Half a line on page 32 what do I have to do to make the front page?F400/GP125 Racing Team

Race Reports
19/4/00 Dyno Session - Tuesday 6 June took the bent expansion down to Tony Green to be fixed. Tony apart from being a really nice person is reputed to be one of the best if not the best two stroke expansion pipe men in the world. The repair was relatively simple but it was a pleasure watching a skilled craftsman work. If you need a pipe repaired or a set made give Tony a call on 01793 854770 Wooton Basset( he also does four strokes but really specialise in two strokes). After Tony's I took the KR over to the Road'n'Track Dyno. Put the standard pipes back on and as I was pushed or time ('er in doors was giving me grief) I only had time for one run. The results were not good. As Chris whacked her open from 5 grand you could hear her splutter as she got to eight and then clear out at ten thou. 55 horse and a crap power curve. My problem wasn't caused by the exhausts. (I will put the curve up on the site shortly)
22/4/00 Cadwell- Up at 4 am Saturday, took Rick + family to Brum airport. Toodled over to Dave Page's over Wolverhampton way via a cafe to pick up the TZ. Returned via M&P and Drayton Croft in Cov and Nightingales in Rugby trying to get a battery for the KR. Got the battery in Rugby ( I hope it is a duff battery causing the problem as the one on the bike looks like an original which will be about 9 years old). Empty the caravan load the KR in the caravan, TZ is in the car. Set off for Cadwell about 1:30 pm. Get to Cadwell about 4:45. There is a horrible smell of rubber. The cupboard in the caraven sits over the wheel arch and the wheel arch has got squased down and the tyre has rubbed through the plastic. A tent pole has dropped through and sat on the tyre wearing a groove through to the steel belt. I reckon another 10 miles and the thing would have blown. I can't get into the evening practice session as it is fully booked so I ask John Buchan (the team T3 KR lads) to test the KR. I have fitted a new battery plus a different black box. John reports that the problem is still there and though the bike handles better than his it feels slower (with 55 hp it would feel slow). Bugger - I will try some new bits on Sunday. Get both bikes through scrutineering, now its Barby time plus a few beers. Sandy has turned up with beer, food, barby and lights. Sunday up at 6 am. Check the carbs, fit some new plugs - try taking the alternator off and fail. Out for practice. KR first - I have only been to Cadwell once last year on the mountain circuit came last then. The KR is almost unrideable, I don't know the circuit and with the power delivery being on or off it is difficult to ride. Chris Bowen's ZXR blows up again in practice a dropped valve and one very pissed off Chris. Its good for me as he was third in the championship but it has blown Chris's chances. Next up is the TZ - oh *ook. This bike is a lot quicker than me, not being familiar with the circuit or the bike is bad news - I end up scaring myself. Six KR1s booked in for the meeting - though I think it was Mike Kelly who binned it in Saturday practice. I hope he is ok.
Race 1 F400 - I am on the third row for the F400 race and really don't know what to expect. I am running 14/45 gearing, 145 mains with no filter and an airbox lid lifted at the front by 10 mm. (Air temp is 16°, 59% and 1001 mB) Tyres are a Michelin Pilot soft (road tyre frt) 29.5 psi and a Dunlop KR364 med 30.5 psi rear. The flag drops and I get a so so start. The start is up hill and the bike bogs on the first to second change, I need to slip the clutch to get it going. Round Coppice and through Charlies I get into third and latch onto the back of Peter Whiteside. Stuart Bedford is leading and for a couple of laps we hold station. On about lap three Peter gets past Stuart and I latch on to Stuarts tail. I can hold him down Park Straight but can't pull along side. He is quick enough through the bendy bits for me not to get past on about lap five we come up on back markers and I try diving under a KR1 (Think it was Mark Bickerton) at Chris curve but he closes the door. I have to brake lift and go round the outside. I lose corner speed and Peter and Stuart pull 30 to 40 yards on me. down through Mansfield and on the exit I get jumped by an Aprilia (didn't know he was behind me)try to take him on the brakes at the hairpin and he cuts across me. Apply a bit more brake to avoid T-boning him and the front tucks (It was might fault). Peter Whiteside wins again, Stuart Bedford is second and the Aprilia third. Still I really enjoyed the race and found I can lap as quickly as any body else. No time available but guess I must have been running lo 1'11" or high 1'10". The bike is just not working and is very difficult to ride.
Race 2 Open 250 - Next up the open 1300 and open 250. Third row start. Get away reasonably and make a bit of ground. On lap two Rob Mawby comes past me as if I was standing still. After that I just get slower and slower - I just can't get into the race. End up 15th overall and 5th in the 250 class. Rob Mawby wins again.
Race 3 F400 - As I had a DNF I am on the back row (7th). Peter Whiteside, Stuart Bedford and the Aprilia are on the front row. Get a good start and am about mid pack at Coppice. I work my way up the field eventually getting to 5th, which becomes 4th when the Aprilia overcooks the hairpin (The Aprilia, Stuart and Peter are about 20 seconds ahead on the road) on the last lap Ross Johnson gets past me on Park straight. I catch back upwith him through Chris and line up to take him on the brakes at Mansfield (thats where I got him earlier in the race) but the move is foiled by marshalls waving yellows. Peter Whiteside wins again, with Stuart Bedford second. That just about wraps up the championship for Peter - eight wins.
Race 4 Open 250 - 3rd row start. I decide to use the KR as I was not very happy with the TZ. I have a fair race but get caned on Park Straight where all the race 250's and bigger bikes come belting past. I get stuck behind a GSXR750 that I can pass going round Charlies then he nails me along the straight, I then catch him up but can't get past until we get to Charlies again. It then all repeats it self. Not a good race and about 5th or 6th in the 250 class. Rob Mawby wins again. Still I think I am still second overall.
Overall Summary - Not a bad days racing. Cadwell is a daunting circuit which you need to know, and have the ability to commit to. I could do that on the KR but not the TZ. Still haven't fixed the problem even though I have changed the battery, powervalve motor, plugs, ignition black box. Still think I am second in both the F400 and Open 250.
Post meeting note: This is going to make me look like a total wally but we think we might have solved the lack of power. I blame a bang on the head, my deprived childhood, pressure of work, my nagging wife (sorry dear)and anything else you can think of. Since my tumble I have been mixing oil at 15:1 instead of 30:1. This might also explain why I have been going through castrol 747 like I owned an oil well. Now I have only done this on the KR and not the TZ. I will know more at the next meet at Mallory on the 18th where I will be using oil mixed at a very careful 30:1.

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