Race Reports- Mallory Park 15 July 2001
Loaded up Saturday morning and set of at 11:30 am. The plan being to get in during the lunch break as there is a race school on. Get to the circuit 12:30 but they won't let us in - apparently not allowed in until 5pm - so much for sneaking in early (Flaw 1). As the weather is nice and sunny, Dave 'The Fish' who is helping me and Ellie pull out a couple of chairs and the beer and we sit down to watch the race school. Best lap of the day was 1'03" - as soon as anybody looked like going faster the instructors slowed them down. Probably the best thing as the the slower riders were going round in the mid 1'20"s. At 4:45 Dave and Ellie went into the paddock to claim our pitch whilst I went back to the car. Having claimed our corner of the paddock complete with lots of power we set up shop. As I wanted to get out early for practice I got the KR scruiteenered - 2nd flaw in the master plan - Dave's bringing the 125 and I can't sign on and get my practice pass until both bikes are checked. At scruiteenering Dave McGeachie (KR-1S web site) comes over and introduces himself. This is a pleasant suprise as Dave lives up in Scotland. Dave has come down with his family to watch and take lots of pictures and video footage. All should be appearing on his up dated web site soon. Having promoted the day I hope we can put on a good show. As Dave Page (to many Dave's here) isn't due in until race day I just have to hope that all the early practice passes haven't gone. With everything sorted we set up the barby. The smell of burning sausage must have attracted the other KRs as John Buchan, Mark Brown, Brian Mattock (Team T3), Rich Davis and Dave Weller turn up and start setting up along side. A little later a disconsolate Pete Whiteside wanders over. He was racing at Aintree today and had all sorts of bike problems. Starts muttering things about giving up, the cost of racing, etc. I know what he feels like as when things go wrong it really does make you wonder why. We all retire up to the pub to drown Pete's sorrows. Mean while I have this nagging feeling that something will break - as I said earlier I have changed to many things on the bike without trying it out.
Practice - For once had a reasonable kip. Fell a sleep listning to Ellie and Dave (the Fish) debating why a man died in an empty room with a mirror, a walking stick and some wood shavings - worked better than counting sheep. Woke up to a beautiful morning with not a cloud in sight. John Badger and Dave Page arrive and set up alongside. The other KRs, Neil Haslam, Peter Lodge and Mark Elkington also roll in. Ellie takes the 125 up to scruitineering whilst I check tyre pressures on the KR. At signing on manage to get a 2nd and 5th practice pass. The club have introduced a new system where you get a numbered practice - seems to work well.
Take the KR out in session 2 and lap slowly trying to bed the brakes in. Dave Weller and John Badger go past so I up the pace a little but braking for the hairpin I still have no brakes and resort to back brake and running wide. Brakes improve a bit towards the end of the session but still aren't brilliant (in fact they are crap). Will have to finish bedding them in, in the first race. On about the last lap I see John's head sticking up over the barrier at the hairpin and his bike propped up. Turns out he tangled with Mark Elkington going into the hairpin and the front tucked. John fell on his shoulder breaking his collar bone - strike one KR. Practice on the 125 is again a slow affair as I have to scrub in two new tyres. On the last lap I plug chop the bikes - KR is on 140 main jets and looks ok weather is 1004mB, 55% and fairly cool at 15° C. The 125 is weak so we go up two sizes to a 190. Whilst doing the plug chop on the KR I notice a dribble of fluid around the rear left stud on the left cylinder. I had this at Cadwell and thought nothing off it. As I had cleaned the engine after Cadwell it is a bit worrying to see the fluid back. Begin to suspect that I might have cracked a barrel (KR barrels are known to crack between the rear studs and the whole of the back of the barrel falls off!!!). I can't do anything about it so as the crack looks very small (hairline) have to carry on and pray it holds together. On the KR I am running 15/43 which is two teeth less than normal on the back (this will help keep engine revs down and may help the barrel last if it is cracked), tyre pressure 29 front 30 rear. I am in race 6 (125), race 7 (F400) race 12 (GP250) then 17,18 and 22. Running back to back races is a pain but can be managed if nothing goes wrong. Things are getting hectic as Rick and his wife arrive with my youngest in tow. Rick is time keeping today and Emma has come along to see a race for the first time. My brother and his friend turn up - she has ridden up from London on a Morini 3 & 1/2 with bruv on the back. Andy Blundell and Richard Saunders arrive - both have been racing KRs with EMRA but are spectating today as they couldn't get entries. Sort out the trophies with Carl and try and get round to talk to everybody. And most important of all try and wind up the 400 lads. As we are getting ready to go out for the 125 race they announce lunch will follow race 6. This is good as I get a decent break before race 7.
