CRMC Pembrey 2015 Race Report

[sidecar bloke]

EASTER EGG-CITEMENT AT PEMBREY

So, after a long six months off-season, the slidey grid rolled into the outer paddock at Pembrey – plenty of time to check, fettle, and fine tune the outfits ready for another season of fierce action on track. Tony Sawyer and Ginny Bourne had their new chassis, the much modified Windle was gone, they were now to be found on the ex-Brian Gray Moly Honda, freshly painted in sparkly red. Keith Walters had purchased Rod Chapman’s ex-championship winning outfit, in the hands of Jan Herbert; Andy Nourish had purchased Kobus Bourmann’s outfit from Belgium and was preparing to move from the grass to tarmac; Doug and Andy Street were aboard the ex-pirate No.94 now racing as 76 but still in the Woods³ livery and sponsored support – this was their first time out so there was a little apprehension from both the main and side Street.

Free practice Friday gave those who wanted it a chance to bed things in, shake things down and generally remember where the handholds were and whether first gear was forward or back. The morning session was cold and wet – ideal for the hardy ones, whilst the softies, OK I was one, just waited for the warmer, drier afternoon session.

Saturday Race Day – the wind had dropped, the sun was out, a much nicer day for sure. Sadly two crews were in trouble early on – the sparkly red Honda of Tony and Ginny split a carburettor rubber causing the number one cylinder to run weak and eventually detonation ate the piston. Reigning champions Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell failed to complete lap one due to oil pressure anomalies.

As usual there was a hectic charge into Hatchets Hairpin, Jon Perkins held his front row advantage and led the field into the hairpin, Della Bufton and myself managing to take second place from our row three start, aided by David Johnson and Des Kingsmill (No.52) very nearly going straight on at the hairpin. We held onto our position as long as possible but soon enough both the No.52 and No.9 passed us under braking at the end of the Straight. We did manage to go around Eddy Wright and Kieran (Mogli) Clarke (No.9) at Dibeni. By now David and Des were closing on the right-handed chair of Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels with Eddy in hot pursuit, then the second Gristwood outfit of Mike Bellaby and Dave Gristwood. Gristwood 3 – Phil “the Pirate” Luhr and Dave “Buddha” Currell were battling with Mike Cookson on the rapid ex-Dick Hawes 750 BMW and the fast No.46 of Andy Nourish with of course “Nourish” power, Andy liking running on the black stuff as opposed to his usual green stuff.

At the flag Period 3 went to Jon and Ian with David and Des second and Eddy and Mogli third. Top 750 Period 1 Mike Cookson and Alun Thomas followed by Ron Blakeley and Belinda Colston and third Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas.

Race 2 – based on race 1’s times which may have been a little suspect but – Front row was No.52 David and Des, No.8 Jon and Ian; second row Eddy and Mogli and Mike and Dave. An early retiree was the No.94 of Phil and Dave, Dave hearing a funny knock coming from the rear of the outfit – after extensive searching in the paddock after the race the noise was put down to Dave’s knees!

Once again the charge down to Hatchets was to sort things out but again Jon held the lead, David and Des took the bend this time and chased the BMW with Eddy third. Della and I held fourth until Mike and Dave again came past on lap three, whilst we desperately tried to hold onto the leading group. Mike Cookson’s 750 was leading the chasing pack with Andy Nourish and Alan Bedford and Steve Stevenson and Jono Borrington.

At the flag Period 3 winners were Jon and Ian, second place David and Des with Eddy and Mogli third. Top 750 Period 1 again Mike Cookson and Alun Thomas with Steve and Jono second and Vince and Paul third.

Sunday morning – bright and sunny. Saturday night in the Clubhouse had given plenty of time for discussing tactics and tuning tips, chassis set up, tyre pressures etc. Kevin and Alan were back out after an engine change; Phil and Dave were – knock sussed. Kevin found himself on the fifth row but that wouldn’t hinder him too much. Again Jon took to the front but the real excitement came at Brooklands when Eddy and Mogli spun whilst in third place and now faced the oncoming traffic! By lap two Kevin was into third place, the two Imps of David and Kevin howling after the Moorespeed BMW of Jon and Ian. Lap five and David and Des were passed Jon to take the lead; Eddy and Mogli were up to seventh place – great progress, but time was running out for them. Last lap and Kevin and Alan were passed Jon, also the Pirate was passed Andy on the Nourish outfit after a race long battle and Eddy made it passed the top 750 of Mike Cookson. The Street and Street outfit was again lapped but consistently running quicker, gaining experience – great job.

At the flag Period 3 win went to David and Des with Kevin and Alan second and Jon and Ian third. Top 750 Period 1 Mike Cookson with Steve second and Vince again in third place aboard the XS Yamaha.

Sunday – Race 41 – Last race of the weekend for the slidies. The two Imps dominated the front now – David and Des and Kevin and Alan – behind them the BMWs of Jon and Mike Bellaby, then on row three one BMW and one Imp. In all modesty it has to be said it was another fantastic start for Della and myself from our third row start and we charged around to complete lap one in third place, but Jon wasn’t far behind and on the next lap they were passed us. We were ahead of Mike and Dave and Eddy and Mogli and felt confident right up until the point we headed onto the grass at Dibeni at speed. The corner we had worked so well all weekend bit us – we re-joined the tarmac but both outfits were passed us now. The two Imps led Jon home – at the flag David and Des taking the win from Kevin and Alan and Jon in third. However, Race Control deemed Kevin had jumped the start and the ten second penalty dropped him back behind Jon, so Period 3 winners David and Des, second Jon and Ian and third Kevin and Alan. Period 1 Mike Cookson again with Steve Stevenson second and Vince third – so close, but third.

So ended a great opener for all – well except Tony and Ginny who can fix it, and newbies to the CRMC classic scene Keith Walters and Alison de Angelis who also require some workshop time. Congratulations to David and Des for smashing the lap record. Next stop Cadwell Park where we will be joined by more regulars as well as newbies swelling our grid to a maximum by the time Brands Hatch comes along again. See you all there.

Ian Johnson

[Welsh Daph]

Sounds like a good time was had by all