Engine refresh

Just been to pick up the motor from JT Performance Centre in the Midlands and got to say I had a big smile on my face all the way home.
As soon as you walk into JT's work shop you can see that he's a proper engine builder, its more like a operating theatre than a garage with various Triumph engines in neat piles including top BSB Supersport rider James Westmorland's two motors.
JT went through everthing that he had done so meticulously and although I am now completely skint it was defiantly money well spent as the engine wouldn't have gone on much longer before it popped and that would have ended next season before it started.

It needed new pistons, con rods, main bearings, gear selector and some gears but luckily JT had some used ones from his race team in great condition so this kept the price down a bit.

Overall then really skint but really pleased with the end result.

Weston Beach Race

Took all the family down to the sea side last Sunday to watch the madness that is the beach race. The weather man predicted a sunny day so we dressed accordingly so got totally soaked by the horizontal rain blowing off the sea.
I've competed at Weston six times and can honestly say its the biggest hit of adrenalin your body can handle, right from the moment you jostle for position at parc ferme to the log jam at the first dune you simply turn into a mad man. This feeling came back as we walked past all the riders getting ready to go and I really wanted to be in there with them.
We walked up the far end of the beach to find loads of people getting in for free, which is a bit annoying when you've just spent £50 to get in! but soon enough we could hear the roar of 500+ bikes charging up the mile long straight and then the leaders came past us and over the first dune making it look easy. After about ten went through the carnage began and the less skilled riders began the usual chaos. One guy got stuck halfway up and tried everything to get out but just got deeper and deeper up to the seat until it had calmed down and three Marshall's dug him out. The lad got his bike started and to the cheers of hundreds of fans he got over the dune but then fell off on the way down, Muppet!
It then went very quiet and rumour got back there had been a pile up at the start and it was red flagged. We waited two hours for the restart but realised it must have been bad as the race was cancelled. This is when all hell let loose with people demanding a refund and almost starting a riot, pretty shameful really when some riders were at deaths door but that's the great British public for you.
Turns out the crash was really bad and this could spell the end for the beach race due to bloody Health and Safety. This would be a shame as its an awesome event and I'd like to think I could compete again some day ,that's if road racing doesn't bankrupt me first!

A spot of maintenance

Oulton Park

Another season comes to a close at the amazing Oulton Park in Cheshire, a long haul but defiantly worth it.
I'd booked the test day as last year I rode like a plank and just couldn't get to grips with this long and varied track. The best lap I could manage was 1m;55 way off the required times, my goal was 1m;52 ad a top 50% finish for my National licence signature.
The sun shone all day for testing and everything felt great although there was no timing I felt like I was riding good. The corners I struggled with last time made a bit more sense and I was really enjoying myself even though the mother of all colds was taking root in my head.
The best bit of the day was the final session where the sunlight was just twinkling through the trees at the Clay Hill, Druids section as you hurtled though at 100+MPH it felt really special and like this is what its all about!
After cleaning the bike and going through scrutineering everyone else went off to the bar but I felt so rough that I just curled up and watched a film in the caravan, sad or what?
We had a rude awakening at 6am when they turned on the paddock lights which was a mega bright sodium bulb zapping straight into the caravan waking my little boy up so he started balling but I was blinded so couldn't find the window screen, not a good way to start the day!!
I usually get nervous before practice but it was much worse this time, I actually felt fear creeping in as we assembled for practice and I wobbled around forgetting everything that was learned yesterday but I had an hour and a half before the first race to sort my head out which I'm happy to say I did quite well.
For the Sound of Thunder qualifying race I was on the forth row in 13th but the old Trumpet got off the line like a rocket and I tucked in behind the lead group and felt quite comfortable holding position. My new sparring partner Robert Bowen tried a move at Shell but I saw his wheel and tightened my line but could do nothing when Aaron Ridewood came by on his way to finishing 4th. By the last lap I was really enjoying it and was even catching the front guys but was happy to finish 7th just behind Greg Gibson and smash my best lap time with a 1m;50 lap.
The 600 quali race was to be an exercise in survival with a handful of BSB riders at the back of the grid who were going to be charging through the pack looking for a good grid spot in the final and sure enough my ears are still ringing with the sound of tortured R6 ridden by teenage loonies flying past. By the last lap flag I was dizzy and glad to finish so had to go through the whole sort my head out business over dinner.
I lined up in 7th position for the SoT Final and got hell of a start up to 3rd and held it until the first chicane where 3 Ducati bullies pushed me out and got by, I got back in the rhythm and chased after them until we got to Druids where I saw Greg Gibson flying through the air in a really nasty high side. This brought out the red flags and we were held at the back of the circuit while the ambulance picked him up.
For the re start I got the same drive off the line and had that lovely feeling of not many bikes being around in the first corner but it didn't last as 3 Dukes and a KTM had me on the straight so for 3 laps I had Aaron and Lee Watts just in front until Lee gave me a cheeky look back and took Aaron then buggered off. I could see Aaron was having tyre problems and got him in to the first right hander but was sure he would come back. The last lap was hell, I made so many mistakes but it felt like I'd won when I crossed the line in 5th. This is the best I've ever ridden and cracking way to end the season.