Race 1 GP125 - I have a front row start alongside Dave page. As usual we are mixed in with the Formula Phoenix bikes so Dave Cheesmond on his P&M Kwack and Glyn Williams on his 750 Kwack are along side. I get a poor start and drop several places. Going into Gerrards I manage to slot into 5th behind a CB500 and the 750 kwack. Rob Eley has come up from row 2 and leads followed by Dave Page. The race is a bit blurred but at one stage I manage to get past both bikes to move in to 3rd behind Dave who is stuck behind Rob Eley. Dave managed to get past Rob about the same time that Ted Roebuck got past me. I then was passed by a single, the Kwack and CB500. I continued to ride badly until the last lap going into Gerrards where I got entry and mid corner speed quicker than ever. Went sailing round the Kwack and CB500 as if they were standing still. As I had gone slightly wide passing them I tipped in that little bit extra as I started driving out, at which point the front tucked. Down I went, seemed to slide forever on the tarmac then on to the grass with the bike following me. At one point I sat up thinking I had stopped - but nope I was still sliding. Finally came to rest face down in the grass about 80 yards from where I started - judging by the length of the mark on the tarmac. Quick wiggle of everything then up and onto the tyre wall. Bike looked alright as it didn't tumble just slid. Oh well I am in one bit - broke a finger nail and a small friction burn on the arm. Leathers have had it but everything else is ok. Lap times were pathetic so I won't print them. Dave won, with Ted Roebuck second. In fact a totally naff start to the day. At least it is now lunch break so I won't miss the F400 - it is a danger of running in consecutive races that a mishap in one wipes out the next. Dave Page and Dave The Fish set about fixing the 125 which requires a new footpeg and handle bar. The foot peg is about 2 inchs shorter and the handle bar an inch. Other than a few scratchs on the fairing that's it - levers were ok!! Compared with the KR it is amazing how the 125's crash - that get off must have been around 100 mph. I just wandered around with a stupid grin on my face showing anybody that would look my broken finger nail. That brings my total of crashes at Mallory to 3, Gerrards in, Gerrards out and the Esses. (I know I was going quicker than I have before but I reckon the tumble might have been as a result of the front tyre. I was using a 564 compound which I think is the hard compound front - I always ahve problems finding tyres soft enougth for my riding style and as the temeprature on the day was low and I wasn't riding particularly quickly I like to think it was the wrong tyre?).
