CRMC Anglesey Race Report

[sidecar bloke]

Anglesey – the circuit of passion
Hunting down the opposition

Not only two days of perfect weather for a great weekend of racing but a Friday test day in the sun to boot. That’s three day’s good weather in a row – a very rare thing this year and last come to think of it, and we’re talking Anglesey – that perfect circuit miles, it appears, from anywhere. Our 303 miles started once Kerry Charlesworth and Kevin, my passenger, had arrived at our place – Kerry at 2p.m. as planned ; Kevin some two hours later – he apparently had forgotten the plan. Six hours later we drove into a slot right next to the Club House – very handy if you’ve had one or two sherbets Saturday night.

Practice – Saturday. We went for timed practice – I was asked by Mark Kilner whether I had lost my balls. In reality, no, but my desire to use them has waned a little. I don’t think it’s an age thing but all that fumbling around has lost a bit of appeal. I couldn’t use my balls at Darley Moor and am not going to be able to use them at Cadwell Park I’ve checked in advance. So, timed qualifying it was. Top of the list were Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell (998 Imp) just over a second faster than Sean Reeves and Martin Pither (836 Honda) with Jason and Daniel Reilly (980 BMW) in third. A great spread of engines. The top 750 was Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels in a fantastic seventh place overall followed by Terry Foxon and Roy Cunningham, also with Moorespeed BMW power in eighth place. We were some way further back having spun out at Peel – however, we fared better than some – Clive “The Boss” Faulkner and Brian Robson had yet another engine failure as did Reg and Kerry Charlesworth. Tony Sawyer and Ginny Bourne had gear issues – they were all in there it’s just you couldn’t necessarily get the one you wanted when you wanted it. Such is the passion in the Charlesworth camp that Reg, early afternoon, drove the three hours back home to Rotherham, 45 minutes at home for a brew, fit some new valves into the head, and drove three hours back, refit the head and sort the bike out ready for Sunday and back in the bar by 10 p.m. Now that’s commitment and passion for the sport (ably assisted by Team Manager Mr John Stanley).

Race 1 – 2 o’clock local time out we went. Our lowly eleventh place should have given us a sixth row start – instead we were given row 7, even further back – as Sue said “it’s only a game” – “only a game!!” From the lights Kevin and Alan held their pole advantage followed by Sean and Martin. Jason and Dan were jumped by Brian Gray and Vicky Cooke and Mike Bellaby and Karl Underwood. Unfortunately by the end of the first lap Mike and Karl had to pull off with gear lever issues which probably arose at the same time green paint appeared on Kevin’s white wheel arch – just surmising. We were suffering from a lack of track time as we were being duffed up by a pair of 750s, Messrs Perkins and Foxon – that’s my excuse. Just behind Jason was Clint Faulkner with Brian Robson in the chair, Ben Gray having hurt his shoulder in morning practice when he inspected the tarmac in the Corkscrew. You’d have thought Brian was old enough to know better….So at the flag Period 3 win went to Kevin and Alan, second Sean and Martin and third Brian and Vicky. Top Period 2 was Russell Bleach and Penny Daws on their sideways Norton, with Dennis and Christine in second place. Period 1 Terry and Roy ahead of John and Ian, with third place going to Steve and Byron Reilly, all BMW powered.

Race 2 – 4.30 p.m. Reg was still on his tour whilst Kerry awaited his return in the company of friends from work and Mr S. Artois. Back on track – disaster struck Kevin and Alan as their outfit had fuelling gremlins halting them on lap 2. This elevated Sean and Martin into the lead followed by Brian and Vicky and Clint and Brian – there’s life in the old dog yet! We, thankfully, had left the 750s behind and could see and nearly catch the Bellaby/Underwood BMW, but only nearly. The sideways Norton of Russell and Penny was holding off the Kent pensioners, Dennis and Christine Etheridge, whilst relative newcomers Jeff Smith and Evelyn Fox on the ex-Etheridge Period 1 tried to keep up with the bike’s former crew and ahead of Ron Blakeley and Belinda Colston on the 101 BMW (it’s a Dalmatian thing). So top Period 3 Sean and Martin, second Brian and Vicky, also 836 Honda, and Clint and Brian, still hanging on, in third. Top Period 2 Russell and Penny ahead of Christine and Dennis. Period 1 a change of position this time with John and Ian first and Terry and Roy second; once again Steve and Byron were third.

