Cadwell 17th and 18th April 2004  

Click here for Cadwell track layout

Overview

Well Andrew and I haven’t been to Cadwell since we raced there last season. 

We decided to forgo a practice day this time as both our bikes were not really going to be ready on time and it was a double weekend anyway. 

After finding my new race engine wasn’t working properly, it had sent it back to the tuners (Phil Seton) to sort it properly as the engine had just been plonked in by Matt and myself without testing (Phil would normally prefer to have the whole bike, but I was trying to save a few quid on labor costs!!! ... as things have turned out it has cost me much much more to get it sorted after the event ... before you say it ... hindsight is a wonderful thing!! :oD ).  Unfortunately? Phil hadn’t found anything really wrong with my bike, which was disconcerting as there was defiantly something wrong at Snetterton, perhaps it was only something that occurred on the move and not detectable on the Dyno? He ran the bike up and it was producing a healthy 119bhp … nice!!! :o) It wasn’t a totally smooth curve though so he fiddled it a little to smooth the curve out a bit more, sacrificing about 0.5bhp at the top to do this, but got 4 more in the midrange, so a good trade!!  

After the problems at Snetterton I had noticed a small bit of duct tape that I usually have to seal the ram air duct and fairing connection had come astray and was actually slightly covering a small part of the duct, I had pointed this out to Phil, but he dismissed it at the time, so I did too.  However after the knowledge that it dynode fine it is looking like that may have been the cause of my problems at Snetterton, just that little bit of stray tape!  Basically it was right in line of sight/airflow with a but of ducting that feeds the floatbowls.  The idea of this pipe is that it pressurises the bowls when air is rammed down, thus equalising the pressure that the airbox is under at speed.  The bike was running lean I felt and if this pipe was not getting a good flow then it would not be pressurising the bowls properly, therefore at speed the bike would run lean … this would explain both the symptoms and why it wouldn’t show on a dyno (the dyno is obviously done with the bike stationary). 

Regardless, it had been set up properly now by Phil, I removed the offending bit of tape just in case and that was the best I could do.  Finger crossed it would work ok on the day!!! 

My bike was dropped off for me on the Thursday. 

Andrew, the rest of our posse and I set off for adders Friday afternoon. 

Unfortunately for Andrew they seemed to have combined the Powerbike and Supertwins grid, therefore he would only get 2 races a day as opposed to 4 as he usually would (i.e. races in 2 classes usually one begin Powerbikes, the other Supertwins). 

The forecast was a bit hit and miss, but on the Saturday morning we were greeted with a nice sunny (still a little chilly) day.  Super! 

Saturday 17th April 

Morning practice

Well it had been over a month since I had been on the bike and as I have pointed out it had only just got back from the tuners.  

To my delight it was evident even on the opening lap that the bike was cured!!!  What ever it was that made it run rough at Snetterton was gone now … to say the least this was a great relief!!! 

They have put a new chicane in at Cadders over the winter between Mansfield and ‘The Mountain’ presumably for safety reasons.  Word was that it was a bit of a pig though!!  This was no surprise as the new for 2003 ones at Silverstone and Oulton were really unnatural too!!!  What is going on with the chicane designers?? 

Made my way round ok, trying to remember breaking markers etc.  the new chicane indeed was unnatural, but not as bad as the Silverstone one as the surface seemed good here. 

The bike didn’t FEEL overly powerful to be honest, but clearly was as I was eating people down the straights … I never eat people down the straights!!! This will take some recalibration of my brain I thought, but hell this thing is quick!!!  I finally have a competitive bike!!! :o) 

I used to be pretty good through ‘Hall Bends’ it was one of my best bits of the track, but this time I just couldn’t ‘get it’.  Still it was a long weekend ahead and plenty of tracktime for me with 8 races lined up!!

Race1 Powerbikes

Start Nick 7^th Row 2, Andrew 32nd row 8. (Supertwins were gridded behind Powerbikes). 

