Brands Indy 24th & 25th October 2003  

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Most of the rounds this season have been on a Saturday, with an official practice day on a Friday.  However on this weekend the championship I am competing in was on the Sunday, with BEMSEEs other championship on Saturday.  This meant that if I were to do the official practice I would have to wait around a day.  Andrew suggested that instead of doing the practice that we could enter the Saturday event and use that as our practice.  This made sense so I phoned up and put my entry in for this event too.

Saturday

Well I hadn't raced at Brands since March 2002, so 19 months since raced there.  I had done a trackday in Jan/Feb 2003 to blow the cobwebs away at the start of the year, which seemed like a good idea.  However I managed to bin it in about my 3rd session on cold tyres, therefore if anything doing this trackday was actually detrimental to my confidence, taking even more faith out of my tyres/grip.  Which it seems to have taken all season to get back. 

All this in mind doing the official practice day made sense, so booked onto that. 

Well at this time of year you have to be expecting bad weather.  I was lucky with how fair the weather had been at Snetterton a couple of weeks prior and thought this was unlikely to continue. My tyres were about spent too at the end of Snetterton.  I have been using the Pirelli Supercorsers, which I really rate now and are excellent dry tyres. What helps make them so good in the dry is that they are essentially slicks with a gesture of tread in the centre 1/2 of the tyre. This tread presumably is there so they can be classed as road tyres (need to run road tyres due to FIM Supersport regulations) but really it is pushing the rules!! 

However the dichotomy with the Pirellis is that although great dry tyres they make for rubbish intermediate tyre as they have no groves for effective water dispersion on the edges.  Which is fine in the dry, but if it is damp you are in a word of trouble.  Now expecting it to be at least damp some of the day (it is late October after all) on leaving Snetterton I really needed new tyres and intended to get some Dunlop D207GPs fitted when I went to Brands.  The 207s have a decent tread pattern, yet grippy enough in the dry too, so would be ok for either condition. The added bonus being that the groves will help warm the tyre quicker as there is more 'movement' in a treaded tyre generating heat.  The downside is that they would 'feel' totally different to the Pirellis, so would mean 'learning' a different tyre.  However if it was damp then the pros outweighed the cons. 

Practice day 24th October 

Well isn’t the weather a funny thing ... on the day, although bitterly cold it was dry as a bone!!  It was set to be the same for race day too.  Now I was in a bit of a dilemma.  It was dry therefore my Supercorsas ‘should’ be ok, however they had seen better days and to be honest were pretty shot already.  Yet it seemed a shame to buy a new set of tyres that I may not use up totally and have them sat over winter going ‘off’ ... and as described I’d have to learn the 207s if I got them.  But getting a new set of Supercorsers seemed a bit of a waste too ... with my second spare rear wheel it means I had 2 well used rears and the front, could I make them stretch the weekend so I didn't need to splash out on new tyres at the end of the season???  

I thought I’d give it a bash and stuck with the old tyres. 

I still had the sprocket I use at Snetterton on, which is far to higher ratio for a short circuit like Brands Indy, so I swapped it over for a lower ratio one. 

Put the warmers on for a good hour before first practice and wrapped some blankets round the tyres/warmers to boot, it couldn't have been more than 1or 2 degrees centigrade especially with the chill factor of the steady icy cold breeze.  

Went out for the first session, knowing it was cold and I hadn't been to Brands for ages. I took a lap or two to re-familiarise myself, I was doing about 1:02s to start with, which is about 10 seconds of my fastest time there.  But I wasn't 'trying' yet, so not a problem.  The bike felt really loose, but that was probably just the cold.  I had done a few laps and felt I had a good enough idea of where I was going now to work it up a bit.  I didn't want to quicken the pace too sharply as I was aware that where track and air temperature were so low and I hadn't really been 'working' the tyres to this point, therefore they would have cooled off (from being nice and toasty in warmers).   

So the build up was to be gradual.  Got down to 58s I think by the end, but I could hardly feel my fingers!!  It was fweezzzzin'.  Still it was early in the morning and the sun was out now, so track and air temperature should raise a bit by my next session.  Got back to the pits, the rear looked to be tearing chunks off it, this would explain the 'loose' feeling.  I just put it down to 'cold tearing' and figured when it was warmer it should get hotter and tear less.  I'd get it turned at lunch so I would have the more meaty bit that was on the LHS on the RHS where I needed it. 

