Jurby Airfield, 7th October 2001 2 Hour Endurance Had the van all packed on the Saturday and headed off up to Jurby on Sunday morning......... it was absolutely lashing down with rain......... was getting a little worried, as I had no intermediates fitted to wheels, just a new set of Supercorsa's and Full wets, with part worn tyres already on the bike to use up in the practise sessions. Had decided to take my new bike up as well (V&M R6 Yamaha - ex Moodie/Jefferies), my plan being me doing the race school on that to get up to speed and let Juan have most of the two 20 minute practise sessions on the Honda. Picked up Darren 'Archie' Murphy on the way as he was partnering Chris Sammons (of Team CSR) who had come across for the event....... picked up my mate Geller and arrived just after 10am. The rain was really heavy for about 10 minutes then, funnily enough the sun came out briefly and with the wind that was blowing, started to dry the track....... but it looked like it was going to be a dodgy ol' day and no mistake........ the tyre issue was a major worry.....but it was the same for everyone else. Put both bikes through scrutineering and at the last minute decided to sign up for the race school as it looked like it was as dry as it was going to get. As the race school was before practise went out on the R6..... the track was still damp in loads of places, so I was being extra cautious as this was my first spin on it. It felt a lot smaller than the Honda and faster!..... it was really responsive on the throttle, felt like if you wacked it right open it could get you in all sorts of trouble, and it felt like you could pop a wheelie on it in any gear....... groovy. Had about fifteen laps then pulled in.......... my pit crew said it looked quick and sounded ace............. cool. Anyway,
back to the Honda.......Juan had all of the first 20 minute
practise session, and most of the second, then I went out
on it for the last few laps and it was still damp in places
down the back straight and around Nans..... had the bike sideways
into the Bus Stop on one lap, must have looked good........
cos the arse end came right round......yeeee haaarrr. Went
back out in the second session of the race school on the V&M
bike and managed another ten laps and it really is a top bike,
it felt like it steered a bit slower than the Honda, but once
I've sorted that out, I reckon it will suit Had the new tyres fitted before the start of the race and between us we had decided that Juan would go first. All the riders were lined up for the 'Le Mans' start where you have to run across the track to the bike, start it and get away...... had the bike already in first gear, ready for Juan to pull in the clutch, hit the starter button and take off........... he got off to a flier and from our spot in 11th on the grid, he was leading at the first corner........... after the first lap he had a couple of seconds advantage which increased to nine a few laps later.... and held it at that for the next few laps. Was sticking the pit board out most laps to tell Joo how he was getting on and indicated the time in 5 minute intervals......... we had decided on doing two half hour sessions each. The yellow flags had come out after about 20 minutes because of an accident and every one had to tour around under the course yellow and overtaking was not allowed, while they dealt with the incident.......... a good idea we all thought, saved the red flags coming out and stopping the race. Juan came in for his pit stop after half an hour and out I went after a relatively slow pit stop...... was mortified later on to find that it was a minute slower than everybody else, didn't seem so at the time, but lost most of our lead because of it....... Got my head down and was doing similar times to Juan and was passing people galore, although with all sorts of bikes out there, the traffic was everywhere, it was practically impossible to get a clear lap, but it was good practise diving under people where I normally wouldn't have tried, but it had to be done cos I knew I'd have to keep my head down and maintain what was left of our lead............ after about 20 minutes the pit board indicated + 50..... nice one, and a few laps later + 57........ The yellow flags came out in my session too, and I noticed that Paul Corrin had come off Rob Sell's bike on the exit of Nans, so again we were under course yellow...... he wasn't moving much so I was hoping he was okay..... turns out he broke his collarbone..... stayed under the yellow for quite a few laps and time was ticking away, my session ended as soon as I saw the 'IN' on the board. This time the pit stop was a minute quicker, told Juan as we changed, that the rear tyre was starting to go off as it had started to move around a little. Off he went. I was surprisingly fresh after my stint and felt I could have carried on, so was looking forward to my next one. Juan's half hour went without incident and he pulled in after he saw the pit board......... we refuelled again, lubed the chain and off I went for my turn......... we were still in the lead by we reckoned about a lap........ so all I had to do was keep my head down, put in some steady laps and we had it in the bag....... unless I made a big mistake or broke down. Was still riding like I was in my first session, diving under and in between people and the bike was behaving well, although I didn't like the way Juan had set the front brake lever, it was coming nearly back to the bar when I prefer more feel. Anyway, about 20 minutes had elapsed and I was waiting to see the chequered flag, when all of a sudden my pit board said 'IN'............ ????????? I thought 'What the F**k'........didn't they realise there was not long to go and we were in the lead........... I realised there must be something seriously wrong if they were prepared to call me in, but as I had been out for 20 minutes or so and nothing had happened I was going to carry on, but as I approached the pits........ in I went....... got to my crew and there was panic....... The Scrutineers had told them to get me in because my chain was loose...... and if they didn't, they would have black flagged me........ felt like I was in the pits for ages, with Juan and Sammo fettling the bike........ got the Go! Go! Go!..... and off I shot again...... got to the end of the pits and was held for easy 15-20 seconds........ bastards. Once the traffic had passed was waved out and got my head down and rode pretty hard, but had to be careful because the tyres were well worn by this time...... passed loads more people and was on the lookout for either Nige Beattie or Bruce Black who were on their R1..... it was going to come down to just us two pairs for the win. Didn't see their bike in the short time I was back out, so thought that they must be behind me..... it started raining and I kept it steady till the end and I saw the chequered flag........ was glad to see it and I thought we still had done enough to win. Dawnio had said we had done 105 laps in total, which was the same as the Beattie/Black pairing had done......... and it turned out they had beaten us by 20 seconds. Was a little pissed off to say the least........... the loose chain had cost us at least a lap...... Juan wasn't a happy man either. I know we could have won it comfortably had I stayed out........ I'd already done about 20 minutes with the chain loose, another 10 would probably have made no difference......... but 'That's Racing' as they say...... just got the bike back in the van and the heavens opened again...........just in time. We won the 600 class by a fair margin but it was little consolation when we should have got it outright. So another season over........ get the Honda cleaned up, fettled and back in the Motorcycle City colours and get it up for sale......... Big year for me next year...... probably do most of the MRO series and a few road races...... with the Manx GP being the main event..... So, tune in next time, for another very exciting, chain slackening, enduring episode of........... Tommy Clucas Racing.
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