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Saturday 29th March The weekend never got off to a great start when both the Duke Track Days on the Jurby Circuit were cancelled…… bollocks! I was counting on doing the Saturday session (as with many others I suppose) to at least get some practise in…… I had also arranged with top bike fettler, Slick Bass, to come up and help set both bikes up…… I wanted to try a different spring on the Suzuki rear shock and generally get the bike handling as best as possible, and I thought that his input would be invaluable, but as it turned out we had to fettle it in his workshop without having the luxury of testing it……. that would have to wait till the first practise session tomorrow…… Slick gave me a few tips, he set both bikes up, making sure the sag was correct front and rear, preload, compression, ride height etc etc…… he lost me more than once, but what we ended up with was, I hoped, a good base setting…… On checking the R6, Slick found that the shock was resting on the linkage at the bottom, he then asked did the back wheel come off the deck under heavy braking…….. I said 'yep', and he said 'that's why'…… so this was sorted whist fettling. Packed the bikes in the van, headed for home and packed everything else in ready for tomorrow…… Sunday 30th March Didn't forget to put my clocks forward this year, which was a bonus, and picked me old mate and trusty spanner man 'The Wad' up and headed for Jurby…… The sun was shining, but as usual there was a nice breeze blowing, but hey…… its Jurby, and its only March, so got to be happy with that. Stuey Bainborough and his dad, John had saved us a space, and already had most of his awning up, which was big enough for three bikes, so as Stu only has my old No2 bike, (which was looking mighty pretty) there was plenty of room for mine, so that was handy, parked my awning alongside me M.Benz. Put both bikes through scrutineering and the Suzuki failed as the new front brake master cylinder was touching the fairing bracket on full lock, didn't really see this as a problem, because if I had it on full lock whilst riding it, I'd either be a top stunt rider, or in serious trouble, but a quick reshaping of the bracket ensued and it was all Shipshape and Bristol fashion. Got all the usual jobs done, tyre pressures, fuel…… etc etc, and went and put my lap timer beacon out on the start line…… Stuey has invested in a lap timer for this year, as it's a damn handy piece of kit……especially if your in the lead…… it lets you know if your going to sleep, and it would be a good idea to pull your finger out and get back on it…… saves you looking over your shoulder all the time…… anyway, it seemed to work for me. Reg from the holding area came over to see us and said it was okay for me to go out in all four practise sessions as I had two bikes to test, I was looking for him to ask him that anyway, so that was handy…… The Wad put the tyre warmers on the big Ex TAS Suzuki Thou as I decided that I would go out on that first, would have preferred to have had another set on the R6, but didn't have any, looks like I need another set anyway, as the the ones that I've got don't fit the bigger tyres I have to run on the Suzuki. First
practise session was called, so off I trotted to ride the Suzy for the
first time in anger, had a couple of laps to warm the tyres up some more
and then went a bit harder…… seemed to be doing okay, as I was
passing loads, but still not doing anything silly…… caught up
with Top Laxey Pole Cat, Nigel Beattie on his ex CD Racing GSXR600 Suzuki
and must have harassed him too much because he pulled over and let me
through. The bike was going good, and felt really light as I think it
was set up on its nose a bit too much, but as it steered well, I thought
that I would leave it as it was, and give it a go in the first race……
reeled in quite a few more before the session ended. I remember doing a somersault in mid air, and Jesus was it high…… I then fell back to earth thinking 'this is going to hurt' and landed heavily on the left side of my back…… OUCH! I then did a good impression of a gymnast (but with zero for artistic impression) as I cart wheeled for a while and ended up on the grass…… got to my feet straight away, which…… A) I could hardly believe, and …… B) I could hardly believe! …… And C) neither could anybody else!