Brands Hatch - 9th & 10th March 2002

Friday, 8th March

Left the Island on the 0700 hrs Super Seacat to Liverpool……… Juan, me, and all my kit packed into his new Toyota Hi-Ace Power Van……… cool!…… he decided he didn't need such a big van this year as Sammo would be taking his bikes to all the tracks …… dead handy if you ask me ……… Only trouble was that the towbar that had been ordered for it hadn't turned up (surprise, surprise)……… So it was no caravan again this weekend… bollocks…… sleeping rough again in the back of the van…… not the cleverest thing to do at this time of year…… and no mistake.

The ferry journey was pretty good (unusually), we then drove to Sammo's in Chesterfield to unload a bit of kit we had brought with us, then it was off down to Coventry to pick up the new bike that Team P.C.Racing had just acquired………… It's another V&M spec R6 Yamaha that had kicked some serious arse in the hands of top racer, Darren Fry……… met Darren at the British Championship round at Cadwell Park last August and he told me he would be selling his No1 and No2 bikes come the new season……… so it was decided that it would be a good option to have two bikes of the same spec in our team, but, alas, this one puts out 1 bhp less than my all singing, all dancing No1 bike……… a cross I'm going to have to bear…… (Ho Ho Ho)……

Got to Brands Hatch at around 8pm and picked a spot in the paddock after failing miserably to get in one of the garages…… it was hellish windy and we nearly lost the awning more than once as we struggled to put it up…… Had to put umpteen straps on it to hold the bugger down…… Sammo eventually turned up and at about 10-45pm, and they still had to fettle Juan's bike with a new exhaust system…… Got me head down in the back of the van around midnight, it was pretty cold again……… bless.

Saturday, 9th March - BMCRC Round 1

Got up at 0720 hrs, made some coffee and put my No1 bike through scrutineering, which took over an hour, wasn't happy about it as I had yet to get my kit checked and get No2 bike through, check my tyre pressures etc, etc…… and I had my only practise session and that was in 15 minutes…… these are the times when you wish you had some help, even someone just to kick the tyres, so to speak…… The scrutineer checked my kit under protest, but got it all done. Had to leave the No2 bike till later. Went out in my first practise session with the same tyres on that I had used at Nogaro, the rear was pretty banjo-ed, but the front was okay, so just tootled round to learn the track as it was my first time here, and did about 8 laps with a quickest time on the ol' lap timer at 56.30, wasn't too bothered about that, there was loads of traffic out and I was wobbling all over the place, once again an easy track to learn, but hard to get right…… my front brake was also feeling a bit 'spongy'……… Went really steady, and didn't think much of the place to be honest, no time for a rest here, didn't even get chance to glance at the lap timer. Wasn't happy when I found out I wasn't in the Supersport 600 race, and Juan was, and I had put both our entries in together……… went to race office to complain, and they said it was because I wasn't doing the whole championship (all 33 rounds of it), but neither was Juan but that didn't seem to matter to them, so they had put me in the 'Champion Of Brands' race with all the bigger bikes………… twats. Nigel Beattie turned up with Phil Kneen and Nige's mate Dasher, who had all come straight from Nogaro in France, and were here so Nige could compete in tomorrows MRO event…… thought that would be fun, me, Nige and Juan, all on 600's in the same race………………… Quality.

I thought that I was only in one race 'The Champion of Brands' (race 20) so I decided whilst I had plenty of time that I would put a new rear tyre on the No1 bike, so I whipped the wheel out of it…… and then started putting my wet tyres on the No2 bike, because if it was going to rain (and it looked like it was) I would just have to jump on that……… hey presto,…… no messing about, a bike for the dry and one set up for the wet…… whilst doing this, Mark Parrett said that they had shouted Race 9 over the tannoy, I said 'so what'……… then he said that it was the Qualifying race for the Final……… oh shit.

