grid was a bit down but the quality of outfit and racing was as high as we have come to expect. Croft next, some six weeks away – plenty of time for those absentees to finish their outfits and head up north. Croft, a circuit we haven’t raced for some time – from what I hear there’s not only more Brits heading North but some of those yellow outfits from Scotland heading South. It’ll be good so get your entry in quick…….see you there………..

Ian Johnson

[Eddy Wright]

Thank you Ian great write up, we have come to expect no less. Looking forward to seeing you all again. Lets hope the weather is better at Croft.

[Vicky Cooke]

Fuzzy duck, duck fuzzy, does he?

[666]

[quote="Vicky Cooke"]Fuzzy duck, duck fuzzy, does he?[/quote

??????????

[Vicky Cooke]

You had to be there....... Ask Michelle Luhr!!!!