CRMC Mallory Park Race Report
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:11 pm
GREMLINS GIVE RESERVES A RUN
I haven’t checked but there can’t be as many weekends in the closed season as in the racing season! We started planning this year’s outfit before last season had finished and yet we still found ourselves in the workshop at midnight the week before Mallory, frantically trying to finish the Banshee, which in itself was a back-up plan in case the Windle wasn’t finished, and the back-up wasn’t even finished. Is it me?? Well probably not – Ben Gray posted on Facebook that his Dad’s workshop looked like Scrap Heap Challenge as Brian frantically fought to make the last few parts for his new Weslake as the clock ticked down. Sadly he failed but the man had a back-up plan – the Honda. Simon Smith – well let’s not even go there!! Ray Reeves new motor – not ready!! The Rileys that we had heard so much about over the Christmas period – not ready.
The fantastic thing was that without all the “nearly” machines we still had 29 - yes 29 outfits on the first timing sheet! It has to be said the mechanical gremlins were out in force. First to fail were the two Daves – the BMW suffering big-end failure. Fortunately they had their new bespoke motorhome to sit in and up tea to drown their sorrows. David Johnson and Des Kingsmill threw a drive chain but fortunately the under tray caught the wayward element without damage – handy things these floor trays. Tim Chapman was finding out that you may be able to go round and round on a practice day but come race day it just breaks!
Saturday Race 1 – first of the year, first for the season, first for the day. The grid was set – well I don’t exactly know how but it wasn’t bad. As the flag fell one of the outfits making good ground getting to Gerard’s was Simon Smith and Dave Gristwood – sadly although they got to Gerard’s they would get no further. Eddy Wright and Vicky Cooke were out in front on the Imp and would stay there for two laps until the mighty Chris Latham prepared BMW piloted by Nick Houghton and Paul Thomas slipped in front. Rod Bellas and Geoff Knight had already pulled off with teething problems on the Eddy Wright BMW. Ray Reeves also pulled off just after we passed him – or was it because we passed him! David and Des were battling with the Wessie of Mike Bellaby and Karl Underwood taking fourth place on lap four. Lap four also saw Rick Matthews and his passenger Roger pull off with dragging brakes. More spectacular was the Roebury’s head gasket blowing as they headed towards the Hairpin – definitely looking like a Kettle! As for the Banshee we were just trying to keep up. Having spent hours working on the Pirate’s bike you would have thought he would have waited for us! A little way back a fantastic battle was taking place between two novice crews of Steve Romeril and Linda McShane, Triumph powered, and Tony Sawyer and Mr Adams( a bit formal I know but I can’t remember his first name), Honda powered. The battle would end on the last lap when Steve, in a moment of over-exuberance spun the outfit at the Hairpin. Also on the last lap at the sharp end of things, Colin Lewis and Ian Nickells slipped past Eddy to take second place. So, all in all, an eventful first race of the season with Nick and Paul, BMW, taking the win in front of Colin and Ian, Wessie, and Eddy and Vicky third, Imp powered. Keeping the 750 brigade alive the Kent pensioners, Christine and Dennis Etheridge, Norton powered.
Race 2 – Saturday afternoon 3.43 p.m. The Roeburys now had a new head gasket, Rod Bellas had fixed the BM and Jon Perkins and Nancy Detournay were back on track. Starting from pole Nick and Paul took the lead from the start, inevitably chased by Colin and Ian and Eddy and Vicky. Top Gristwood runners were David and Des with Mike and Karl just behind. Hyperian I had a heart-stopping moment in turn one, Gerard’s, with a mechanical failure bringing them to a halt right in front of the Banshee, a heavy bike with drum brakes it’s not known for stopping well, but we missed them – just. Jon and Nancy were making their way to the front and would finally finish in second place. On lap 6 as Colin and Ian exited Gerard’s the Wessie took to the grass on the infield. Ian left the outfit and rolled for what seemed an eternity but fortunately missed the Armco. After a second or two he was up on his feet, shaken but not stirred. Colin had manfully guided the Wessie to a halt – good job by all. At the flag Nick and Paul were just five seconds ahead of Jon and Nancy who set the fastest lap, and Eddy and Vicky third. The top 750 – once again the pensioners, Christine and Dennis.
Sunday. It was warmer – a bit – and the sun tried! Two more competitors were out to join us, making five reserves; fortunately, or unfortunately depending whether you were a reserve or a guaranteed rider, the mechanical gremlins had made room for those late-comers. Brian Gray joined us with Dave Porter on the chair replacing Ian Nickells who had literally jumped ship to Colin Lewis. Matt Kingsmill was back with Alan Bedford in the chair now with limited cc. - only 750.