Donington Park trackday

Billed as the last ever chance to ride the famous GP circuit before the bulldozers move in to strip it back to dull F1 standards the day was always going to be packed and full of trackday hero's with a point to prove and sure enough it didn't disappoint!
I did try to sell my space to put towards some new tyres but no joy so I gave it a go. Any way the weather was looking good and I really wanted to put my bad performance here last year behind me so got stuck in.
The morning sessions were all marred by red flags caused by first lap hero's to the point of getting everyone together for a right royal bollocking from Mark the organiser who didn't mince his words about taking the idiots in hand and I couldn't agree with him more. The standard of some of the riding at track days especially the Inter group is awful, some guys just seem to have something to prove and ride way above their skill levels and wreck the session for every one else. I rode in the Advanced group but even then one guy managed to go on the grass in the sighting lap!.
When we did get a full session though the circuit is fantastic, the feeling you get hammering down Craner Curves is unbelievable and just knowing that Rossi, Lorenzo etc. were all binning it here a few weeks ago is priceless.
As the day went on and I learnt the track I could stay with some of the faster guys in the group without pushing to hard but when an instructor offered to show me the right lines I struggled to keep up, the fact that he'd done a bizillion laps and I'd ridden there once before didn't enter his head so I let him clear off.
Overall a good day on a great track but I'm sure I'll stick to racing as you don't seem to get the problems with big egos as the race results tell the story not by bragging about what laps times you have done.
That's off my chest now and I feel much better. Oulton Park next week and back to the real deal!

Castle Combe 22nd Aug

The run up to Combe didn't go quite to plan. I was hoping to get in a sneaky track day in the week before but fell foul of the noise nazis and wasn't allowed on track, couldn't belive it when the testing guy asked me to rev it to 10500!! I tried to explain that usually I get tested at 7000 but he was having none of it. All credit to the organisers though for fully refunding me and its only 30 minutes drive and thankfully the pub was open when I got home to console myself.

After the usual chaos loading up and organising people we arrived at the track just before 10 pm and still had to set the awning up and do some last minute jobs on the bike so slept like a log, unlike my boy who decided to wake up at 4am!

Practice went OK except I didn't realise it was timed for grid positions so ended up way down and I had forgot just how bumpy this place is.

The first race was the Allcomers open race and I lined up next to Ricky Elder on my old bike so really tried to get a good drive off the and the Trump didn't let me down. I made up loads of places but there was a pile up on the grid and the race was red flagged, turned out a guy had stalled and was ploughed into! scary stuff.

The re-start wasn't so great and came up behind a fellow NG'er on an R1 which was frustrating as I was quicker in the corners but he had the edge on the flat out bits. The only way to get by was a shit or bust at the chicane's but I didn't have the killer instinct and ended up following until we both went wide at Quarry and Ricky took us both. This motivated me slightly and I did get by the R1 but too late to catch Ricky. Consolation prize was getting a National signature for 16th out of 37.

There was massive crowd and it felt great talking to the enthusiasts in the paddock the main theme was how much Triumph's had changed since the 60's. I even signed an autograph for a small girl who came up with her mum, hope she wasn't too disappointed if she saw me on track!

I felt really confident for the first Sound of Thunder race and got away well with the leaders well in sight but on lap three I got on the power too hard out of the Esses and got high sided right out of the saddle, I was sure it was going to hurt but the Trump sucked me back into the saddle and off we went but a little more cautious than before and I got passed by three bikes in as many laps, one was a circuit instructor though so I didn't feel too bad.

The second race was a bit of a anticlimax, I fluffed the start and didn't show much Mojo at all! the two guys just in front of me were having a great battle and I kind of just watched them instead of getting stuck in. The same pesky instructor had me on the last lap and I finished 10th.

Overall a good day and got my signature so job done, back to normal service at Oulton Park next and I've even broke my stingy habit and booked the test day, might even buy a new tyre watch this space.

Round 10 and 11 Pembrey

Pembrey is the track that I've done the most laps of so was really looking forwards to riding the Triumph there. The journey down and getting set up was all trouble free but I was a bit concerned about setting up the awning on the only wet bit of tarmac in the paddock, this would make sense on Sunday morning!

Unbelievably Saturday morning was dry and sunny, I thought it was a dream but no it stayed dry all day, very un-Pembrey like.

Practice was a bit mixed, I managed to get two practice sessions but this went against me when I low-sided at the hair pin which broke the screen and a foot peg. Luckily for me there's people like Shaun Wynne around who didn't hesitate to lend me a spare screen, top bloke.

The Sound of Thunder quali race was a bit lame, I was just following people around rather than racing and finished 7th. I was getting the better of some of my bad riding habits though so it wasn't all bad.