I clambered into my gear while Sammo, Mark, Juan and Nige put in my rear wheel, with the old tyre still on it……bugger…… a schoolboy error on my part, its got to be said…… rushed to the holding area and was allocated a spot on the grid in 10th……… cool. While we were there it started to rain and looking round noticed all the bike bikes were on slicks, thought that this was looking good, although the Supercorsa's I had on are really just cut slicks anyway, so not much of an advantage, if any…… They decided on calling lunch break and sent us all back to the paddock…… all that rushing for nothing. During dinner break it absolutely pissed it down and over the tannoy they declared a 'wet' race……… you don't say!…… Before long we were called again, so I jumped on the No2 bike with its red livery and headed off to the holding area…… whilst in there went to the No10 marker (my spot on the grid) and who did I see in No12, but Chris Heath who lives in the IOM…… said a quick 'hello' and carried on. There I was sitting on the grid for this 10 lap race on an unfamiliar track and bike, unscrubbed tyres, the wrong gearing (didn't have time to change it), the track was piss wet through, and I was wondering why I bother. The lights went to green, and as I'd never practised a start on an R6 before, I got a crap one, quite a few bikes shot past, including Heath on Mark Manns V&M tuned R1. Made up a few places by going round the outside at Paddock Hill Bend and headed off up to Druids…… could hardly see because of all the spray from the other bikes…… not good. The arse end of the bike was spinning up at nearly every corner and was trying its hardest to have me off, I don't usually mind if it's wet, but it felt that I was riding on marbles. I was also gripping on too tight (for a change) and I knew it, but kept on doing it. Settled down at the back of a group of about 7, but thought better of trying anything stupid, just wanted to settle down on my own, but still managed to overshoot a couple of corners (Druids twice) thought I was in the gravel more than once, wasn't much fun, had the thing sliding till the end and finished 14th, with a fastest lap of 1'01.18. So had qualified myself in 14th spot for the race…… got to be happy with that.

Decided on changing the rear tyre again on the No1 bike as the strong wind that was still blowing was drying the track, and managed it this time, also changed the gearing on No2 bike so that it was the same as No1……… confusing?…… you're not wrong, quite a lot of fettling on your own…… Had to put a new chain on B2 as well and shortened it to keep the wheel base constant……… and did so with the help again of Sammo and his tools (have to get myself the proper gear)…… looked like it was going to rain again and right up to the last minute I didn't know which bike I was going to use, but it was nice to have a choice…… the wind was picking up again as well.

Juan had got 5th in the first SS600 race after he had led it for a few laps then he went out on Nigel's bike in the second SS600 race to see if they had fixed the problems they were having with it……… he pulled in after a few laps as it was still running like a bag of shite.

My race was called and I lined up in my 14th spot (4th row) on No1 bike, as it was pretty dry, Heath was again in this one and he had qualified in 12th, one row ahead. Got a better start, but not as good as those around me, but again made some places back going around the outside at Paddock Hill, was having a dice with a few blokes, but as this was my first time didn't want to get involved in any fairing bashing, but was having a great scrap with some geezer on an Aprillia Mille R, he passed me a few times and I got him back, had my knee down loads of times again, not usually my style but you can do it on this bike without trying very hard, found that I was struggling at Graham Hill Bend, one of only two left handers on the track (and I love left handers), knew I was losing time through here as I never got it right once, the wind blowing you back upright wasn't helping either. Scrapped with the same bloke for the entire race, and into Graham Hill Bend on the last lap he got me……… but I got him back by going around the outside of him at Clearways and pipped him on the line……… and finished 14th (6th 600)…… had my fastest lap down to 52.58. Chris Heath finished 6th and had done a 50.94…… good going. Got back to the awning, cleaned the bikes up ready for tomorrow, while Juan, Sammo, Nige, Phil and Dasher fettled Nigel's bike and eventually got it running properly. I went and had a shower then to the clubhouse for a few with the boys, but soon wanted to get my head down, and did so at around 10pm……… was well tired, been a long day.

