Silverstone 2012 - Thursday & Friday
We have lift off !
Thursday 11th / Friday 12th October 2012 (Test day)
Travelled up in the rain. Unpacked in the rain. And Mike got up at 2am on Friday morning, in the rain, to tell us that our gazebo was upside down against his camper van. One bungy stretched to its limit, with its coil of metal almost totally unwound, held the thing from going any further. Getting the sides off when they’re velcroed round the legs which were sticking up in the air was hard work – Tracy working on the dangerous side where the bungy was. We freed the structure and were just about to carry it back to the garage when the speaker
next to us from the PA system exploded into life with a roaring noise. A microphone in the offices had fallen against the window and was picking up the noise of the gusts of wind. Security couldn’t get into the office so we all had to put up with it till morning and the majority of the people in the paddock got no sleep at all. Pretty poor show Silverstone!
The 750 sounded a little woolly for the first five laps but it settled down. Chris settled into the practice day, riding smoothly and endeavouring to overcome his nervousness during braking.
Sunshine on all of us that afternoon. Everyone’s a little weary from lack of sleep. I still had no gazebo as I was pit crew for Chris all day. Everything had been pushed into the garage during the night and we piled it up in the corner till Jim and Ashley arrived. Gav and Lou joined us much earlier than planned so Gav made the gazebo safe so I could put all our stuff back in again.
The camping area was an enormous distance away so Jim and Ashley decided to sleep in the garage. We built a little creche round Ashley in case it was draughty and to stop him being scared - Chris’ leathers hanging above him so he could reach up and touch them for reassurance. Jim set his bed down in front of Ron Chandler’s bikes to act as security.
Travelled up in the rain. Unpacked in the rain. And Mike got up at 2am on Friday morning, in the rain, to tell us that our gazebo was upside down against his camper van. One bungy stretched to its limit, with its coil of metal almost totally unwound, held the thing from going any further. Getting the sides off when they’re velcroed round the legs which were sticking up in the air was hard work – Tracy working on the dangerous side where the bungy was. We freed the structure and were just about to carry it back to the garage when the speaker
next to us from the PA system exploded into life with a roaring noise. A microphone in the offices had fallen against the window and was picking up the noise of the gusts of wind. Security couldn’t get into the office so we all had to put up with it till morning and the majority of the people in the paddock got no sleep at all. Pretty poor show Silverstone!
The 750 sounded a little woolly for the first five laps but it settled down. Chris settled into the practice day, riding smoothly and endeavouring to overcome his nervousness during braking.
Sunshine on all of us that afternoon. Everyone’s a little weary from lack of sleep. I still had no gazebo as I was pit crew for Chris all day. Everything had been pushed into the garage during the night and we piled it up in the corner till Jim and Ashley arrived. Gav and Lou joined us much earlier than planned so Gav made the gazebo safe so I could put all our stuff back in again.
The camping area was an enormous distance away so Jim and Ashley decided to sleep in the garage. We built a little creche round Ashley in case it was draughty and to stop him being scared - Chris’ leathers hanging above him so he could reach up and touch them for reassurance. Jim set his bed down in front of Ron Chandler’s bikes to act as security.
Silverstone 2012 - Saturday
The two men in Lou's life
Saturday 13th October 2012
We’d been up at least an hour and a half before Gavin remembered it was Chris’ birthday. Woops. Ashley had tea in bed and Jim was up by half seven - the sweepstake’s becoming a thing of the past! Lesley drove up and spent the day with us before heading off to a party and Martin arrived during practice sporting a manly scar below his eye from a recent Trials incident.
Practice 1 was delayed for a long time due to a sidecar’s oil trail. Chris’ sessions went fine. A little oil seeping from somewhere the only thing to keep an eye on.
The first race held was the sidecars where there was a start line accident. One of them couldn’t get moving and was driven into, causing a long delay.
Lunch was called at 12:15 with no races completed. Chris’ first race the 1300 Multis, last race of the championship. 4th on the grid. Finished 2nd in class. An excellent result making him finish 3rd in the championship (to be confirmed officially), with Mike taking 2nd and Cormac 1st.
Next the Formula 750 – started 11th, finished 10th.
The following race Chris was 4th on the grid but unfortunately cooked the clutch and had to ease off for two laps before the clutch started biting again. He lost a lot of ground and had to settle for 12th place on track.
Seven members of Chris’ family arrived during the afternoon to support Chris over the rest of the weekend. In the 1300 National, with the clutch sorted, Chris finished 7th on the 750. The last three races were postponed until the Sunday, due to poor light.
It started to rain the moment Martin was ready to leave to ride home. As there were so many of us we decided to move into the garage for the evening so we could spread out more. We put some fan heaters on in there to warm the place as it was becoming quite cold. Twelve of us for supper that evening!
I think all our lot had turned in by 11.30pm but the clubhouse music went on till midnight. I could hear it through my chainsaw ear plugs. Sighing with relief when it suddenly went silent I must have fallen asleep straight away, but on Sunday a number of people said the party was resumed in the next garage block and they were kept awake for ages by it. No consideration for anyone by some people. The CRMC stipulate that generators must be silent by 11pm but the loud music and the noise from pissed-up people into the early hours disturbs everyone’s sleep far more than most generators would.
We’d been up at least an hour and a half before Gavin remembered it was Chris’ birthday. Woops. Ashley had tea in bed and Jim was up by half seven - the sweepstake’s becoming a thing of the past! Lesley drove up and spent the day with us before heading off to a party and Martin arrived during practice sporting a manly scar below his eye from a recent Trials incident.
Practice 1 was delayed for a long time due to a sidecar’s oil trail. Chris’ sessions went fine. A little oil seeping from somewhere the only thing to keep an eye on.
The first race held was the sidecars where there was a start line accident. One of them couldn’t get moving and was driven into, causing a long delay.
Lunch was called at 12:15 with no races completed. Chris’ first race the 1300 Multis, last race of the championship. 4th on the grid. Finished 2nd in class. An excellent result making him finish 3rd in the championship (to be confirmed officially), with Mike taking 2nd and Cormac 1st.
Next the Formula 750 – started 11th, finished 10th.
The following race Chris was 4th on the grid but unfortunately cooked the clutch and had to ease off for two laps before the clutch started biting again. He lost a lot of ground and had to settle for 12th place on track.
Seven members of Chris’ family arrived during the afternoon to support Chris over the rest of the weekend. In the 1300 National, with the clutch sorted, Chris finished 7th on the 750. The last three races were postponed until the Sunday, due to poor light.
It started to rain the moment Martin was ready to leave to ride home. As there were so many of us we decided to move into the garage for the evening so we could spread out more. We put some fan heaters on in there to warm the place as it was becoming quite cold. Twelve of us for supper that evening!
I think all our lot had turned in by 11.30pm but the clubhouse music went on till midnight. I could hear it through my chainsaw ear plugs. Sighing with relief when it suddenly went silent I must have fallen asleep straight away, but on Sunday a number of people said the party was resumed in the next garage block and they were kept awake for ages by it. No consideration for anyone by some people. The CRMC stipulate that generators must be silent by 11pm but the loud music and the noise from pissed-up people into the early hours disturbs everyone’s sleep far more than most generators would.
Silverstone 2012 - Sunday
1300 Multi's Race of the Year 2012 Winner
Sunday 14th October 2012
First race of the day and Cormac’s got a misfire. Stacey Killworth crashed in front of Chris on the straight after
touching the wet white line. The bike went one way, the rider the other and Chris managed to ride between the two. We then had to have a pause with total silence for Church Service to be conducted down the road at 11:15am.
The next race (Post Classics) included Guy Martin on the grid. Unfortunately he stalled on the line and couldn’t get re-started, but Chris came home in 4th.
Then in the Race of the Year – for the 1300 Multi's, Cormac pulled off at the end of the warm-up and Chris made the most of Cormac's misfortune and finished 1st in class with Mike 2nd and Bob Hansford 3rd.
All this time the 750’s oil weep had been kept in check but during the Formula 750 Race of the Year, Chris found it had got suddenly worse. He finished the race amazingly only dropping to 10th place and came in with oil over the tyres and brakes, so made the wise decision to call it a day.
Listening to comments from around the paddock it seems that no-one was very impressed with Silverstone’s track. Featureless and boring, with not a lot of run-off in places - was the most common moan from riders. The garages were a great size but the floor was absolutely lethal when wet. For £60/day rental per garage you’d think they’d make enough to put a different surface down.
Team W.A.N.C.A would like to thank everyone who has supported us during the 2012 season. Chris will be dismantling the Rob North next to see what needs doing. The engine is due for a strip down this year anyway so he’ll get a good look at it all. We’ll keep the web site updated regularly during the winter months to inform and entertain you.
Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
First race of the day and Cormac’s got a misfire. Stacey Killworth crashed in front of Chris on the straight after
touching the wet white line. The bike went one way, the rider the other and Chris managed to ride between the two. We then had to have a pause with total silence for Church Service to be conducted down the road at 11:15am.
The next race (Post Classics) included Guy Martin on the grid. Unfortunately he stalled on the line and couldn’t get re-started, but Chris came home in 4th.
Then in the Race of the Year – for the 1300 Multi's, Cormac pulled off at the end of the warm-up and Chris made the most of Cormac's misfortune and finished 1st in class with Mike 2nd and Bob Hansford 3rd.
All this time the 750’s oil weep had been kept in check but during the Formula 750 Race of the Year, Chris found it had got suddenly worse. He finished the race amazingly only dropping to 10th place and came in with oil over the tyres and brakes, so made the wise decision to call it a day.
Listening to comments from around the paddock it seems that no-one was very impressed with Silverstone’s track. Featureless and boring, with not a lot of run-off in places - was the most common moan from riders. The garages were a great size but the floor was absolutely lethal when wet. For £60/day rental per garage you’d think they’d make enough to put a different surface down.
Team W.A.N.C.A would like to thank everyone who has supported us during the 2012 season. Chris will be dismantling the Rob North next to see what needs doing. The engine is due for a strip down this year anyway so he’ll get a good look at it all. We’ll keep the web site updated regularly during the winter months to inform and entertain you.
Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Donnington 2012 - Friday & Saturday
Friday 10th August 2012
If you want to experience the feeling that a plane is going to land in your living room, then Donington is the place for it. And you can get that feeling every twenty minutes. Throughout the weekend Gavin was suffering a type of shell shock from the aircraft noise and I found their lights and enormous wingspan bearing down on me, when I was heading across the paddock in the dark from the toilets, quite menacing. The journey up to the circuit had been slow and tedious and it was lovely to settle into the warm evening and eat and drink with friends.
Saturday 11th August
First practice and Chris came off at the first corner on a new tyre and went heavily into the gravel trap. All hands rushed to the garage to sort out the bike. Luckily he’s still using the old fairing so the extra scrape marks mingled in nicely. The exhaust was taken off as it was full of stones. Gear and brake levers were replaced and a new rose joint put on the gear linkage. I left them to it and made tea and stayed out of the way. I noticed that the planes were coming over with much less frequency that morning than they had been the previous night. Bastards. Spike’s T500 Suzuki holed a piston at 11,000 revs in practice and afterwards he made the most of suddenly having nothing to do and sat drinking wine in the gazebo.
The first race Chris made, still on an unscrubbed-in new tyre, he came in on the warm up lap with a misfire. The alternator and the black box had gone down. (Thank you Brendan for supplying another alternator) The problem was fixed and Chris set out for his next race, STILL on an unscrubbed-in new tyre. He did the warm up and got a good start in the race but during the first lap the bike cut out so he got a DNF. Back at the garage, this time they have volts but no sparks. (Gavin looks mildly irritated) The Pazon has gone down now. It all started to look serious and as I was no use at all in the garage I sat and listened to a swiftly mellowing Spike - he said he enjoyed piercing his nipples so much he did the right one twice!
