Mansfield Racing Report
Jamie, picked my up at about 8:00 am, having picked up Keith Jones on the way. Had a quick tour of the JMC collection, and then off,
Got to Mansfield in no time at all, but struggled to find the track, after going round in circles for a while we stopped and asked direction. Trust us to be the ones to ask “”Mad Roy”” well Roy did not know but he instead we go to the local garage and ask, “”Just say Roy sent you he said”” Fearing we may get to mad Roy’s garage and never be seen again, we opted to pass on that option – LOL
Eventually we got to the track unpacked the bikes, and padded up. Here is the Robinson I built to race on ---
After a few practice laps, I decided it was time to try and jump something, I singled out the step up at the end of the first straight, the doubles after the second corner and the doubles at the end of the rhythm section. A few not so successful attempts later, I realised that my once honed skills were long forgotten!
Whilst attempting the doubles after the second corner, the first time I hit them off angle and wiped out on the landing, the second time, I rimmed the back wheel and nearly snapped the frame. I seamed to have attracted a fan club of younger riders that insisted on talking the pi*ss out of me for the rest of the day, they were like a pack of hunting wolves, poised on the second berm, ever time I went round it, I herd cries of go on you old git, try and Jump the doubles again, LOL It was all taken in good spirits, but a little embarrassing.
Time for registration, Keith and I entered the 30+ class, whilst Jamie entered the old mans cruisers, Keith and Jamie looked cool tying on their paper plate number plates !! LOL
A cry goes out, “The moto sheets have been posted, It all came flooding back to me, the nervous approach, who would be in my moto. Will I have drawn the the difficult moto, will I be favourite, Well I am afraid to say it was a bit of an anticlimax, they merged the 19+ and the 30+ as there were not many riders, and we only have one group of riders in our category, All 3 of us, Myself , Keith, and one other ! The mystery Man with no 3 on his plate!
Race one, I snapped well out the gate, and then the feet came flying off the pedals “Note to myself, never race on skyway graphite pedals, they are useless!) (I PUT SKWAY PEDALS ON AFTER THE PHOTO ABOVE WAS TAKEN)
Jamie did not race the last race, so I borrowed his pedal, at least i did not slip that time!
The mystery man “no 3) sorry cant remember you name, in the lead, Keith in second, and I was in a very respectable third “ Oh damn, keep forgetting there was only three of us” ¾ of the way round Keith’s fitness gave up and I rolled past to take 02nd
Race 2 , Same scenario, good gate. Slipped pedals, no 3 takes the win, Keith second, I got third.
Race 3, Jamie kindly pointed out that Keith was the only one of the three of us not to crash, well Keith crashed on the first corner leaving an easy second for me.
As I approached the rhythm section, I hear the crowd shouting for the “”old school” I decided to put on a show an on the last upside of the last jump in the rhythm section I decide to try to do an old fashioned cross up style jump, well the bike carried on and I landed flat on my backside on the finish line – LOL
Time for the mains, Keith smoked everyone out of the gate and was on fire until the rhythm section where his fitness gave out and no 3 passed him for the win. (REVISION, I HAVE JUST SEEN THE FOOTAGE, I THINK IT WAS VERY CLOSE BETWEEN KEITH AND I OUT OF THE GATE, BUY THE FIRST JUMP I WAS IN THIRD, LOL) SEE POST FURTHER DOWN FOR THE FOOTAGE)
Aggregate results.
No 3 - 4 Wins
Keith 2 seconds, 2 thirds
Jon 2 seconds, 2 thirds
I guess on aggregate that makes Keith and I Joint 02nd! However Keith was defiantly faster than me despite what the results say!
So how did Jamie get on, fast out gate, several fags between each race probably did not help, and match fitness was lacking, raced three out of his four races, and took a nice first corner wipe out in race two, or was it three? Retired from the main, die to double vision,. Jamie and Keith were both smooth on the track, but lacked fitness, I lacked both LOL
Highlights
1. Safety gear worked
2. No injuries
3. Good day out, good to meet some faces of old and new
Lowlights
1. Targeted by the young crowd for abuse on each lap “”Taken in good spirits””
2. Only thee entered our class to race
3. Very wet and muddy
4. Comments about my bike looking so retro, LOL to me a 1991 bike was positively modern, LOL
Thanks to Jamie for driving, and Alan for lending me a full face helmet