Race 1, lap one Jon and Nancy were in the lead followed by Nick and Paul and Eddy and Vicky. David and Des were running a strong fourth which they would hold for a third of race distance then a fuel pick-up problem would drop them down the order. Sadly Matt and Alan would only make it round to the exit of Gerard’s before the ignition failed. Brian and Dave aboard the Honda were up to eighth after the first lap and would get to fourth when the flag fell. Rod Chapman and son Darren were having another battle with Phil and Buddha, Phil taking Rod’s place with two laps to go. As we came into the Hairpin to conclude lap four the 55 outfit had spun exiting the Hairpin; we, it has to be said, were happy to take advantage of their misfortune and whilst we fought with Rod and Darren another pair of Chapmans two places behind us (Tim Chapman and son) were running well after the disappointment of the previous day’s fiasco when the new outfit wouldn’t play. At the flag Nick took the win from Jon with Eddy in third. Dennis and Christine were first 750 home aboard the Period 1 Norton whilst Steve and Linda came home in front of Andy and Loraine in Period 2.
Race 2 – last race of the weekend for the slidies. Unfortunately the No.13 Honda outfit of Messrs Sawyer and Adams, in their first race meeting, failed to start. Still a lot of crews would have settled for a 3 out of 4 success rate (don’t mention Dave and Simon). First to fail was Hyperian I with transmission failure (it fell off), David and Des would also go on lap 4. Up front it was life as usual – Nick leading Jon with Eddy third, Brian and then the Roebury brothers who were definitely running faster this weekend on the Sylvester Suzuki. Down our end of things we had found someone to play with – Matt and Alan – we swept past Matt on the descent of Devil’s Elbow – OK his engine was a bit sick but I like to think he bent the valve trying to stay in front of us rather than we overtook him because he was breaking down. At the sharp end things were getting a bit physical between Nick and Paul and Jon and Nancy; the No.8 BMW of Jon and Nancy finally taking the win spoiling Nick’s clean sweep, with Eddy and Vicky third. Top 750 Matt and Alan, Period 2, followed by Dennis and Christine Period 1, Steve and Linda and Andy and Loraine, both Period 2.
So ended Mallory – the weather could have been a little kinder but the grids were awesome and the racing fantastic. It was good to see the old lot back and perfect to see so many new faces. Sadly a lot of old and new found the gremlins a bit harsh but if it was easy it would be called F2.
Pembrey next – the weather’s bound to be good and watch out for the Easter Bunny. Till next time – keep tinkering!
Ian Johnson
I haven’t checked but there can’t be as many weekends in the closed season as in the racing season! We started planning this year’s outfit before last season had finished and yet we still found ourselves in the workshop at midnight the week before Mallory, frantically trying to finish the Banshee, which in itself was a back-up plan in case the Windle wasn’t finished, and the back-up wasn’t even finished. Is it me?? Well probably not – Ben Gray posted on Facebook that his Dad’s workshop looked like Scrap Heap Challenge as Brian frantically fought to make the last few parts for his new Weslake as the clock ticked down. Sadly he failed but the man had a back-up plan – the Honda. Simon Smith – well let’s not even go there!! Ray Reeves new motor – not ready!! The Rileys that we had heard so much about over the Christmas period – not ready.
The fantastic thing was that without all the “nearly” machines we still had 29 - yes 29 outfits on the first timing sheet! It has to be said the mechanical gremlins were out in force. First to fail were the two Daves – the BMW suffering big-end failure. Fortunately they had their new bespoke motorhome to sit in and up tea to drown their sorrows. David Johnson and Des Kingsmill threw a drive chain but fortunately the under tray caught the wayward element without damage – handy things these floor trays. Tim Chapman was finding out that you may be able to go round and round on a practice day but come race day it just breaks!
Saturday Race 1 – first of the year, first for the season, first for the day. The grid was set – well I don’t exactly know how but it wasn’t bad. As the flag fell one of the outfits making good ground getting to Gerard’s was Simon Smith and Dave Gristwood – sadly although they got to Gerard’s they would get no further. Eddy Wright and Vicky Cooke were out in front on the Imp and would stay there for two laps until the mighty Chris Latham prepared BMW piloted by Nick Houghton and Paul Thomas slipped in front. Rod Bellas and Geoff Knight had already pulled off with teething problems on the Eddy Wright BMW. Ray Reeves also pulled off just after we passed him – or was it because we passed him! David and Des were battling with the Wessie of Mike Bellaby and Karl Underwood taking fourth place on lap four. Lap four also saw Rick Matthews and his passenger Roger pull off with dragging brakes. More spectacular was the Roebury’s head gasket blowing as they headed towards the Hairpin – definitely looking like a Kettle! As for the Banshee we were just trying to keep up. Having spent hours working on the Pirate’s bike you would have thought he would have waited for us! A little way back a fantastic battle was taking place between two novice crews of Steve Romeril and Linda McShane, Triumph powered, and Tony Sawyer and Mr Adams( a bit formal I know but I can’t remember his first name), Honda powered. The battle would end on the last lap when Steve, in a moment of over-exuberance spun the outfit at the Hairpin. Also on the last lap at the sharp end of things, Colin Lewis and Ian Nickells slipped past Eddy to take second place. So, all in all, an eventful first race of the season with Nick and Paul, BMW, taking the win in front of Colin and Ian, Wessie, and Eddy and Vicky third, Imp powered. Keeping the 750 brigade alive the Kent pensioners, Christine and Dennis Etheridge, Norton powered.