Race 2 F400As Ted Bigood isn't racing I move up from my normal row 3 start to row 2. Front row is Dave Marsh, Paul Daley, Jason Winter and Richard Welsh (both on FZR400). Second row is me, Pete whiteside, Paul Mumby Croft and Stuart Bedford. As I expect Dave and Paul to be quick off the line, I go behind Jason Winter and Richard Welsh. It pays off as I get a blinding start and squeeze between the two FZR400's before they barely get moving. I am easily first into Gerrards. Pete and Stuart got stuck squabbling with Paul and Dave and I think Steve Heneghan (3rd row) managed to get past them on the run into Gerrards. Didn't bother me as I was long gone. Fly out of Gerrards with a huge lead, fairly careful into the Esses and then struggle to stop at the hairpin - the brakes aren't working. Led the next lap then lose a mass of time at the hairpin. Somewhere Steve Heneghan got past, then Stuart Bedford. I just can't stop, on lap 6 going into the hairpin Pete Whiteside comes past on the outside as I defend the inside line. Pete starts tipping in and I start praying - I can't stop, I have to use the back brake which is no good at all as it just makes the rear squirm. I overshoot the tip in point and carry on as Pete cross behind me (see the piccy - Pete was complaining that there were no pictures of him on the site so just to make it up, here is one of him carrying out the pass). End up 4th with a fastest lap of 56.5 seconds. Steve heneghan cleared off and won by a comfortable margin, Stuart 2nd and Peter 3rd. Steve set the fastest lap at 54.6 seconds. Another naff race and I lose one point to Pete. Some emergency work needs to be done on the brakes. Back in the paddock we take the pads out which have glazed. Break the glaze by rubbing them down on a sheet of emery on the table. Dave 'Fish' noticed that the pads were catching on the sides of the calipers so we rub the paint off the sides of the pads. They now rattle nicely. Will get to try them out in the 250 race before the next F400. Pete Whiteside lends me some contact cleaner so I can give the discs a good clean - thanks Pete. The other KR's had a mixed outing. Rich Davis was sidelined when his lefthand tailpipe dropped off - this happened to the other exhaust on an earlier Wednesday practice day. Brian Mattock and John Buchan clashed at the hairpin taking each other out. Apparently this squares the account for the May meet at Cadwell where the clash was the other way around. Mark Brown profited and came in 4th. Peter Lodge was second with Mark Elkington in his first cup ride coming third. Dave Weller and Neil Haslam came in 5th and 6th respectively. Brian's bike was quite badly damaged with little chance of getting out in the 250 race. John's got away lightly. Still Brian could go back to being his resourceful self, so out came the blow torch to heat up the clip-on so he could straighten it. Many bits later, much smoke and fire he was back in action. The paddock area around us was beginning to look like a battle field. Rich borrowed a spare exhaust from T3 so was also up and running. After Cadwell and now Mallory looks like T3 have returned to their old habit of falling off. Obviously the novelty of nice new paint work has worn off.
Race 3 GP250 - On the out and then the warm up lap brakes feel good with the lever stiffening up quite abit (that is after the initial panic of it coming right back - forgot to pump the brakes). I have a Row 3 start and get a good launch not losing any ground going into Gerrards. Circulate towards the back of the leading pack about 10 bikes. Pass a few and get passed by a few. Three 250 race bikes get past headed by John lewis who went onto win the class. I come in 4th in class, 15th overall. Not a brilliant ride but then I didn't expect anything special. 6 points so I now lead John by 4pts. Not a good race for the Krs as Dave Weller high sided coming out of the bus stop. Damage - scuffed leathers bent exhaust and broken clip on, footpeg and gear lever plus two broken toes. Rich had his front fairing mount crack so he decided to skip the race and fix it for the F400. After the race Dave's broken bike was wheeled back with Dave looking a bit glum. No problem as help was at hand - Team T3 moved into operation and with their years of experience patching KR's had Dave up and running in minutes. Amazing what you can do with a selection of blunt instruments.
Race 4 GP125 - Decide to skip this as where as the 125 is fixed thanks to the Dave's I am starting at the back of the grid and the F400 race is more important. I can't afford another tunble.
