2007 Race Report, Racing a 1966 OHC Ducati Sebring

CLASSIC RACING WITH THE CRMC 2007

Racing the Harris TZ 350 in 2006

CLASSIC RACING WITH THE CRMC 2006

CLASSIC RACING WITH THE CRMC
2005 CALENDER.

10TH APRIL-MALLORY PARK, Leics
7TH/8TH MAY-LYDDEN HILL, Kent
4TH/5TH JUNE-SNETTERTON, Norfolk
2ND/3RD JULY-BRANDS HATCH, Kent
6TH/7TH AUGUST-PEMBREY, Swansea, S Wales.
17TH/18TH SEPTEMBER-CADWELL PARK, Lincs.
1ST/2ND OCTOBER-SNETTERTON, Norfolk.

Second half of 2004-a belated report; Croft A fine weekend in the north east resulted in two fifths and a sixth place in class over the weekend. Lydden Hill. The Yamaha ran okay but the rider couldn’t get to grips with this circuit despite changing the gear ratios a number of times in the hope of finding something that suited. Two sixths and a seventh place were a reasonable reward for the lacklustre lap times. Snetterton Now running in fourth place in the class championship, hoping to consolidate this with some solid finishes. No such luck, as I had a small coming together with a Group 2 rider who accidentally clipped the Yamaha front wheel going through Corams ( a fairly quick corner) which resulted in a trip down the road ripping all the controls off the right hand side of the bike. That was race one so a slightly bruised rider spent the rest of the weekend spectating. Cadwell Park. Back to Lincolnshire for the last meeting of the season. Race one –first outing since the “off” at Snetterton and the throttle stuck open going on to Park straight, okay, but not looking forward to the same happening at any of Cadwells many slow corners I pulled off to make adjustments. Race 2- somewhat better Race 3 Race of the Year-a wet and cold race, made a hash of the start and everybody disappeared round Charleys before the Yamaha struck up properly. Some progress made in the wet before finishing 11th in class . Final result in the Group 1 championship was eighth place amongst a gaggle of riders all on TZ Yamahas. So quite pleased with my first year on this bike. Certainly the fifteen year difference in design between this and the Cotton Telstar resulted in a lot more racing miles than in 2003. Classic racing report 2004 -24th May 24, 2004 Round One: Easter weekend at Pembrey, South Wales. A wet and cold Good Friday practice day resulted in three broken collar bones and other minor injuries for a number of people caught out by cold tyres and early season exuberance. Fortunately the weather improved for racing on the Saturday and Sunday. The TZ350 Harris Yamaha proved to be satisfactory after its winter rebuild:- 3 starts, 3 finishes and three third places!!!!!. Very satisfactory.!! On to Mallory Park for Bank holiday Monday, only one long race for the Post Classic bikes at this one day meeting. After a very wet practice the sun shone nicely for us so a dry race. Unfortunately a slight mechanical problem left me tail-end Charlie at the end of the first lap. Sorting the problem during the first lap allowed the Yamaha to run properly resulting in a 7th place finish out of 13 in class, so another few championship points to add to those acquired at Pembrey. A return to Brands Hatch after a four year absence produced some excellent weather for racing. This time the Yamaha let me down and a broken water pump drive resulted in only a couple of laps during the Saturday. This was fixed for the single long race on the Sunday and another finish. Result: 8th –could do better!!! But with no practice on a strange circuit, well.?????? Brians' Racing Report for 2003. This year can summed up in a couple of paragraphs:- Racing with the Cotton- What racing? Despite fitting a belt primary drive and doing a lot of careful preparation last winter the thing never finished a race all year (from about 20 starts.) Some meetings it never got past practice!!!!!!! Always gearbox and transmission problems, The handling is a bit queer too, but it never ran long enough to sort this out. Still there is always next year!!?? So -out with the Yamaha TZ350G. This provided a lot of interesting racing, although it is taking me some time to get used to the speeds its capable of . Especially good fun was the Classic Bike weekend on the full formula one circuit at Spa Franchorchamps in Belgium. This really must be one of the best race tracks in the world. Didn't bother with the Cotton (I was saving it so it could break down at Jehonville!) but the TZ proved the ideal tool for some fast laps on this fantastic circuit. Other highlights Three first places out of three starts on the chair of Eddy Toombs Period one sidecar at Cadwell Park. Doing something in excess of 150mph down the Hangar Straight at Silverstone, and passing a 500cc GP four cylinder Suzuki on the start and finish straight. The season finished with a bang, by my falling off the Yamaha in front of all my supporters at around 5mph in the new (but very stupid) chicane at Silverstone. ROLL ON EASTER 2004.