Race 2 – Saturday afternoon 3.43 p.m. The Roeburys now had a new head gasket, Rod Bellas had fixed the BM and Jon Perkins and Nancy Detournay were back on track. Starting from pole Nick and Paul took the lead from the start, inevitably chased by Colin and Ian and Eddy and Vicky. Top Gristwood runners were David and Des with Mike and Karl just behind. Hyperian I had a heart-stopping moment in turn one, Gerard’s, with a mechanical failure bringing them to a halt right in front of the Banshee, a heavy bike with drum brakes it’s not known for stopping well, but we missed them – just. Jon and Nancy were making their way to the front and would finally finish in second place. On lap 6 as Colin and Ian exited Gerard’s the Wessie took to the grass on the infield. Ian left the outfit and rolled for what seemed an eternity but fortunately missed the Armco. After a second or two he was up on his feet, shaken but not stirred. Colin had manfully guided the Wessie to a halt – good job by all. At the flag Nick and Paul were just five seconds ahead of Jon and Nancy who set the fastest lap, and Eddy and Vicky third. The top 750 – once again the pensioners, Christine and Dennis.
Sunday. It was warmer – a bit – and the sun tried! Two more competitors were out to join us, making five reserves; fortunately, or unfortunately depending whether you were a reserve or a guaranteed rider, the mechanical gremlins had made room for those late-comers. Brian Gray joined us with Dave Porter on the chair replacing Ian Nickells who had literally jumped ship to Colin Lewis. Matt Kingsmill was back with Alan Bedford in the chair now with limited cc. - only 750.
Race 1, lap one Jon and Nancy were in the lead followed by Nick and Paul and Eddy and Vicky. David and Des were running a strong fourth which they would hold for a third of race distance then a fuel pick-up problem would drop them down the order. Sadly Matt and Alan would only make it round to the exit of Gerard’s before the ignition failed. Brian and Dave aboard the Honda were up to eighth after the first lap and would get to fourth when the flag fell. Rod Chapman and son Darren were having another battle with Phil and Buddha, Phil taking Rod’s place with two laps to go. As we came into the Hairpin to conclude lap four the 55 outfit had spun exiting the Hairpin; we, it has to be said, were happy to take advantage of their misfortune and whilst we fought with Rod and Darren another pair of Chapmans two places behind us (Tim Chapman and son) were running well after the disappointment of the previous day’s fiasco when the new outfit wouldn’t play. At the flag Nick took the win from Jon with Eddy in third. Dennis and Christine were first 750 home aboard the Period 1 Norton whilst Steve and Linda came home in front of Andy and Loraine in Period 2.
Race 2 – last race of the weekend for the slidies. Unfortunately the No.13 Honda outfit of Messrs Sawyer and Adams, in their first race meeting, failed to start. Still a lot of crews would have settled for a 3 out of 4 success rate (don’t mention Dave and Simon). First to fail was Hyperian I with transmission failure (it fell off), David and Des would also go on lap 4. Up front it was life as usual – Nick leading Jon with Eddy third, Brian and then the Roebury brothers who were definitely running faster this weekend on the Sylvester Suzuki. Down our end of things we had found someone to play with – Matt and Alan – we swept past Matt on the descent of Devil’s Elbow – OK his engine was a bit sick but I like to think he bent the valve trying to stay in front of us rather than we overtook him because he was breaking down. At the sharp end things were getting a bit physical between Nick and Paul and Jon and Nancy; the No.8 BMW of Jon and Nancy finally taking the win spoiling Nick’s clean sweep, with Eddy and Vicky third. Top 750 Matt and Alan, Period 2, followed by Dennis and Christine Period 1, Steve and Linda and Andy and Loraine, both Period 2.
So ended Mallory – the weather could have been a little kinder but the grids were awesome and the racing fantastic. It was good to see the old lot back and perfect to see so many new faces. Sadly a lot of old and new found the gremlins a bit harsh but if it was easy it would be called F2.
Pembrey next – the weather’s bound to be good and watch out for the Easter Bunny. Till next time – keep tinkering!
Ian Johnson
Thank you Sir! 
