ELVINGTON (Nr. YORK) 03.03.02
This was the first outing of the Barking Spider Team with an aditional racer (Graeme Oliver) and the big fancy "mobile garage".
Elvington is a 4-5hour drive away and has just got camping facilities (you can sleep in the van at the track).
So when we got there, we spent an entertaining 45 minutes finding how to put up the "garage" so we could get the bikes and equipment out, to enable us to have some floor space in the van to sleep. Then it was off to the pub.....
There are quite alot of restrictions at the circuits, so we don't wake the neighbours by "twatting" the motors at all hours of the night/morning. So we had to be back in by 11pm and generators off by 12. So we just stuck the generator in the van so it didn't sound as loud.
Elvington Club circuit is laid out on a huge square of concrete using cones and bales. Its 1 mile long with 8 corners, so acceleration is everything, combined with brakes to pass, as the straights are so short.
I had to finish off getting the bike run in, so i sneaked out in 2 extra practice sessions. After this I had found out that the motor was running very, very well. Really smooth with good power delivery.
I had entered the Formula 400 and 175-400cc open races. The formula 400 class has very few rules, basically the engine size must not be any bigger than 400cc....anything else goes.
Anyway, The first & third race was Formula 400, then the second and fourth was 175-400.
In the races at Elvington grid positions are determined by how early you get to the collection area, so Graeme and I both got 1st row positions on the grid.
My results were 7th, 6th and 10th....I didn't go out in the last race because I got a puncture (believe it or not).
In all my races I was plagued by some serious drifting graduating to several high sides one of which I was lucky to get away with. Basically, we had been recommended to use Michelin Pilot race tyres, but they were not getting hot enough and were sliding very badly. The are apparently called Michelin High sides !
So they are being junked before next race.
Next race is in two weeks at Elvington on the 17th of March. But thistime its on the National circuit which is almost twice as long, with a very long straight.
Check the bikes new colour scheme.......
Duncan