Pembrey
Thursday 13th April 2017
This time Chris had not only done a nine day shift but he'd agreed to work another half day on top. We'd got everything ready on the Wednesday afternoon and left only the
RPS to load before we departed.
Another very very long journey to Pembrey. Who are all these idiots who can't drive and insist on crashing when we're going away? Everywhere was grid-locked. Having tried alternative routes we got back on the M25 and just went with the, oh, so slow, flow. Anyway.
Apologies for the delay in the diary being up-loaded. Ashley has been on a well deserved holiday.
Graham and Janet arrived at the circuit earlier than we did. They had a great spot with plenty of room for us all and had the kettle boiling when we pulled up. Graham got stuck in with us and set up camp while Janet administered the tea. I cooked supper for me and Chris and everywhere was quiet. And the view!! Idyllic. Being a bit of a light-weight when it comes to alcohol I was staggering about after downing a bottle of beer. Normally a bottle lasts me two evenings. I just poke a piece of kitchen towel in the top to keep out the flies. We spent the rest of the evening with Graham and Janet where we sampled their Cuban rum and Chris and Graham did a spot of trouble-shooting on Graham's heating system.
Friday 14th
Rod had arrived during the night and brought rain with him. No Martin this weekend but Derek, my niece Laura and partner, Hal, would join us Saturday and Patrick and the children would arrive at lunchtime.
Marshal Neil's 70th birthday was on Sunday so we would celebrate on Saturday evening. Having tried a Pop-up tent and freezing his arse off, Team W.A.N.C.A bought him a Khyam one-touch tent with which he'll get the satisfaction of super-swift erections from now on.
Chris was not doing the test day so he could drift about the paddock to his heart's content and Graham could enjoy the lull before the storm as he was the sole mechanic and everything else this weekend. More rain late afternoon. Graham pointed out that in the program it said Chris holds the race speed record at Pembrey in the UK Classic 1300 from 2012! We never knew.
That afternoon Graham took Janet and me to Tesco in Llanelli so we could stock up on more food. Food management is hard when there are lots of people and no electricity, especially as we weren't going home until Monday.
Once again the wheelie-bins were a rare and shy species in the paddock. Garbage was piling up before the weekend had even got going. We were so happy to find Patrick Banfield, who Chris started racing with way back when, was at the circuit. Cormac was racing on Patrick's Rob-North in the F750 and Patrick rode it in the unlimited because his P&M Kawasaki had stripped a spark-plug thread in the head.
Marshal Neil arrived and got a lesson on how to put up his tent without breaking it. Very very wet during the evening. The roof of the gazebo leaking like it did at last year's Pembrey. I suppose it will always leak if Chris never does anything about it.
Saturday 15th
Chris had two practices back to back which meant a busy thirty seconds of change-over. Graham and I were like a well-oiled machine.
Chris first race was the F750. Lots of ultra-competitive racers in this class. Chris finished a highly commendable 4th in class, with no squirrilly moments.
His second race, the 1300 multis, Chris finished 1st in class. Huge applause all round on his return to the paddock.
In the second F750 Chris came in 3rd in class and in the 1300 Multis, another 1st in class. Arriving back in the paddock Chris mentioned he was not comfortable with the North's suspension.
We all gathered in the gazebo with the Majors and Rod for Marshal Neil's birthday celebration. We had cakes. Health and safety dictated that seventy candles in the gazebo was out of the question so we gave him one candle, which was fine as we only had one holder which had fallen down the back of the cupboard in the caravan. It was all very jolly and I have taken a photo of the card we gave to Neil. His cat, Wilson, is the love of his life. Remember that.
Alan was concerned about the absence of Martin this weekend. He said he'd only crashed when Martin hadn't made it to a meeting. We went through the larder and made a Martin for him and he felt better. It must've done the trick because Alan had a really good weekend. The rain had stopped by the time we went to bed and it didn't do it again until we got up next morning.
Sunday 16th
Chris' first race of the day, F750. Chris was doing well until the penultimate lap when Graham Higlett overtook him and missed a gear causing Chris to massively back off allowing Gary Porter to pass him. Chris finished 5th in class. An apologetic Graham did come to see Chris as soon as the race was over.
UK Classic. The first call to the holding area and Chris tugged at the North's rear wheel. He said he'd felt something the day before. He discovered the axle nut, even though locked on, was loose. It was quickly tightened and Chris just made it out on time. Another great race for Chris, finishing 1st in class. Cormac and Gary Porter 2nd and 3rd in class respectively.
Chris took Mark George's Kawazaki Harris Magnum for a spin in the afternoon parade. This is what Chris'll be riding in the Endurance at Donington on 7th May. He's absolutely mad and I don't want to hear any moaning about how much his wrist hurts afterwards. He'll be lucky if it recovers in time for Mallory, 20/21 May.
F750 - 3rd in Class. A good result considering the competition. The 1300 Multis was approaching fast and Chris decided this was a good time to check the North's suspension. A cable-tie round the stanchion revealed that only two thirds of the suspension was being used. A school-boy error by Chris. He'd measured the air-gap on the suspension fully extended instead of fully compressed. This meant some oil had to be removed. Chris, unable to find his syringe, used a piece of pipe and got a mouthful. While Chris spent ten minutes gagging and spitting, Graham demonstrated how to suck more delicately and got the job done.
His fourth 1st in class of the meeting brought to a close another very successful meeting for Chris.
Thank you to all who made the long journey to support Chris. To Laura and Hal whose Land Rover blended beautifully into the countryside with its camouflage of mud which camouflaged the rust. To the Robinson trio for collecting the time-sheets. Derek for helping strike camp, to Janet for Rum and refreshments and, of course, to Graham who was on the go all weekend.
