2004 season is over!

I’ll attempt to keep this page updated as the 2004 season progresses. Hopefully there will be some pleasurable moments to write about, rather than all pain! We shall see.

Mallory (May 3rd)
Had managed to fit in a Weds afternoon practice in the rain, so hoped for a wet race day. My wish came true (the one about rain, not any sexual one!!) and we went out in a wet practice. Then the sun appeared, the track dried, and the race was run in full sunshine. My excuse was that my bike was set up for the wet. Things can only get better, can’t they?

Brands Hatch (May 15/16th)

Ok, so things can get worse. That kid on the mountain bike was quicker than me again. I should have found the bar earlier, then been banned from racing!!! Tina did a video of me for a whole race, and it looked like I was out on a Sunday stroll. Didn’t even look like I was attempting to race. Something had to be done, and I didn’t mean sell the bikes.

Cadwell Park (June 19/20th)
Hope for better times, but it wasn’t to be on the first day. Was improving, but not by much. Rain on the Sunday made a huge difference. After a few laps, I then suddenly got my confidence back. I was catching and passing people that I’d never been near. Overtaking was something that I’d not actually done in almost a year! But all my close rivals were doing the same, so I didn’t gain any championship points on them.

Snetterton (FRC) July
The CRMC now had a 2 month gap, so I decided to join FRC and race with them for a couple of meetings. Had a great weekend. Managed to improve my best lap by 4 secs down to 1min 27.
Oulton Park (FRC) July
Again had a good weekend, apart from breaking a chain on the last lap of qualifying. Also managed to break the clutch pressure plate, so had problems getting off the line. Poor excuse, but it’s the only one I had. At least it kept my eye in, and my confidence was back up.

Pembrey (Easter) started the season full of hope, and went to the Friday practice day, having found out why my TZ chucked more fuel out of the carbs and onto my back tyre, than was going into the engine. The reverse slide carbs just didn’t work on my engine, so I fitted 38mm standard power jet carbs. Two laps of practice, and one wrecked engine. Missed the first race on the Saturday as I was rebuilding and engine. Started race two and the gear lever snapped off! Got out on Sunday for our only race and was so slow that the a kid on a mountain bike could have lapped quicker.

Lydden (August 21/22nd)
I’ve always liked the circuit, but not the journey to it. Fitted a new set of Avons, as I couldn’t get hold of the Dunlops in time. Once out on the track I was flying. Managed to knock 3 secs off last years times, and beat all my close rivals, plus a few others who didn’t expect it. The first race was going well, but we had a couple of incidents and restarts, and then when I was going so well, the bike broke down. The next race I had a 3rd in class, and the same on the Sunday, after being 2nd, and having to start it again due to another red flag incident, due to an ill marshall. Fortunately he is fully recovered, and back doing a great job once more.