…… always a good thing to do I reckon because if there's something seriously wrong…… you would probably fall back over, but as I didn't, I thought that I must be okay…… hurting like hell, but in one piece…… didn't see which way the bike had gone till I found it in a heap in the grass…… and basically, it was wankered. Was a bit pissed off, but what's done is done…… I couldn't understand it though, I never fed the power in that hard cos I knew I was on semi warm tyres…… Chief Marshall John Walsh was first one there and he said that the bike had gone 10 to 15 foot in the air, landed on the front the back up in the air the back down on the arse end……… Just great…… and apparently landed about three feet from where I did…… don't even want to think about that…… He asked what happened…… was baffled meself…… either cold tyres or sommat on the track, but you would think the combination of three laps to warm the up and only going steady would eliminate the cold tyre theory, but I would be proved wrong…… probably will. My Celtic Leathers stood up to the job again, absolute top piece of kit, wouldn't have any others for sure (thanks again Sam, you've saved my arse more than once) and remarkably there wasn't even a scuff mark on my helmet………… amazing. Watched the other boys go by as I scoured the grass for bits, Found a few bits (some that weren't even mine!) and what was left of my lap timer…… a few of the boys gave me the thumbs up on the way past, but Paul Corrin actually stopped at the end of practise to see if I was okay…… he said he was a couple of bikes behind and saw how high I went…… I said I was knocked about a bit but relatively okay…… was thinking at the time, of the brief chat I had had before practise with Phil 'Gillie' Gilmore, about him running standard road fairings on his GSXR1000, he said…… 'Basically Tommy, I don't give a shit about metal and plastic, if I fall off, and I'm okay …that's all that matters'…… and he's only right, had I not had that conversation, I might have been feeling sorry for myself more than I was…… but it was such a huge Yee-Ha that I have to consider meself lucky…… but try telling that to me ankle, elbow back, neck, arse etc etc…… and to make matters worse…… my credit card packed its bags and left town. Was
carted back to the paddock in Big Terry's van and me crew and other help
unloaded what was left of the R6 and stuck it outside the awning, Big
H tipped up to see if I was okay and suggested that I stick a 'Help Needed'
cardboard box on the bike and he bet that people would stick at least
£100 in it…… Stuey set about doing that, cos I was too
embarrassed …… well 'H' you were wrong, there was £30.90!………
Had to go and see the Doc, and he passed me fit, no broken bones or owt, but I had hurt my little finger on my right hand and it swelled up nicely, this was the same finger that I had the operation on last year…… double bollocks. Limped back to the van and didn't really want to take my boot off, done this before motocrossing and playing footy, and then you cant get it back on again…… Went out for my second practise session on the Suzy, and it was pretty uneventful but found that I was having a problem with my new boots catching on the upper chain protector, even after taping the area up on the boot that was affecting it…… as this hadn't worked The Wad and Team Manager Chris, pinched the one off the R6 (surprising a bit that was still in one piece) and fitted it to the GSXR…… hoped that this would cure the problem and it really jammed a couple of time and I had actually damaged the boot by trying to free it while riding…… its because I ride with my toes on the pegs, that's why I never use the back brake, cos I'm usually nowhere near it with me tootsies…… Most racers say that they don't use the back brake, but I actually don't unless it's to pull a wheelie down on the roads……… Ah, that old chestnut I hear you say…… Race
one was called…… The 1300 Open Solos Centre Championship, 10
laps, and I was on the front row, alongside current Champion, Chris Heath,
Paul Dedman on his ex Scott Smart Ten Kate Honda, Nigel Beattie on his
ex CD Racing 600 Suzuki and Rob Sells on his CBR600 he's just had re-built,
had Big H, Paul Corrin on GSXR1000's and others behind on the second row,
and Stuey had been put on the third row which he was well pleased about……
Had two warm up laps and settled down on the grid, felt a bit battered
and bruised, but no bailing out now, just hoped that the bike would get
off the line okay and handle reasonably well, as this was the first real
test for it……… the flag was dropped and I didn't get the
best of starts but I knew that the power of the 1000 would be better than
a 600 and should get me to the first corner quicker than most……
Nige was really aggressive on the clutch and he screamed it like a banshee
off the line, that's the thing I remember about the start the most……
at the first corner, I think I tipped in, in 5th position, with Heathy
in the lead, Corrin and Dedman had got a beauty, can't remember who else
was in front, but we were pretty much altogether into the bus stop chicane,
but got the power on early and got great drive around Snuffies and hit
second spot on the back straight…… watched as Heath defended
his line into the Perimeter section…… a bit too tight I thought,
I braked earlier than he did but got on the power before him and caught
him right up, was up his chuff into the hairpin, another tight line sent
him a tad wide, but all I was thinking about was where the hell was Big
H……… and at the same time I was pretty nervous about getting
on the gas after the chicane, didn't want to highside at the same spot,
so rolled the throttle a bit…… Heath pulled a few yards on me
but didn't get any more as we haired down the home straight, watched as
his bike weaved a bit and into the first crossover chicane it was still