Next session out and it was indeed warmer, the bike felt less 'loose' and my hands didn't want to drop off during the session.  Think lap times were now down to 55-56s 

At the lunchbreak I took the rear out to get the tyre turned ... as I tugged at the sprocket carrier to take that off, I noticed that the sprocket was loose ... 'Holey smoke' (or words to that effect) I hadn't done the sprocket nuts up properly when I changed the sprocket!!  The nuts need to be done up tight, which is difficult with a loose wheel. I normally just assemble finger tight (nylock type nuts so not far) to keep in place, then put the wheel back in and tighten them properly with a socket/spanner. That way I can use the back brake to stop the wheel for turning when I do them up ... I had evidently forgotten to do this after putting the wheel back in  ... A cold flush flooded over me … bearing in mind you are knocking on the door of 150mph down the start-finish straight... and I had just done 3 whole sessions with the rear sprocket loose ... perhaps all that rear movement I had felt wasn't JUST the cold tyres.  

All the possible nasty scenarios ran through my mind as I tightened them up ... amazingly as they had just bitten on the 'lock' even thought only finger tight none of them had actually come off.  But as I couldn’t do them up much finger tight (i.e. until the nylock bit just bites) the sprocket was free to move about 5mm on the studs ...... <shivers> ... 

As the day went on, it warmed up even more and I was getting more an more confident, finding myself strong out of Clearways/Clark curve (where I never felt strong before) and really good into Druids, I was struggling a bit with Paddock hill bend and Graham hill, which strangely used to be my strongest bits!!  However laptimes were down to consistent 53s sneaking one lap in at just under the 53 barrier (52.9), that was good enough for me and I was pretty pleased. 

There were 2 sessions left of the day, but I had decided to forgo the final one as I wanted to get the bike scrutieneered for the next day (they were opening scruiteneering for a bit).  So this was to be my last session.  Confidence was growing and I was really pushing the front now, which I love, really taking the piddle out of it, that feels so good, just as I remembered I used to! 'Your back Nick' I though. Not 2 laps after thinking this, I went hard into Druids hairpin turning it in heavy on the brakes as I had been, but admittedly a little stronger this time, dropping the bike on my knee ... then the front started to tuck ... oh <expletive> I’m going down!!  As it seemed so gradual, I just relaxed and kept my line, pushing on my knee harder into the tarmac, if for no other reason than to ready myself for the fall ... and to my glee/amazement it came back, without fuss too.  THAT WAS CLOSE!!! <pharp>  ... I counted my lucky stars! ... but thought 'well I was really taking the piddle out of it there ... '  I considered pitting in, but decided against it, 'I’ll just not push it as hard'.  Finished the session without incident, but admittedly not as hard on the front. 

When I got back to the pits I thought 'I can't run with the tyre like that ... but I have only got 3 races tomorrow and it'd be a shame to get a new one just for that, also I' have to scrub it in, which in the cold would be unnerving ... '  'Perhaps I should get this one turned round? ... Although I turn the rears all the time to get more mileage out of them, I had never turned a front.  I don't mind the rear being a little 'loose' but I DO like the front to be planted.   

Spoke to the tyre guy (A&R racing) asking if people turned fronts, he said "well people don’t normally need to" he then looked at my tyre (as if to say "look it is fine") ... and he said "humm that has gone a bit hasn't it"  I then went on to say I didn't want to be kicking myself for not getting a new one if I went down, but didn't really want to get a new one either unles I had to hence thinking of turning it. Pointing at a used/discarded one on the floor he then said "I tell you what, why don't we put that one on?".  He said that he knew the guy and he was MRO and he had only used it for today so it was better than what I had. It was a Metz Rensport, not Pirelli, but supposedly they are identical (made in the same factory and everything) I had know this for a while so had no reason to disbelieve him.  So we put that one on ... a fully scrubbed tyre, but so so much better than the one I had taken off .... nice!! 

I finished the day hoping that that incident wouldn't come and haunt me mentally the next day.  I had however got a decent (better, remember some other bloke had chucked it away!!) front on now, so hoped this would counter any uncertainty in my mind. 

Race day

It was really cold again first thing in the morning, and bearing in mind I didn't have a great deal of tyre left, I decided to forgo morning practice as I wouldn't be able to work the bike fully with the cold problem and I wanted to conserve tyre too.  I had been told before that morning practice was mandatory, but when we signed on the question was asked "do we HAVE to do AM practice? Bering in mind we had done the practice day"  the answer was No.  Kool, that’s that then. 