Sunday 10th March - MRO Round 1

My alarm went off at 0715 hrs, already been awake an hour or so, from Kinnish snoring and I had me ear plugs in. Took my No1 bike through scrutineering as there wasn't the queue like yesterday, while I signed on Phil took my No2 bike through (thanks for that Mr Chairman) and he agreed to swing out my pit board during qualifying……… Beauty. Fettled everything ready for the three of us going out in the practise and qualifying sessions…… was looking forward to it. The three off us were at the front for the first practise session and we all took off together, Juan started to open a gap straight away, and I wanted to tail him, so went around the outside of Nige and tailed him for the first lap, another lap later we hit traffic, he carved his way through, but I didn't, although I should have done because I need the practise at passing people, especially here, but I was being far too cautious and courteous. Only got 5 laps in and it was red flagged, turned out that no-one had seen the chequered flag and there was a bloke on the track waving us all into the pits, a rider saw him, stopped suddenly and was hit by three others who had been close behind………… Jesus, great start.

Decided on keeping the same tyres on for Qualifying, the front had done about 33 laps at Nogaro and 29 laps here, while the rear had only done 29 laps of here as well. Ideally should have a new set of tyres on for qualifying (all the top boys do), but it gets a bit expensive when your using 3 sets of tyres in a day, (at £220 a pop). Went out in the Qualifying session, thought I might be able to get race distance in (18 laps), followed Juan for a while and was right behind him for a few laps then he pulled in for some reason so carried on with a clear track in front of me… Had a few laps on my own, Didn't see my pit board till about the fifth lap, it took me that long to spot where Phil was, (you don't get a long time to look)…… Then New ERA Superclub Champion Peter Baker came past me, tailed him for a couple of laps and was surprised that he wasn't getting away from me, he was dragging me along, but as soon as we hit traffic he was gone, I slowed to make a gap in front of me and when I had a look behind the bloke catching me had the No1 plate on a Ten Kate Honda……… Thought 'That'll do'…… he must be handy and when he came past I tucked in behind him, couldn't really stay with this bloke but he wasn't pulling away from me as much as I expected he would, couldn't believe how tight a line he held at Druids, it was like he was on rails……… Can't be no mug either though, not with the No1 plate……… the bike started sliding a bit especially at Clearways when I had the thing well cranked over, thought that the rear tyre must be past its best so I gave it another lap, felt that it wasn't getting any better so I pulled into pit lane to check it, Dave Black from the IOM had come along to watch, he checked it said it was ok so off I went again, only got another half lap in and the session ended. Got the bike back in the awning and I whipped the wheels off and Sammo put new Pirelli Supercorsa's on them. Found that I'd qualified 24th with a time of 52.22, Juan had qualified 8th with a 50.8 (although both his lap timer and Sammo had him at 50.3), I'd forgotten to switch my timer on……… Doh! . Turns out that Nige had pulled in as well, he said that the bike was playing up again, so I offered him my spare, but he only did two laps and never qualified anyway………… bummer.

So starting from the 6th row on the grid and unfortunately for me, closest to the pit wall, that's the right place to be if you want to be blocked for the first corner, a lot of the blokes that were around me are doing the British Championship this year and the top 30 was covered by only 2 ½ seconds…… close racing at this level…… still not a big fan of the track, a bit 'Mickey Mouse' for me at only 1.2262 miles, although might enjoy it more when I can get it right. Got the new tyres fitted to the bike and waited for the race. My goals for the day were getting in the top 20 and into the low 51 second bracket…… I'd be happy with that for my first appearance here. Before the race Phil, Nige and Dasher decided to bugger off and try to catch the Seadog from Liverpool instead of going up to Heysham and waiting till the early hours…… and who can blame them…… was disappointed that no-one would be there to throw out my board………… boo hoo.

