View Full Version : The Wee Beastie returns this weekend
WeeJohnyB
21-Mar-2005, 18:37
Monty and I will be racing in New Era Superclub Round One at Cadwell Park this weekend.
We have a No Limits trackday on Good Friday, race practice day on Saturday and race days on Sunday and Monday.
If you're at a loose end, please come along and find us in the paddock. We're racing in the GP250 class, bike 89 which is black and yellow. It would be great to see a few familiar faces at our first race meeting of the year.
I have to say that we're really looking forward to it, but the race nerves are beginning to kick in big time. I had two brilliant days at Cadwell at the weekend and had one session on my own (not instructing) in the fast group where I sort of went for it, maybe 90%, but not race pace and it felt good. Monty has been busy fettling with the Wee Beastie, so we need a bit of time to run her in again and get her set up properly ready for Sunday qualifying.
Looking forward to 38 noisy, smelly 250's blasting into Coppice. Bring it on.
WeeJohnyB
[Edited on 21-3-2005 by WeeJohnyB]
I think we will be there either Sunday or Monday. Been trying to persuade Fred to camp and go for both days but the look on his face didn't seem to indicate he was that keen on the idea :)
Redruth
21-Mar-2005, 18:44
I'll be there on Saturday morning to offer some support, WJB. That's if I can get out of bed after the No Limits track day on the Friday! :D
The closest I get to camping is 3 star!
:lol:
Got a few of my mates up there at the weekend so will definitely be up there at some point barring another disaster
Look forward to seeing you on friday John, and if you ask nicely I'll try'n find time to show you round :D
Won't be able to stay for the race tho... have to depart for the deep south after brekkie.
Doubt I'll get a pass out, but best of luck guys. Show 'em how it's done!
John,
Trying desparately to get press accreditation so will let you know if I'll be there with the Cope beasty (i.e. the camera and huge lens).
Regards, Gc
WeeJohnyB
29-Mar-2005, 19:07
Begger, just typed a long write up and it's gone, feck it!!!
Anyone know if there is a refund around for the disaster at the weekend or how the points will work?
WeeJohnyB
[Edited on 29-3-2005 by WeeJohnyB]
[Edited on 29-3-2005 by WeeJohnyB]
skidlids
29-Mar-2005, 19:18
No idea but the New Era Forum did make interesting reading the other night.
So WJB were you one of those clubies that the Desmo boys were passing with ease on the trackdayon Friday.
I did think about putting a thread up on the New Era forum to find out who was getting passed and find ourt some times, but thought better of it.
Rattler
29-Mar-2005, 19:22
Originally posted by skidlids
So WJB were you one of those clubies that the Desmo boys were passing with ease on the trackdayon Friday.
Who was claiming that they were passing with ease? I don't remember that post. :puzzled:
John, do tell. I take it things could have gone better? Doesn't have to be overly long. Cheers.
skidlids
29-Mar-2005, 21:06
Originally posted by Rattler
Originally posted by skidlids
So WJB were you one of those clubies that the Desmo boys were passing with ease on the trackdayon Friday.
Who was claiming that they were passing with ease? I don't remember that post. :puzzled:
Originally posted by NBs996
Lap times are a secret, but let's just say both timothy and I showed up a lot of the jap riding club racers, and our bikes aren't even race ready :D
Tim, have you found a big enough trophy cabinet yet?
words are slightly different but gives the same impression
John you didn't race it that, did you?:o
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/moto-photos/c1.jpg
skidlids
29-Mar-2005, 21:40
I think they were expected to, a bit of a debate going on about money Vs safety.
they are the sort of conditions that end TT races a lap early and rob us of a top 15 finish.
Don't think anyone did....
I know I wouldn't race in that! Blimey! I suppose if you got sponsor pressure, you might be looking at it differently. Not for me (don't have any sponsors anyway).
Rattler
29-Mar-2005, 23:03
Originally posted by skidlids
Originally posted by Rattler
Originally posted by skidlids
So WJB were you one of those clubies that the Desmo boys were passing with ease on the trackdayon Friday.
Who was claiming that they were passing with ease? I don't remember that post. :puzzled:
Originally posted by NBs996
Lap times are a secret, but let's just say both timothy and I showed up a lot of the jap riding club racers, and our bikes aren't even race ready :D
Tim, have you found a big enough trophy cabinet yet?
words are slightly different but gives the same impression
You should be a journalist!!! :lol::lol:
Originally posted by skidlids
Originally posted by Rattler
Originally posted by skidlids
So WJB were you one of those clubies that the Desmo boys were passing with ease on the trackdayon Friday.
