Ben Readings is back on track and writing about his second full BSSO season for us. You can also keep tabs on 15-year-old George Fielder with his SLUK Rookie’s report.
A few days prior to this race weekend the weather drastically improved. It changed from pouring with rain every day to beautiful sunshine.
The weather was ready for this weekend, but I was not. No bother, the scooter was running great at Lydden, just a change of oil and it’ll be ready for Cadwell… Nope, that’s not how it worked.
The day before leaving for Cadwell and I only just looked at the scooter. It needed a complete rebuild of the end can, with a lot of welding, and all-new rivets and that was back on. A new tie bar, and a few other little bits and it was as ready as the beautiful weather.
Stock qualifying
It’s good to be back at Cadwell. In this first session, I overcooked corners a few times, I need to relax a bit. But hopefully, I got a good qualifying time. I think I’m still trying to use old reference points, but I now have a much more responsive engine, so no longer need to get on the throttle a little sooner than I actually want the power. Warren of Wilkinson Racing really did a brilliant job of cleaning up the power delivery of this scooter.
Super qualifying
Let me tell you, needing a pooh while racing seems to speed things up. Maybe that and a brand-new rear tyre. But I’m pretty sure it was the pooh thing. A much much better go around the track this time, I forced myself to relax into it (riding the scooter, not the pooh thing!) and just take it as it comes. A few laps in and I noticed Gav just off in the distance. I thought to myself, “I’m going to try and get him before our time is up, but if not, no worries.” I think it’s that “if not, no worries” was what knocked off the 5 seconds, taking me from a 2:19 to a 2:14. Which is also my previous track record.
Gary Smythe is keeping Ben on his toes
First Stock race
Not the best start, but it feels like I’m starting to improve. I am good at the first corner, but with all the traffic in front and no path through, I had to let off the throttle. A group of us all fighting with little back and forths. Myself and John Balcomb leading the pack, I was pretty much oblivious to the size of the group right on my tail. All my efforts were on keeping on John and finding an opportunity to get past. A few times we traded places, and a few times we almost traded paint too. John made a mistake which put him on the grass. A slight relax came over me as I didn’t know just how close Gary was to me. The last lap flag is out and I’m keeping on it, but a few corners from the finish and Gary just slips in front. Damn. I try my best to get my head down on the straight and use my weight advantage to catch him, but in a photo finish he just takes it from me. A 3rd place for Gary and a 4th place for me.
First Supers race
After very long delays caused by accidents and oil spills, we finally went out for the second race of the day at around 17.30. After hours of waiting around, I felt like I’d kinda lost the spirit of it. Anyway, we all went out and I was ready to give it my all. However, due to the previous oil spills, there was a lot of white concrete dust on the track, this is there to soak up the oil and reduce how slippery the track is.
My race start was possibly the best for a long while, pushing up and keeping with the pack, but as soon as I got near the white dust I slowed to almost a crawl, as I had previously been told to try and avoid it. The rest of the race continued like that, I’d be on it, in the sections that had no white dust, but as soon as I saw that I’d slow and lose the previous distance I had closed up. A gloriously sunny day, and I’m still scared of slipping off. Within my relatively short time racing, I’ve now seen a few serious offs, and I think these play on my mind sometimes when conditions aren’t perfect. Maybe I need to fall off a few more times to show that I’ll be alright. For the time being though, I’m going to try and avoid that.
Dropped races
The second Stock and Supers races on Saturday were cancelled due to various delays caused by incidents.
The Ginger Assasin, Brook Northey on his Vespa PX before the start line accident…
Sunday – Second Stock race
A brilliant race start, getting me up the pointy end. Unfortunately, it ended very quickly with a red flag. Brookie had crashed into Steve Wright on the start. Steve had an issue and couldn’t get away at the lights, Brook being right at the back had gained too much speed to get around Steve and just went straight into him. That took Steve out with a few broken bones and left him in hospital for the rest of the weekend. Get well soon Steve, hope to see you back out there soon.
Stewart ‘Mad Dog’ Mackenzie shows how a PX really can be ridden
Race restart
The race got underway again and I was hoping to do the same quality start, but Keith Terry jumping the lights threw off my timing and I ended up with another disappointing start. The majority of the race was a Hornet battle between myself and Harry. A few times it reminded me that this is fun, Harry is a friend and the result of this race, in the grand scheme of things doesn’t matter. I think that attitude really helps, and it showed as I got in front of Harry and stayed there.
Nikita Donaghue, the lady to beat this season…
Just Gary up front to close down, and I was making progress but the race finished just before I could completely close the gap. With a few people not finishing, I got my first podium of the weekend, Gary came in second and, wayyyy ahead of us, Nikita took the race win.