We asked permission for the four of us to stay Sunday night and had a very relaxed evening with Graham and Janet and further emptied her bottle of rum. I like the 'going home on a Monday' thing. We had a good journey and thank you Pete for helping us unpack the van.
We'll let you know what happens at Donington Endurance. I must remember to take an ice-pack.
LSW
Snetterton
A warm welcome to you all for the new racing season. Always a bit dodgy, in my opinion and from experience, to have meetings this early in the year.
Chris was off work for a third of a year after his accident at Silverstone. We were just about to get divorced when he passed his fitness assessment and returned to work on 6th February. Having mentioned on the home page, three weeks after his surgery, that 'Chris being off work is not all bad as already he's dusted and vacuumed the house twice!' (as opposed to never), I would like to put the record straight and report that, in the end, twice is the total amount of times he did it in the four months. His mother was visiting on the first occasion and then his sister visited. However, once Chris was out of plaster the North was rebuilt with new Rocket 3 cases in good time for a test day at Mallory Park, assisted by Graham Redrup. Building the engine helped Chris get back strength and suppleness in his wrist, without which he may have been off work much longer. Chris was signed off by the physio department last week and they were pleased with his progress.
After a nine day shift Chris had 15th and 16th as his rest days, giving him a more gentle lead-up to the meeting. Graham arrived in his van on the Thursday afternoon and loaded the North and our van was packed and ready for a midday start on Friday.
Fri 17th Noon
I was just flinging the final bits for our journey into the front of the van when Graham phoned. He had gone into limp mode and had to call AA (Automobile Association!) To cut a long story short I prepared my car and the trailer while waiting for Graham to give us the verdict and, hearing he would not be able to get the van repaired until the following week, I set off on a journey, which seemed to go on forever, to Blackwater and Chris left for Snetterton with the RPS and caravan.
Graham had unloaded the bike from the van so I was able to leave his place very quickly. He kindly set off in his car so I could follow him on a better route back to the M3 and I was on my way. I reached the circuit at 6:50pm.
Chris was ensconced in the garage and, due to the bad weather, we decided not to use the gazebo at all and live in the back of the garage. We were only three for supper so that was easy. We were being joined by Paul Burrows later. He was was sharing our garage and Chris waited for Paul to arrive to give him a hand. Considering he was giving Chris half the rent money, Paul was given the meanest of spaces for his stuff but he never once complained.
The wind was ferocious that night and the rain chucked it down at times but when we emerged Saturday morning it was dry.
Sat 18th
Chris had requested a couple of extra tickets for the meeting as we were expecting friends. We were sent three in total. Pathetic. Chris had to pay £15 to get Martin in! so bring your wallets if your are visiting us.
Graham and Janet arrived early. Graham got the bikes ready and practice for Chris went without a hitch, but there were many riders who pulled the wire a little too vigorously on cold tyres. John Conroy high-sided two laps in on his first session and is in a very battered state. Team W.A.N.C.A wish him a speedy recovery from his broken bits.
There was no Brendan Ryan this meeting as he is in Charring Cross hospital having put the arm of his spectacles into his non-deaf ear and ended up with an infection in that, now very precious, good ear. He could be in for a while so if you are passing take him some grapes.
Our friend Steve Horne and his son, Connor, arrived in time for Chris' first race and Chris started his weekend off with a 1st in class in the 1300 multis. Having led for a stretch and with sticky pants moments at the Bomb Hole and the Hairpin, Gav got a 2nd in class in the 125s, the highest he's ever achieved. Beaming smiles all round.
The rain started after lunch. Every spare Coke raincoat was handed out to the ill-equipped.
The F750 riders were called to the holding area. It's sprinkling with rain. Chris, as usual, has chosen to not disturb his waterproofs which are in a state of permanent hibernation in his crate. The riders were kept in the holding area for half an hour after a red-flag due to an oil spillage and it was raining heavily by then.
Eventually the riders returned to the paddock. Martin's trousers were soaked through as he valiantly tried to hold the umbrella over Chris. He had to get changed and eventually put on my waterproof trousers. Chris decided to put the top part of his waterproofs on. This is rubber inside and trying to get it over Chris' leathers begged for a 'how many motorcyclists does it take to put on a condom' joke.
Anyway, in the filthiest of weather, them that wouldn't be seen dead with their leg over a bike in it, even stationary in their drive-way, instructed the F750 to be called again. Chris did the sighting lap but refused to do the race as the track was too covered in oil and he returned to the garage. Sensible Chris! I never thought I'd use those words together.
The race was run so Chris got a DNF and immediately after it racing was cancelled for the day! Bar stewards.
That evening I went shopping as usual with Marshall Neil. The fastest trip ever. He's really getting the hang of remembering which supermarket is where. It's more confusing than you can imagine when we go to so many circuits. I somehow managed to feed everyone before 10pm. Neil was collapsing with tiredness by then so he went to bed. We had a little gathering with the Majors and the Kidwells and after a catch up we also headed to our beds.
Sun 19th
Lots of rain again during the night but it was dry and windy by the time everyone got up. First race for Chris was the UK Classic. He finished 2nd in class.
Gav got another 2nd in class, having led for even longer in this race.
Lesley of Nozzer joined us and I watched some races with her from the pit wall. I don't normally watch but it was dry so I relented. A 3rd in class for Chris on the RPS and a further 1st in class on the North meant Chris had a successful meeting. The bikes went perfectly.
Thank you everyone for making the weekend such a jolly one and we'll catch up again at Pembrey. We hope the weather there is better than last year. We were all drowned. Sharing our gazebo with Gav and using his clip together rubber flooring was a life-saver for us. The mud was so deep you couldn't stay upright. So, dry please for Easter.
LSW