We set off for Snetterton with me fully expecting to race in torrential rain, as all of my previous visits to the track with a sidecar have featured absolute downpours, however we arrived in fine sunshine and set up camp in the sidecar paddock that had been set up by Phil "Pikey Pirate" Luhr and the lovely Michelle. We immediately annexed a portion of the paddock, declaring unilateral independence from the Evil Green Empire.
After the team had set up everything, we relaxed in the sun and; other than purchasing some very reasonably priced gearbox parts from the ever helpful Dennis Etheridge; restricted ourselves to watching the mammoth task of Gristwood and Toms setting up their paddock area, which appears to have expanded to resemble a Medicin Sans Frontiers refugee camp! The pirate celebrated the completion of this amazing feat by hoisting a Jolly Roger atop a 25' pole!
The weather held for Saturday, and practice was held in perfect conditions. The bike again ran superbly, and only required fuelling up for the first race. This was the first time we had used a new fuel additive. A friend of the team; Annie, who runs the magnificent Capon Vincent, (ridden by another longtime friend, Barry Gooding) had run back-to-back dyno tests with this additive, comparing it to a 50% Av-Gas mix, and had found that the Vincent reached peak power over 3 seconds quicker. Annie was kind enough to let us try some of this magic formula to see what we thought.
The first Saturday race was fantastic with us leading a midfield group of four Imp outfits. Clive Faulkner & Christine Etheridge, Clive son Clint & Ben "Rock God" Gray and Dave le Pavoux & Andy Mardlin chased us hard for five of the six laps. At some points the four Imps were nose-to-tail, and on more than one occasion, we all went into Russell's chicane four abreast! Unfortunately, on the last lap I ran into the chicane to hot, the back wheel came up about a foot, and Clint shot past us on the grass. We got the bike back under control, but we lost the ensuing drag race to the line by less than 0.4 of a second. Exciting stuff! Unfortunately Clive's Imp didn't seem to enjoy the race as much as the drivers and passengers, and decided to eat a big end as he returned to the paddock. Our On The Edge Racing team mates, Andy Rayner and Chris Adams (Loraine was busy elsewhere, stalking James Toseland) had a good ride to finish second of the Period 2 class, but did get clattered by the race leader going into Russell's on the last lap.
The second race was much the same and the 3 remaining Imps from our group continued the battle but at about three quarters race distance, Clint really managed to get the bit between his teeth and pull a gap over us and Dave and Andy. I really was a great bit of driving and neither us nor the Gristwood and Toms Imp could catch him. We eventually finished 18 second in front of Dave and Andy, but a similar distance down on Clive and Ben. Unfortunately Andy and Chris suffered mechanical problems, bending both exhaust pushrods, and lost important championship points to Reg & Kerry Charlesworth on their 750 BSA. Sadly this put them out of the rest of the meeting.
After enjoying a fantastic performance by Ben's band we retired to our sumptuous accommodation to prepare for the next day's racing
The rain held off for Sunday, but it was overcast with quite a cold wind, some we had to forsake the shorts that we had worn on the previous day.
The first race on Sunday saw normal service resume with Clint and Ben making the break again, with the OTE/G&T battle resuming behind them. On the fourth lap, a few spots of rain appeared on my visor and I slowed a little due to decreased grip causing a huge slide going onto the back straight, Dave capitalised on this, and shot past us. We managed to pull a lot back on the brakes at the scary left-hander at the bottom of the straight, but going into the Bombhole, race leaders Eddy Wright & Vicky Cooke passed us, very closely followed by Brain Gray and Alan Bedford, this forced us to ease a little and Dave and Andy beat us to the line by 5 or so seconds. That's racing! On the slowing down lap we noticed a clicking noise coming from the bike and feared that we had cracked a front disc. Subsequent investigation confirmed that the problem was not that serious but was spectacular, the intermediate drive chain had got so hot that it had welded some of the links together!
We fitted a new chain, and went out for the last race of the weekend, this was almost a replay of the race before, Dave got past us and we set off after him again. This time Eddy & Vicky caught us at the fast lefthander and the 2 bikes ended going into the corner with all 6 wheels locked! Again we lost ground on Dave who was driving brilliantly, but Vicky did give us a thumbs up for not holding them up, which was nice.
The next race is at Cadwell Park on the 10th/11th of October where we hope to get the better of the guys we were racing with at Snetterton. We also have a handicap race on the Sunday which should be exciting, as; if the handicappers get it right, all 28 outfits should arrive at the last corner together. At Cadwell, the sidecar crews will be giving "taxi rides" to members of the public. All being well, I shall have 15 year old Laurel in the chair, as her dad, John, looks on not worrying so much about his daughters safety, but more about how much it is going to cost him if she likes it!
All the best.
Nick