Sunday – Race 21. Our first go Sunday morning – Reg seemed full of life after his Saturday driving and mending efforts but Kerry seemed a little quiet after her Saturday. Tony and Ginny had spent Saturday rebuilding their Honda gearbox – would they have the gears when they wanted them this time. The first disaster was when Jason and Dan stalled on the line and were unable to start their outfit. So it was Kevin and Alan back on the front row, fuel lines clean and carbs sorted! Once again Kevin held the lead followed by Sean and Martin with Clint and Ben back in the chair. I don’t know whether his shoulder was fixed or Brian was too tired to get back on. We had tried an adventurous move round the outside at the start and in fairness it sort of worked and we were now chasing Eddy Wright and Keiran “Mogli” Clarke (whose Mum can really sing well aka Amy Winehouse). Sorry back to the racing……..Lap 2 and Clint was passed Sean and chasing Kevin and Alan; on the next lap Brian and Vicky were passed with their 836 Honda. Also on lap 3 Eddy and Mogli passed Mike and Karl, so we were once again chasing the Woodsᶟ machine. Fortunately we had the two 750s behind once again, John passing Terry and Roy, then Russell and Penny headed the rest of the 750s, Dennis, Jeff, Reg, Ron and Mark with Steve and Byron marooned somewhere between Terry and Russell surrounded by Period 3s. For the second time this weekend the chequered flag went out to Kevin and Alan with Clint and Ben second and Brian and Vicky third. Top Period 2 Russell and Penny followed by Christine and Dennis and Reg and Kerry. Top Period 1 annoyingly was John and Ian who passed us on the last lap into Rocket and despite fantastic efforts by me beat us to the line by half a bike’s length with Terry and Roy some ten seconds behind and Steve and Byron in third.

Race 29. Our last go. This time Jason and Dan kept the thing going but were forced back into fourth place by a flying Brian and Vicky who tucked behind Sean and Martin. By lap three Eddy and Mogli were also passed the beautiful black BMW. We were also flying – fastest we’d been all weekend – then the belt started to shred so we stopped. At the front Kevin and Alan were away with it, second was still being fought for by Brian and Vicky and Clint and Ben. A great race to watch, which unfortunately we did. Another great win by Kevin and Alan, Brian and Vicky second and Clint and Ben third. Top Period 2 Russell and Penny with Christine and Dennis second and Reg and Kerry third. Period 1 another win for John and Ian with Terry and Roy second and Steve and Byron third.

So ended a fantastic weekend’s racing for the slidys. Cadwell Park next where we are having five races due to the numbers wanting to ride with us; with once again new faces – Ged and Kevin Abrahams, Vincent powered; hopefully we’ll see more of Julian Bishop and Rebecca Howes on their Vincent this time; Ian Ashley surely must have a change of luck as should Tony and Ginny with the Honda. More hands-on by the RAF technician and leave the builder to brew the tea – or was it the team just missed Derek after his cycling oops.

Look forward to meeting everyone again at Cadwell for another fantastic weekend. We will pin the grids up on the back of our trailer so hopefully everyone will know which race they are taking part in.
Ian

[xxseanxx35]

I'm not sure if I was drunk or had dreamt this but I have wierd visions of a sidecar bloke singing that he is like a virgin on the karaoke? Anyone shed some light on this???

[den etheridge]

Sean, That was no dream, they call it a nightmare,yes it.s true Nic George was the virgin. Well done good performance Nic, see you all at Cadwell. Christine E