Lou arrived at lunch time from her parents’. She said she thought she should make it to this meeting if she could as the first time she missed one Gavin brought a motorbike and the second time he took all his clothes off.
Saint Brendan of Ryan lent Chris a complete Boyer ignition system, without which we wouldn’t be racing at all. Working tremendously hard all afternoon and most of the evening they got the ignition system on but it couldn’t be timed up due to noise restriction after hours ... despite the fact that the circuit is right next to an airport, go figure !
There was nothing to be done but close up for the night. While all this was going on Lou and I had prepared ourselves and our surroundings for dumpling manufacture for the stew Chris had made for supper. There was much discussion on the best way to tackle the job as we had a serious lack of equipment but things became a hell of a lot easier when Tracy produced some kitchen scales. I managed to get the stuff everywhere because my niece rang me to ask how to start her mower just as I plunged my hands into the bowl. Lou and I balled the dough and the dumplings cooked on the stew and were absolutely lovely! We’ll have them again. Lou suggested it would be easier to make them at home and freeze them. She’s far too sensible for her own good that girl.
After supper we watched the Olympic 5,000 metre final and the rest of the diving on Hilary's phone. It was really good. Tony professed to be not that interested but nicked Hilary’s chair when she got up for a bit. It was nice to see everyone having a laugh after such a stressful day.
If you want to experience the feeling that a plane is going to land in your living room, then Donington is the place for it. And you can get that feeling every twenty minutes. Throughout the weekend Gavin was suffering a type of shell shock from the aircraft noise and I found their lights and enormous wingspan bearing down on me, when I was heading across the paddock in the dark from the toilets, quite menacing. The journey up to the circuit had been slow and tedious and it was lovely to settle into the warm evening and eat and drink with friends.
Saturday 11th August
First practice and Chris came off at the first corner on a new tyre and went heavily into the gravel trap. All hands rushed to the garage to sort out the bike. Luckily he’s still using the old fairing so the extra scrape marks mingled in nicely. The exhaust was taken off as it was full of stones. Gear and brake levers were replaced and a new rose joint put on the gear linkage. I left them to it and made tea and stayed out of the way. I noticed that the planes were coming over with much less frequency that morning than they had been the previous night. Bastards. Spike’s T500 Suzuki holed a piston at 11,000 revs in practice and afterwards he made the most of suddenly having nothing to do and sat drinking wine in the gazebo.
The first race Chris made, still on an unscrubbed-in new tyre, he came in on the warm up lap with a misfire. The alternator and the black box had gone down. (Thank you Brendan for supplying another alternator) The problem was fixed and Chris set out for his next race, STILL on an unscrubbed-in new tyre. He did the warm up and got a good start in the race but during the first lap the bike cut out so he got a DNF. Back at the garage, this time they have volts but no sparks. (Gavin looks mildly irritated) The Pazon has gone down now. It all started to look serious and as I was no use at all in the garage I sat and listened to a swiftly mellowing Spike - he said he enjoyed piercing his nipples so much he did the right one twice!
Lou arrived at lunch time from her parents’. She said she thought she should make it to this meeting if she could as the first time she missed one Gavin brought a motorbike and the second time he took all his clothes off.
Saint Brendan of Ryan lent Chris a complete Boyer ignition system, without which we wouldn’t be racing at all. Working tremendously hard all afternoon and most of the evening they got the ignition system on but it couldn’t be timed up due to noise restriction after hours ... despite the fact that the circuit is right next to an airport, go figure !
There was nothing to be done but close up for the night. While all this was going on Lou and I had prepared ourselves and our surroundings for dumpling manufacture for the stew Chris had made for supper. There was much discussion on the best way to tackle the job as we had a serious lack of equipment but things became a hell of a lot easier when Tracy produced some kitchen scales. I managed to get the stuff everywhere because my niece rang me to ask how to start her mower just as I plunged my hands into the bowl. Lou and I balled the dough and the dumplings cooked on the stew and were absolutely lovely! We’ll have them again. Lou suggested it would be easier to make them at home and freeze them. She’s far too sensible for her own good that girl.
After supper we watched the Olympic 5,000 metre final and the rest of the diving on Hilary's phone. It was really good. Tony professed to be not that interested but nicked Hilary’s chair when she got up for a bit. It was nice to see everyone having a laugh after such a stressful day.
Donnington 2012 - Sunday
Sunday 12th August 2012
The North was timed as soon as noise restriction was lifted but not in time for a practice. Chris’ first event was the qualifying for The Wheatcroft Trophy. The bike was not running like its normal self, having had to revert back to the three plug system and being re-jetted it accordingly. Next race Chris started at the back of the grid (37th). Finished 11th. 3rd!!!!! in class. The Wheatcroft Trophy race was next.
A good warm up lap and the bike felt fine. He did a good start but on the second lap he heard a horrible clatter and pulled in the clutch and withdrew from the race. Mark George lost his sprocket drive nut and pulled over next to Chris to wait out the race. Back at the garage they quickly realised it was a transmission problem so I packed up most of the equipment while they discussed it and we went home.
It was not a good meeting for several riders. Both Cormac’s bikes were out of action from early into the weekend. One of them they think it’s a damaged big end and the other ingested a stone and damaged a piston. Tony Rainford had both of his triples causing him problems. So he wasn’t at all happy.
The weather was divine though, with just a little rain towards the end of the day which caused many riders to fall like skittles. We had Jamie Whitham, Mike Edwards, Sean Emmett, Steve Parrish, Phil Read, Rossi’s last year’s no.46 Ducati, Yamaha race bike collections and masses of other stuff going on. Chris’ step bro Pat Robinson travelled across and came along for the day with his mate Steve. They seemed to have a good time. It was great to see Pat again.
So many people got involved with the bike mending and we thank them all. Thanks to Lou for cakes and cookies she baked. And a final thank you to the ill-bred peasant who urinated over the back of Chris’ Coke van on Friday night, making us have to walk on and smell the stinking dried patch on the tarmac all weekend. Remember, you disgusting specimen of a man, you will be found out, as your type thinks it’s so funny you’ll tell all your friends. So watch out mate because your genitals are going on our barby with you still joined to them, and every time you scream I’ll stick hot skewers through your eye-balls.
See you all at Snetterton. This is going on the web site quick as Ashley’s going on holiday.....AGAIN. (Hard Life !)
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
The North was timed as soon as noise restriction was lifted but not in time for a practice. Chris’ first event was the qualifying for The Wheatcroft Trophy. The bike was not running like its normal self, having had to revert back to the three plug system and being re-jetted it accordingly. Next race Chris started at the back of the grid (37th). Finished 11th. 3rd!!!!! in class. The Wheatcroft Trophy race was next.
A good warm up lap and the bike felt fine. He did a good start but on the second lap he heard a horrible clatter and pulled in the clutch and withdrew from the race. Mark George lost his sprocket drive nut and pulled over next to Chris to wait out the race. Back at the garage they quickly realised it was a transmission problem so I packed up most of the equipment while they discussed it and we went home.
It was not a good meeting for several riders. Both Cormac’s bikes were out of action from early into the weekend. One of them they think it’s a damaged big end and the other ingested a stone and damaged a piston. Tony Rainford had both of his triples causing him problems. So he wasn’t at all happy.
The weather was divine though, with just a little rain towards the end of the day which caused many riders to fall like skittles. We had Jamie Whitham, Mike Edwards, Sean Emmett, Steve Parrish, Phil Read, Rossi’s last year’s no.46 Ducati, Yamaha race bike collections and masses of other stuff going on. Chris’ step bro Pat Robinson travelled across and came along for the day with his mate Steve. They seemed to have a good time. It was great to see Pat again.
So many people got involved with the bike mending and we thank them all. Thanks to Lou for cakes and cookies she baked. And a final thank you to the ill-bred peasant who urinated over the back of Chris’ Coke van on Friday night, making us have to walk on and smell the stinking dried patch on the tarmac all weekend. Remember, you disgusting specimen of a man, you will be found out, as your type thinks it’s so funny you’ll tell all your friends. So watch out mate because your genitals are going on our barby with you still joined to them, and every time you scream I’ll stick hot skewers through your eye-balls.
See you all at Snetterton. This is going on the web site quick as Ashley’s going on holiday.....AGAIN. (Hard Life !)
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Beezumph 21
Thursday 19th July 2012
Everything had been carefully arranged so we could leave for Anglesey on the Thursday morning. Gavin following us with his 125 in his van. Then on the Tuesday I received a call from Chris who’d just discovered he’d not got the Thursday and the Friday off work. It transpired he’d booked them for the following week by mistake. Suddenly there was a lot of thinking to be done about the best way to handle this. (my initial thought being to bash Chris round the head with something). Gavin said he’d drop round after work and we could see how much of the equipment we could get into his Citroen Nemo. He’d just finished sorting the Honda for Beezumph but it was clear he would have to
dismantle it again to give us more space. So that is what he did.
I didn’t get a good start Wednesday with various things going wrong but during the afternoon I went through all the stuff and picked out only things we couldn’t do without. You couldn’t have squeezed a fag paper in the back once we’d finished. Also in my foot-well I had a cold bag under a twelve inch plastic cake box with a savoury delight (courtesy of my mother) on a large baking tray balanced on top. There wasn’t any room for my feet but as long as everyone gets fed eh!
Gavin went home. I sat up till Chris came back from P&M with the 750 and we unloaded it into the garage. Thursday morning and Gav arrives to do some miracle with the bread and milk I got from Tesco first thing. He did some innovative rearranging under the passenger seat to get it all in and we left mid morning, arriving at the circuit mid afternoon. Graham Redrup had a huge double garage for the rolling marshals to use and I was able to set up our living quarters in there. Grahams Redrup and Jeffrey said they’d sleep in the garage and realised that the six double strip lights were movement activated! One had visions of it being like a disco in there as the merest blink seemed to set them off. Gavin had almost finished putting his bike back together by the time we all headed for bed. The weather, like last year’s, was cool and still and dry.
Friday 20th July 2012
Very hot sunshine and a cold breeze. Gav took the Honda to sound testing and got 107! It’s a noisy little thing. He returned prematurely from the first session having braked for the top bend and found the master cylinder was in the fairing. The next session the master cylinder reservoir lost its nut and bolt and his chain tensioner and wheel adjuster came undone (where was Chris when he needed him.) He finally got a full twenty minutes out there and brought the bike in. Its seat bolt hanging on the end of a bit of gaffer tape the only thing to fix.
Alan Major’s Ducati dropped a valve and Gavin offered to share the 125 with him for the weekend. Alan enjoyed the Honda so much it looks like something along those lines could become his next bike. Graham R took one of Graham J’s bikes out for a session and decided to leave his mark and add a bit of wear further round the sides of the tyres by hanging off it big time. Gavin was having a great time but was very tired. He had a moment with the electric kettle that afternoon where he’d filled it but couldn’t get the switch to stay ‘on’. After numerous attempts it was pointed out by Dave that the kettle wasn’t on its base. Jim came up with an idea to help with the garage lights problem. He suggested putting the gazebo up in the garage with just the roof on over their sleeping area, so when the Grahams were dreaming of fighting off Britney Spears they don’t get disturbed by the lights going on and off.
Saturday 21st July 2012
Chris arrived safely and noisily at 00:45 – apologies to the Woolleys and family for waking them and then keeping them awake. We were all up early and greeted by wonderful weather. I sat out of the way as everyone faffed about. Gazing round the garage at the various leathers and how they appear on each rider, Martin Pink has distinctively David Bowie ‘Spiders from Mars’ look about him when he’s in his. After a few warm up exercises to lengthen the inner thigh tendons, Jim got his leg over Gav’s Honda, sporting polo shirt and trousers in colours matching the bike’s paintwork – dismounting, giving him slight discomfort in the forward trouser area.