the same position wise, pulled a few yards up to the Bus Stop and then
lost them again in it, but made up some good ground around Snuffies and
was reeling him in…… same thing happened this lap at the Perimeter
section and this time was right up his chuff, could have actually made
a move on him, but didn't, was thinking that it was going to be interesting
here on the last lap, into the hairpin I was in two minds whether to show
him my front wheel but decided against it, wanted to save doing that,
was trail braking deep into the corner, and I thought that he was going
to take it quicker than he did…… but he didn't, which put me
closer than I expected, so had to squeeze the lever harder than I liked
to avoid him…… and guess what……… the front washed
and down I went, held on to it and ended up on the grass and watched 'H'
go by…… triple bollocks! Was well fed up…… Heathy went on to win the race and later came over for a chat, he was right when he said to look on the bright side, off twice and still walking around (well…… limping). Another thing to be upbeat about, was that I know I can compete on the big Suzuki, it was keeping up with the tuned bikes and it has 20 odd horses less, would have loved to have stayed on it to see how things would have panned out…… I had wanted a top 3 spot in both the 1300 Open and 600 races before the start and that had most definitely been on for sure, but alas, didn't even get to start the 600 race, although Stuey offered to let me ride his bike in it…… but the way things had been going I never fancied jumping off his too, and I was stiffening up pretty badly…… left ankle and upper arm were getting worse… wanted to save myself for the other 1300 Centre Championship race. Got the bike fettled ready, then watched Big H win the 600 race, which turned out to be a goodie…… It was frustrating (and annoying) watching the points slip away… but not much I could do about it standing in the paddock…… Sellsy had led it for ages, and looked on for the win, but ended up 4th I think…… then was well chuffed for Stuey as he won the first (and his first ever) Restricted Race…… he had a smile a mile wide…… he rode really well and deserved it. My race was called after the restricted race and out I went on the warm up laps….. was on the front row again, alongside the same crew…… and we were soon off…… was up to third going up to the bus stop, behind Heath, (leading again) and Paul Corrin…… out of the Bus Stop, Paul highsided in front of me…… ' Oh Christ'…… first thought that I was going straight into him, he went one way, but his bike stayed on the track spinning in front of me, but managed to dodge it okay, it looked mighty familiar, and I just hoped he had walked away from it…… Must admit it shook me up a bit and down the back straight I was still in second till both 'H' and Dedman passed me into the hairpin…… really started to struggle and was absolutely not enjoying it…… was breathing through me arse and was missing gears, taking wrong lines and all sorts, and slowed that much that I knew that I was going to get caught, next lap round Sellsy came past me and going down the start finish straight, something flew up from his bike, came straight through my screen and hit me in the middle of my visor…… nearly knocked me head off what was left of me shoulders…… Jesus H Christ…… what next…… as it turned out…… the red flag. Lined
up again for a 7 lap restart and were soon off again…… Heathy
again got the hole shot, with me in pursuit, Sellsy nearly had me on the
grass when I went round the outside of him…… knew that was a
bad idea, but made it okay…… struggled right from the start
of this one as I could hardly keep hold of the bike and was soon passed
by Big H and Paul Dedman again, and about 3 laps later by Sellsy, watched
him bugger off and then on the 5th lap, Nige came underneath me at the
Perimeter corner, and he wasn't even travelling that fast……
Packed my stuff in the van, had to get a few hands to load the R6 in and then watched Stuey in his other Restricted Race…… the first time he has had expectation on his shoulders, he managed to come home third so he got a nice points haul which should stand him in good stead for the Championship. Got a call from Slick to meet him at his workshop, as I asked him would he strip it and check it for me, as I don't want to overlook anything, I want it thoroughly checked, and also would be struggling to do it with being so second hand meself…… so had to leave Stuey and John to dismantle their awning on their own (worked well that!)…… then went and dumped the bike in Slick's workshop…… will have to decide after its stripped, how we're going to fix it…… Dropped the Wad off after he drove to Peel and unloaded most of the van on my Bugsy Malone…… Really gonna suffer tomorrow that's for sure……… and usually that's when the whip lash kicks in…… So, tune in for another very exciting, body bashing, three screens in one day (and then some) episode of………………… Tommy Clucas Racing
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Jurby
Airfield, Anti-Clockwise - 30th March 2003
