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Saturday, 19th August 2000 - Cadwell Park Left the Island on Friday on the 9.00am sailing to Liverpool, just me and Ann again and our Mercedes van, dog slow, but bulletproof. 187 miles and 4 odd hours later we arrived at Cadwell Park. Not many had arrived, so we picked a spot 20 yards from the scrutineering bay, overlooking the holding area - dead handy. Saved Juan and Dawn a space next to us with the help of some wheely bins. Got a couple of hours rest then went to the clubhouse for a few shandies. Juan and Dawny Dawn arrived about 9.30pm, met us in the clubhouse and had a couple of drinks before we turned in. Just before that we erected the awning that I'd brought again, but this time fastened it onto Juan's van, as its roof seam is lower than mine, so it fits better, put both bikes in it and turned in. Another Island resident arrived, John Taubman, who was racing his Super Moto CR500. Saturday Woke up to the noise of rain bouncing off the roof of the van, and I had me earplugs in! Christ, not again! Weather forecast was not good... pissing down for both days. Went through scrutineering, then the rain stopped. The racing was looking decidedly dodgy cos water was running across the track - still wasn't too worried, I went quite well in the wet at Jurby a couple of weeks ago. Had a new set of Dunlops on for this weekend. Had a problem when I signed on - my number was 29, but they had already issued it to someone else, turns out we were both allocated it by mistake. It was the club's mistake for which they apologised. They ended up giving me number 27, that being the number of a competitor (Ryan Filer) who had cancelled. So both Juan and I had been omitted from the programme due to errors, I stressed that they make sure that it was my details that they would forward to the ACU Star Championship and not those of Ryan Filer. This, they assured me, they would do. I, however, took this with a pinch of salt cos last time I was at Cadwell I was mysteriously omitted from the results and the points I had obtained went to a rival. This is still in the process of being sorted. Anyway, went out for practise, warmed the tyres up for a few laps, went slower this time just to learn some decent lines, every practise I do I go too hard and learn nothing. So, determined this time to use practise... as a practise. Left my bike set-up exactly as it was at Jurby. Weather started to get sunny and it turned out to be a top day - bloody luverly! The day didn't get off to a great start as both Juan and I missed the first race, the 600/1300 Open - oops! They had called the race when we were still out practising, bit stupid, but that's how it goes sometimes. My second race was race 6, the 175-1300cc event, pulled the 1st row on the grid, off to a flyer, as was Juan and Ady Longmate (who's leading 4 championships at Cadwell this year), into the hairpin and it's Ady, Juan, than me, on the second lap at the hairpin Juan tried to outbrake Ady but overshot, narrowly missing the tyre wall, but turned around just in time to get the inside line on me going into Coppice. Going into the last lap it was still the same position-wise, and Juan tried to duff Ady up the inside at the hairpin, but this time lost the front and he was down... I was too busy watching to see if he was OK and didn't get the corner right, by this time Ady had got away a bit, so I set out to catch him, all pumped up at being second. Didn't manage it, but 2nd will do me - hurrah - best result so far, and a nice little silver trophy. Made up for missing the first race, I was more pleased at being on the pace. Got back to the van, then Juan turned up. Helped him fix his bike which hardly had any damage. He was OK as well, apart from a sore hip and elbow, he just scuffed his fairings, leathers and broke a bar end weight, so no problems there. Next race was race 9, the Air Ambulance Trophy. This time I'm on the second row....... didn't get a bad start, the same again happened only this time it was Juan, Ady , me ........kept in touch with them till the end and that's the way it finished. Hurrah, another result, not too bad..... a 2nd and a 3rd. I was straight out again for Race 10, the 600/1300 again, 4th row this time, got an average start, not much you can do when there's loads of bikes in front of you. Took the inside line into the hairpin, only for some nobber to lose control along side me and crashed into me, we both went down, with his bike landing on mine with me underneath them both. The marshalls were really quick getting the bikes off the track..... the worst of it was I had landed on my injured shoulder...... first thoughts were that I'd broken my collarbone again, as it hasn't really had time to heal properly..... and it was bloody hurting. Took a look at my bike, only to find hardly any damage, it cracked the fairing in two places and damaged the seat unit..... and nothing else..... got away lightly there, didn't even snap a lever. Wanted to punch the bloke who took me off, but that's racing I suppose, couldn't swing my arm to do it anyway. Ann told me that they were calling me Ryan Filer over the tannoy...... knew this would happen, so I went and sorted it out...... AGAIN!! I had to miss the next race cos I was still throbbing a bit, but I went out in race 18 (175/1300 event) and was on the 6th row, arm was sore so I just had a steady ride and made up about 20 places to finish 10th....... Juan won it again. The last race of the day was the 600/1300 race, Event 21. I was on the 4th row again, had another steady ride to 7th, arm was bothering me, bit worried how it's going to stiffen up for tomorrow, it definitely affected my results, but signature obtained, two trophies and a crash. Used Juan's fibre-glass kit to fix my seat unit..... I'm a top fibre-glasser me, looks as good as new. It's handy being at a 2 day event. Had plenty of time to get the bike fettled for tomorrow. Went to the karaoke at the clubhouse, had a few shandies.... then went to bed in the van, bloody knackered. Race 1 - 2nd place |
Copyright © 2000, 2001 Tommy Clucas Racing.
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