Alan went out for his next session on the 125 in Race Class and had a bit of fun taunting Graham Jeffrey on his North. Chris was out for pretty much an hour and a half, just sweeping through the pit to have his Marshal’s vest put on or taken off in between sessions. Gavin took the 125 off Alan and rushed off. When he came back in he said he he’d done really well not being overtaken once in the whole twenty minutes. Then he found out he’d gone out in Touring Class instead of Quick. Graham Jeffrey had to put on knee sliders for his next outing with Alan after scuffing his leathers in their previous duel.
12:20pm. A surprise announcement that we had to vacate the garage by 6pm!!! Thank goodness Jim brought the gazebo up for us in his car. We’d have been homeless otherwise. Mid afternoon and it’s the end of the RPS for the weekend. An exhaust stub broke in two. Chris went out on Graham Jeffrey’s North and then swapped for Gav’s bike for the final session. A memorable moment for Chris was having a good tussle with Tim Woolley while testing the RPS against his 930. After getting past Tim and throwing it into the left hander just before the start/finish straight, Chris got on the power a little too early while the bike was on its side and had it absolutely sliding and just saved himself from going grass tracking. Next lap as he came up to the same corner, the marshal there wagged his finger at Chris as he passed him.
Whilst packing up the rest of the garage, Gav decided to take all his clothes off and do the first picture for the 2013 calendar (see 2012 Photo Galleries).
We had lamb hot pot instead of the Beezumph barbeque that evening. I thought it was very nice but was not impressed that there was no pudding unless you paid for it. What is the world coming to. We were in for a very strong winds that night and the Grahams had to sleep in the very creaky gazebo. On Sunday both the Coke van and the Grahams’ rental van had flat batteries. Our thanks go to everyone who helped make the weekend successful.
To Derek and Debs for the use of their oven (again) and Jim for bringing the gazebo. The Ford Transit engineer from Sunday’s car track day who informed the boys that they hadn’t a hope in hell of bump starting the rental van, no matter how long they spent pushing it round the paddock. Dave Cruickshank for his help and bad jokes throughout the weekend. The circuit for giving up a garage for bikes that couldn’t be loaded till morning. And to P&M for working so hard on the bike. (sorry it’s broken) It was good to see John Montgomery again and he was looking wonderfully young! And also good to see Carl Adams was better after he had to go into hospital for three days with blood poisoning from cleaning his cut elbow with Swarfegar after his off at Mallory. The biggest thanks has to go to Gav though for adding so much to his, already, flat out week in order that our weekend would go smoothly, and it is due to him that the honour of Chris Chapman Racing was maintained, if only on a 125.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Donnington, where the fun continues on 11th and 12th of August.
Written by Jane Chapman
Everything had been carefully arranged so we could leave for Anglesey on the Thursday morning. Gavin following us with his 125 in his van. Then on the Tuesday I received a call from Chris who’d just discovered he’d not got the Thursday and the Friday off work. It transpired he’d booked them for the following week by mistake. Suddenly there was a lot of thinking to be done about the best way to handle this. (my initial thought being to bash Chris round the head with something). Gavin said he’d drop round after work and we could see how much of the equipment we could get into his Citroen Nemo. He’d just finished sorting the Honda for Beezumph but it was clear he would have to
dismantle it again to give us more space. So that is what he did.
I didn’t get a good start Wednesday with various things going wrong but during the afternoon I went through all the stuff and picked out only things we couldn’t do without. You couldn’t have squeezed a fag paper in the back once we’d finished. Also in my foot-well I had a cold bag under a twelve inch plastic cake box with a savoury delight (courtesy of my mother) on a large baking tray balanced on top. There wasn’t any room for my feet but as long as everyone gets fed eh!
Gavin went home. I sat up till Chris came back from P&M with the 750 and we unloaded it into the garage. Thursday morning and Gav arrives to do some miracle with the bread and milk I got from Tesco first thing. He did some innovative rearranging under the passenger seat to get it all in and we left mid morning, arriving at the circuit mid afternoon. Graham Redrup had a huge double garage for the rolling marshals to use and I was able to set up our living quarters in there. Grahams Redrup and Jeffrey said they’d sleep in the garage and realised that the six double strip lights were movement activated! One had visions of it being like a disco in there as the merest blink seemed to set them off. Gavin had almost finished putting his bike back together by the time we all headed for bed. The weather, like last year’s, was cool and still and dry.
Friday 20th July 2012
Very hot sunshine and a cold breeze. Gav took the Honda to sound testing and got 107! It’s a noisy little thing. He returned prematurely from the first session having braked for the top bend and found the master cylinder was in the fairing. The next session the master cylinder reservoir lost its nut and bolt and his chain tensioner and wheel adjuster came undone (where was Chris when he needed him.) He finally got a full twenty minutes out there and brought the bike in. Its seat bolt hanging on the end of a bit of gaffer tape the only thing to fix.
Alan Major’s Ducati dropped a valve and Gavin offered to share the 125 with him for the weekend. Alan enjoyed the Honda so much it looks like something along those lines could become his next bike. Graham R took one of Graham J’s bikes out for a session and decided to leave his mark and add a bit of wear further round the sides of the tyres by hanging off it big time. Gavin was having a great time but was very tired. He had a moment with the electric kettle that afternoon where he’d filled it but couldn’t get the switch to stay ‘on’. After numerous attempts it was pointed out by Dave that the kettle wasn’t on its base. Jim came up with an idea to help with the garage lights problem. He suggested putting the gazebo up in the garage with just the roof on over their sleeping area, so when the Grahams were dreaming of fighting off Britney Spears they don’t get disturbed by the lights going on and off.
Saturday 21st July 2012
Chris arrived safely and noisily at 00:45 – apologies to the Woolleys and family for waking them and then keeping them awake. We were all up early and greeted by wonderful weather. I sat out of the way as everyone faffed about. Gazing round the garage at the various leathers and how they appear on each rider, Martin Pink has distinctively David Bowie ‘Spiders from Mars’ look about him when he’s in his. After a few warm up exercises to lengthen the inner thigh tendons, Jim got his leg over Gav’s Honda, sporting polo shirt and trousers in colours matching the bike’s paintwork – dismounting, giving him slight discomfort in the forward trouser area.
Alan went out for his next session on the 125 in Race Class and had a bit of fun taunting Graham Jeffrey on his North. Chris was out for pretty much an hour and a half, just sweeping through the pit to have his Marshal’s vest put on or taken off in between sessions. Gavin took the 125 off Alan and rushed off. When he came back in he said he he’d done really well not being overtaken once in the whole twenty minutes. Then he found out he’d gone out in Touring Class instead of Quick. Graham Jeffrey had to put on knee sliders for his next outing with Alan after scuffing his leathers in their previous duel.
12:20pm. A surprise announcement that we had to vacate the garage by 6pm!!! Thank goodness Jim brought the gazebo up for us in his car. We’d have been homeless otherwise. Mid afternoon and it’s the end of the RPS for the weekend. An exhaust stub broke in two. Chris went out on Graham Jeffrey’s North and then swapped for Gav’s bike for the final session. A memorable moment for Chris was having a good tussle with Tim Woolley while testing the RPS against his 930. After getting past Tim and throwing it into the left hander just before the start/finish straight, Chris got on the power a little too early while the bike was on its side and had it absolutely sliding and just saved himself from going grass tracking. Next lap as he came up to the same corner, the marshal there wagged his finger at Chris as he passed him.
Whilst packing up the rest of the garage, Gav decided to take all his clothes off and do the first picture for the 2013 calendar (see 2012 Photo Galleries).
We had lamb hot pot instead of the Beezumph barbeque that evening. I thought it was very nice but was not impressed that there was no pudding unless you paid for it. What is the world coming to. We were in for a very strong winds that night and the Grahams had to sleep in the very creaky gazebo. On Sunday both the Coke van and the Grahams’ rental van had flat batteries. Our thanks go to everyone who helped make the weekend successful.
To Derek and Debs for the use of their oven (again) and Jim for bringing the gazebo. The Ford Transit engineer from Sunday’s car track day who informed the boys that they hadn’t a hope in hell of bump starting the rental van, no matter how long they spent pushing it round the paddock. Dave Cruickshank for his help and bad jokes throughout the weekend. The circuit for giving up a garage for bikes that couldn’t be loaded till morning. And to P&M for working so hard on the bike. (sorry it’s broken) It was good to see John Montgomery again and he was looking wonderfully young! And also good to see Carl Adams was better after he had to go into hospital for three days with blood poisoning from cleaning his cut elbow with Swarfegar after his off at Mallory. The biggest thanks has to go to Gav though for adding so much to his, already, flat out week in order that our weekend would go smoothly, and it is due to him that the honour of Chris Chapman Racing was maintained, if only on a 125.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Donnington, where the fun continues on 11th and 12th of August.
Written by Jane Chapman
Mallory Park 2012 - Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Thursday 28th June 2012
After squeezing five days of work into three days and two hours I was hardly in the mood to empty Chris’ van and load the race stuff Thursday evening. He got in later than he would have liked and I found it hard to get in the mood. We started at a reasonable pace and got slower and slower which invited unexpected hold ups. Some of the storage areas in the rear of the van are very long and items get pushed out of reach. While poking some boxes with a golfing
umbrella through a hole in the van’s mid section, its point missed the boxes and Chris accidentally activated the automatic mechanism and the umbrella opened making it impossible to pull it out again until it was closed. We eventually got on the road at 9:05pm and arrived at Mallory around 11:35pm. Tracy and Mike had saved a large space for us and for the Haywards. Unfortunately Tracy had had to suffer the wrath of some ‘troll’ regarding this saving space business, for which we are very sorry.
Gavin was waiting and we set out as much of the equipment as possible. It was a very blustery night. Gavin decided he would sleep in the gazebo which I was glad about as it was only held down at the corners and he could keep an eye on it. I was then reminded that he only woke up in the hurricane at Anglesey when Lou told him the foot of the gazebo was dancing on the bonnet of his van - the van they were sleeping in at the time!
Friday 29th June 2012
8:30am and Chris’ efforts to screw the gazebo into the tarmac were interrupted by a heavy downpour of rain but then the sun came out and for the rest of the day there were only a few light showers. The test day went without a hitch and Chris was happy with the bike and how it handled. That evening Chris had a call from Martin to say his Triumph Street Triple had broken down due to lack of charging and he was going to arrive on Saturday instead. The breakdown company had come along and put some charge in his battery, fired the bike up, put a meter across the battery and said it was charging. Sadly that wasn’t the case. Twenty miles later the bike stopped again and he had to be relayed home after a lengthy wait. Unfortunately we had to eat his steak that evening and we felt really bad about it.
Saturday 30th June 2012
This is where we touch on Gav’s little bed wetting problem. Gavin, having made it through the previous night dry, decided to sleep in the gazebo again. He made his bed on Chris’ rubber bike mat, hitching up the top end so any rain would pass either side of the mat. Once again he made it through the night dry. Then at 6:30am we had rain of biblical proportions and he put his foot over the side of the mat as the equivalent of the Severn bore came down the tarmac and caught his sleeping bag and soaked it. (hmm... whatever....) Finally the rain stopped and practise was under way.
Racing started and we saw Mike walking back to the paddock and feared the worse. It turned out that someone had been injured on the track, his race was delayed and neither stand nor starter had arrived in the holding area. Naughty Team W.A.N.C.A – Not organised. With one starter in the holding area and one in the paddock suddenly we are inundated with riders needing their bikes started. How do they manage normally?
A small crack appeared in the North’s left down pipe. Tony hadn’t had a Guinness since he’d arrived but offered to down one for Chris so he could use the empty can. Luckily Mike had some empty Carlsberg cans and Gavin did a neat splint job with them. By 10:45am Gav’s multi tasking on three bikes simultaneously until Chris’ first race. Grahams Redrup and Jeffrey, and then Martin, arrived safe and sound.
