HAving existed on 12 hours sleep in 72 hours on the run up to Fridays test day to make sure the bike was ready,Waking up to rain wind and the drive to Cadwell was not very appealing.
Got up at 6 oclock but it took until 10.40 to get up and drive 80 miles!!!!Stopped 3 times to strap the bike down differently.Couchcommando came to the rescue again with good instructions which meant i could at least crack on without it falling over.
Arrived to a miserable sight of mud and rain.Unloaded the bike to some good reactions and got kitted up in my new shiny gear.First session on new unscrubbed Diablos and on a bike that had taken over my life and done no miles ended on the first lap at Hall bends.Down it went on the left section so slow and gentle that i felt nothing. just cpuldn,t work out why i was sitting on my arse in the middle of the track and my pride and joy was sunbathing on the grass
REcovered to the paddock Couch came up trumps again by finding space in TP,s tent for me to carry out repairs.
[THanks everyone]Lucky with the damage and thanks to one of the Kart chaps i only missed one session
Went out after the dinner break and rode as slow as i could to try and scrub the tyres in but mainly in vain and so slowly as to be meaning less.The rest of the afternoon was a no go from the organisers so the whole day was a dear disaster.Scratched bike ,scuffed gear and no confidence left.PAssed scruteneering though
Actually got to bed on the same day with the wife Friday night.Lost Saturday morning to work.Stuck the no plate on and set out with the hope of scrubbing my tyre in for half an hour mid afternoon but it rained as soon as i got out in the country
Ah well.By the time i had stuck the no boards on and checked her over,had tea beat the kids up etc It was midnight before me and my lad loaded up at the workshop and set of.only to return shortly for all the stuff we had forgot
HAd a good laugh with my son on the way there and rolled into Cadwell at 2.30 or rather 3.30 thanks to thre clocks.
No proper sleep again then.
Crawled out the van just in time for practice .Wet but drying track and i felt alot better on the bike but only did 4 laps due to a minor problem.Amazed to find i was 6 quickest 583 admitedlly alot slower than fil2.
Dry for the first race,take up my grid slot and i swear my heart was going to run a big end.Got away well,settled down,passed someone for 4th and then prayed for the race to end to put an end to my woeful lack of fitness.LAst lap into Park and Glynn go sailing by on the brakes on the way to fastest lap so 5th it is.
I am over the moon and glad ive not had a heart attack!!!!
Me lad was well chuffed which was even better.Chilled out a bit ,lost my phone ,found my phone at the office eat bacon cobs shot the breeze fixed a few bits got my oil etc and then time for the second race.Couch said i should go for a top 3 this time which at the time i thought was a load of bollox! How wrong could i be
Felt alot better about it all this time and the odd spot of rain on the visor didn,t matter to me.Got a good start again and this time no one got away.Funny with people around me i felt loads fitter this time and by lap 4 there was no one in front of me.Fcuk me!Led for 2 laps when it dawned on me that 1.what the fcuk do i do know 2. should i look round 3.Park corners coming remewmber last itime.Made a attempt to cover some of the corner but sure enough a bad coloured bike sailed into view parked itself at the apex and sped off..Wouldn,t of been so bad if i had realised to go down a gear seeing as i was off line and going slower to give chase but hey race tactics to defend your lead are not something you think about in your first race meeting
Rode pretty defensively for the last couple of corners with good reason as it turned out as Skidlids was only just behind at the flag and i well appreciated his pat on the back on the slowing down lap. Best part of the day was passing my lad on the slowing down lap at the bottom of the mountain and seeing his face and waving at each other like a pair of loons.Into the holding area and a big hug from Lucy was well appreciated to before meeting up with my lad at the van.We must of laughed for a least ten minutes. 2nd race and 2nd place was his best line
So all in all a great day.The series was all ihoped .Excellent friendly people[sorry if i have not met you all yet particularly one they call Mr Cann] and it looks like i,m in for some good battles once i get more used to the bike.Sunday was my 6th time ever on track if you count Fridays 8 laps
Special thanks to Tony and Lucy.Nothings been to much trouble and there advice on what to do and when to do it has made the hole thing alot easier.
Oh yeah,my Wifes the dogs wotsits to for putting up with a absent husband for thelast few months.
See you all at Brands