Who was claiming that they were passing with ease? I don't remember that post. :puzzled:
Originally posted by NBs996
Lap times are a secret, but let's just say both timothy and I showed up a lot of the jap riding club racers, and our bikes aren't even race ready :D
Tim, have you found a big enough trophy cabinet yet?
words are slightly different but gives the same impression
I was refering to the twisty woodland bits... but you must understand, tim and I are race gods now!
What's this drivel got to do with the thread? Get your own!
WeeJohnyB
30-Mar-2005, 10:43
Well the weekend started well.
We had a No Limits trackday on Good Friday and we had a belting day - very busy, lots of instructing and no time to have a decent blast on my RR, but everyone seemed to enjoy the day, with the exception of Ruth, (hope you're feeling better). The weather was really kind to us all day. Nick and Rattler were there having fun on their race bikes. I didn't get to go out with them, but watched them a couple of times through Hall Bends - they were holding their own through the Woodlands section, but the couple of times I watched, there was a queue of bikes behind them waiting to pass, which they could only really do when they got to the start/stop straight - some nice riding through the twisties - can't wait to see a full grid out there. It was a fast day with a lot of racers 'testing'. I have to say they were all very well behaved and we had very few incidents all day. MCN and Performance Bikes were there testing and Adam Child took my old CB5 out - you should have seen the grin on his face when he came back in. His wheelies over the mountain were imense, almost vertical, excellent to watch.
Monty arrived with the Wee Beastie just in time to get out on cold tyres in the final Inters session. We needed to run her in after some fettling over the winter. Two laps at 8,000 then two at 9, 10, 11 and 12. I managed a few laps in the final novice group, but obviously couldn't open her up and as luck would have it, it started to rain anyway. So we never quite got her up to speed, but I'd felt what she was like again and was really looking forward to testing and racing.
A couple of beers and an early night was in order as I needed all my energy for a full days testing on Saturday, followed by two race days.
I'd left the caravan at home as Monty had the Betsie Bus and I could sleep in the No Limits van, but one of the No Limits instructors offered to let me sleep in his mega motorhome. Luckily for me as it turns out. I woke at about 3.00am with my guts trying to escape from my body - a quick dash to the loo and I didn't know whether to sit down or kneel in front of it. This continued all night and into Saturday morning. I couldn't have ridden a bike - standing up was a problem - but it was irrelevant in any case as Cadwell was completely fog-bound. I finally got up after lunch with some help from Dr Montgomery and Nurse Jo and could have ridden by the end of the day, but we didn't think it was safe - visability was severely limited and the brave souls that went out, came back in to say they couldn't see far enough to to open it up. So we decided it was too dangerous to go out, as did most of the paddock. So no riding at all on Saturday, £90 lost in the fog.
Another early night, still feeling a bit weak, but looking forward to racing on Sunday. Got up Sunday to find the weather was just the same - couldn't see a thing. They were considering running races on the Woodland circuit, but having spoken to a number of other racers, it turns out that there was a lot of mud on the track, particularly at the hairpins and there were thousands of worms on the track at Barn. We checked the weather on a mates laptop and more of the same was forecast for Monday. By lunchtime we decided to call it a day and go home.
So no testing or racing for us all weekend. Sitting at home in sunny St Albans watching BSB I was wishing we'd stayed for Monday. Turns out they ran a full race program on Monday on the Woodlands circuit, so we've missed out on some points and the opportunity to get out on the bike.
Next is Mallory at the end of April, so a long wait and I'm on a course at work, so may not make it. All winter waiting to race and I may not be out until May - gutted.
WeeJohnyB
p1sser John,
Long way to go to get a ****s...Take it it wasn't the red wine then??????
Spk soon.
Gc
What rotten luck! At least you weren't one of the many (apparently) fallers. Not much consolation, though, is it?
A couple of snaps to highlight how bad the weather was....
Another.... on the way into the circuit
Bit of scrutineering...
[Edited on 30-3-2005 by JPM]
What no one has said is that not only was it very foggy, and raining intermittantly, it was bloody FREEZING. The only good part of the weekend is that the bike is safe in the garage in one piece-which is unfortunately more than can be said for several others.
John
Saw my mate this morning, it was his first race at Cadwell in the SOT on his 996RS
Dropped it at the hairpin and broke a foot peg - DNF
2nd race came 8th but had a misfire for the last few laps and dropped a few places.
Old Yella
01-Apr-2005, 18:03
Not the best weekends racing for you WJB.
Hope you make it to Mallory and get some good results mate.
JPM
Glad your mate was OK.
Was it the guy on the silver RS who was at Oulton?
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