After Somme-like conditions at Darley Moor, the team trundled down the M1 once again, this time to Donington Park.
When we got there, Ian "Scargill" Johnson (our beloved sidecar rep. and owner of a fine 1970's pornstar moustache) had roped off an area of the paddock exclusively for the use of the 3 wheeled guys and gals.
We set about erecting the tent on the tarmac paddock, and ended up having to rope it to anything that didn't move. Unfortunately, Dave Currell hadn't arrived at this point, so we roped one end of the tent to a Vauxhall estate car.
In the first Friday morning practice, the new, heavy-duty brake acctuating rod that we had fitted after seeing Clive's problem a Pembrey proved to be a bit too heavy duty, it was jamming on the chassis and locking the brakes on. Andy and I set about the rod with Dave Gristwood's angle grinder and "lightened" the rod a little. This weight reduction must have worked, as the bike was a hell of a lot faster in the second practice.
The first race on Sunday went very well, the only incident of note happened on the first lap, as we went through the first corner, Redgate, we were passing Reg and Kerry Charlesworth on the inside, at exactly the same time, Alan Cavey and Roger Holmes decided to go around the outside. It was a bit tight as we went into Craner Curve, with Reg's sidecar wheelarch now sporting a yellow stripe, carefully applied by Alan's Triumph. After 5 more incident free laps, we finished the race 7th in class and best placed novices. Unfortunately our rivals for championship position, Phil Luhr and "Buddah" Currell ran a big-end during this race, so the hoped for dicing between them and us throughout the weekend didn't materialise. We want to beat them in the championship, but not like this. Bad luck lads.
For the second race on Saturday, we were feeling very positive as we took our place on the grid, until the flag dropped, and I discovered that I had the bike in third gear instead of first....what an idiot! After being dead last off of the grid, we were lucky to finish 6th in class, and again best novices. To be fair, it was a bit of a boring race for us, as once we had passed a couple of the slower outfits, we didn't have anyone to race with, and circulated pretty much on our own. Still we faired better than Reg and Kerry, who failed to start due to a pebble jammed in the primary drive of their BSA. Shelli also had a slightly slower ride around the track, passengering Dennis & Christine Etheridge's Norton Dominator/Garrard road-going outfit in the Norton Owner's Club parade. thanks for that Den and Chris.
At the end of the racing on Saturday, we checked the bike over and watched as Andy Rayner and Chris Adams adjusted their newly painted Triumphs carburation, following advice from Dennis. We then adjourned to the Redgate Lodge for a couple of hops-based beverages. Whilst we were enjoying our single half of shandy each, we got into conversation with Eddy Wright, who recommended that I rev the bike to 9000 RPM instead of the 8500 I have been using up to now. We decided this was either going to make us faster or land us with a BIG bill!!
The race on Sunday was pretty straight forward, I revved the bike to 9000 as per Mr. Wrights instructions, and it didn't go bang...........but it did go 4 seconds a lap quicker. Ian Johnson and Kevin Roughan's Imp otfit did a very good impersonation of the Torrey Canyon on lap one, as they disappeared in a cloud of oil smoke at the Old Hairpin on lap one. At least Ian won't have to buy waterproofs now, his leathers will never leak with that amount of oil on them. Reg and Kerry's disappointment continues as he manage to knock one carburettor off of the bike on lap 2. Andy and Chris improved their lap times by 11 seconds in this race........what an achievement.
Away from the track, Howard Gee has bought an Imp outfit (in kit form) we are currently rebuilding this, and he hopes to be racing it next season, in On The Edge Racing livery.
In addition, Andy Rayner and Loraine Bown/Chris Adams are running in our colours ffom now on. I've just collected the newly finished bodywork up from Coates Sign's and it looks fantastic.
All we need now is a 40 foot artic, and we can begin to rival the Evil Green Empire for paddock domination!
We are at Brands Hatch next, which Shelli is looking forward to. See you there?
Nick