Second Supers
A pretty good start paved the way for an exciting race with Gary. Mr Balcomb was ahead of both me and Gary for the first few laps but we managed to close him off and keep the lead. It was then just myself and Gary, with Damon just ahead. We closed the gap to Damon, and it seemed that he was helping Gary on the straight. Damo tapped the back of his scooter telling Gary to get behind him, Gary then passed Damo. That opened the gap between us a little bit and also made Damon my closest target. Damon then seemed to have issues going up The Mountain and almost ran me off the track. I just managed to get around but I’d lost all the progress I had made reeling in Gary.
Who dares wins
Back on it and I try to not get hectic. Repeating to myself “It doesn’t matter who wins.” Unfortunately I never actually believed it. I just managed to get past Gary on the first corner. Just keeping it flat out and not letting off, however, ‘the hectic’ kicked in and I overcooked the corner at the end of the straight. That gave Gary the chance to get back ahead and I then just didn’t have another opportunity to get back ahead, finishing the race behind him. Gary has been having a good weekend, I really need to up my game.
Third Stock
Flag down, red lights on, and I was following Graham’s advice of ‘Full throttle and launch by slipping the clutch’. A much, much better start threw me into the first corner right up the pointy end of the race. I had my eyes on Nikita, not exactly expecting to keep up with her, but more trying to see how she tackles a few of the corners. Anyway, she was quickly out of view and I was in the midst of another battle, this time with Gary in front of me, and Harry right close behind me. I closed the gap on Gary but couldn’t find a way past… yet. Even with my usual trick of flat out through the first three corners, I couldn’t get past. Once or twice it would work, but then he would find a way back.
Harry Smith on his PK heading over the infamous Mountain
While concentrating on that battle, I didn’t realise that Harry was right on me. Over The Mountain, through the chicane, and round the right, and I just glimpse Harry on my left, once I’d got over the fright he’d given me, I got my head down and used my Lambretta’s extra power to get away from his PK. Gary seemed to be slowing, I’m not sure why, I didn’t question it, but I didn’t hesitate to take that opportunity. I now just had to hold my lead on this last lap, “Just relax Ben. Don’t get hectic, stay calm. Just don’t bin it on the last few corners.” Over the finish line, as tucked down as I can and I took the win of our little battle. A second-place finish, and finally a win over Gary this weekend.
Final Supers race
Not the best start, Andy Walker got in front and I couldn’t get past him for a while. Once I was past Andy, I saw that Gary and Harry were having a battle quite a distance away from me. So instead of getting all hectic and annoyed that they’re so far away, I took the chance to try out a few different lines through the corners. It was an interesting opportunity that showed me some things I wouldn’t have seen in the heat of a battle. The rest of the race was like that, and I actually really enjoyed it. It was quite peaceful just being out there, not near anyone.
Dave Bristow battling with James McNally in an earlier race
Bonus race
Due to the issues we had yesterday, the track offered a free, 3-lap race to the scooters. Very surprisingly only three of us took that offer up. Myself, Mr Bristow (on a Proddy Vespa) and Jim McNally. I did a pretty good start from my 2nd grid position. Jim shot off on his 4e machine, but I just held onto the back of Dave. Him obviously having issues with the not perfectly set up Proddy bike, I was staying right on his tail, watching his more experienced lines through the track, but always looking for an opening for me to squeeze ahead and take the lead.
The last lap flag was flown and I was right on him. I went through the first corner the fastest I ever had, flat out and just touching the inside rumbles, then the first right, I dropped down into third and kept the throttle pinned. I got past Dave mid-corner and got my head down for the straight, knowing the Proddy Lammies are quicker on the straight than the Vespas. But this is Bristow, even on a not-perfect scooter he’ll surely get back past me. I just tried my best to keep my cool and not bin it, not even daring to glance behind to check where he was. Around the last corner and into the finish straight, with my head down, my elbows tucked in and my throttle pinned I crossed the line with the lead over Dave. What an incredible way to finish this weekend, and a new personal best of 2:11.
Reflection
This season has been a bit of a struggle for me so far. I think because I finished third last year in Production I know that I’ll be disappointed if I do any worse than that this year, but that attitude has not been helping. It’s not helped me to enjoy the racing and it definitely hasn’t helped me to get the results I want. It is abundantly clear that I do much better when I’m just out there having fun, and not being annoyed at myself for being behind the bloke in front. This weekend has really reminded me to just lighten the fuck up and stop taking it so bloody seriously. I am here to have fun, yes, it’s a sport and yes I’d like to win, but it is an amateur sport and however much it hurts to say it, winning isn’t everything. It has been an incredible weekend of glorious sunshine-filled racing. If you fancy it and you’re in doubt, just ask any of this year’s newbies, especially Sam Booth and young George Fielder, if all the time, money, and effort is worth it.
Words: Ben Readings #65
Images: Kevin Gunstone
SLUK sponsored riders
We’re helping keen young scooterists, Ben Readings and George Fielder with some of their race costs by paying them for their race features.