2nd on the grid, that is a wicked starting position as it gives you a chance to get away with the front guys.  However I was a little nervous as I felt a bit ‘raw’ bearing in mind how long it had been since I had been to Cadders and I had only done the 3 or so laps in practice that morning!!!  

Lights went out, got away so so, but lost a few places in the first couple of turns, not too bad though.  Kinda held my own for most of the race dropping a few places, but making some others.  Felt pretty good round most of the track apart form hall bends.  

As quite happens to me, I seem to end up by myself, no one really catchable in front and no one close behind either, so kinda boring as I am essentially all by myself.  The advantage at this time however was that it gave me an opportunity to relearn the track without having to worry about people in the way.  Can’t remember much detail, but felt like a good ride, and I didn’t really have to fight for it.  Did get taken by a couple of bikes in the later stages of the race, but they were the lead Supertwins, so not to bothered as I was still the same position in class. Crossed the line safely and  I got a rather pleasing 9^th in class (11^th across the line, but 2 of them were Supertwins, hence 9^th)!!! Result!! 

Race2 SS6

Start 22^nd  row 6 

Went backwards on the opening lap as I tend to do where I don’t like to get too involved and things are so frantic, dropped back to about 27^th supposedly by the end of the first lap. Things then settled down and I began to get my head down.  Caught and then got held up a little by a pack of about 5, took 4 of them in one hit on the brakes into Park after a stonking power run down Park straight, ahhh places the easy way!!! Horsepower is where it is at! :o)  Took the final one into coppice about a lap later, then made a bit of a gap, no one to chase now really, so just held my own, then with about 2 laps to go I realised I was closing on some victim, so dug in a bit again.  By the last lap I was in range, so hunted down him down and took on last lap into Park!!! 

Happy with that and finished a pleasing 14^th.  That is points!!  Bearing in mind my opening lap shinangans, I had made quite a few places there, and feeling more confident, so pretty happy! Still couldn’t get Hall Bends right though!!! 

Race3 Powerbikes(/supertwins)

Nick 11^th Row 3, Andrew 27^th row 7 

Got away from the line OK, and only lost a couple of places on the opening lap, which is good for me.  Held my own all race, crossed the line in 12^th, that’s 9^th in class again!!! Kool!! :o)  

Race4 SS6 pm race

Start 17^th row 5 

Yet again lost out on opening lap going back to about 22^nd Similar story to the previous SS6 race really where initially I fall back then I get my head down/settled in and pick them off one by one.  Quite pleased that I hunted down and took a black CBR6RR on last lap. 

Crossed the line in 17^th.  Could have done better I suppose, if only I could get a decent first lap or so!! 

Sunday 

Well over night there was torrential rain and wind, so this day was Wet, and a me WET WET!!!  Without question it was wet tyres job. 

Race1 Powerbikes

Start Nick 11^th Row 3, Andrew 27^th row 7. 

I had bought some new Dunlop wets, so although that should give me good grip as possible, they were obviously un scrubbed and as a different make to before a bit of an unknown!  So I needed to ‘feel’ my way round for a bit before I had confidence in them.  I have never really been that confident in the wet. Unlike Andrew who thrives in the wet, having put in a good result at Brands a couple of months prior I knew he might take some beating and he had the mental crutch of knowing if he was going to beat me, it’d probably be in the wet … this was his chance … this was also my race to loose as I was starting quite a few rows in front of him!! 

I got away from the line ok, but sort of fell into line in the first turn, to my amazement there was this Orange SP1 going round the outside at turn 1 (Coppice) … er Andrew has caught up already … oh bu66er!!! Still, there was all race to go, all I needed to do was  keep him in sight and hopefully as the laps went down I’d get more confidence and hunt him down.  

However Mr M just cleared off!!! Within a lap I could no longer see him!! But I was just not comfortable enough at this time to push any harder … 

After a few laps I seemed to end u by myself again, which, which was good as I could do my own thing, but I didn’t have anyone to drag me along!!!  So consequently I didn’t push too hard and spent most of race by myself!  The bike was handling fine, but I just didn’t want/need to push my boundaries much further. 

