Lily
Pink Totty
sorry it's a bit long but here goes...
Well I may as well do one as it's the first race!!
After much anticipation and excitement and lack of sleep we were packed up and off to Mallory on Saturday lunchtime. After getting stuck in Derby services when some twonk managed to take the slip road so fast he wiped the huge sign out we finally arrived and settled in for the wait to get in the paddock.
Carnage setting up the awning as it was horrific weather. Huge thank to Jimbers and mate (sorry don't know your name) and the rest of the crew and we were finally set up and ready for the grim night ahead.
Steak and champagne were on the menu and some great company before retiring for a noisy/windy night in the van.
Up early, van keys missing and leathers are locked in the back... hmmmm. Scrutineer bikes then find keys and get finished and signed on.
Having only ridden Mallory once 2 weeks ago and not really liking it I was dreading qualifying as I tend to struggle at the best of times. I got to front of queue and after some barging was about 10th on track and hoped for some clear space. This went generally ok although my one flying lap and I came up on Tim sat upright at Edwinas. Thinking his shoulder had given up and passed wide and head down again. Come in to find I have managed 8th on the grid!!! Fantastic and a flipping miracle!
I had booked SV to try and scrub new tyres but not enough time to swap wheels so stuck with the old tyres instead and did 2 laps of SV qualy before calling it quits to save tyre life.
First race all too soon and we are on the grid. I have a good clear line but as per my usual efforts the lights go out and I sit still!! Once most of the grid have passed me I set off and decide round the outside is the only option!! I pick off quite a few then get my head down and start to set my sights on those in front. First target was Pete and it took some effort but I made it past, then it was Rich C who was playing hard to get. Dived under him into Edwinas and I was away after Paul Payne but this looked an impossible task. Just into 2nd to last lap and Pete is back past me...arrrghhh. Last lap and I know my chance has to be hairpin. Paul goes deep and Pete is on good line. I park it on the inside and try to get out before them. Paul gets the drive and is off but I have the edge on Pete.. but he's not giving... oh @@@@!! my bottle went and he had the racing edge and got into the bus stop in front of me - Nice work fella. I decided to nail it out and see what I could do... we crossed the line almost level.. but he had 100th on me!! 10th place though and I was fairly pleased!!
Lots of sitting around, eating cake and watching the Class B boys and girls (hope you are ok Mark!) and I got tired and lethargic. Would have quite happily packed up and gone home as the adrenalin had passed. But we had a race to do.
I cannot believe how badly this start went
It seemed like the whole grid had passed me. I tried for my usually hard lines into first corner but there were bikes on every line and although I made a bit of ground I was stuck in a rabble into Edwinas and watched as AliK and everyone started to get away. I had to start chasing and making some progress. AliB was first then onto NickB.. past Nick but he dived back under me at hairpin.. sneaky bugger!! I got him back as he seemed to be lacking drive round Gerrards and I had the grunt on him.
Next target was Trouty and he was proving tricky. Finally stuffed it under him into Edwinas but had a boggy exit and let him catch back up and then he took me into Hairpin. Followed for another lap trying to get past when Jon stuffs me up the inside as well... grrrr!! Now have two of them. I have them in sight at Gerrards and as Trouty starts to run out wide with Jon on the outside
I keep it pinned and hope for the best. I park it in front of both of them into Edwinas.. woohooo! i get the drive and take it so tight into the hairpin so no one can get up the inside.. but.. I am in neutrall. arrrg no drive.. I bang it into gear as I see trouty going deep.. but i get 3rd.. eeek! i splutter round the corner with no drive and trouty is gone, shortly followed by Jon, damn what a waste of my pass at edwinas I knew Nick was gonna be close behind to I hold it to the line and get it finished. Great race and enjoyed the dicing even though I knew it wasn't a great finish. Came home 15th, not great but points in the bag.
All in all a good weekend. For a circuit I have ridden once and not raced at and really don't like I was fairly pleased with the outcome and we are home in one piece which is good.
Well done to everyone that raced and thanks to all the supporters!! Hope the fallers are not too stiff today.
Huge thanks to Bob (Diggerman) and Viv for their bike, amazing support and great food, big thanks also to Buzz for coming to watch.
Roll on Oulton!
