20 August 2010 14:31 - Ian Johnson -There’s plenty of Hype at Anglesey
There’s plenty of Hype at Anglesey
After the Knockhill hike Anglesey should have been a breeze at a mere 300 miles. However the M25 managed to delay our departure by some 4 hours; the M6 closure managed to delay our ETA even further, and so it was a record 3.00a.m. arrival at Anglesey where we discovered everybody had gone to bed – what an unsociable lot!! We did manage to arrive before the Kingsmill race truck; Des had overtaken us about an hour out from Anglesey but had to pull over when his eyes kept seeing double and refused to focus properly.
Practice was wet – well it’s Wales, but most people found their way round. The grid had been joined by the Bros.Toombs and respective partners, Messrs Dowty and Johnson (no relation), and Richard Holmes and brother Roger on the Lynx Saab. Dave le Pavoux and Adam Lambert were back as a team aboard the ex-Etheridge Imp. The only man really struggling was David Johnson (relation) who was suffering from zero oil pressure. Sadly despite working on the outfit all day plus some, the bung, sorry fault, could not be found until the outfit was back in the workshop.
Saturday Race 1 – With a damp track the grid headed out to do battle. As the season progresses we seem to get further away from the pole position. Clive Faulkner’s chair man Brian Robson had injured himself on one of those two wheeled things, so Clive had poached Des Kingsmill. Lap 1 and Matt and Alan were in front, the track suiting Matt’s style, Eddie and Vicky in second with Simon third with the main man Dave Gristwood back in the chair. The Tapsells were flying, holding 5th spot ahead of Hyperian I, us and Hyperian II. By lap 3 we were out – a dead battery. The two Daves in P1 were really pushing the limits, from tarmac to grass in the imaginatively named Turn 1. At the flag it was Matt and Alan aboard the MRE BMW followed by Eddy and Vicky on the Bellas Imp and Ray and Ted aboard the Honda, with the Tapsells holding a strong 5th spot. Top P1 was Eddy Toombs and Bob Dowty’s BMW with Dennis and Christine aboard the Norton and the two Daves now back on the black stuff. Top P2 was Brian Toombs and Trevor Johnson’s BMW with Reg and Kerry’s BSA power and Andy Rayner and Loraine Bown on the mighty Triumph. Richard’s battery had failed on his way to the grid; Phil the Pirate was down to three cylinders, the Latherons clutch cable failed and the Bellaby/Underwood Wessie had also failed to play – still there’s always another race.
And here it is – Race 2 – now nice and dry. We had a new battery – well Nick Robinson’s spare, Richard had new sparks, Mike and Karl had seemingly fixed their Wessie; however, Dave and Keith had failed to get their Wessie running. Lap 1 Eddy and Vicky were in front of Matt and Alan with Simon and Dave third. Mike was doing a better job than me charging through the field – by lap 2 he was in fourth right behind his nemesis the green No.73 of Simon and Dave. Next lap we too had passed Ray and Ted to join the 73/26 battle. After the shortest five laps that was it – Eddy and Vicky finishing just 1.1 seconds ahead of Matt and Alan – a gap of some 20 seconds and the rest of us flooded home, Simon, Mike, us, Ray and Clint aboard Hyperian I. Top P1 was again Eddy and Bob with Dennis and Christine second and the two Daves. P2 Brian and Trevor followed by Reg and Kerry and Andy and Loraine.
Saturday concluded with the now legendary Gristwood BBQ and karaoke – food by Lisa Johnson and David – music by Dennis and Christine – caterwauling by various slideys. A great time had by all; shame the weather turned, even more of a shame some numpty forgot the awning roof!!
Sunday Race 1 – beautiful sunshine – what could go wrong? Well, as it turned out just about everything; the results sheet shows eleven finishers and twelve non-finishers. Richard and Roger failed to start due to a broken gearbox, Brian and Trevor had low oil pressure, Reg and Kerry had an ignition fault and Phil and Buddha failed to start along with Dave and Adam. We made it to the grid but were then thrown off because somebody was dropping oil “NOT US” but off we went. Sadly the race was red flagged when Karl left the No.26 Wessie at the end of the Corkscrew; he apparently exited in some style but in the process damaged his wrist and shoulder. Whilst Karl was being seen to, Eddy and Vicky returned to the pits to repair a hose; sadly this is against the rules and Rules is Rules, so he couldn’t make the restart. Simon and Dave were thrown off the grid for an oil leak – ah, so it was them not us!! The now somewhat depleted field set off for a five lap sprint; Matt and Alan led all the way without that pesky orange Imp to hassle him. A fantastic second for Hyperian I, Clint and Ben with Ray and Ted in third and Dave and Keith fourth – a start and a finish at last. Top P1 Eddy and Bob with Dennis and Christine and the two Daves; P2 Andy and Loraine. What a fiasco but more importantly Karl will be OK – shaken but not stirred!
Race 2 – Due to all the excitement of the last race we found ourselves at the back of the grid with Eddy and Simon. The plan was for the 73 and 33 outfits to follow 9 to the front. By the end of the first lap Eddy and Vicky were indeed in second place behind Matt and Alan; we had Simon behind us but still half the field in front. In a moment of over exuberance trying to pass Hyperian II, Clive “the Boss” Faulkner, we went wide at the left top of the hill, my foot caught the kerbing which in turn snapped the brake pedal off, so ending our dire weekend. At the sharp end Matt had stayed in front of Eddy with Hyperian I third – another fantastic result. Dave and Keith managed to get the Wessie home in 6th. P1 was once again won by Eddy and Bob with the two Daves in second place, with Reg and Kerry showing Andy and Loraine the way home in P2.
So, our second trip to Wales passed – a bit hard on the machinery. Clint and Ben on Hyperian I had a fantastic weekend; Karl, if he gives his arm time, will mend.
So, Donington next – it was a fantastic circuit and hopefully still is. As I write this they still don’t have a track licence – perhaps I won’t buy my race fuel just yet!!
Ian Johnson