What has happened to Miers Racing?

Well the season had gone really well, both Nick and Andrew achieving and in some cases exceeding their own personal goals for 2002.

Nick had been fighting hard for the Clubman championship and was a strong contender.  Andrew was coming on leaps and bounds, gaining better results with every round, not only did he break the 'top fifteen' barrier, he broke the 'top ten' barrier and was looking to be knocking on the door of his first 'top five' if he continued in the same vein.

It wasn't all easy going and smiles though, there had been a few racing incidence along the way.  Snetterton on the 4&5th of May 2002 being the most notable.  In one weekend the team collected three crashes between them ... Andrew getting the better of Nick with two of his crashes to one of Nicks.  All were unfortunate incidents that were due to 'contact' with other riders rather than pilot error or mechanical failure.  Even though the boys were a bit battered and bruised (especially Andrew with a broken foot and massive bruising to the arm) they kept on banging in the results.  Andrew, even though he was suffering, unbelievably gave his best performance to that date and at a 'horsepower' track like Snetterton it was even more impressive. The 600s are a fiercely competitive class and Andrew suffered on power-to-weight with his large frame (6'3" and 17 stone of lard) and a relatively low tuned bike compared to some of the other runners.  So although a bad weekend in some respects it was all worth it for the successes it also exhibited.

So all was well, the boys were really enjoying the racing and the events involving 'pain' didn't matter ... it was all worth it ... they were both just getting faster and faster ... and then there was Mallory ...

This Lestiershire circuit was little liked by the boys as it was well ... 'BORING' ... it is a very short track and consists of really only a long long fast corner and a hairpin ... still it was racing and the boys were game.  Even though the boys didn't do the practice day and didn't go too well there in 2001 the first clubman session was a scorcher, Nick consolidated his championship position with more hard hitting and precious points and Andrew was on fire, he got his first ever 7th place.  Both boys were well happy with the mornings work so far.  Then there was the Supersport 600 race ...

Although in totally separate incidences, both boys were hospitalised in this race.  Andrew highsided at ‘Lake Esses’ at the apex and sustained internal injuries and was kept in for 'Surgical observation' because of a possible fractured spleen.  Nick has no recollection of the event, but has been told he crashed at ‘Esses in’, in what seems to be a freak accident; he had suffered a serious head injury and fractured his spine in two places.  Andrew was in the most pain he had ever been and Nicks head injury meant he didn't even know what planet he was on let alone what day it was!!  These injuries couldn't just be shrugged off like the injuries the boys has sustained to date.  Andrews internal injuries took over a month to heal and Nicks severe 'post concussion syndrome' meant he wasn't safe/’with it’ enough to return to his full time work for over two months.  Although markedly better than straight after the crash, Nick still suffers with his back four months down the line.  But both boys have fully recovered now (4.5 months later) apart from this exception.

The boys did a lot of soul searching and wondered if this racing lark was really a good idea or not.  Andrew had lots of responsibilities, primarily in being a husband to Annette and farther to 2.5 children, but he also had massive responsibility for his business LJAMIERS, the decision was obvious for Andrew that it was indeed time to quit.  Nick didn't have the same responsibilities, but had suffered longer term injuries making his judgment take a different slant.

It then came to pass that Miers racing as it was would have to disband.  Both boys had shared in the most exciting adventure of their lives together and it seemed like the end of a era ...

As time went on both boys started to lust after racing again, Nick decided that he had to give it another crack and would only give up if he felt he had 'lost it'.  Andrew although champing at the bit to get back into racing too, just as described had too many responsibilities. 

As he no longer had a ride, Nick bought Andrew out and decided he would have to 'go it alone' as the team as it was; was no longer.  Andrew was very keen to come and watch and help out as a supporter.

After his long layoff for recovery, Nick did a trackday at Cadwell to see how he would fair after 3 months out of the saddle and with his ongoing back injury.  It didn't go as well as he hoped as he didn’t fulfil his personal expectations, but the important thing was that he wasn't 'riding scared' and with time would hopefully regain ‘the edge’. 

Nick then did a race at Pembrey with North Gloucester race club to ease himself back into racing without the added pressure of being up against people he KNEW he should be beating.  After the upset of Cadwell, this event really turned him around.  Although a way to go to get back how he was, he definitely proved to himself he still had it in him as a racer.

Andrew seeing his x-teammate doing what he loved so much without him was driving him nuts, he was now faced with a dilemma.

Nick intends to continue racing for 2003 as a 'Privateer' and looking into the possibility of running in a  support race held at the British Superbike rounds, namely the British Supersport championship. 

So who knows what the future will hold, neither know, but both have thoroughly enjoyed there time as teammates and have become close friends.

Also see the History page.