Race 1. Post Classics and Chris started 2nd on the grid. The race was red flagged first lap and the bikes had to be restarted on the grid - Ashley and Gav racing to the grid and back twice! On the first lap Carl Adams came from mid field like a man possessed. He overtook Chris, Paul Allender and Cormac and was first into Gerards. He overshot the hairpin and Paul and Cormac managed to squeeze past before he’d recovered. He nipped into the Bus Stop before Chris could take the advantage and, coming out into Devil’s Elbow, lent over on the cold tyre and high sided right in front of Chris. Chris put his foot down, hard on the brakes as Carl’s bike was going everywhere with Carl behind it. Chris recovered and carried on. Meanwhile, Tracy was on the bank with her camera and although startled, managed to keep shooting and got enough of the incident for you to see how close it was to Chris’ weekend being over on his first lap (image on home page or '2012 Photo Galleries' page). He finished 4th. 3rd in class.
Chris then changed to a bigger and harder compound tyre but it just wasn’t getting hot enough to give him traction. In his second race, the multis, Chris
started in 2nd place, even with no grip at all round Gerards and constantly sliding, he finished 4th. 2nd in class! Cormac beat Thwaites to the line to
take overall victory. Mike got a DNF with a broken gear linkage in lap one and was understandably not happy.
On Chris’ North the tyre was changed back to soft. His third race, the Post Classics, Started 4th on the grid, finished 2nd, 2nd in class and overtook Mark George in the championship AND did a faster lap than Allender. So definitely more comfortable with the old tyre.
Last race of the day, the multis. Started 4th, finished 3rd, 2nd in class. Cormac pulled in half way through. Mike started from the back of the grid and really went for it. Chris had no idea how close he’d got until they crossed the line. A great race and very exciting finish to the day. Chris got two medals for second on average points for the day and missed out by a point on a first place trophy to Tony Rainford.
That evening Martin and Gav took some pre-load spacers out of the forks to soften the front end and make it steer a bit quicker. The oil was topped up and Oh Good Lord!, corroded bolts were discovered during the tighten up. There was much ‘tut tutting’ in Chris’ absence.
Chris created a delicious supper – a variation on the classic Coq au Vin. It was a trial run but Debbie mentioned how much she liked Chris’ Coq en
Cider and even asked for seconds. The gazebo was suffering from the relentless bad weather but we suddenly noticed it was no longer thrashing about. We went
outside and it was like being in a hurricane’s eye. Blue sky above us and a ring of purple and brown menacing clouds surrounding the circuit (image below). We were in
for it. Twenty minutes later the heavens opened and everyone ran for cover. It wasn’t quite as windy that night and Gavin woke up the next morning dry.
After squeezing five days of work into three days and two hours I was hardly in the mood to empty Chris’ van and load the race stuff Thursday evening. He got in later than he would have liked and I found it hard to get in the mood. We started at a reasonable pace and got slower and slower which invited unexpected hold ups. Some of the storage areas in the rear of the van are very long and items get pushed out of reach. While poking some boxes with a golfing
umbrella through a hole in the van’s mid section, its point missed the boxes and Chris accidentally activated the automatic mechanism and the umbrella opened making it impossible to pull it out again until it was closed. We eventually got on the road at 9:05pm and arrived at Mallory around 11:35pm. Tracy and Mike had saved a large space for us and for the Haywards. Unfortunately Tracy had had to suffer the wrath of some ‘troll’ regarding this saving space business, for which we are very sorry.
Gavin was waiting and we set out as much of the equipment as possible. It was a very blustery night. Gavin decided he would sleep in the gazebo which I was glad about as it was only held down at the corners and he could keep an eye on it. I was then reminded that he only woke up in the hurricane at Anglesey when Lou told him the foot of the gazebo was dancing on the bonnet of his van - the van they were sleeping in at the time!
Friday 29th June 2012
8:30am and Chris’ efforts to screw the gazebo into the tarmac were interrupted by a heavy downpour of rain but then the sun came out and for the rest of the day there were only a few light showers. The test day went without a hitch and Chris was happy with the bike and how it handled. That evening Chris had a call from Martin to say his Triumph Street Triple had broken down due to lack of charging and he was going to arrive on Saturday instead. The breakdown company had come along and put some charge in his battery, fired the bike up, put a meter across the battery and said it was charging. Sadly that wasn’t the case. Twenty miles later the bike stopped again and he had to be relayed home after a lengthy wait. Unfortunately we had to eat his steak that evening and we felt really bad about it.
Saturday 30th June 2012
This is where we touch on Gav’s little bed wetting problem. Gavin, having made it through the previous night dry, decided to sleep in the gazebo again. He made his bed on Chris’ rubber bike mat, hitching up the top end so any rain would pass either side of the mat. Once again he made it through the night dry. Then at 6:30am we had rain of biblical proportions and he put his foot over the side of the mat as the equivalent of the Severn bore came down the tarmac and caught his sleeping bag and soaked it. (hmm... whatever....) Finally the rain stopped and practise was under way.
Racing started and we saw Mike walking back to the paddock and feared the worse. It turned out that someone had been injured on the track, his race was delayed and neither stand nor starter had arrived in the holding area. Naughty Team W.A.N.C.A – Not organised. With one starter in the holding area and one in the paddock suddenly we are inundated with riders needing their bikes started. How do they manage normally?
A small crack appeared in the North’s left down pipe. Tony hadn’t had a Guinness since he’d arrived but offered to down one for Chris so he could use the empty can. Luckily Mike had some empty Carlsberg cans and Gavin did a neat splint job with them. By 10:45am Gav’s multi tasking on three bikes simultaneously until Chris’ first race. Grahams Redrup and Jeffrey, and then Martin, arrived safe and sound.
Race 1. Post Classics and Chris started 2nd on the grid. The race was red flagged first lap and the bikes had to be restarted on the grid - Ashley and Gav racing to the grid and back twice! On the first lap Carl Adams came from mid field like a man possessed. He overtook Chris, Paul Allender and Cormac and was first into Gerards. He overshot the hairpin and Paul and Cormac managed to squeeze past before he’d recovered. He nipped into the Bus Stop before Chris could take the advantage and, coming out into Devil’s Elbow, lent over on the cold tyre and high sided right in front of Chris. Chris put his foot down, hard on the brakes as Carl’s bike was going everywhere with Carl behind it. Chris recovered and carried on. Meanwhile, Tracy was on the bank with her camera and although startled, managed to keep shooting and got enough of the incident for you to see how close it was to Chris’ weekend being over on his first lap (image on home page or '2012 Photo Galleries' page). He finished 4th. 3rd in class.
Chris then changed to a bigger and harder compound tyre but it just wasn’t getting hot enough to give him traction. In his second race, the multis, Chris
started in 2nd place, even with no grip at all round Gerards and constantly sliding, he finished 4th. 2nd in class! Cormac beat Thwaites to the line to
take overall victory. Mike got a DNF with a broken gear linkage in lap one and was understandably not happy.
On Chris’ North the tyre was changed back to soft. His third race, the Post Classics, Started 4th on the grid, finished 2nd, 2nd in class and overtook Mark George in the championship AND did a faster lap than Allender. So definitely more comfortable with the old tyre.
Last race of the day, the multis. Started 4th, finished 3rd, 2nd in class. Cormac pulled in half way through. Mike started from the back of the grid and really went for it. Chris had no idea how close he’d got until they crossed the line. A great race and very exciting finish to the day. Chris got two medals for second on average points for the day and missed out by a point on a first place trophy to Tony Rainford.
That evening Martin and Gav took some pre-load spacers out of the forks to soften the front end and make it steer a bit quicker. The oil was topped up and Oh Good Lord!, corroded bolts were discovered during the tighten up. There was much ‘tut tutting’ in Chris’ absence.
Chris created a delicious supper – a variation on the classic Coq au Vin. It was a trial run but Debbie mentioned how much she liked Chris’ Coq en
Cider and even asked for seconds. The gazebo was suffering from the relentless bad weather but we suddenly noticed it was no longer thrashing about. We went
outside and it was like being in a hurricane’s eye. Blue sky above us and a ring of purple and brown menacing clouds surrounding the circuit (image below). We were in
for it. Twenty minutes later the heavens opened and everyone ran for cover. It wasn’t quite as windy that night and Gavin woke up the next morning dry.
Mallory Park 2012 - Sunday
Sunday 1st June 2012
Lovely at 5:30am. A clear blue sky. The clouds soon came over and there were some downpours. Chris’ 1st race of the day, Post Classics. Started 2nd on the grid. Cormac dropped out on lap one with bike problems again. Chris and Paul Allender battling it out for first place. (Chris said his favourite part of the weekend was leaning on Paul’s fairing round Gerards.) Paul just got the better of Chris and took first place. A great race. Chris getting another 2nd in class.
The National. Starting 2nd on the grid and battling all the way with Ian Steltner and not managing to get past, Chris came 4th. Cormac didn’t make this race. By Ashley’s early reckoning Chris is still in second place but leading Steltner by only one point.
Race 3 Post Classics. Started 2nd on grid and Cormac started at the back due to his DNF - it’s not a great hardship as it merely gives Cormac something to do. Chris led for a few laps but a flying Cormac took the lead and stayed there. Chris took 2nd, 2nd in class, and Allender 3rd. Cormac seemed to still have problems with the bike as he was definitely slowing down towards the end and if there’d been another lap Chris would’ve overtaken him.
Last race. The multis. Started 2nd on the grid. Cormac again starting from the back of the grid quickly made his way into the lead. Ashley’s on the roof of the caravan with a running commentary and I’m hanging off the ladder and we’re watching as every lap Mike Dolittle’s getting closer and closer to the back of Chris. We’re screaming at him. Then just as Mike draws alongside Chris on the last part of the last lap, we lose them and can’t tell if he got past. Mike did get past though and came in 4th, with a 3rd in class. Chris had to settle for 5th and a 4th in class. Probably THE most exciting race of the weekend even though it was disappointing for us.
It was great to have Graham Redrup and Graham Jeffrey for the day on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who helped erect and strike camp. And a special mention for Gavin, who in his devotion to Chris and the team, put off going to the toilet for so long that he nearly embarrassed himself.
And what is it about race tracks and their sodding toilets. It’s not bloody rocket science is it. After all these years the circuits have been in action, some events attended by far more people than at a CRMC meeting, you’d think they’d have worked out how to keep their bogs working. I don’t like paying to spend my leisure time hopping about in
streams of sewage as it seeps down the paddock. The lower bits of the gazebo sides stink with it and have to be disinfected before we can put them away. Anything that sat on the tarmac had to be wet wiped before going in the van and we threw some things away. It happened last year too. Mr pathetic Mallory Park circuit manager, I wouldn’t expect you to be happy to pay to camp round my place and end up sloshing around in the contents of my toilet. It is unprofessional, it is primitive, it’s a health hazard and it’s disgusting.
Beezumph next on 21st July. Then Donington for the next round of racing. There’s a chance the RPS special will be ready for Beezumph but we’ll see what happens in the next few weeks.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Lovely at 5:30am. A clear blue sky. The clouds soon came over and there were some downpours. Chris’ 1st race of the day, Post Classics. Started 2nd on the grid. Cormac dropped out on lap one with bike problems again. Chris and Paul Allender battling it out for first place. (Chris said his favourite part of the weekend was leaning on Paul’s fairing round Gerards.) Paul just got the better of Chris and took first place. A great race. Chris getting another 2nd in class.
The National. Starting 2nd on the grid and battling all the way with Ian Steltner and not managing to get past, Chris came 4th. Cormac didn’t make this race. By Ashley’s early reckoning Chris is still in second place but leading Steltner by only one point.
Race 3 Post Classics. Started 2nd on grid and Cormac started at the back due to his DNF - it’s not a great hardship as it merely gives Cormac something to do. Chris led for a few laps but a flying Cormac took the lead and stayed there. Chris took 2nd, 2nd in class, and Allender 3rd. Cormac seemed to still have problems with the bike as he was definitely slowing down towards the end and if there’d been another lap Chris would’ve overtaken him.
