CARNABY 28.07.02
After the exploits of East Fortune last weekend, I was a bit scared that there would be a lot of pressure to do really well here. It wasn’t really the case.
I was still on a high from East Fortune and wanted to see how the bike with the new exhaust, tyres and suspension settings would work at Carnaby. As there were no championship points to aim for here, there should not have been any need to try too hard, but then a race is a race and nobody goes out there to cruise round.
Colin Stewart generously took the bikes down, as Neil and I had to go to a party (some parties you just have to go to). So we thrashed down in my car at midnight and slept for a few hours in the car, before we could get into the military base which contains the track.
It was a beautiful day and even at 7am it was 18c……. It just got hotter and sunnier.
Neil got signed on as a scrutineer, as they needed some and we sorted out the bikes ready for practice.
First practice was like a circus. There were loads of bike on the track and I couldn’t get a clear run at finding out how the gearing was, so a little frustrated, I came back to the pits. Not to worry, it didn’t seem too bad.
Race 1 Formula 400
I was given a row 3 grid position with Graeme on row 4. We got away and at the first corner two bikes, which went in a bit too hot, slid across the track immediately in front of me. Time for evasive action, but it lost me some places. I got back up the field though and established myself in 2nd place, which I held for the rest of the race. There were a few problems with the high temperature; the carbs were running a little rich at the bottom of the needle and warm air being less dense than cold, meant that the bike was running more rich. So I had problems getting drive out of the many slow corners at Carnaby, as the bike was stuttering and misfiring a lot, until about 12,000rpm.
I tried to combat it as best I could and came 2nd . Good result, my best at Carnaby yet.
Graeme came in directly behind me in 3rd, a great result for him.
Race 2 Clubmans Challenge
We were out with GP 250 Two strokes (which are so fast and light), they are difficult to pass. Row 2 positions, gave me the chance to see Graeme pull a massive wheelie off the line. I was in 2nd for the first lap until I was passed by a TZ250, then on lap 3, I was passed by another. I got him back, only to be passed again and we had a good dice for a while, but he was just to good on the brakes with the lighter bike for me to get past and make it stick.
I got 4th place.
Race 3 (2nd leg) Formula 400
This time there were no crashes at the hairpin and we were off well. I had a lot of action in the first two laps and passed a couple of guys, then settled down to try to chase the leader. He was very good with very high corner speed.
We both ran wide at the same corner on two consecutive laps, strange that?
The race went well and I held on to my position no problem to finish 2nd again.
Graeme got a 5th in this race
Race 4 Clubmans Challenge (leg 2)
Tried to steal a row at the start as there was room, but an official caught me and made me back up a little to row 2.
Got a good start, and was up well after the first corner. I tried to keep up with the guy in first position, and did so for a couple of laps. Perhaps my lack of drive out of the corners due to the motor running rich, held me back a little.
I was passed by a TZ 250 on lap 3 and we had a great dice throughout the rest of the race. He was good on the brakes and even although I showed him my nose a few times I could not make it stick. I then sat back a little and found where he was weakest. On the second last lap I went into a 2nd gear right hander right behind him and got better drive out, passing him. I kept my focus (and the lead) and crossed the line two laps later to come in 4th.
Both class results are measured as an aggregate of the two races and I was awarded 1st for the Formula 400 race (for which I got a trophy) and 4th for the Clubmans Challenge (for which I got £20)
Graeme got awarded 2nd overall for the F400 race and received a trophy. So it was the first double podium for the barking spider team.
All of us got a lot of sun as the weather was so good. It was a great day for the team and for me. So I’m ready for the next race, which is also at Carnaby on the 25th of August.
Hopefully there will be some pics (courtesy of Ken Christie) up on the site soon, so have a look in a few days.