CARNABY (S YORKSHIRE) 07.04.02
Bloody hell.....Carnaby is a long way from Edinburgh ! It took us about 5 hours to get there. Then we had to put up the garage and prepare everything for the next day. So a couple of beers were very welcome when we were finished. Carnaby is owned and operated by the military and the circuit is the vehicle testing area (which is huge). As we found out in the morning, if its military it is in good condition and the surface of this track was no exception. It looked very good. Neil got all the changes for the track and gearing sorted, in no time and everything was ready for practice in good time. I was trying out a new gear lever, with which I could kick the gears up with my heel (it looked a bit like a scooter gear change). In practice most of my time was spent trying to get used to the new gear change method, so it was difficult finding braking and turning points. I sneaked back out with the 600's for their practice, but my rear wheel bearing collapsed and I had to go straight back in. At this point I thought my day was over, but we had the wheel the wet tyre on it and Gordon changed the tyres over quicker than I have ever seen anyone change tyres before. This saved the day! It is a new championship and circuit, so there was a lot to go for, there were even a few Scots guys down to try it out. The first race was the Formula 400 (250 two strokes and 400 four strokes). I had an average start and was held up at the first corner, but I soon found out that the track was as sticky as it looked. Before long I was regaining places and beginning to feel quite confident. I had a few really good dices, one in particular with ZXR which passed me (I got him back though). I was still missing gears a little but put this down to lack of set up of the new gear change system. I finished 8th, which I was very happy with considering I only had 5 practice laps and it was a new circuit. In the next race (open class) I got a slightly better start and throughout the race had the same problems with the gear set-up, which lost me a couple places. Coming out of the last corner I ran a little wide on the 4th lap and went out through the cones and through a small gap in the bales (at about 100mph).....no sweat! Got back onto the track and never lost place. I finished this race in 8th as well, although we thought it was 7th. I felt better though, as I was up against GP bikes and doing well. Third race had me really hyped up. I was ready to go for it and got a good start. I was 4th coming out of the 1st corner and held this all the way round to the straight at the end of the lap. Unfortunately......yup....gear problems again....lost me 4 places...damn! I'll have to get these gear changes sorted (it all stems from the damaged nerve I have in my left foot, preventing me from lifting my foot to give solid gear changes, this in turn allows the bike to drop out of gear, or not change up, costing valuable seconds) I began to fight back though and was overtaking again on the very same lap. Towards the end of the race I was having a great dice with the same ZXR as before. I was determined to get him, I caught up with him and was within striking distance towards the last corner. This consisted of an extremely tight right hand hairpin, followed by a tight left hand opening out and straight into an open constant radius right hand turn which is entered in 2nd and exited flat out in 3rd gear at about 80-90 onto the start finish straight. I had difficulty passing people on the straight and new I would have to do it on the entry to the Hairpin, so I picked my spot and went for the out-breaking manoeuvre. I had 4 fingers on the brakes pulling as hard as I could, but the brakes had lost some effect throughout the day and as I came along side the guy, I new I was going to have to brake deep, except he turned in just before I was level with him. This means that he had the racing line and therefore I should back off.........but I was already at the limit of my braking and I clipped him, sending both of us off (me over the tope of his bike). No one was injured, just a little dazed and the bikes will need some cosmetic repairs. I apologised to the guy later, but it's an accepted part of racing, that this sort of accident will happen......two bikes into one hole doesn't go. So I was driven back to the paddock and took some time to survey the damage and contemplate my mistake over a cup of coffee. Despite this little tumble, it was a brilliant experience racing at Carnaby and I will be back. I have gained a hell of a lot of experience on these different tracks and am now ready to take on the 2.7mile Croft circuit, with its flat out 5th gear corners, next weekend. PS: I will post pictures from Carnaby with the Croft report next week. Duncan