When the time neared I had thought about perhaps doing practice anyhow even if it was only a lap or so (just to be sure I didn't get excluded).  I had started to get changed, then it came over the tannoy "Anyone that does not do practice will not be allowed to race" ... WHAT??? ... oh <expletive> I quickly finished dressing, readied the bike and headed off ... on arrival to the collecting area the woman marshal said "your a bit late".  My session was already all out … doh … and I wasn't allowed out.  OH NO!! She said that she'd see if there was any room in the next session and she'd let me out in that if there was.  I then asked her if I HAD to do practice, she said "No" ??? hummm ... I asked if she made a list or anything of people who had or hadn't turned up for practice, she said "No" ... I said "ok then, I was here yesterday I don't mind missing it if I don’t HAVE to do it" she said " ok then, that is fine" ??????? .... I returned to the pits a bit confused, but relieved I wouldn’t be excluded from racing.  Phew!! 

Race1 Supersport 600

30th on grid Row 8

A friend from my Rookie6 year (and the start of 02), who had not raced all 03 due to him and his wife [Wendy] having a baby boy (Nori :o) ) was doing this one-off event.  He was gridded 29th, right next to me, kool!!  I used to be faster than Paul, but he really improved in 02 (when I was out of the season due to injury) and looking at his laptimes he was about the same pace or there about as I used to be. 

This was superb, we both realised it'd be good for both of us as he hadn’t raced all season (but had been instructing on trackdays). To have a real target would pick both our games up, I was not going to let him beat me and he sure would be thinking the same, a friendly grudge match, excellent!!! 

Went round for the warmup lap and felt a bit rusty ... Lined up on the grid. 

Got away ok, better than Paul off the line and into Paddock Hill, got a little bunched up there and Paul went round the outside.  Held my own into Druids, keeping Paul in sight (about 3 bikes in front).  Things quietened down in a lap or so, Paul was making some gap on me now, I needed to get passed these guys in front so Paul didn’t pull away to much.  Went round the outside of one at Clearways, took another on the exit of Clark where I hooked up better.   

Took about another lap to pass the final bloke, then I had Paul in my sights.  Caught him over the next lap and passed him round the outside at Clearways.  He got me back into Paddock hill.  I was late onto the brakes into Druids and slid it up his inside, I was only 3/4 passed though, so wasn't sure if he'd concede, turned in and apexed early, he turned in over the top of me.  I wasn't sure if he'd slam the door, so hesitated a little, thus didn't get back on the power as I normally would, making me go slightly wide, which actually was making the chances of contact greater!! I forced myself to get on the power and kept my line hooking up well keeping him at bay into Graham hill.  There was a slight gap ahead now so I got my head down trying to make some ground on him. A lap or two and he hadn't challenged again so I presumed I’d dropped him, I had caught the pack of 3 that were in front.   

Now being a tight pack of 3 it was difficult to pass the rear guy as he was trying to pass the guy in front of him, so lines were unpredictable and varied ... I was defiantly faster than the lot of them, but had to back off earlier than I wanted so I didn't get caught out and say ram one.  I tried to position myself for a pass a few times, but was unlucky as the guy in front darted the same way blocking me ... I was getting held up.  I thought to myself if I had indeed dropped Paul by a fair way, at this rate he'd soon be back on my case. 

A few more laps and I eventually managed to pick the back one off round clearways. A few more laps passed but just not finding a way passed the other two, I was getting really frustrated.  I had hooked up well out of Clearways/Clark and was getting the run on the guys in front, noticed the last lap flag out as I crossed the line, RIGHT, no more messing!  As it happened the cards for the first time fell just right and I took the back one round Paddock Hill, getting good drive out too and took the other on the brakes into Druids ... in one swift movement, neat!  Drove hard out of Druids and took a defensive line into Graham hill, again driving hard out.  I had managed to keep them off to this point, so just took a defensive line for the rest of the lap and crossed the stripe in front of them both!! Finished 23rd, although annoyed that I had been held up, that last lap was poetry, so well chuffed.  As I was held up, best lap was only a mid 53 I had expected to be in the 52s in race conditions. 

Race2 Supersport 600 pm race

23rd on grid, row 6

Well the previous race had blown the cobwebs away, and Paul finishing 2 places behind was therefore gridded the row behind me, lets see what I can do here. 