Crossed the line in 16^th, 9^th in class again … er … hummmm … well that’s kool I suppose … 

I knew Andrew would be overjoyed, and rightly so, he had genuinely kicked my @rse!!! And proper kicked it too, I couldn’t even see him he was that far ahead, when we met up by the awning I was the first to congratulate him and shook hand.  Well done Andrew, you did it mate … 

Andrew was beaming from ear to ear, and rightly so, not only had he beaten me hands down, he had put in a stonking performance and come in 7^th in class!! 

Race2 SS6

Start 17^th  row 6 

Still full wets, if anything conditions worsening and streams appearing at places on the track.  

Got away from line ok, but fell in line in turn 1 to play it safe and got mugged big style.  Wasn’t too bothered as I am not a wet weather specialist and I just wanted to try and not get taken out/involved in someone else accident.  Probably back in about 23^rd by the backstraight, but hooked up and tucked in and went for it!!! with all those bikes in front, the spray down there was hideous I decided to make sure I braked in plenty of time as I had no idea what carnage may lie ahead!!!  Got round cleanly though and settled in. 

Got into my own space again and set about trying to improve my times.  The tyres were feeling good! 

Getting faster and faster,  tucked right in down the start finish, sat up for the brakes at Coppice and knocked it down a gear … the rear end slid steadily sideways … holy smokes (or words to that effect) the rear was aquaplaning and coming round on me!!! It came back with little fuss, but it did get me a thinking!! That is a good 130-140mph section and not really where you want the bike aquaplaning like that!!! 

Realised it was probably caused by me changing down right where there was a stream across the track, the changing down making the rear slow (engine braking) and the tyre was just loosing traction!!! … I’ll not be doing that next lap I thought to myself!!! 

Next lap round I wasn’t as late on the brakes and only changed gear after the river, the bike seemed pretty steady this time, so decided that was a good ploy!  Not the fastest thing to do, but better than it all going horribly wrong!! 

A lap or so more and I caught this bloke … as I was getting good drive don the start finish I decided I’d take him on the power down there … hooked up out of barn and was gaining on him … pulled to the LHS of the track for a pass and virtually got along side … the rear AND front went loose … my sphincter moved so fast I could have used it as a camera iris and taken a picture!!! … luckily it came back again without too much fuss, but I did feel that was really close!!!

The water was obviously deeper that side and to be avoided!!! 

My visor had steamed up by this time and spray was not clearing from my visor so visibility was poor, I had had a few scares and just decided to hold my own.  I was defiantly faster than my last outing though, so pretty pleased, I was actually getting hall sorted now too!! Strange that, I suppose the wet forcing me to go a bit slower helped me pick a better line and try different things??    

I was doing ok with no interruptions and felt I’d pretty much got this, then on the last lap just as I was abut to turn into park, I got mugged by 2 bikes, the first of which nearly took my bars out and made me jump a bit, closely followed by the other, who nearly took my front end out!!!  Hooked up out of park and followed them round, but had lost some ground already in the fiasco.  They were weaving all over, I though “this is an accident waiting to happen, they are going to take each other out!!!”. 

I did close and could have closed  more, but decided to keep a safe distance, I was not really in any great position and I’d prefer to get it across the line safely than get taken out by some over zealous last lap shenanigans!! 

It was amusing to watch the two in front and they did make it home ok, but not before nearly punting another guy off at the new chicane!!! 

Crossed the line in 22^nd.  A bit disappointing result, but I had made it home and my times must have been better.  Turned out that I was now putting in the same times as Andrew had in his first race (I had been about 4-5 seconds slower then) … so the challenge was now on for the PM Powerbike race!!! 

Race3 Powerbikes(/Supertwins)

Nick 15^th Row 4, Andrew 14^th row 4 

Well this was now a battle between Andrew and I, Andrew wanted to stamp his authority on the win (over me) and I wanted to save face and beat him at his own game!!  I was pretty sure I could hold whatever pace now as I had much more confidence in the tyres!! 