Last race. The multis. Started 2nd on the grid. Cormac again starting from the back of the grid quickly made his way into the lead. Ashley’s on the roof of the caravan with a running commentary and I’m hanging off the ladder and we’re watching as every lap Mike Dolittle’s getting closer and closer to the back of Chris. We’re screaming at him. Then just as Mike draws alongside Chris on the last part of the last lap, we lose them and can’t tell if he got past. Mike did get past though and came in 4th, with a 3rd in class. Chris had to settle for 5th and a 4th in class. Probably THE most exciting race of the weekend even though it was disappointing for us.
It was great to have Graham Redrup and Graham Jeffrey for the day on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who helped erect and strike camp. And a special mention for Gavin, who in his devotion to Chris and the team, put off going to the toilet for so long that he nearly embarrassed himself.
And what is it about race tracks and their sodding toilets. It’s not bloody rocket science is it. After all these years the circuits have been in action, some events attended by far more people than at a CRMC meeting, you’d think they’d have worked out how to keep their bogs working. I don’t like paying to spend my leisure time hopping about in
streams of sewage as it seeps down the paddock. The lower bits of the gazebo sides stink with it and have to be disinfected before we can put them away. Anything that sat on the tarmac had to be wet wiped before going in the van and we threw some things away. It happened last year too. Mr pathetic Mallory Park circuit manager, I wouldn’t expect you to be happy to pay to camp round my place and end up sloshing around in the contents of my toilet. It is unprofessional, it is primitive, it’s a health hazard and it’s disgusting.
Beezumph next on 21st July. Then Donington for the next round of racing. There’s a chance the RPS special will be ready for Beezumph but we’ll see what happens in the next few weeks.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Lydden 2012 - Friday and Saturday
Gavin on one of Jerry Lodge's MT 125's
Friday 1st June 2012
The only reason the bike was ready on time was that Gavin called in to see us on his way home from work Thursday evening and ended up staying the night. He ground the pipes and sprayed them, found the clutch fibre plates starting to break up and changed them and changed the wheels. I unpacked the coke stuff from the van myself and loaded the racing crap. I was quick and managed to get to bed at 10.30pm, but Chris and Gavin didn’t get horizontal till 1am.
Friday morning we managed to leave Leatherhead at 10am and, except for a short hold up on the M25 we made good time and arrived at 11.45am and set up. It started to rain after supper and everyone went to their beds.
Saturday 2nd June 2012
What is it with the weather forecasters? It was supposed to be dry until Sunday and it’s rained continuously since the previous evening. Martin woke to
the strong smell of bacon cooking and thought we’d started breakfast only to find the grass on which he’d pitched his tent was above Lydden’s hot food wagon.
It’s a very exciting day for Gavin as he has two parades on one of Jerry Lodge’s 125s. Hilary is arriving later. She is at ‘Dog Agility’ this morning and we are babysitting her little boy. He’s been SO good.
Chris did a suicide attempt this morning on Tony’s bicycle taking tickets up to the gate. For half an hour after he got back he kept clutching his chest. 10.15am and the side
cars have already done their thing and stopped practice while the oil is cleared up. They all queued waiting to be scrutineered again.
Gav took the 125 out for the first parade session and brought it home safely with a big smile on his face.
Chris’ first race was the Classic 1300 and Production. Started 8th on the grid. Finished 4th. 2nd in class. A brilliant start. He overtook Cormac several
times.
In the Post Classic Superbike Chris unfortunately stalled the North after the warm up lap and had to sit it out on the grass.
There was a long wait until the next race and we had a late lunch. Chris swapped his back protector for Gav’s new one to try it out in the second Classic 1300 and Production. He started 3th on the grid. Finished 3rd. 2nd in class.
By 4pm the weather was wonderful. Blue sky and a gentle cool breeze. While Gav’s getting ready for his second parade Chris nearly dropped Gav’s new crash helmet and gave him a quick rise in blood pressure. By now Chris has been in the borrowed back protector for some time and it was somewhat moist. The look on Gav’s face as he put it on was priceless. And talking about back protectors, Spike has a distinctly Darth Vadar look about him when he’s wearing his.
Chris best lap so far was .08 slower than Cormac’s and the bike was going very well. Chris’ last race of the day, his second Post Classic Superbike. Starting at the back of the grid in 25th place he carved his way through the field desperately trying to get past an old associate from Beezumphs past, one Carl Adams, who was making himself very wide on his 1100 Kawasaki – still in an orange vest but definitely one to watch out for. A wang-artist of the highest degree. Chris finished 8th and came in exhausted. The bike had behaved excellently. All Martin and Gavin had to do was refuel, oil the chain and do the tyre pressures.
Team Dolittle had a very successful day including a 2nd and a 3rd in class. We may have to resort to inviting them to dine and slipping something into the food.
We were all celebrating that evening knowing we’d have a relaxed start to Sunday morning as there was no racing before noon due to noise restrictions. Hilary put a ‘Clear Round’ rosette on Chris’ bike for his day’s achievement. We had a wonderful supper, thank me very much and everyone went to bed happy and drunk.
Gavin sends his sincere thanks to Jerry Lodge for the opportunity he was given today. Chris and I would like to thank Richard Akers, exhaust welder (and anything else you want him to do at very short notice) extraordinaire, for coming along to watch with Toby. Dave Cruickshank spent the day with us. Steve Royall and Jan rolled up just as Chris was stalling the North and Chris’ brother Richard brought his family along. It was lovely to see them all. The rain we’d been promised for Sunday arrived with
a vengeance.
The only reason the bike was ready on time was that Gavin called in to see us on his way home from work Thursday evening and ended up staying the night. He ground the pipes and sprayed them, found the clutch fibre plates starting to break up and changed them and changed the wheels. I unpacked the coke stuff from the van myself and loaded the racing crap. I was quick and managed to get to bed at 10.30pm, but Chris and Gavin didn’t get horizontal till 1am.
Friday morning we managed to leave Leatherhead at 10am and, except for a short hold up on the M25 we made good time and arrived at 11.45am and set up. It started to rain after supper and everyone went to their beds.
Saturday 2nd June 2012
What is it with the weather forecasters? It was supposed to be dry until Sunday and it’s rained continuously since the previous evening. Martin woke to
the strong smell of bacon cooking and thought we’d started breakfast only to find the grass on which he’d pitched his tent was above Lydden’s hot food wagon.
It’s a very exciting day for Gavin as he has two parades on one of Jerry Lodge’s 125s. Hilary is arriving later. She is at ‘Dog Agility’ this morning and we are babysitting her little boy. He’s been SO good.
Chris did a suicide attempt this morning on Tony’s bicycle taking tickets up to the gate. For half an hour after he got back he kept clutching his chest. 10.15am and the side
cars have already done their thing and stopped practice while the oil is cleared up. They all queued waiting to be scrutineered again.
Gav took the 125 out for the first parade session and brought it home safely with a big smile on his face.
Chris’ first race was the Classic 1300 and Production. Started 8th on the grid. Finished 4th. 2nd in class. A brilliant start. He overtook Cormac several
times.
In the Post Classic Superbike Chris unfortunately stalled the North after the warm up lap and had to sit it out on the grass.
There was a long wait until the next race and we had a late lunch. Chris swapped his back protector for Gav’s new one to try it out in the second Classic 1300 and Production. He started 3th on the grid. Finished 3rd. 2nd in class.
By 4pm the weather was wonderful. Blue sky and a gentle cool breeze. While Gav’s getting ready for his second parade Chris nearly dropped Gav’s new crash helmet and gave him a quick rise in blood pressure. By now Chris has been in the borrowed back protector for some time and it was somewhat moist. The look on Gav’s face as he put it on was priceless. And talking about back protectors, Spike has a distinctly Darth Vadar look about him when he’s wearing his.
Chris best lap so far was .08 slower than Cormac’s and the bike was going very well. Chris’ last race of the day, his second Post Classic Superbike. Starting at the back of the grid in 25th place he carved his way through the field desperately trying to get past an old associate from Beezumphs past, one Carl Adams, who was making himself very wide on his 1100 Kawasaki – still in an orange vest but definitely one to watch out for. A wang-artist of the highest degree. Chris finished 8th and came in exhausted. The bike had behaved excellently. All Martin and Gavin had to do was refuel, oil the chain and do the tyre pressures.
Team Dolittle had a very successful day including a 2nd and a 3rd in class. We may have to resort to inviting them to dine and slipping something into the food.
We were all celebrating that evening knowing we’d have a relaxed start to Sunday morning as there was no racing before noon due to noise restrictions. Hilary put a ‘Clear Round’ rosette on Chris’ bike for his day’s achievement. We had a wonderful supper, thank me very much and everyone went to bed happy and drunk.
Gavin sends his sincere thanks to Jerry Lodge for the opportunity he was given today. Chris and I would like to thank Richard Akers, exhaust welder (and anything else you want him to do at very short notice) extraordinaire, for coming along to watch with Toby. Dave Cruickshank spent the day with us. Steve Royall and Jan rolled up just as Chris was stalling the North and Chris’ brother Richard brought his family along. It was lovely to see them all. The rain we’d been promised for Sunday arrived with
a vengeance.
Lydden 2012 - Sunday
Sunday 3rd June 2012
First race of the day, The National, and it’s very, very wet. Chris was a bit held up on the 1st lap by a Triumph Weslake and overtook it round the outside at Paddock, catching and chasing Cormac for a while until Cormac, who hadn’t shut his oil cap and didn’t know, and had started to smoke. Chris backed off not knowing how much oil was being dropped, until Cormac pulled over and Chris finished 2nd behind Gary Thwaites.
As the day progressed the temperature dropped (lucky that Gavin had his new coat with him !) and Chris was having increasing difficulty seeing through his visor as it misted up. In the 1st Post Classics and Production Chris still couldn’t see. The Pinlock insert wasn’t sealing very well but after starting the race in 8th place he managed to finish 4th and 3rd in class. Mike lent Chris his spare foggy, which we tested for chloroform and Gavin lent Chris his visor.
In the Classic 1300 he was cured and from 3rd on the grid, finished 4th, 2nd in class. During the wait between Chris’ races Lou thought it would be a good time to put the candles on Gav’s birthday cake and found that he and Tony had started in her absence a couple of days earlier. The candles were placed on what was left of it and we sang and Gav blew.
The 2nd of the Post Classics and final race of the day saw Chris make the most of an absent Cormac. Started 4th. Finished 2nd. 1st in class. A great weekend’s racing all round, although somewhat marred by Jim’s new car being rammed by a caravan in the paddock which made all the car’s windows come down while it was pissing with rain - talk about adding insult to injury. Lou and I swiftly designed a bespoke moisture shield and were busily attaching it to Jim’s roof rails as he came upon the scene. It wasn’t really given a chance as he put the windows up as soon as he’d unlocked the car but we were proud of our intervention even if no one else had noticed it.
Mallory next. Not one of my favourites. I don’t like being trapped within the track as it’s a pain in the arse to get tickets to people at the gate and I don’t like the Bus Stop. It’s near to home though and the ducks are pretty, although sadly they’re probably all deaf by now - I know Jim wished he was when he put his tent up by the lake and they woke him up at 4.30 in the morning.
See you all there and have a lovely Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday and bunting up everywhere.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
First race of the day, The National, and it’s very, very wet. Chris was a bit held up on the 1st lap by a Triumph Weslake and overtook it round the outside at Paddock, catching and chasing Cormac for a while until Cormac, who hadn’t shut his oil cap and didn’t know, and had started to smoke. Chris backed off not knowing how much oil was being dropped, until Cormac pulled over and Chris finished 2nd behind Gary Thwaites.
As the day progressed the temperature dropped (lucky that Gavin had his new coat with him !) and Chris was having increasing difficulty seeing through his visor as it misted up. In the 1st Post Classics and Production Chris still couldn’t see. The Pinlock insert wasn’t sealing very well but after starting the race in 8th place he managed to finish 4th and 3rd in class. Mike lent Chris his spare foggy, which we tested for chloroform and Gavin lent Chris his visor.