Reasonable start, only loosing a place or two in the opening lap. During the next few laps took a couple of places back, passing round the outside at Clearways. Then it was clear track ahead of me and I made a few hot laps, so presumed I had dropped them. A couple of laps passed, then unexpectedly I got taken on the exit of Graham Hill.  I had a nibble back then next lap into Druids, but didn't quite work, so had to over brake and lost ground.  Caught him again by next lap and had another go, but again lost out ... he then got a decent gap on me, I regrouped such that I reeled him back in a bit and then the gap stayed constant. He wasn't getting away, but I just didn't have it in me to push that bit more to catch up, the gap remaining constant lap on lap ... not aided by noticing my rear was going off, sliding more and more, so taking heed, I wasn't giving it as much gas/hooking up as well out of the turns.  Finished behind that guy, in 24th.  A bit disappointed that I hadn't pushed that little bit harder like I needed to get the bloke back.  Still I had stayed on and would be able to fight in the Clubman.  Fastest lap 52.44 

Race 3 Clubman600

I had intended to change to my other rear wheel, which although too had a knackerd 'turned' tyre on it, was probably better than the one I had on there now. However there was only 2 races between the Supersport one I had just done and the Clubman, so there wasn't really enough time to change it and get it warm/hot before I would be called for Clubman, so I had to stick with what I had. A really really knackered turned tyre that had chunks coming of it!! 

I had looked at the championship points table, I was 6th and 5th place was more than 25 points ahead of me. This being the last race and 25 points being the maximum, i.e. a win, 5th was an impossibility, but there were 3 guys within a few points of me. So I was defending my 6th place.  Looking at the programme, 2 of the 3 that were behind me weren't there, but the other guy was.  #75, I had to finish in front of him!  Well as he was 2 points behind, I could probably afford to finish just behind (presuming we were down in 14th odd place and he would only get a point more than me for it). 

Gridded up in the collecting area and looked to my right expecting #75 to be there ... it wasn't number 75.  It was a sparkling new 03 ZX6-R though.  I got chatting to the guy (saying it was cold etc) noticed he had a twiddly thing on his bars, it was a remote adjuster for the front leaver, so you can adjust span 'on the fly'.  This is for if/when the leaver starts to come back during the race when the brakes get hot, and you can adjust it out. I said the whole bike looks really nice.  He said yes I just got it, it is a 'Rob Frost' ZX-6, and pointed out another trick box thing it had.  He said it cost him 12 grand.  I asked how many neddies ... he said 124.  Humm that is only about 20 more than mine than I have!!! … so laughed ... however inside I guess I was thinking 'Git, how can I compete with guys like you!!'.   

I got an atrocious start; there was loads of hustle and bustle in turn 1 (Paddock Hill) some one was bound to go down??? Somehow we all got round, but I got gobbled up and dropped back to about 14th.  Took one back into Druids, but then got held up in the bustle again.  On the way down to Graham hill, I saw a shower of sparks, someone had highsided on the exit. Bikes swerving to miss downed rider/bike, one bike running across the grass.  I backed off and took it easy into Graham hill so I could take avoiding measures.  The downed bike was still spinning in the middle of the track, I carved a line to the left of it, but a guy passed me on the left nearly taking my bar out, I was heading for the bike ... I backed off and cut in behind the bloke that just passed, then got on the gas again, quick, as the downed bikes rear tyre must have just kissed the tarmac and the bike was turning again.  Now hard on the gas, I Passed the spinning bike, pinching my cheeks thinking the rear of it was going to clip my back wheel as I passed.  Luckily it didn't but there must have only been a few inches, possibly millimetres!! That unnerved me and I had lost loads of ground, but I figured 'no biggy, that’s a red flag for sure'.  Therefore I didn't really try and pick the pace back up, lost another place entered Clearways, looking out for red flags, but there were none ... expecting reds into Paddock Hill, but again none ...  

I then realised that this might indeed NOT get red flagged, so figured I’d better buckle down again.  Approached the accident site and the marshals had indeed somehow cleared it.  Oh flock ... I must have been back in 20th odd place by now!!??!! 

