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The second round of the championship was held at the Derby Phoenix Croft weekend meeting. We always thought that Croft would be a difficult meeting for several reasons: Distance, one race on Sunday etc. and eventually 17 entered, as good as we had expected. As it turned out it was about the sum total of the good news as in addition to the usual mechanical problems we ended up with two in hospital before any race had even started. There was a practice at Croft on Friday and one who took advantage of this was Steve Cave. Unfortunately he didn't get much of a practice as he came off in the first of only two 20 minute sessions and ended up in Darlington Hospital with a broken collar bone. It got even worse in practice on Saturday as Richard Insall came off at the Jim Clarke Esses, one of the fastest parts Of the circuit and was struck by a following machine. This resulted in a double fracture to his lower leg and a four day stay in Darlington Hospital. He was then moved nearer home to Peterborough and eventually got home on the following Tuesday. Both Steve and Richard were on their own and this raised further problems. Steve got back to the circuit after about five hours and managed to get himself home. With Richard it was a bit more of a problem as we had no contact number or idea where his vehicle keys etc. were. Eventually this was sorted out and his van etc. was taken home for him. This made us realise that it would be a good idea if anyone on their own made sure we had a contact number and some idea where vehicle keys were etc. No one wants to think about ending up in hospital, but it does happen and it would be a good idea if even those who have someone with them made sure they leave the van keys etc. with them. Richard, speaking from experience after spending four days in Darlington with just his leathers etc. suggested it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a basic emergency kit with change of clothes, money etc in the van just in case. This put us down to 15 runners or it would have done but Glenn Graham's RD400 broke up both pistons in Fridays practice and Tony Smith never even made the meeting after having total brake failure on his van just after leaving home. Then there were the two GPZ750's of Steve Cundall and Barry Swales who were out with us for the first time. Unbelievably neither lasted more than half a lap in practice both running a big end. Various theories were aired and the only common factor was the use of a pattern oil filter in both engines due to a problem in getting a genuine filter at somewhat short notice. This put us down to 11 still running by the time the first race started. The first race was number 10 on the programme and due to the poor entry we were on the rear of the 250/125 grid with a delayed start. When the race got underway it was Nigel Lawrence who made the running throughout the race. Andy Jackson took second place just ahead of Mel Coote. Geoff Smale was the next to finish, ahead of Simon Briggs who just got the better of Malcolm Price. Keith Chambers followed him home and he was followed by Andy Charlesworth. Behind him it was Paul Paynter, Cass and then Howard Friend. The second race was an exact repeat of the first with the exception of Malcolm Price whose GPZ750 struck problems and failed to finish. This race had to be restarted as there was a first corner incident in the 250s that resulted in bikes still on the track and some riders clearly needing attention. For some reason the Earlystocks race was started none the less. Fortunately those at the front of the field could see what was going on and it was the first time I've ever seen riders call a halt to a race before red flags were shown. On the Sunday, racing started at just gone noon and our one race of the day eventually got underway at 3.30. Once again it was Nigel Lawrence who led and wasn't challenged, while Geoff Smale took second after Andy Jackson's GSIOOO suffered problems and failed to finish. Mel Coote took third, ahead of Malcolm Price and Simon Briggs. Keith Chambers followed him home and he was in turn ahead of Paul Paynter and Andy Charlesworth. Cass followed him home ahead of Howard Friend. As mentioned earlier on the Sunday we had the problem of getting Richard Insall's van back home. We had managed to contact a friend of Richard and Keith Chambers volunteered to drive it as far as the junction of the MI and A42 where it would be handed on. All went well until Keith had to refuel. Now Richard's VW doesn't like restarting when hot as it gets a vapour lock in the fuel system. This time it started but stopped on the hard shoulder. The way to get it started is to squirt a bit of fuel into the carb as they found out after a phone call to Steve Crooks who was on his way to meet them. Now ace mechanic Mr Nigel Lawrence steps into the spotlight to take centre stage and manages, according to Keith, to fill the carb with water. Somehow they got it going before attracting unwanted attention. Can you imagine how it could have gone? Is this your vehicle? Er, no. Whose is it then? Er, Richard's. Second name? Er... Where's he live? Er, not really sure. Somewhere near Northampton, er Peterborough perhaps. Where are you going with it? Well we've got to meet this man named Steve on a service station. Who is this we? Nigel and Mel er where've they gone? I take it the owner does know that you have got his vehicle. Well not exactly, er no. Not exactly, oh dear me. Oh dear (or words and phrases of similar meaning). Steve Bailey. |