In the Classic 1300 he was cured and from 3rd on the grid, finished 4th, 2nd in class. During the wait between Chris’ races Lou thought it would be a good time to put the candles on Gav’s birthday cake and found that he and Tony had started in her absence a couple of days earlier. The candles were placed on what was left of it and we sang and Gav blew.
The 2nd of the Post Classics and final race of the day saw Chris make the most of an absent Cormac. Started 4th. Finished 2nd. 1st in class. A great weekend’s racing all round, although somewhat marred by Jim’s new car being rammed by a caravan in the paddock which made all the car’s windows come down while it was pissing with rain - talk about adding insult to injury. Lou and I swiftly designed a bespoke moisture shield and were busily attaching it to Jim’s roof rails as he came upon the scene. It wasn’t really given a chance as he put the windows up as soon as he’d unlocked the car but we were proud of our intervention even if no one else had noticed it.
Mallory next. Not one of my favourites. I don’t like being trapped within the track as it’s a pain in the arse to get tickets to people at the gate and I don’t like the Bus Stop. It’s near to home though and the ducks are pretty, although sadly they’re probably all deaf by now - I know Jim wished he was when he put his tent up by the lake and they woke him up at 4.30 in the morning.
See you all there and have a lovely Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday and bunting up everywhere.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Lydden Test Day
Saturday 26th May 2012
After planning on an early arrival at the circuit, we finally arrived at the glorious time of half twelve in the morning ... I guess earliness is relative really ! Chris and I managed to set up the caravan and gazebo, before a welcomed hot chocolate and hitting the sack at around half three !
We got up at around 7.30am, Chris managing to set his alarm clock correctly this time round ! The paddock had not changed much since our early arrival, with around half a dozen vehicles spread around, notably Camp Dolittle who were going to wait up for us ... lucky they didn't !
Chris signed in around 9am and went to a short riders briefing, where he was subseuently made an on track marshal, to aide the less experienced riders in the 'Fast Group', the more experienced riders kept their hands down when asked "who has been here before !"
We fuelled the North and checked the tyre pressures, we remembered our instructions Gavin !
Chris went out for the first session of the day and looked good, a stark contrast to how the bike sounded I may add. Bad news was the North was still misfiring at the higher revs, to Chris' bemusement. Good news being that no oil was leaking, which could be due to the fact the North was not running at full pelt ... this remains to be seen in a race scenario.
The weather was great and so was my wait for a decision, Chris having wandered off to the toilets and probably chatting to Mark George, one of the few other classic riders in the paddock. I decided that the next course of action would probably mean removing the fairing, so I started about doing that.
Chris finally returned and decided to remove the rev limiter, in order to rule out another possibility in the six plug saga. I have to admit at this stage that I have not fully subscribed to the idea of having six plugs on the triple. I admit that my knowledge of bikes is very little and I can only go on the opinions and facts offered by others. From what I gather, six plugs were never fully used in the racing world (on North's), despite prolonged testing, due to the unavailability of an ignition system to cope with the set up. I cannot help but think there is a reason they gave up, yet I will eat my words if the system ends up improving Chris' results. If the bikes beating you only have three plugs, then why not look at what they have got and you have not ?
Enough of me ranting, Chris went out for the second session of the day and suprise suprise, the North was still misfiring. Next step was to re-install the rev limiter and replace the module. As a result of this, we missed the third session.
Chris eventually went out for the fourth session of the day and returned to the camp, complaining it was still misfiring. Jim arrived at this stage to offer some of his knowledge, in what was becoming a desperate attempt to solve the matter.
Before going out for the fifth session of the day, we re-installed the original module and decided to try changing the jets from 240's to 230's, which would make the North run less rich - a possible reason it was misfiring. Once again, the North was misfiring and the suggestion to run a battery was made, to see whether it was the alternator at fault.
Session six, still no change at this stage, it crossed my mind that maybe someone from P & M's should be in attendance ... after all it was their idea. Also could have done with Martin and Gavin to offer their vast technical knowledge.
It was suggested that we try the three plug set up, as a contingency plan for next weekend. Chris went out for the penultimate session of the day and liked the feel of the three plugs ... how it was originally ! Chris had shredded his soft compound tyre, so before the final sessionwe replaced the soft rear tyre for a medium compound, which would give Chris a chance to scrub it in.
Chris went out for the final session and looked great out there amongst the modern bikes, some things never change ... perhaps the spark plugs are an example of that.
Thanks go to Tony Hayward for his great help throughout the day, Hilary for her help, Jim who stayed to help pack away and the staff at the Lydden circuit, who supplied a smooth event, maybe they could help the CRMC after the Cadwell fiasco.
Written by Ashley Barnett - Webmaster
After planning on an early arrival at the circuit, we finally arrived at the glorious time of half twelve in the morning ... I guess earliness is relative really ! Chris and I managed to set up the caravan and gazebo, before a welcomed hot chocolate and hitting the sack at around half three !
We got up at around 7.30am, Chris managing to set his alarm clock correctly this time round ! The paddock had not changed much since our early arrival, with around half a dozen vehicles spread around, notably Camp Dolittle who were going to wait up for us ... lucky they didn't !
Chris signed in around 9am and went to a short riders briefing, where he was subseuently made an on track marshal, to aide the less experienced riders in the 'Fast Group', the more experienced riders kept their hands down when asked "who has been here before !"
We fuelled the North and checked the tyre pressures, we remembered our instructions Gavin !
Chris went out for the first session of the day and looked good, a stark contrast to how the bike sounded I may add. Bad news was the North was still misfiring at the higher revs, to Chris' bemusement. Good news being that no oil was leaking, which could be due to the fact the North was not running at full pelt ... this remains to be seen in a race scenario.
The weather was great and so was my wait for a decision, Chris having wandered off to the toilets and probably chatting to Mark George, one of the few other classic riders in the paddock. I decided that the next course of action would probably mean removing the fairing, so I started about doing that.
Chris finally returned and decided to remove the rev limiter, in order to rule out another possibility in the six plug saga. I have to admit at this stage that I have not fully subscribed to the idea of having six plugs on the triple. I admit that my knowledge of bikes is very little and I can only go on the opinions and facts offered by others. From what I gather, six plugs were never fully used in the racing world (on North's), despite prolonged testing, due to the unavailability of an ignition system to cope with the set up. I cannot help but think there is a reason they gave up, yet I will eat my words if the system ends up improving Chris' results. If the bikes beating you only have three plugs, then why not look at what they have got and you have not ?
Enough of me ranting, Chris went out for the second session of the day and suprise suprise, the North was still misfiring. Next step was to re-install the rev limiter and replace the module. As a result of this, we missed the third session.
Chris eventually went out for the fourth session of the day and returned to the camp, complaining it was still misfiring. Jim arrived at this stage to offer some of his knowledge, in what was becoming a desperate attempt to solve the matter.
Before going out for the fifth session of the day, we re-installed the original module and decided to try changing the jets from 240's to 230's, which would make the North run less rich - a possible reason it was misfiring. Once again, the North was misfiring and the suggestion to run a battery was made, to see whether it was the alternator at fault.
Session six, still no change at this stage, it crossed my mind that maybe someone from P & M's should be in attendance ... after all it was their idea. Also could have done with Martin and Gavin to offer their vast technical knowledge.
It was suggested that we try the three plug set up, as a contingency plan for next weekend. Chris went out for the penultimate session of the day and liked the feel of the three plugs ... how it was originally ! Chris had shredded his soft compound tyre, so before the final sessionwe replaced the soft rear tyre for a medium compound, which would give Chris a chance to scrub it in.
Chris went out for the final session and looked great out there amongst the modern bikes, some things never change ... perhaps the spark plugs are an example of that.
Thanks go to Tony Hayward for his great help throughout the day, Hilary for her help, Jim who stayed to help pack away and the staff at the Lydden circuit, who supplied a smooth event, maybe they could help the CRMC after the Cadwell fiasco.
Written by Ashley Barnett - Webmaster
Cadwell 2012 - Saturday and Sunday
Saturday 5th May 2012
A couple of days before we left for Cadwell I’d mentioned I had a dreadful sense of foreboding about the weekend ahead. Chris had got his race application in really late and in one of the races was 16th reserve! Everything was lastminute.com and I was feeling even more knackered than I normally do.
There was no test day this year as there was a car track day on and although we’d been told we would be unable to get into the circuit until 6pm we decided to arrive around 4.30pm and join the queue. Hundreds of people had already been herded into the field to the right of Cadwell’s drive when we got there and the ground was becoming more and more churned up and muddy. Everyone amused themselves as best they could. Team Dolittle wandered over for a chat. Tracey
said she’d gone over to our caravan earlier, got up close to the window to peer in and saw a strange man staring back at her. Then she realised it wasn’t our caravan.
6pm came and went. At 7.30pm everyone started to move and we managed to park up by 8pm. It was all seriously badly managed. Some of the people had been waiting since 1.50pm only to be held back while the field was emptying and once inside there were still a number of the track day teams packing up and using valuable space. I thought I couldn’t get any more stressed if I tried until the moment when I realised I had to tell everyone that I’d forgotten the tea bags.
By the time we had set up the equipment it was well late and we didn’t eat until 11.30pm. Lou asked if I had a spare pair of earplugs in case she needed them
during the night. I had some unused ones but they’d been purchased a while ago so they were a little firm but Lou said they’d be fine. Later, during a pre bedtime social, Chris and Gav started discussing the new plugs so I mentioned again that I wouldn’t describe them as ‘new’ so much as ‘unused’, and anyway Lou said she could roll them in her hands to soften them. Chris went ‘eh?’ and Gav looked confused. Then we realised they were on about the North’s spark plugs. We all decided it would be sensible to call it a day after that before there were more serious misunderstandings.
Sunday 6th May 2012
We didn’t even have time to think about the sweepstake that morning Jim was up so early! The North was fired up and the oil relief valve had a funny five
minutes giving the oil pressure warning light which cured itself.
1st practice – Chris went into Copse finding the throttle was stuck wide open and had to ride the whole lap using the kill switch. Not a trick for the faint hearted. He wanted to complete at least a lap to scrub in his new front tyre. Back at our camp it was found that with the new head and the steeper angle of the carbs, the gantry was jamming
under the tank. They raised the tank 6mm on all its rubbers and Chris set out for 2nd practice. Opening up the throttle unrestricted for the first time revealed misfiring on 6,000 rpm upwards. Chris came back extremely fed up. Gav and Martin set to work. Fairing off, checking wiring, coils, pick up. They thought it could have something to do with the ignition set up. The new ignition system was replaced with the old one, an inductive timing light was borrowed (thank you Mr Lodge) and the bike fired up again.
Chris’ 1st race had been called and there was no way he was going to make it. But wait ! Then started a chain of events. It was during the first parade that the first race was called. They were held on the grid for ages and it started to rain quite hard. Then there was a hail storm on a biblical scale and they’re all still sitting there in it. Then the radios went down and an early lunch was called in order to sort out the communication system and Chris’ race became the first one after lunch. There had been many fallers during practice and Johnno Yardley announced over the PA that due to the freezing and damp track it would be prudent to allow a minimum of three laps to warm tyres.
Chris’ race set off for its warm up lap and Chris stalled on the grid. Gavin ran all the way down there to bump him and Chris shot off just as the marshal brought the red flag down to stop him. (six of the best trousers down for Chris for this as the rest of the grid was coming out of Barns by now!) Chris should have started the race from the back but accidently took up his position on the grid thereby moving Guy Martin back one place. So Chris made the race but at the flip flop going into the mountain he lost it and got a DNF.
