I was told that Silverstone wouldn’t open till half seven Friday morning but as I only live about an hour away it wasn’t a problem. As Crazy (yeah you know who I mean!) and I pulled in to the circuit, we soon realised that this had been a problem for a lot of people: The car park on the slip road leading into the circuit had become a campsite for the over-keen teams the night before and now the gate was about to be opened the race was on to get up to the paddock and stake claims on the garages. There were vans chasing around the perimeter road, cutting each up and barging through, ourselves included! We headed up to the far end of the garages, parked outside and taking up as much room as possible and checked out our facilities; uh oh, this one had no electrical sockets! We jumped back in the van and moved up a couple more doors and found one that would be perfect; loads of room and plenty of electric points, phew!
We’d been asked to reserve some space for Jumpin’ Geoff [so called because of a former life as a bmx stunt genius] and Ricky Ross [aka ‘Electro-Man’ after an incident at Darley when he crashed in the wet race, jumped over the tyre wall to safety and grabbed an electrified fence getting a shock that nearly threw him back over the tyre wall!), so we quickly blocked off one third of the huge garage with anything we had on board the van and kept a keen eye out for anyone trying to park anywhere near us. Geoff and Adam Tempest [I’ve heard Adam being called lots of things but nothing printable so we’ll call him ‘The Tempest’ for want of something more suitable!] soon arrived so we were able to spread the vans widely to avoid having to share with anyone else.
Having pit garages is a real luxury after Keevil and Pembrey but everyone tries to get in them. You not only end up totally crammed for space, with a nightmare getting your bike through when you need to you also find you’re constantly tripping over power cables leading to everyone’s tyre warmers etc. Not today though! Chris [‘the management’] soon arrived, looking much more comfortable than he’d been at Pembrey, his back obviously well on the mend. While we indulged in a bacon sandwich at the café, Pete [aka ‘Buzz’ due to a jawline reminiscent of the ‘Toy Story’ hero] and Zoe [we’ll call her ‘Zoe’ as you had to be there to understand her nickname and nothing I could write could possibly explain it; I’ll say no more!] arrived with my ‘other’ bike (more about that later…).
Amanda [‘MISS Bicknell’, my long suffering advanced test tutor] arrived and introduced her friend Mark [pro photographer and cameraman] who were going to be filming me throughout the day, (cool!!!). I was, for some reason, made to promise not to show off if I saw the camera whilst riding as it was just going to be a fly on the wall type thing!
We got everything set up and things felt good. The instruction I’d had at the track the previous week was very useful in that I knew where I was going, all the times I’d dragged myself to the gym recently meant I felt fit and strong and although there could have been a lot of pressure on me as the points situation was so close, I’d had a good talking to myself and was of the attitude that what I needed to do was come away feeling I’d done my best, regardless of the result. Even the weather was looking promising; cold but dry and bright.