A little dismayed, I re-focused and got my head back down, I had my work cut out!  But lets see what I can salvage.  Over the next few laps I did manage to pass a few riders, but it was hard work.  I felt I was really trying now, pushing the front extra hard into the turns trying to corner faster so as not too loose too much time/ground overall as I didn't have enough tyre to hook-up as hard as I would like on the exit, so more corner speed was the only answer.  For the next few laps I fought back, but the pace was real hot and I was already trying hard.  Got passed a few, then came up against this bloke on black Suzuki.  He had a really fast bike and thus was particularly hard to pass, especially as my knackerd rear meant I couldn't hook up as well as I wanted and he was getting in my way mid corner (thus having to go in slower than I wanted, loosing the momentum I needed).    

I tried a few nibbles, but never had anything real, eventually I bit the bullet and tried it on the brakes into paddock hill. I got alongside but it was tight, I was off my normal entry line, but I was only 3/4 passed, therefore I tentatively held my tight line, he then proceeded to SLAM the door, I had to back off else we were going to hit.  Now, firstly backing off is the last thing you want to be doing in this situation as it loads the already highly demanded front and it makes you go wide, which again is not what you want to be doing when someone is cutting your nose off, but what could I do??  As things proceeded I wasn't sure just backing off was going to slow me enough as he was cutting in fast and I wasn’t dropping back that far … I couldn’t SLAM the throttle shut, else that would have been end game, equally I couldn't hit the front brake. So I just changed my line and rode the only bit of track left … the white line!! brushing the kerb.  I really expected the front to go, but somehow it didn't I was now headed straight for his rear wheel/tyre … miraculously I didn't hit it.  However, I was now headed towards the kitty litter totally off line (remember paddock hill is a good 100mph+ corner).  I got back on the gas and turned the bike in.  Shaking my head and sphincter doing overtime.  I was thankful I was still on, that was close ... a crash at paddock is generally nasty. 

I re-grouped and over the next lap made the ground up I had lost in the episode, I was right on his tail again.  Tried round the outside at Paddock, but that wasn't on and I was too tentative to force the point as precedent showed he’d have no qualms of pushing me wide and off the track.  Tried again round Clearways, but again a bit too half hearted, after going round it looked as if the move may well have worked had I done it.  Last lap flag was out. 

Right, repeat at clearways, but this time just go for it.  Left a gap out of Graham hill and drove down cooper straight to Surtees getting the run on him on the 'flip flop' through here to clearways, instigated my move round the outside as planned, but just as I got alongside, he sat the bike up ... ....  I had to sit up too.  I was now heading off.  Thankfully Clearways/Clark is wide, but it is slippy on the outside due to all the 'marbles' and dust, knowing this I was reluctant just to bang it back over, but I was going wide and not turning quick enough, picked a bit of grass to run off onto … then though, "NO" and turned the bike harder.  I did make it, but there must have only been a few inches in it.  Hooked up, not wanting to loose a place. Obviously there was no one in close pursuit, as a pass was not made.  Crossed the line in a lowly 14th.  Thoroughly miffed with my performance, I had ridden my hardest all weekend but thought I’d finished say 16th-18th (obviously at that time I didn't know what place I’d have gotten).  My fastest recorded lap was a 52.86, I felt I had ridden harder than that, but that wasn't bad considering I was struggling with tyre.  Indicating perhaps 51s or mibie lower would be on the cards with good tyre. 

Well what can I say.  Although miffed at the result, VERY lucky I had finished, I had had 3 incidents in one race where it nearly came to a sticky end, so should be glad of that.  I didn’t feel that the result reflected the effort I had put in.  I also felt cheated by circumstance again, right when I want it most!! 

Although I have to say at this event my troubles were mostly self inflicted by scrimping on tyres. 

However I finished the season with the bike and I in one bit.  Which mentally at this point is crucial. 

I now anxiously await the updated points table to see if I have held my 6th position by default, or if someone else has got a good result and sneaked in there. 

Well season over, now it is the long winter break ahead .... time to plan 2004!! 

Trying to find sponsors should keep me busy though, but I have to say from past experience I don't hold up much hope. 

I'd love to have the cash to start 04 with a refreshed and tuned motor to somewhere in the order of 120bhp to give me a fighting chance a new bike would be better still!!  But even for the motor upgrade I am looking at a good £3-4k for that, which unless I find sponsors is just not going to happen!!  I also know BHP isn’t the b-all and end all, but it sure must help!! 

Anyone reading this fancy lightening their wallet .... or know someone who would like there’s lightened??? ....