We lined up side by side on the grid!!! My grid placing was over on the far LHS of the gris, that was where I had had the 2 wheel aquaplane earlier, so I knew I needed to cut across to the right as soon as possible else I’d just ‘spin up’ when I got there. 

Got away better than Andrew, stole his line, thought I had done my job as he didn’t pass on the brakes, so I lined up for Coppice.  Then yet again the orange bike went round the outside!!!  This time I was determined to hold on and moved in behind him.  I actually got better drive out of Charlie’s and could have made a pass, but things were still a little frantic and we had all race yet.  At that point I decided to stick behind him for the first few laps to see if I could hold the pace and not get in front an set an unnecessarily hot one that I might not be able to sustain/get me in trouble. 

This I did and I was pleased that I could seem to keep with him pretty comfortably.   Another lap or so passed then we rapidly came up against this pair of bikes, Andrew did a rather aggressive/assertive move past them BOTH up from coppice to charlies1 … realising that I couldn’t afford to get stuck behind them/loose ground on Andrew I barged my way past one of them too, but there just wasn’t room for the other one, I had to concede!!!  

Andrew started to pull a gap, I was getting frustrated, but just couldn’t make a pass on this guy, he had a very fast bike!  He had upped his game now though as Andrew had obviously given him a wake up call.  Andrew was no longer leaving us.  In the next lap or two I did try and make the odd pass, but had to bail out as they weren’t on.  I was avoiding passing on the start finish now after my SS6 2 wheel aquaplane experience, problem was that I was good down there was missing overtaking opportunities!!   I have got to get this guy soon, the laps are falling fast and Andrew is going to get me again without a proper fight!!!!!! 

The bloke actually helped me out as he finally took Andrew, so now I just had to get past Andrew.  Closed up on him and waited for an opportunity to make a pass.  But Andrew was good at hooking up out of the corners, but I felt I was stronger on the brakes, but only really enough to make up for what I had just lost on the hook up!!! …. Less than ½ a lap to go … this was going to be tight .. I was hoping Andrew would make a mistake and go wide so I could slip though … 

We went over the mountain … Andrew drove over there better than me and pulled a slight gap, but I had caught him again by Hall bends, I was good out of the old hairpin and hoped I could make a move into barn … Andrew held a good line at the hairpin though and I couldn’t get the drive to show him a nose before barn … after realising I wasn’t going to be able to do that move, I actually went into barn a bit slow to give myself some room … I took a slightly tighter line through there than Andrew and hooked up all I dare out of there … but Andrew was good out of there too … I was gaining on him towards the line, but just not enough … we finished 0.5 seconds apart!!! It was close!!! 15 and 16 across the line, 7^th and 9^th in class respectively … 

What a race!!! Andrew had beaten me fair and square again!!! … I was a bit disappointed that bloke had inadvertently interfered with Andrews and my personal battle!!  Perhaps I should have shown my had earlier??? but as they say that is racing, I am not taking anything away from Andrew, he rode the perfect race!!! Well done lad you deserved both your victories that day! 

We were both lapping about 4 seconds quicker than our morning bests!!! It was feeling good too!!!  Just goes to show I can really enjoyed a wet race if things are right! 

Race4 SS6 pm race

DNS 

The SS6 race was the 3^rd from last of the day, I was set to be starting 22^nd on the grid, it had been a good weekend, it was a miserable day weather wise and getting worse, it was a long drive home, we were all soaking wet and had to pack up yet.  Basically I decided to forgo this last race!! 

Summery 

Well overall a brilliant w/e, some good racing had, some good championship points had by both of us too and a good mix of full DRY and full WET racing!!! Ideal. 

The other big plus for me is that I now know my race engine works well and boy does it have potential when I get used to it and dialed into a track … that is a massive weight off my mind roll on Snetterton the mires race season starts here!!!!!