Gav and Martin fixed up the bike, changed the buckled front wheel and got it scrutineered. Managed to get out for his second race with no screen as the spares man sold out (we’ve two new ones at home but a fat lot of good that does anyone – get organised Chris). Came in 5th on the track and 3rd in class. A very good result all things considered.
Chris was out again immediately and came back to camp to find the boys were in the holding area waiting for him. As Chris swept through, Mike noticed the back of the North was covered in oil and shouted but Chris didn’t hear. I phoned Ashley so he could stop him going on the track. A DNS for that race and a loving bubble bath from Gav for the North.
Two exhausts cracked already! A bad day in general and supper was still frozen at 6pm. Chris’ alarm clock went off at 7.30pm which explains why it didn’t go off that morning.
A couple of days before we left for Cadwell I’d mentioned I had a dreadful sense of foreboding about the weekend ahead. Chris had got his race application in really late and in one of the races was 16th reserve! Everything was lastminute.com and I was feeling even more knackered than I normally do.
There was no test day this year as there was a car track day on and although we’d been told we would be unable to get into the circuit until 6pm we decided to arrive around 4.30pm and join the queue. Hundreds of people had already been herded into the field to the right of Cadwell’s drive when we got there and the ground was becoming more and more churned up and muddy. Everyone amused themselves as best they could. Team Dolittle wandered over for a chat. Tracey
said she’d gone over to our caravan earlier, got up close to the window to peer in and saw a strange man staring back at her. Then she realised it wasn’t our caravan.
6pm came and went. At 7.30pm everyone started to move and we managed to park up by 8pm. It was all seriously badly managed. Some of the people had been waiting since 1.50pm only to be held back while the field was emptying and once inside there were still a number of the track day teams packing up and using valuable space. I thought I couldn’t get any more stressed if I tried until the moment when I realised I had to tell everyone that I’d forgotten the tea bags.
By the time we had set up the equipment it was well late and we didn’t eat until 11.30pm. Lou asked if I had a spare pair of earplugs in case she needed them
during the night. I had some unused ones but they’d been purchased a while ago so they were a little firm but Lou said they’d be fine. Later, during a pre bedtime social, Chris and Gav started discussing the new plugs so I mentioned again that I wouldn’t describe them as ‘new’ so much as ‘unused’, and anyway Lou said she could roll them in her hands to soften them. Chris went ‘eh?’ and Gav looked confused. Then we realised they were on about the North’s spark plugs. We all decided it would be sensible to call it a day after that before there were more serious misunderstandings.
Sunday 6th May 2012
We didn’t even have time to think about the sweepstake that morning Jim was up so early! The North was fired up and the oil relief valve had a funny five
minutes giving the oil pressure warning light which cured itself.
1st practice – Chris went into Copse finding the throttle was stuck wide open and had to ride the whole lap using the kill switch. Not a trick for the faint hearted. He wanted to complete at least a lap to scrub in his new front tyre. Back at our camp it was found that with the new head and the steeper angle of the carbs, the gantry was jamming
under the tank. They raised the tank 6mm on all its rubbers and Chris set out for 2nd practice. Opening up the throttle unrestricted for the first time revealed misfiring on 6,000 rpm upwards. Chris came back extremely fed up. Gav and Martin set to work. Fairing off, checking wiring, coils, pick up. They thought it could have something to do with the ignition set up. The new ignition system was replaced with the old one, an inductive timing light was borrowed (thank you Mr Lodge) and the bike fired up again.
Chris’ 1st race had been called and there was no way he was going to make it. But wait ! Then started a chain of events. It was during the first parade that the first race was called. They were held on the grid for ages and it started to rain quite hard. Then there was a hail storm on a biblical scale and they’re all still sitting there in it. Then the radios went down and an early lunch was called in order to sort out the communication system and Chris’ race became the first one after lunch. There had been many fallers during practice and Johnno Yardley announced over the PA that due to the freezing and damp track it would be prudent to allow a minimum of three laps to warm tyres.
Chris’ race set off for its warm up lap and Chris stalled on the grid. Gavin ran all the way down there to bump him and Chris shot off just as the marshal brought the red flag down to stop him. (six of the best trousers down for Chris for this as the rest of the grid was coming out of Barns by now!) Chris should have started the race from the back but accidently took up his position on the grid thereby moving Guy Martin back one place. So Chris made the race but at the flip flop going into the mountain he lost it and got a DNF.
Gav and Martin fixed up the bike, changed the buckled front wheel and got it scrutineered. Managed to get out for his second race with no screen as the spares man sold out (we’ve two new ones at home but a fat lot of good that does anyone – get organised Chris). Came in 5th on the track and 3rd in class. A very good result all things considered.
Chris was out again immediately and came back to camp to find the boys were in the holding area waiting for him. As Chris swept through, Mike noticed the back of the North was covered in oil and shouted but Chris didn’t hear. I phoned Ashley so he could stop him going on the track. A DNS for that race and a loving bubble bath from Gav for the North.
Two exhausts cracked already! A bad day in general and supper was still frozen at 6pm. Chris’ alarm clock went off at 7.30pm which explains why it didn’t go off that morning.
Cadwell 2012 - Monday
Monday 7th May 2012
It was warmer and drier and everyone seemed brighter. Ashley manned the barbeque and produced a great breakfast for us all.
Chris’ first race, post classics, completed without too much drama. Started 7th on the grid. Finished 5th. 4th in class. Chris said it was very very slippery out there.
He came 5th in the National and won thirty quid. Whoop de doo!!
Chris came 7th in the Colin Breeze trophy race for Unsupported riders – won by Cormac Conroy on the Ryan
BSA. (I must be stupid as I can’t work that one out)
The photographer, Derek Gallon narrowly escaped having a warm embrace with the North’s front end as Chris lost the back end heading for Barn. Derek put his hands up as the bike sped towards him and Chris managed to save it by putting his boot down. It rained miserably from lunch and one of the side cars broke something and spread
oil from Park Straight to the bottom of the mountain. The clerk of the course and two riders walked the track and we waited for a decision.
The sun came out as I kept packing stuff away just in case. Eventually the call came – race abandoned. The side cars had defeated the track cleaners good and proper this time.
Chris’ wheel had been straightened at Steve’s so we picked it up as we left Cadwell. It felt good to be leaving early. We got as far as Stamford and an accident was blocking the road. The queue in front of us managed to slip through but we were stopped three cars from the front by a police car and there we stayed for over an hour.
Once back in Leatherhead, I pulled up on the main road so Chris could swap with me and squeeze the caravan through the narrow road to our house. He leapt out of the
passenger seat onto the pavement and got a huge cramp in his right thigh. It’s 2am and a man came out of the house next to us to get into his car. Chris is leaning in the van and bent over the front seat making an awful lot of noise with me trying to rub his thigh and the man can’t get into his car fast enough.
We finally pull up outside our house and although we swore we’d leave everything and go straight to sleep we find we have to get the bike out so I can extract the duvet from the wardrobe. By 2.45am we were finally able to close the door on one of the worst weekends ever. Chris said he enjoyed Cadwell better when he crashed three times.
Chris is doing a track day at Lydden this weekend and we hope the race meeting there the following weekend is warm and dry and free of oil slicks. Side car owners listen up. Keep us happy. Get a nappy.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
It was warmer and drier and everyone seemed brighter. Ashley manned the barbeque and produced a great breakfast for us all.
Chris’ first race, post classics, completed without too much drama. Started 7th on the grid. Finished 5th. 4th in class. Chris said it was very very slippery out there.
He came 5th in the National and won thirty quid. Whoop de doo!!
Chris came 7th in the Colin Breeze trophy race for Unsupported riders – won by Cormac Conroy on the Ryan
BSA. (I must be stupid as I can’t work that one out)
The photographer, Derek Gallon narrowly escaped having a warm embrace with the North’s front end as Chris lost the back end heading for Barn. Derek put his hands up as the bike sped towards him and Chris managed to save it by putting his boot down. It rained miserably from lunch and one of the side cars broke something and spread
oil from Park Straight to the bottom of the mountain. The clerk of the course and two riders walked the track and we waited for a decision.
The sun came out as I kept packing stuff away just in case. Eventually the call came – race abandoned. The side cars had defeated the track cleaners good and proper this time.
Chris’ wheel had been straightened at Steve’s so we picked it up as we left Cadwell. It felt good to be leaving early. We got as far as Stamford and an accident was blocking the road. The queue in front of us managed to slip through but we were stopped three cars from the front by a police car and there we stayed for over an hour.
Once back in Leatherhead, I pulled up on the main road so Chris could swap with me and squeeze the caravan through the narrow road to our house. He leapt out of the
passenger seat onto the pavement and got a huge cramp in his right thigh. It’s 2am and a man came out of the house next to us to get into his car. Chris is leaning in the van and bent over the front seat making an awful lot of noise with me trying to rub his thigh and the man can’t get into his car fast enough.
We finally pull up outside our house and although we swore we’d leave everything and go straight to sleep we find we have to get the bike out so I can extract the duvet from the wardrobe. By 2.45am we were finally able to close the door on one of the worst weekends ever. Chris said he enjoyed Cadwell better when he crashed three times.
Chris is doing a track day at Lydden this weekend and we hope the race meeting there the following weekend is warm and dry and free of oil slicks. Side car owners listen up. Keep us happy. Get a nappy.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Pembrey 2012 - Thursday and Friday
Tony Hayward Recharging his Batteries !
Thursday 5th April 2012
It didn’t take long for the mayhem to start once we’d arrived. After a bit of unpacking Chris reversed the van over
most of the stuff resulting in somewhat squashed equipment. He lit the gas for the fridge in the caravan. I went in there an hour later and I knew there was a leak from somewhere. The smell of gas was so strong. I thought it would be better for my stress levels if I didn’t watch as Gavin and Chris investigated with the stove lighter and a fire extinguisher – Tony Hayward as back up fire fighter, was ready to throw his pint of guinness into the blaze.
By the time dinner was ready most of the right hand inside of my caravan was on the floor, but the leak was located and we slept safely that night. I seem to have developed a bit of a reputation when it comes to forgetting to bring the salt and pepper with us. I must have been given ten pepper mills since we started racing, but I can
never see them in my cupboards to remind me to bring one. This time I was on the ball and picked one up from Tesco and left it in the caravan. When I got it out I saw I had picked up a jar of peppercorns with no grinder so Chris had to smash them up with the kitchen knife. Getting the supper ready was a bit of a chore and we ate late. T
The temperature outside dropped and Chris put the turbo heater on in the gazebo till it was like a sauna. I spent a while doing the washing up then Chris said that the toilets had no water in the cisterns and the bowls were getting fuller and fuller. Not fancying having my bottom tickled by the previous person’s bog paper I went off to the club house to find a member of the circuit’s personnel to report it to. If someone had reported it as soon as they found that the toilets wouldn’t flush, the problem could have been fixed straight away. As it was, so many people had used them they had to lock the building and pump them all out the next morning. It was a long cold walk to the next toilet block for anyone on our side of the paddock that night. It was my wedding anniversary today by the way!
Friday 6th April 2012
It was a very cold night and everything was frozen in the gazebo the next morning. The sun came out at 9am and Chris set off for his first test session as the bananas turned black. I should’ve put them in the caravan overnight. Chris came back at the end of the session with oil pissing out everywhere. Gavin latexed up and got to work. The oil lines weren’t quite tight enough. He gave everything a tighten down and Chris was ready to go out again. Chris won the Friday sweepstake on what time Jim would
make an appearance and Mike finally moved his bike gear from outside his camper’s bathroom door so Tracy could get out after her shower.
11am and the clouds started to build up. There was only a slight breeze but it was cold without the sun. VIPs today included Maria Costello MBE and Sean Emmett –
confusing as Sean didn’t have his name on his leathers and but Chris did !
Cormac suggested what the optimum tyre pressures should be for Pembrey and the North’s gearing was changed from a 50 to a 51 tooth. Chris took it out for a spin and was happy with it.
