Back O'the Grid
  Cadwell August  07

Hot from secret testing the previous weekend I was up for a skelp round my favourite part of Lincolnshire on my trusty tzr. The weekend before I had been out on a 1972 Honda 500 twin with the Classics. Compared to the TZR, or almost any modern bike, it was a racing tractor. Nor was I too happy when I discovered that it had as much in common with the bike in the brochure as a VW has with a Porsche. That one was Richard Parkers Championship leading bike, it had shiny bits, usually titanium, where mine didn't even have bits. Mine wheezed round like an asmatic old cart horse, or maybe that was me ,,,, What I hadn't been prepared for were the period controls. The throttle would have needed two hands if it hadn't been on the right ,,, and the clutch felt like it was seized. The only control that was light was the brake - actually an anvil sized lockheed caliper bearing on a saucer sized disk. Thankfully it wasn't fast enough to need them and if you were silly enough to use them while cranked the thing would sit up. All very reassuring, as were the tyres which looked like the original fitment. Still it was a bit of fun in the sun a actually quite enjoyable.

Flash forward one week to Sat practice and I struggled to get the Honda out of my head as I remebered how nimble the tzr is by comparison. Its like the difference between a mini-cooper and a diesel Tranny. But by the third lap I'd settled back into the groove. Race one, and after a so-so start I was lapping with Barry Negus. I don't know what got into me but I pulled a move up the inside into Charlies two and got away with it. I then set about catching team "Wide Load" i.e. Moose and Fat Boy, but they were well gone by then. So I settled in and just had a blast as I treated Cadwell as my own for the day, setting a new PB of 1.58. Race two was more of the same except that Barry had learned from race one and his lines were a lesson in defensive riding. I did have a stab at the end of Park but out-braked both of us letting Barry back up the inside. Sure I heard him tittering as he went past.

Sat eve was a very pleasant affair as we all relaxed with some cold beers. Marcus may have had one too many as he explained why the moon landings had to have been faked. For an encore he showed the absolutely genuine Yeti fur he bought off ebay and a copy of his application to Hogwarts. I would have shown him the scar I have from where the Loch Ness monster bit me, but its in a sensitive area and "Loch Ness Monster" was just our pet name for "Big Morag".

Perhaps Marcus was not alone in over-indulging. Fish explained that he was looking forward to popping down the pub over the comings weeks to watch Everton playing in Europe. I didnt want to rain on his parade by saying he needn't worry about running up a large bar tab. My last bar tab for Celtic in Europe didnt make it past "Happy Hour".

Race one Sunday, the lights went out and so did the 5 watt bulb that illuminates, or does its best to, the darkness between my ears. For two laps I did a marvellous impersonation of someone riding like a complete twat. Bizzarely I could see what I was doing wrong but just couldnt stop myself. So I pulled off before I fell off.

Race one was also Mark Hardy's first pot, hearty BOTG congratulations to Mark. He followed it up with a hard fought win in Race two. When it started raining stair rods I packed up my kit and prepared to get an early start home. Mark is Tyler "the lone rasher" Bacons brother in law, so it almost runs in the family. But then they are from Peterborough, a place where girls that cant run fast soon have a family. The last Glamourous Granny contest was won by a 19 year old and her Granny came second. Ah yes, Peterborough, so good they named it once.

Brands Indy is next up, a long and probably dreary time if the weather continues its "Wet n grey is the new sunshine" theme. It will also be my last outing. I have had a blast over the last few years but the time has come to move on. So I look forward to seeing you all at Brands for a skelp in what I hope will be glorious "Indian Summer" weather. Coffee n cake will be served after race one by scantily clad girlies so drop by.

Note From Fish - George has been paramount in the success of this class from his witty dittto's of his racing to the blagging of the tyres, t-shirts, oils, plugs and discounts that have made it so much easier for all riders in the YPM class - while he wont thank me for this note be sure to drop by and see George and wish him well as he turns his last TZR wheel on track at Brands Hatch - We'll miss the BOTG reports but hopefully those that want an instant morning clearout will still be able to drop by and take a special coffee from him as he continues to keep his face in the paddock helping out (ha ha) Rangi and his new bike owner Tony Hoare - Thanks George and good luck on the classics ......

This is George Watson for back of the grid, see you all at Brands.