Race 5 F400 - On the front row with Stuart, Pete and Steve. After the out lap Steve took the outside position (which is where I want to be) and I ended up on the inside where I don't want to be. So on the warm up lap I belt round - so did Steve but as he slowed down to take his place I nipped in front and pinched it. Not very sporting, but what the hell he has 70 hp and I have 58hp. Also helps in the psychological battle. Get a good start but arrive at Gerrards just behind Steve, things now got a bit hazey as I think I was also passed by Stuart and I know Pete muscled past me on the way into the bus stop. Don't know if this woke me up but I followed Pete down the start finish straight where the KR was quicker! I can't remember if I got him going into Gerrards or went round him. I got drive out of Gerrards and held 5th way into the red and I think I passed Stuart going into the Esses. I think I then took Steve going into the hairpin. Having got past all of them I led the race for a couple of laps. I remember a yellow bike coming alongside at the hairpin a couple of times - must have been Stuart and each time I just ran a little wide on the exit to block him into the bus stop. Whilst leading I was deliberately slow into the bus stop to make sure I got out well. This may have worked against me as on lap 6, after we had crossed the line, Steve Heneghan nipped past going into Gerrards. I followed him round and got much better drive on the way out. Coming into the Esses we were alongside each other with me on the inside. Now it gets complicated as the marshalls started waving yellows, I don't know if Steve backed of a fraction, I did, but I arguably passed him on the inside, realising this I backed off a bit to let him past just as they started waving reds up towards the hairpin. Steve then re-passed me - race was over as we had gone over 63% race distance. I was happy as I thought the race would go back to who led at the end of lap 5, i.e. me as Steve didn't pass me until after the start/finish line. In the end the Clerk of the Course called the result when the flags came out - which had me leading out of the Esses. Steve rightfully protested, unofficially, as he claimed I passed him on the yellow. Yet another twist was added as apparently the marshalls had radioed in saying Steve had passed on a waved red which is a disciplinary offence. To avoid having to discipline Steve which could be a fine and lots of paper work the result was me, Steve, Stuart and Pete. I don't think I would have been disappointed if it had gone the other way it was a cracking race with lots of overtaking and a close finish at the end. Backing off on a yellow is a very dodgy area - when I first started racing, on a waved yellow, I used to back right off and everybody would disappear. Now days I back of a very small amount, it is very difficult to call - I will go back and read the rule book. Lap times were good and I posted the fastest lap 54.5 which is a second quicker than I have gone before and I have pulled back 3 points on Peter on the day so his lead is down to 3 points. We now move onto Cadwell and Anglesey (2 days) where the tracks favour me before going on to Snetterton which must favour the four strokes.
The other KRs - The race was stopped as we think Mark Elkington went down heavily at the Esses. Not sure how Mark is but Dave Page who saw the fall said it looked nasty.
(This is Mark's description of what happened - 'I was riding it hard on the Avons and the little baby was starting to slide somewhat, was well pleased with the KR in general but traction was becomong somewhat unpredictable, especially rear. I think I was behind Richard Davies going through the esses, tried to get the gas on early to mount a challenge at the hairpin but it was just a plain and simple massive high side...' turned out Mark was ok after a visit to Nuneaton hospital to drain a knee and check a badly banged elbow)
All the other KRs came in safely with Peter Lodge getting second again, Rich Davis putting in a good ride from a back row start to get third. Mark Brown 4th, Brian Mattock 5th, John Buchan 6th, Dave weller 7th and Neil Haslam 8th.
Race 5 GP250 - Row 4 start, not a lot to say about this went round and round following an R1, Rob Zalezny and Simon Scott's ZX750. They would disappear down the straights, I would catch up at the bendy bits. By the bus stop I was right up with them each lap and it would start again. Rick had asked if I could beat Rob, Rick knowing Rob from M&P over in Northampton. Tried my best getting past once but the straight line speed of the R1 meant I couldn't make it stick. On the last lap I looked back couldn't see anybody and eased right off to save the engine. I wouldn't get any extra points for passing them as they were in a different class. Finished 4th overall with John Lewis getting second. So only lost two points overall which leaves me leading by a point. John didn't get his entry in for Cadwell so I can claw a few points back (not really fair in championship terms but.... I need every break I can get to beat the pukka GP bikes).
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