Qualifying for the 600's was the usual mayhem, I lined up next to Daz on the grid but I'm really bored of him whoopin my arse so blasted of the line with the front guys and spent a couple of laps behind the class lunatic which was interesting! I was quicker than him but you just don't want to be anywhere near him and I was quite relived when he fell off at Spitfires. The race was red flagged due to Andy Lawrence high siding at Hatchetts which looked quite nasty hope he's OK.I ended up in 6th place and did a personal best lap time of 1;03.1 just short of my 1;02 goal.

After dinner things went great in the Sound of Thunder final, the two lead guys went down and I landed my best ever result of 4th but like the saying goes "to finish first, first you must finish".

The 600 final was more satisfying as I managed to tag on to Paul Jeffery and Jamie Adam, both quick guys, but settled into following mode for a few laps when perhaps I should have gone quicker. I made it past Jamie but couldn't stick with Paul and posted my best 600 result of 6th.

Sunday

The weather was back to normal, horizontal rain, gale force wind and 3 inches of water in the awning so I skipped practice in the vain hope it would dry for the races, no chance!

The SoT quali race was awful!! every time I went to turn into Woodlands the front would just shake like mad and it put the wind up me so I backed off, unlike Duncan Gibson who did a 1;04 in terrible conditions.

Before the 600 quali race I had a chat with Brian Halford about making a few changes and the changes we made to the suspension worked a treat. I just felt really confident in the wet and went for it. The start wasn't great but soon made back the lost places and got my head down until I came up behind Tom Fisher and to my surprise kept with him for a lap. I realise now he must have been saving himself for the final but lined him up for the pass at Honda which is a bloody quick corner but I got by him no problem until I looked up and saw a back marker right where I wanted to go. Not really sure how I missed him but next thing I am sliding across the mud into the air fence, bugger!!. As soon as I stopped sliding I got up and gave Helen a wave and the bike doesn't look too badly damaged just some bent bits. Unfortunately that's it for the day for me as there's sand everywhere and I don't want to risk engine damage so I asked Helen to drive home so I could console myself with lots of beer!We did stick around to watch Daz get 5th in the 600 final and Josh almost winning the 600 champs in dry conditions and I did think my personal best lap time would have come down but who knows!

Will be doing a bit of garage work ahead to get ready for Castle Combe next month but looking forwards to it.

Round 9 Thruxton

After the long trips to Snett and Cadwell which are both in Holland I think, the hour and a bit to Thruxton was pure bliss. It would have been quicker but we own the slowest Transit van in the whole world. The poor thing had to tow our "new" caravan and I had to use first gear to get up Marlborough hill!.
Once there I found a spot with loads of space so I could set up the huge awning with ease, this was great till the wind started howling across the airfield and the awning turned into a sail, poor Khia was trying to hold one end but was getting lifted right off her feet and we managed to bend three poles it was that strong. Strangely though as soon as it was up the wind died down, bloody typical!
Had a quiet night and a lovely sleep until 6;15 am when the entire cast of Eastenders set up there awning two inches from our caravan and started clanging jerry cans into it. I was proper annoyed so yelled at them but they didn't seem to get it and carried on"Givin it all Thaat" and worst of all playing Faithless over and over and I hate Faithless!!!! They turned out to be Mini-twiners from another club so hopefully wont be seeing them again.
Practice was a bit slippy so took it fairly easy but was really up for the Sound of Thunder quali race and got away really well with the leaders just in front. I was struggling with the braking point into the last chicane and lost places most laps but the guys getting by were all front runners so I wasn't that concerned and was pleased with my 9th place out of a full grid of 35.
Next up was the 600 quali race and I lined up next to team mate Dazza so when the lights went out I shot off in front of him and got my head down and tagged onto the second group of racers and really could have got amongst them but for one guy riding like a complete twat trying to go under people at really crap places without a hope of keeping to the line, this slowed me a bit and was happy to stay behind what I thought was going to be carnage! Again I was happy with 12th with Daz a few places behind.
The SoT Final was brilliant and again the only guys that got by me were either ex class champions and currant front runners, it really would be great to have longer races at Thruxton because its pure joy to ride and I can see where I'm losing time to my rivals so more track time would sort it I think. By finishing 11th I earned a signature towards my national licence so I was well chuffed.
In the 600 final I was confident I could do the double over Daz and again tagged onto the same group where the same guy was cutting everyone up till he went straight on at Seagrave so with him now behind me I put the hammer down and did some good laps wanting to get away from him, but it wasn't to be as I did the same thing at Seagrave and he and Dazza went by, I gradually reeled in Daz but wasn't close enough to get by and as is the norm at Thruxton we crossed the line with a fag paper between us in 13th and 14th.
Overall a great days racing with more new personal best laps and I'm still riding in my comfort zone so there should be more to come. Pembrey next and I would love to get a 1;02 lap