The ‘other’ bike happened to be one of my creations from earlier in the year; Buzz [you know, Pete, scroll back up if you weren’t listening earlier??!!], it’s owner, is a big Barry Sheene fan and he asked me to paint up a road going Suzuki RG500 in the colours of his hero. It actually turned in to a full restoration and a bit of an on-going project and is now looking more like Sheene’s 1984 race bike than the original! It looks so good, in fact, that it won the ‘best in show’ award at a classic bike show a week earlier and to give it a bit of added credibility, I was asked if I’d ride it around Silverstone, kind of in the footsteps (well, tyre tracks) of the great man whom we’d both seen ride there some 20 years ago (when I was just a boy, of course. Silence at the back!!). I decided to take it out in the first session, then I could spend the rest of the day getting my bike [Spidey] set up and ready for the following day’s racing. I wasn’t nervous of crashing this lovely looking bike, as such, because I knew I could repair and repaint it all over again if I had to, but I have to admit the thought of going from what I’ve got used to and been refining over the past few years to a pretty much un-ridden, square four two stroke with a narrow powerband, tiny brakes and skinny tyres did make me wonder what I was letting myself in for! I donned a set of all-black leathers, borrowed Buzz’s Sheene replica helmet and, checking that the treaded, road compound tyres had been in the warmers long enough to give me a bit of confidence, I headed out. The first thing I noticed was how light the bike was (something I’ve got to try to achieve on Spidey over the winter!), the second thing was the power delivery. I suppose I’m spoilt with the Mille in that it has so much torque right throughout the rev range, yet this thing had very little of anything until the revs were up in the powerband but when it came on song, it flew! I had a smile from ear to ear when I got it right and kept the engine singing it’s little two stroke tune below me. The brakes weren’t as sharp as I was used to but as I was travelling slower than I would have been on my own bike, the braking markers I’d normally use were ok. I soon got the hang of it and enjoyed it so much I asked if I could take it out again in the second session. A bit more confidence this time knowing the tyres would be scrubbed in a bit and I spent the session having a fine time. I was getting overtaken down the straights by the modern bikes, and a slight carburation problem meant it didn’t quite pull full revs in the higher gears, but I was holding ground and even gaining on some of them through the bends. I couldn’t resist the temptation to send a shower of sparks from my toe sliders as I passed the camera on the last lap of course! Session over, I pulled into the pits to plenty of admiring looks as the distinctive sound of the four expansion chambers made people take notice. All day long people were coming up and looking round it as it’s very proud owner looked on.
Anyway to business. First session on Spidey was to get myself dialled in to the extra power, better brakes and more weight. It did feel quick after the RG! Chris and his neighbour Lee (no nickname but I’ll call him ‘Clunker’ after what he calls his bike!)
were on the stopwatches and I was mostly doing 1.11s, a bit slower when I had traffic to contend with, but clocked the odd high 1.10 with clear track. Next session I tried to push harder. The bike was shaking under hard acceleration down the bumpy back straight, so much so that a couple of times I had to back off the throttle to keep it under control, a bit un-nerving! I was also having a vague feeling from the front forks under braking at the end of the long back straight. I came back in after wrestling with the bike for the 15 minute session to be told my laps were all in the 1.12 bracket with the odd 1.11; very confusing!
I knew something had to be done to iron the handling out, but what?? There was the option of softening everything up to try to soak up the bumps, but the feeling I got from the front when braking hard suggested I needed more compression damping in the forks to cope with that problem. Not wanting to upset the balance of the bike, we increased compression damping front (to maximum!) and rear, Chris stood back and checked that both ends of the bike moved at the same rate as I bounced centrally on the saddle. I also turned the lightly–set steering damper to it’s half way point of adjustment to insure any instability wouldn’t turn nasty. The feeling was much better; a bit heavier steering through the last little ‘flip-flop’ chicane but totally stable down the straight and more composed under braking. I tried not to be so physical with the bike this time and worked on getting a rhythm instead. The laptimes proved we’d gone in the right direction; consistent low 1.10s with less effort! Final session was just to confirm what we’d been doing and again low 1.10 with a couple of high 1.09s for good measure, a similar pace to my competitors and a good confidence boost.
Friday night, we’d planned to do things slightly different than the usual barbeque and beer scenario; Chris cooked us up a tasty Pasta Carbonara, I laid a table in the pit garage, we opened a bottle of red wine and Christopher, Peter, Lee and I had a very sophisticated evening dining to the sound of classical music (much to Crazy’s dismay!). After Tirimisu and Cappuccinos, we were joined by Buzz and Zoe who had a box of red wine with them which, as Buzz’s eyes were already looking like the wine had gone straight to them and with Zoe driving, we helped ourselves to! A few glasses later and we thought it a good idea to venture out and walk the track. I guess my commentary on lines, braking and turning points was a bit irrelevant seeing as it was pitch black out and most people were struggling with walking in a straight line but I persevered! We eventually made it round, Buzz and Zoe went home, and the rest of us found our beds. I then really appreciated the fact that earlier I’d run an extension lead from the garage out to the van and plugged in an electric radiator; mmm toastie!!!! For the first time all season, I had a great night’s sleep in the van!