Well I may as well do one as it's the first race!!
After much anticipation and excitement and lack of sleep we were packed up and off to Mallory on Saturday lunchtime. After getting stuck in Derby services when some twonk managed to take the slip road so fast he wiped the huge sign out we finally arrived and settled in for the wait to get in the paddock.
Carnage setting up the awning as it was horrific weather. Huge thank to Jimbers and mate (sorry don't know your name) and the rest of the crew and we were finally set up and ready for the grim night ahead.
Steak and champagne were on the menu and some great company before retiring for a noisy/windy night in the van.
Up early, van keys missing and leathers are locked in the back... hmmmm. Scrutineer bikes then find keys and get finished and signed on.
Having only ridden Mallory once 2 weeks ago and not really liking it I was dreading qualifying as I tend to struggle at the best of times. I got to front of queue and after some barging was about 10th on track and hoped for some clear space. This went generally ok although my one flying lap and I came up on Tim sat upright at Edwinas. Thinking his shoulder had given up and passed wide and head down again. Come in to find I have managed 8th on the grid!!! Fantastic and a flipping miracle!
I had booked SV to try and scrub new tyres but not enough time to swap wheels so stuck with the old tyres instead and did 2 laps of SV qualy before calling it quits to save tyre life.
First race all too soon and we are on the grid. I have a good clear line but as per my usual efforts the lights go out and I sit still!! Once most of the grid have passed me I set off and decide round the outside is the only option!! I pick off quite a few then get my head down and start to set my sights on those in front. First target was Pete and it took some effort but I made it past, then it was Rich C who was playing hard to get. Dived under him into Edwinas and I was away after Paul Payne but this looked an impossible task. Just into 2nd to last lap and Pete is back past me...arrrghhh. Last lap and I know my chance has to be hairpin. Paul goes deep and Pete is on good line. I park it on the inside and try to get out before them. Paul gets the drive and is off but I have the edge on Pete.. but he's not giving... oh @@@@!! my bottle went and he had the racing edge and got into the bus stop in front of me - Nice work fella. I decided to nail it out and see what I could do... we crossed the line almost level.. but he had 100th on me!! 10th place though and I was fairly pleased!!
Lots of sitting around, eating cake and watching the Class B boys and girls (hope you are ok Mark!) and I got tired and lethargic. Would have quite happily packed up and gone home as the adrenalin had passed. But we had a race to do.
I cannot believe how badly this start went
It seemed like the whole grid had passed me. I tried for my usually hard lines into first corner but there were bikes on every line and although I made a bit of ground I was stuck in a rabble into Edwinas and watched as AliK and everyone started to get away. I had to start chasing and making some progress. AliB was first then onto NickB.. past Nick but he dived back under me at hairpin.. sneaky bugger!! I got him back as he seemed to be lacking drive round Gerrards and I had the grunt on him.Next target was Trouty and he was proving tricky. Finally stuffed it under him into Edwinas but had a boggy exit and let him catch back up and then he took me into Hairpin. Followed for another lap trying to get past when Jon stuffs me up the inside as well... grrrr!! Now have two of them. I have them in sight at Gerrards and as Trouty starts to run out wide with Jon on the outside
I keep it pinned and hope for the best. I park it in front of both of them into Edwinas.. woohooo! i get the drive and take it so tight into the hairpin so no one can get up the inside.. but.. I am in neutrall. arrrg no drive.. I bang it into gear as I see trouty going deep.. but i get 3rd.. eeek! i splutter round the corner with no drive and trouty is gone, shortly followed by Jon, damn what a waste of my pass at edwinas I knew Nick was gonna be close behind to I hold it to the line and get it finished. Great race and enjoyed the dicing even though I knew it wasn't a great finish. Came home 15th, not great but points in the bag.All in all a good weekend. For a circuit I have ridden once and not raced at and really don't like I was fairly pleased with the outcome and we are home in one piece which is good.
Well done to everyone that raced and thanks to all the supporters!! Hope the fallers are not too stiff today.
Huge thanks to Bob (Diggerman) and Viv for their bike, amazing support and great food, big thanks also to Buzz for coming to watch.
Roll on Oulton!
I need to be more focussed on the job in hand rather than just watching the lights.