Lined up in my spot on the grid, the front row had brolly dollies, with the TV camera's on them, but it was that windy their brollies blew inside out…… arf arf…… Juan was in the same spot as me closest to the pit wall, but 4 rows in front, on the second row, and I expected to come out of Paddock Hill Bend and see him leading, haven't seen anybody better than him at starts. Got my best start that I've had on an R6 (there'd only been 3!) and as expected got blocked at the first corner, saw that it had happened to Juan as well and he wasn't that far ahead, had to 'queue' to get round Druids, and coming out of it saw that the leaders were already round Graham Hill Bend……… If you don't get a good start you're buggered. Settled down in a group of three with me at the back, for the next few laps and it was quite enjoyable, as I wasn't getting out of shape anywhere, nice and steady, found that I was quicker than them around Clearways as I nearly ran in the back of them, but I was still wobbling round Druids more than I would have liked, still have to get my head round the fact that this R6 steers better than any bike that I've ever been on, but that'll come with the miles I suppose. As nobody was boarding for me, didn't know what position I was in, and started daydreaming a bit and quite happy to stay where I was, but was woken up when a bloke on a Suzuki dove up my inside at Druids then passed the two in front of me at Graham Hill Bend…… wasn't having any of that, so set about after him, I managed to get past the two in front of me at Clearways and tailed the bloke on the Gixer over the line……… got alongside him into Paddock Hill Bend, went round there pretty handy, but got too cocky and overshot Druids as I tried to out brake him, thought I was going to be in the gravel again, and by the time I'd turned around he was gone and the other two had got back past me………… bollocks……… lost three places in another schoolboy error……… was well annoyed with myself ……… I thought 'Right, pull your finger out you useless bastard!' and it took nearly another lap to catch the first two and I went in between them as we crossed the line into Paddock Hill Bend, pretty scary manoeuvre, but it worked, then it took till Clearways to catch the bloke on the Gixer again……… tried to dive up his inside at Paddock Hill bend, but took it a little tight and the bike unsettled itself on the bump that's there mid corner, was right up his chuff all the way round and still was going over the line into the last lap, had a bite at him at every corner, and going into Clearways for the last time, went wider than him so that I could get the power down earlier, and out drove him to the line and beat him by 0.3 seconds………… yee haarr………

After the race we were all ushered into 'Parc Ferme' where the bikes are held for 15 minutes while the officials wait to see if any protests are lodged…… this was a first for me……… I pulled up alongside Juan who had finished ahead of me, and had a yarn, while I was there I checked my lap timer and was over the moon when I got to lap 16……………… It indicated 49.83 ……… Jesus H Christ!……… I was well happy. We were soon sent back to the paddock and Juan went and got the official result sheet and I had finished 18th…… He had got 11th……… was gutted when it said on the sheet that my fastest lap was 51.17…… which in itself is good going (and had been my target) for my first attempt. But I wasn't having it. The lap timers can't lie, the time keepers probably thought that they'd made a mistake, as it would be hard to believe that some muppet in 18th could do a 49.83 lap……… would find it hard myself if I knew I hadn't done it…… my next fastest lap was lap 17 at 51.22 which is probably the 51.17 they had me down for. Sammo reckoned that they probably didn't have a time for every lap for the blokes outside the top 15, But I do know that I only got one lap in that felt about as perfect as I'm gonna get it…… and that must have been it…… Its got to be said that if I had to try that hard for every lap, I wonder if I'd ever finish a race……… I'd be jumping off all over the place, but that's another area that will come with the more laps I put in. The lap timer indicated 53.83 for lap 15, which would be about right, cos that would have been the one I overshot Druids……… The fastest lap of the race was set by the winner at 49.66. My lap would have made me fifth fastest……… but as they had me down for a 51.17, makes you wonder if they ever get it right……… It's only a 1.3 second difference, but it makes all the difference if you know what I mean…… Juan had a similar scenario last year at Mallory………

Packed the van, showered, and left the track for the long trudge up to Heysham, turned out that Nige and the boys didn't get on the boat at Liverpool because it was cancelled…… so they were waiting at Heysham when we got there……… 6 hours after leaving Brands…… nearly 800 miles on the clock. The ferry journey was late and pretty rough, got a couple of hours sleep though……… then went straight to work………… Oh the joys of racing…… ZZZZZZzzzzzz…… Next up is the New ERA Championship at Mallory Park next week, Followed by the 'Race of the Year' at Mallory the week after that…………

So, tune in next time for another very exciting, double bike, cold, windy episode of ……………… Tommy Clucas Racing. (that'll be next week then!)