Saturday morning and more good weather though still cold with a bit of a breeze. The two Petes had got both bikes scrutineered the evening before (we just wanted a ‘Silverstone’ scrutineering sticker for the RG’s fairing!), so all I had to do was get my leathers checked and sign on. I’m not sure where the time went but before I knew it, they were calling my practice session and I still hadn’t got ready! I couldn’t find Crazy, the tyre warmers weren’t on, there was no fuel in the bike and I was desperately trying to get into my gear! Still, I got it sorted and as I emerged from the signing on office, Chris was waiting outside with the bike and Crazy had my helmet and gloves so I managed to get out just in time! From then on, full credit to the team, everything went like clockwork. A second practice, and a gentle ‘Open’ race to get myself dialled in (and to clear my head, ahem) and we were ready for the Sound of Thunder qualifier. I flew off the line for the warm up lap to get an idea of whether I was going to need to brake at all for the first, very fast right hander. I reckoned a little roll off the throttle to settle the bike would be enough. I was first to form back up on the grid soon joined on the front row by Baldock (Mr no-personality) Damien (I think we’ll call him Diablo on account of some little devil stickers that have recently appeared on his bike) and Deano (Shrek, because, er, he looks like Shrek, though don’t tell him I said so!!) the contenders for the first four slots in the Championship. I was a bit nervous but got a good start. Diablo had a better start. He came up the inside of me and we rounded the first bend side by side. Baldock came past me at the next bend pushing me a bit wide for the next turn that runs on to the back straight, and then, to my surprise, Ricky made a move on me! I wasn’t having that and got the bike turned, picked up and on the power real early and out dragged him down the back straight. I got my head down and tried to catch the two ahead of me, though they were inching away. Chris and Lee were on the pitboard and they were able to show me the gap I had over whoever was behind and show me my laptime of the previous lap, very useful and definitely something to carry on for next year. I could see +1 for a few laps then +0 so I knew someone was reeling me in. I kept concentrating and when, for example, I saw a 1.10 on my board I knew I could go faster so that helped me no end. In the closing laps, I caught sight of a wheel trying up the inside of the last chicane and I remember being surprised it was yellow (Geoff’s) instead of white (Deano) or black (Ricky). I held him off across the line and finished 3rd, good front row for the final. A little de-brief between Geoff and myself made me realise I was leaving myself open to a move by using my wide, sweeping line going into the chicane, though I was getting better drive out. Someone said that Deano was complaining that Geoff had been holding him up deliberately in the race, so, I asked Geoff to try to do the same in the final!
I’d qualified well down in the ‘Open’ race just by wanting to stay out of trouble, so I didn’t want to risk the bike, or put any more wear on the tyres by riding in the B final. Still, the RG hadn’t done anything all day and hey, this would mean that Pete would be able to say the bike had actually been raced at Silverstone! A quick chat to the organisers to let them know what I was doing and I swapped leathers and helmet while the tyres and engine were warmed up. I went off the back of the grid desperate not to get involved in any of the lunacy going on ahead and followed the pack around for the first two laps. I did a lovely move around the outside of a GSXR600 at the complex in front of the grandstand where all our lot were sitting and despite a real horsepower deficit, the 15 year old bike on road tyres survived, wasn’t last and didn’t get lapped, a result in my book!! It did make me wonder what it would be like with a tuned motor, some better brakes and a nice set of soft slicks……………
At last the main event was upon us. Rumours had been flying around that Deano was out for blood and that Damien had come to a deal with Baldock to help him out if I was in a position that warranted it. Chris had been busy working out the points situations. (Bear with me if you’re interested or skip to the next paragraph to see what happened!!). Basically, as there was a depleted grid for some reason, there would only be reduced points. Baldock had already won the Championship with a 24 point lead and only 16 available for a win. I was ahead of Damien by just 2 points meaning that if we finished the final as we had the qualifier, i.e. Damien 2nd and me 3rd, we’d be tied on points for second overall but I’d get the position as I’d had a win earlier in the season. We assumed this was the situation that the ‘cheat card’ would have been played, by Baldock slowing to let Damien win and allowing him to grab enough points to beat me. Deano, if he finished more than one place ahead of me in the race could have overtaken me in the Championship too and we knew he was fired up and angry enough to be a big threat. The worse I could finish the championship, even if I didn’t finish the race was 4th, but that’s where I finished last year and I was determined to do better!