For those who don’t already know, prior to this season Chris and Tim Woolley were made class reps for the 1300 Multis, Tim for the 750s also. In their new role they have to attend meetings before the start of racing at each circuit. They’re the first port of call for any riders who have questions or a grievance.
A panic for Mike Dolittle as he’d arrived without his ACU licence as it hadn’t come in the post. Big phew though as he was given the ok to race. Chris didn’t think to request extra tickets for our guests for the weekend, so a big thank you to everyone who gave us theirs !
It didn’t take long for the mayhem to start once we’d arrived. After a bit of unpacking Chris reversed the van over
most of the stuff resulting in somewhat squashed equipment. He lit the gas for the fridge in the caravan. I went in there an hour later and I knew there was a leak from somewhere. The smell of gas was so strong. I thought it would be better for my stress levels if I didn’t watch as Gavin and Chris investigated with the stove lighter and a fire extinguisher – Tony Hayward as back up fire fighter, was ready to throw his pint of guinness into the blaze.
By the time dinner was ready most of the right hand inside of my caravan was on the floor, but the leak was located and we slept safely that night. I seem to have developed a bit of a reputation when it comes to forgetting to bring the salt and pepper with us. I must have been given ten pepper mills since we started racing, but I can
never see them in my cupboards to remind me to bring one. This time I was on the ball and picked one up from Tesco and left it in the caravan. When I got it out I saw I had picked up a jar of peppercorns with no grinder so Chris had to smash them up with the kitchen knife. Getting the supper ready was a bit of a chore and we ate late. T
The temperature outside dropped and Chris put the turbo heater on in the gazebo till it was like a sauna. I spent a while doing the washing up then Chris said that the toilets had no water in the cisterns and the bowls were getting fuller and fuller. Not fancying having my bottom tickled by the previous person’s bog paper I went off to the club house to find a member of the circuit’s personnel to report it to. If someone had reported it as soon as they found that the toilets wouldn’t flush, the problem could have been fixed straight away. As it was, so many people had used them they had to lock the building and pump them all out the next morning. It was a long cold walk to the next toilet block for anyone on our side of the paddock that night. It was my wedding anniversary today by the way!
Friday 6th April 2012
It was a very cold night and everything was frozen in the gazebo the next morning. The sun came out at 9am and Chris set off for his first test session as the bananas turned black. I should’ve put them in the caravan overnight. Chris came back at the end of the session with oil pissing out everywhere. Gavin latexed up and got to work. The oil lines weren’t quite tight enough. He gave everything a tighten down and Chris was ready to go out again. Chris won the Friday sweepstake on what time Jim would
make an appearance and Mike finally moved his bike gear from outside his camper’s bathroom door so Tracy could get out after her shower.
11am and the clouds started to build up. There was only a slight breeze but it was cold without the sun. VIPs today included Maria Costello MBE and Sean Emmett –
confusing as Sean didn’t have his name on his leathers and but Chris did !
Cormac suggested what the optimum tyre pressures should be for Pembrey and the North’s gearing was changed from a 50 to a 51 tooth. Chris took it out for a spin and was happy with it.
For those who don’t already know, prior to this season Chris and Tim Woolley were made class reps for the 1300 Multis, Tim for the 750s also. In their new role they have to attend meetings before the start of racing at each circuit. They’re the first port of call for any riders who have questions or a grievance.
A panic for Mike Dolittle as he’d arrived without his ACU licence as it hadn’t come in the post. Big phew though as he was given the ok to race. Chris didn’t think to request extra tickets for our guests for the weekend, so a big thank you to everyone who gave us theirs !
Pembrey 2012 - Saturday
Chris Leading the Race from Cormac Conroy
Saturday 7th April 2012
Warmer this morning but a wet start – ‘mizzling’ as John Montgomery would say. Practice first thing but no races for Chris till after lunch. Cormac dropped his 930 in practice on fresh tyres and his misery continued as he dropped Jerry Lodge’s 125 in the first race of the
weekend.
In the first Formula 750 race, Mike came 5th in class and Cormac took a well deserved win. Chris’ first race was in the post classics, he started 3rd on the grid, had a great start and took the lead. He was dicing with Cormac and dropped to 2nd eventually, before Mark George came back to overtake Chris, leaving Chris to finish 3rd and 3rd in class.
The first race of the 1300 Multi's, Chris and Mike were SO late to the assembly area, they were made to start from the pit lane without a warm up lap. What a bloody
waste. Chris should’ve started 2nd on the grid ! I suppose they were lucky to have been let out at all, as they cut it so fine.
Chris’ last race for Saturday was the 2nd post classic race. Another great start and Chris led for the first three laps, then was overtaken by Cormac. Chris eventually crossed the line in 4th, after being overtaken by Mark George and Paul Allender. He’s wringing as much as he can out of the bike, but it’s frustratingly lacking in power compared to the other machines out there. It’s really disappointing that the North’s new head was not ready in time for Pembrey. However, we hope it will be ready for Cadwell.
Thank you to Gavin for doing the lamb for me that evening, while I was wondering for the second night running, if we were ever going to eat that night. Everything took so much longer to cook than I remember !
Warmer this morning but a wet start – ‘mizzling’ as John Montgomery would say. Practice first thing but no races for Chris till after lunch. Cormac dropped his 930 in practice on fresh tyres and his misery continued as he dropped Jerry Lodge’s 125 in the first race of the
weekend.
In the first Formula 750 race, Mike came 5th in class and Cormac took a well deserved win. Chris’ first race was in the post classics, he started 3rd on the grid, had a great start and took the lead. He was dicing with Cormac and dropped to 2nd eventually, before Mark George came back to overtake Chris, leaving Chris to finish 3rd and 3rd in class.
The first race of the 1300 Multi's, Chris and Mike were SO late to the assembly area, they were made to start from the pit lane without a warm up lap. What a bloody
waste. Chris should’ve started 2nd on the grid ! I suppose they were lucky to have been let out at all, as they cut it so fine.
Chris’ last race for Saturday was the 2nd post classic race. Another great start and Chris led for the first three laps, then was overtaken by Cormac. Chris eventually crossed the line in 4th, after being overtaken by Mark George and Paul Allender. He’s wringing as much as he can out of the bike, but it’s frustratingly lacking in power compared to the other machines out there. It’s really disappointing that the North’s new head was not ready in time for Pembrey. However, we hope it will be ready for Cadwell.
Thank you to Gavin for doing the lamb for me that evening, while I was wondering for the second night running, if we were ever going to eat that night. Everything took so much longer to cook than I remember !
Pembrey 2012 - Sunday
All Hands on Deck !
Sunday 8th April 2012
Jim was up before Ashley, Martin and Lou ! We hadn’t even started the sweepstake for the day. Chris’ 1st race was the 1300 Multi's. Cormac started from the back of the grid as he arrived late, after making his way through the field, he managed to pass John Lester for 1st in class on the last lap. Chris came 3rd, with Mike following in 4th place.
It has to be said that Mike Dolittle has stepped up to another level this year, following his maiden season which earned him the Novice of the Year award.
Chris came in from his race with a bad back and Lou, our trusty team masseur, whisked him off to the caravan for lengthy rub down with Tesco’s light and mild olive oil and a packet of wet wipes.
Race 2, was the third race of the post classics, Chris had to come in after three laps due to a cracked exhaust and a broken rocker oil feed. It was like watching Casualty. Chris came back and the re-sus team were gathered. Hot water and towels ready. Everyone who wasn’t doing the mechanics had a piece of bike to wash. Mike got stuck in and also leant Chris his spare oil feed. Tony Hayward did a marvellous job with the exhaust pipe - wrapping it in his empty Guinness can with jubilee clips.
Then Chris’ next race, which was meant to be after the lunch break, was brought forward to just before lunch and the repairs were speeded up even more. Chris set off for the race, which was in the 1300 National class, but the race was red flagged as Nigel Hall-Smith dropped it and dislocated his shoulder. Having returned to the grid to await the restart, riders began to kill their engines to avoid them cooking. Gavin and Ashley were on hand with the starter and managed to restart half of the grid, in a mad rush. Chris finished in 6th place.
Gav still hadn’t had time to clean his hands after the rebuild and asked Chris for the hand cleaner. All Chris had with him was two teeny weeny little sachets of swarfegar and that was it.
The 2nd post classic of the day Chris started 19th on the grid and managed to come third on the track and in class behind a battling Allender and Cormac. A great race, Chris beating Bob Chambers to the line by a tenth of a second.
The final race was in the 1300 multis. Chris finished 3rd in class, Mike 4th in class and Jonathon Lester 2nd in class. Cormac got a ten second penalty for a jump start, but still won anyway.
Over the weekend Cormac broke the 750 lap record with a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds, Chris who’d been averaging 1 minute and 8 seconds on the Saturday, finished the weekend with an amazing time of 1 minute and 5 seconds.
Mike and Spike both won silverware and we managed to catch up with our long absent friends Les and George, who came up for the weekend and who also had
their wedding anniversary at Pembrey.
Our thanks to everyone who helped us this weekend. And I served 89 meals at this meeting and I hate cooking ! We have now heard that Nigel Hall-Smith is okay, the whole of Team W.A.N.C.A wish him a speedy recovery.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you all at Cadwell.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife
Jim was up before Ashley, Martin and Lou ! We hadn’t even started the sweepstake for the day. Chris’ 1st race was the 1300 Multi's. Cormac started from the back of the grid as he arrived late, after making his way through the field, he managed to pass John Lester for 1st in class on the last lap. Chris came 3rd, with Mike following in 4th place.
It has to be said that Mike Dolittle has stepped up to another level this year, following his maiden season which earned him the Novice of the Year award.
Chris came in from his race with a bad back and Lou, our trusty team masseur, whisked him off to the caravan for lengthy rub down with Tesco’s light and mild olive oil and a packet of wet wipes.
Race 2, was the third race of the post classics, Chris had to come in after three laps due to a cracked exhaust and a broken rocker oil feed. It was like watching Casualty. Chris came back and the re-sus team were gathered. Hot water and towels ready. Everyone who wasn’t doing the mechanics had a piece of bike to wash. Mike got stuck in and also leant Chris his spare oil feed. Tony Hayward did a marvellous job with the exhaust pipe - wrapping it in his empty Guinness can with jubilee clips.
Then Chris’ next race, which was meant to be after the lunch break, was brought forward to just before lunch and the repairs were speeded up even more. Chris set off for the race, which was in the 1300 National class, but the race was red flagged as Nigel Hall-Smith dropped it and dislocated his shoulder. Having returned to the grid to await the restart, riders began to kill their engines to avoid them cooking. Gavin and Ashley were on hand with the starter and managed to restart half of the grid, in a mad rush. Chris finished in 6th place.
Gav still hadn’t had time to clean his hands after the rebuild and asked Chris for the hand cleaner. All Chris had with him was two teeny weeny little sachets of swarfegar and that was it.
The 2nd post classic of the day Chris started 19th on the grid and managed to come third on the track and in class behind a battling Allender and Cormac. A great race, Chris beating Bob Chambers to the line by a tenth of a second.
The final race was in the 1300 multis. Chris finished 3rd in class, Mike 4th in class and Jonathon Lester 2nd in class. Cormac got a ten second penalty for a jump start, but still won anyway.
Over the weekend Cormac broke the 750 lap record with a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds, Chris who’d been averaging 1 minute and 8 seconds on the Saturday, finished the weekend with an amazing time of 1 minute and 5 seconds.
Mike and Spike both won silverware and we managed to catch up with our long absent friends Les and George, who came up for the weekend and who also had
their wedding anniversary at Pembrey.
Our thanks to everyone who helped us this weekend. And I served 89 meals at this meeting and I hate cooking ! We have now heard that Nigel Hall-Smith is okay, the whole of Team W.A.N.C.A wish him a speedy recovery.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you all at Cadwell.
Written by Jane Chapman - Long Suffering Wife