For those who can't download it: (hope you don't mind Ian
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DARLEY MOOR (sadly more rain!)
Darley Moor, “Darley where?” was my initial reaction on learning Darley was on the 2009 calendar. I, like a lot of people had heard of the venue but never raced there. We, like many of the Brits, had gone to Mettet the week before to familiarise both passenger and rider to basically racing round a triangle. The one major flaw in this strategy is that triangles come in different sizes!! The Mettet straight is long enough to run a Banshee Windle’s big end, cause internal grief to Damien and Nancy’s ex-Digby outfit, destroy Matt’s lovely BMW motor, smash Bill Hodgkins’ first motor, sideline Dick Tapken’s BMW, only allow Ian and Debbie Salter to do two laps at a time and seize Jean Pierre Capel’s Wessie. I could go on but the memories are getting too painful.
Back to Darley where Matt found himself on the reserve list after burning the midnight oil fitting his spare motor. We had gone to Mettet with two outfits and broken them both. The good old Banshee being easiest to fix, Banshee it was. Gristwood & Toms 3 that’s Karl Underwood and Danny la Pavoux had worked tirelessly to rebuild their outfit, with new engine and reconditions Hemmings gearbox. Sadly it would come to nought - the gearbox still wouldn’t select and the engine was “tight” to put it mildly. So, they were out and Matt was in.
First practice was damp and exciting. It took a couple of laps before it sunk into my head that the first chicane was a bit tight on the way out - by the look of the grass I wasn’t the only one!
Second practice Steve and Jason Reilly returned aboard a trailer - the outfit minus one sidecar wheel! So just who forgot to tighten the nuts up?
Race 1 - It was great to see Nick Houghton and Paul Thomas back out with the CRMC. First row was Damian, Eddy and Brian, second Matt, us and Nick - well that was cosy. As the flag dropped we were round the outside of Damian, three or four wide into the chicane, over the grass (bugger). Up the inside into Park came Matt then Damien and soon it would be Dave and Keith Latheron and Nick. Eddie Wright and Vicky held the lead for two laps before Nick and Paul came through. Brian and Alan were holding off Matt and Andrew who had Damien and Nancy charging hard. Lap four and Damien was past Matt, lap five he was into third place and on the last lap managed to pass Brian, the Honda still yearning to be a twin at the most inappropriate time. Top Gristwood was the 94 outfit of Phil and Dave (not lapped) with Reg and Kerry taking P2 honours ahead of Andy and Lorraine with the Etheridges out on their own in P1. Mike Bellaby sadly failed early on with ignition problems or was it carburetion!! Gristwood 1 went headlong into the bank at Paddock with a deflated front tyre - luckily no damage to machine or human.
Race 2 Saturday turned out to be Race 1 Sunday. On the sighting lap Eddy was off to a flier. Fortunately Nick Houghton was quick enough to signal to Eddy that Vicky was some 100 yard s behind - hence the now famous remarks about 2012 Olympics etc. Sadly as they entered Townleys Eddy’s hand went up - the Bellas Imp complaining about overheating. At the start we employed our Banshee tactic - fly off the line, third into the chicane, and then hold up as many as possible for as long as possible. Lap 1 Nick was ahead of Brian, Damian third, Dave and Keith and then us. Matt hadn’t made the start due to engine failure - easy to fix, replace head with the one they had taken off earlier! As usual it was hectic at the front Damian taking second on lap 4. On the next lap Nick collected Simon and Dave going into Townleys, both outfits having to retire. We were now catching the smoking Wessie of Dave and Keith; last lap we blasted past before braking into Paddock, once again fairly sideways, wide as possible, drift to the outside, could see the flag, then bugger - a green Wessie appeared to out left and we were beaten into fourth by a gnat’s - gutted or what! Top Gristwood was once again Phil and Dave with Reg and Kerry ahead of Andy and Lorraine P2, Dennis and Christine winning P1, Mike Bellaby stopping early once again with ignition (check the fuel pump Mike!).
Race 1 (2) Sunday. The rain had started now. Sadly Nick Houghton had gone home to initiate repairs ready for the TT. Out for the first time aboard his immaculate Norton outfit with Triumph power was David Crawford. They had been suffering engine problems in testing and sadly were about to suffer some more. Eddy and Vicky were about to suffer some throttle cable gremlins (not for the first time). Damian would find himself in fourth place as they completed lap 1 and unusually for him would only make one better, demoting the Latheron’s Wessie. Brian took to the front and stayed there ahead of Matt and Andy (old head back on). Reg and Kerry once again won P2 with Dennis and Christine battling with the P3 of Simon and Dave to win P1. Top Gristwood, Phil and Dave 30 seconds ahead of Gristwood 1 (facts are facts!). Sadly the ignition on the Triumph of Andy and Lorraine had died, and Mike Bellaby did his one lap as usual (fuel, Mike, fuel).
Race 2 (3) Sunday. Proper raining now - even Keith had his lairey waterproofs on - not Dave though he’s a “man”. My money would have been on Matt and Andy - they did lead for two laps before Brian passed on his Avons. First to disappear was Phil and Dave with a massive misfire, Mike did two laps this time (I think he’s saving his engine for the Czech Classic GP (best of luck)). We were also struggling with a massive misfire - things would get worse when Gristwood 1 passed us. We were popping and banging, slipping and sliding. We nearly passed them at Townleys - we also nearly crashed! We passed Dennis and Christine, then they re-passed us, eventually we slid inside the Norton at Paddock but we were beaten by Gristwood 1 Simon and Dave. Brian took the win ahead of Damian with Eddy third and Matt fourth. Dennis and Christine took P1 honours and Reg and Kerry P2.
If it hadn’t been for the weather it would have been a great weekend. Clearly it’s not Mettet but never claimed to be. I would definitely be going back to both - different gearing though!
So Donington next. Already some 22 outfits entered. Don’t forget Prize Money for the winners of Sunday’s race. This is another circuit where backmarkers can get flagged off early so:-
1. Leaders - DO NOT overtake backmarkers after the flag
2. Back markers - if you have been overtaken go like hell to get back in front, don’t just sit there.
3, If you are flagged off early
A) Stay cool
B) don’t delay, time is of the essence - that means as soon as you return to Paddock
C) find me
D) it can be sorted
Just trying to help generate interest