For the first time this year, there was no laughing or chatting as we assembled in the warm up area. The four of us, lined up at the front; all steely-eyed, all ready to engage in the final battle. My heart was pounding as we were let out on to the circuit. I went out first and was first to form on the grid. I went off the line first for the warm up lap to show them I meant business and was first back to take my starting position. I glanced to my left, no-one glanced back, everyone focussed ahead. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the start. Leaning over the front of the bike, clutch in, first gear engaged, left foot under the gear lever ready to shift up. The red lights come on and you realise why this is called the Sound of Thunder as the revs of 20 or so V twins on race exhausts all rise. Lights out, GO!! I got my best start of the year; front wheel hovering, engine driving hard. I rounded the first bend in the lead, through the fast left kink, hard into the tight right hander, picked it up early and got the power down. I was shocked as Damien’s SP1 drove past me down the back straight on sheer power but I tucked in behind him. Baldock used his Ducati’s awesome power to take me on the start/finish straight but I stuck with the pair of them through the next bends. Again they pulled ground on me on the back straight but I kept my head down. My board was telling me there was someone close behind me and I was hoping it was Geoff but as we headed into the complex a white front wheel came alongside, it was Deano, damn! I held my line and stayed defensive round the next right and through the chicane. He tried the same the next lap, this time he went in a bit deeper. We were inches apart as we swept around the left hander but my determination again blocked him into the following right. Next lap and he went deeper still, but this time it blocked me, messing my line up and allowing him through. I tried to get him straight back but he defended his line well. I followed him for a lap to see where I was stronger. It certainly wasn’t on the straights; his Ducati is strong. I tried a move through the fast left kink but, being off line, was tight through the following right and lost some drive by taking the tighter line. Last lap, I caught back up through turn one, set myself up through the kink and got a good line out of the right and stayed in his slipstream down the back straight. We were neck and neck into the complex but he had the line into the right, I only had one chance left. My pit board had reassured me we’d broken away from the group behind (we were doing mid 1.08 laps!) so I took my wide sweeping line through the chicane got it stood up and got the power on as early as I could. I gained and gained but he just beat me across the line, leaving me 4th in the race and 3rd in the championship but I was well and truly pleased with what I’d done. No regrets, no ‘what ifs’, no ‘if onlys’. I ridden my best and it was a true result.
As I arrived back at the pit garage I had a welcoming committee; I pulled up, was surrounded by people spraying beer in celebration and to add to it, I span up the rear tyre in a huge burnout, it was as good as a race victory! I got out of my beer soaked leathers and was summoned into the garage. Chris has assembled everyone together, made a little speech and presented me with a superb trophy he’d had made in recognition of the Championship 3rd. I was speechless, the perfect end to a brilliant season.
I didn’t do it on my own though so a real big thanks are due to:
Chris, for a continuous supply of motivation and inspiration, I really couldn’t and wouldn’t have done it without you.
Crazy Pete, for (almost) always having the bike ready for me and for giving so much for me to write about!
Pete and Zoe for support and the use of the RG.
Tracy, for sleeping above and beyond the call of duty.
Graham, for keeping the world informed of my exploits!
Amanda for arranging the filming.
Lee for pit board expertise.
Di and Bill, and the rest of Damien’s team for friendship and support, especially the pre-teen fan club that made me feel like a star around the paddock!
Nino, Steve, Marion and all of the NG Roadracing crew for running the UK's best club championship.
And finally the whole Sound of Thunder grid, in particular Damien, Deano, Geoff and Ricky. Gentlemen, it has been an absolute pleasure racing with you, I hope we can do it all again next year!