CRMC Cadwell Park Race Report

[sidecar bloke]

A PIRATE PODIUM

With just three clear weekends after Pembrey there was just enough time to fix and fettle the outfits back to perfection before heading to Cadwell Park and round two of the CRMC Championship.

Most of the regulars were there, but still missing were the Faulkner teams, Brian Gray and Vicky Cooke, still playing on their F1, The Reillys etc. Out for a rare run-around were John Ryder and Derek Drury; back also were Matt Kingsmill and Paul Sands – Matt being lured back by how much fun his brother Des was having aboard the No.52 outfit, leading the P3 Championship with David Johnson in these early days. A late entry of Rod Bellas and Trevor Johnson aboard the Bellas Imp, on loan from Eddy Wright, helped swell this very competitive grid. On a personal note it was good to be joined by Kevin Roughan – after months of caring for his Mum he was back on the side of our MRE Imp – a tad rusty but he only nearly fell out…. twice…

Race 3 was the slidies first race of the weekend Saturday – early morning had served for free practice, now it was time to compete! Pole position had been allocated to David and Des with Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell alongside – Imps locking out the front row. Row two saw the BMWs of Eddy Wright and Kieran “Mogli” Clarke with Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels to their right. Unfortunately there was a gap on row one – Kevin and Alan failing to make the start after breaking their gearbox in practice after hitting the lever on the kerb at The Hairpin. With My Laps failing to produce any lap charts accurate race progress is hindered – suffice to say after a very crowded start in which I couldn’t find a gap large enough to squeeze the Imp through, I started to detect a blue haze from the outfit. An early trip to the paddock before completing one lap showed an oil return pipe dripping onto the exhaust – simple to fix “do the nut up” but nevertheless a pain in the bum! Whilst parked up Mike Bellaby and Dave Gristwood pulled in – they had been flagged off due to flapping bodywork.

However, on track the action was hot – two BMWs in front – Jon and Ian and Eddy and Mogli leaving David and Des to chase with the Imp. Top 750 was the Period 2 outfit of Ian Ashley and Roy Cunningham. At the flag Period 3 race win went to Jon and Ian, Eddy and Mogli second with David and Des third. Period 2 winners were Ian and Roy; Period 1 went to Steve Stevenson and Jono Borrington, second Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas with John Ryder and Derek Drury third.

Sunday – Race 14 – Kevin Hunt had made it back with his repaired gearbox. Racing was started and then abandoned as the heavens opened, but at 13.40 the outfits took to the damp track. After much slipping and sliding from our row seven start, just three from the back, saw us take an optimistic out-braking manoeuvre into Mansfield – the 84 outfit of Tim “Fingers” Chapman and Della “Buffy” Bufton our target. Things didn’t go quite to plan and like Eddy and Mogli earlier we found ourselves heading up the slip road, across the grass, to re-join the tarmac, now considerably behind Tim and Della; doing a far better job were Kevin and Alan, heading to the sharp end. On lap two Reg and Kerry Charlesworth noticed the BSA outfit had swallowed one of its valves, causing much carnage; Rod Bellas had failed to make the start due to not charging his battery – apparently F2s charge as they go – not classics! At the flag Eddy and Mogli took the win from David and Des, Kevin and Alan making it to third place. Top 750 again Ian and Roy winning P2 with Steve and Jono winning P1 followed by Ron Blakeley and Belinda Colston in second and Vince and Paul third. Jon and Ian slipped to the back after a nearly “over we go” moment crushed their exhaust and bent the gear lever.

Race 25, our second of the day. The track had dried and it was a lovely Lincolnshire day, but in the distance – you guessed it – large thunder clouds were looming, a few flashes of lightening and here it came! Although the deluge had stopped the track was flooded and after another slight delay the Clerk of the Course declared it good to go. We went, but it was far from good – with large amounts of standing water. Kevin and Alan were on pole with Eddy and Mogli alongside, Jon and Ian on row two with David and Des. Non-starters were Vince and Paul, Vince stalling the XS Yamaha at the start; also Tim and Della with ignition gremlins. One front runner to quickly take to the grass was Kevin and Alan, their off-road experience not helping them this time – gone on lap two. The conditions were dire – the big BMW of Jon and Ian not liking them at all, to the point we overtook them, leading them around until on the last lap at The Chicane when I drove too cautiously and allowed the BMW to get the run on me to the bottom of The Mountain. At the flag P3 went to Eddy and Mogli, David and Des second and third Mike and Dave. Ian and Roy were top P2 again, whilst P1 win went to John Ryder with Ron and Belinda second aboard their immaculate No.101 BMW.

After the race the crews stopped at the Scrutineering Bay where Bill Barrowcliff awarded his much prized trophies. Best turned out outfit – the immaculate and very fast 750 of Ian and Roy on the Simper BMW. Most impressive lady went to Della Bufton, whilst fastest lap went to the white No.66 of Kevin and Alan; performance of the day went to Eddy and Mogli. A huge thanks to Bill for his support once again for the slidies.

Race 36 – Monday – a much better day weather-wise, dry and sunny, perfect as the slidies headed out. Pole this time went to Eddy and Mogli with Kevin and Alan alongside; row two Jon and Ian with David and Des alongside. Disaster struck the orange No.9 outfit of Eddy and Mogli as they pulled into the collecting area – their clutch cable snapped – their pole gone and the race over before it had begun.

Ian Champ and Robert Cook pulled off into retirement on lap three; the following lap Vince knocked his carb off at the top of the Mountain – they too ground to a halt – cheap to fix though! We were having a battle royal with class sponsor Dave Gristwood and Mike Bellaby – our MRE Imp powering round the outside of the D&D chassis, Moorespeed powered BMW, only to be out-braked into Park on the inside, not once but twice. To avoid a third time we blocked the inside and yes, Mike powered round us this time –a great, great race – our last chance of success was when the No.5 outfit took an odd route into the Mountain which included large amounts of kerb, all over the place, we nearly, nearly had them but sadly only nearly –a great return for Kevin back into CRMC racing. At the flag it was the No.66 outfit of Kevin and Alan that took the win with Jon and Ian second and David and Des third. The 750 chargers of Ian and Roy Period 2 winners again. Period 1 John Ryder and Derek Drury with Ron and Belinda second.

So ended a great weekend of sidecar racing – a great return for Kevin and on aggregate a fine first podium for Phil “the Pirate” Luhr and Dave “Buddha” Currell. Phil offered a big thank you to everybody at the Helen Avenue race prep shop, especially the engine builders and tea makers.

See you all, and more, at Anglesey – it’s a hell of a way but a great track and well worth the travelling. Will the sun shine – I hope so but we are talking Wales here!

Ian Johnson

[Bak189]

Thanks Ian....a outstanding race report for us "Old Guys" who race "slides"......