BSSO 2024: Round 1 – Croft | SCOOTER RACING

Some of the spectator’s scooters at Croft

Last year’s SLUK Rookie, Ben Readings is back this year to share his second race season.

We’ll also have some race coverage from 14-year-old new boy, George Fielder. He’ll be writing about the rounds he can wag school to compete in.

Here’s Ben’s report from Round 1 at Croft.

Last year I did better than I expected in the championship finishing with a 3rd place trophy in the LCGB Production Class.

I can already tell that if I don’t match that, or do better this year, I will be disappointed, so I think it’d be wise this year to just prioritise having fun and enjoying it. Have a read-along and see just how quickly that idea disappears…

Van life

For the first time ever, I woke up on the Saturday of a race meeting in the luxury of a hotel room. We recently bought an old VW T4 van to use specifically for racing. However, a day or so before this meeting I had to replace the gear linkage bushes. During that, I also somehow managed to cause a huge coolant leak. So that was the van done for, and us coming up with Dad’s old reliable Passat and our sketchy trailer. 230 stressful miles later and we arrived at a relatively dry Croft Circuit.

Stock qualifying

After some delays due to spilt oil and other issues, we finally left the holding bay and went out onto the track. It had been raining overnight so the track was far from dry but it also definitely was not wet. But my god is it good to be back out on track. I don’t feel I’ve got the pace I had at the end of last year, but hopefully when the track dries out and I get a bit more confidence lap times will start to improve.

Super qualifying

This session was much much better, the track was drying out and my confidence was going up. Had a few little battles and it definitely feels like racing season is back.

First Stock race

When I said it feels like racing season is back I was wrong. NOW it feels like the racing season is back! A pretty decent grid position allowed me to start with the people I wanted to be battling with. After the sighting lap, I was back in it. Pushing as hard as I was last year and with the bike feeling so much more responsive, I just had the power as soon as I wanted it. Other than braking a bit late and nearly visiting the quagmire that they call grass, it was a really good race.

First Supers race

Another good qualifying session put me again in the third row of the grid. All to play for, all to lose. A good start and a bundle into the first corner paved the way for a brilliant race. Falling back behind people I knew I can get in front of meant the fun of actually getting by them. Managing to do so, I was out in front of my little group and scott-free. That’s what I thought at least, until Gary Smyth sneaked past me. The battle was really on then. Neck and neck, I could see his shadow and he was close. Once or twice sneaking in front, and me returning the favour. A slightly dodgy last corner from me gave Gary a chance to sneak just ahead, however, I think because of the almighty wind and my ability to tuck down a little bit more, saw me just edge ahead and get the jump on Gary over the finish line.

Second Stock race

Another windy but amazing race. My race starts have always been my weakest part, so people behind me on the grid tend to get past me at the start. This time, my teammate, Harry was in front and he was the initial target. A small group of us seemed to bunch up and trade places. Harry Smith, John Woods, Jon Holt, Gary Smyth and John Balcomb were all battling it out trying to get in front of each other. Luckily with being able to find a gap and seeming a little faster in a straight line, I managed to creep ahead and stay there. A few times I looked behind myself to check how close they all were and I had somehow managed to create a gap between myself and the continuing battle behind. Another 3rd place finish for me.

Second Supers race

Bloody awful race. Sighting lap was as normal, leaning the bike over to try and warm the tyres. Sitting at the start lights waiting to go, then bang the lights go out and we all shoot off. However, I see John the Greek’s fan fly off and into the grass. I then spent the rest of my race convinced that John was going to seize his scooter and come off and hurt himself. I couldn’t think of anything else no matter how much I was telling myself to concentrate on my own race. I just wanted the race to finish and John to be okay. I kept looking across the track to see if he was still upright and just not concentrating on myself at all. I think I managed to get past Sean and keep him behind but I definitely did not do as well as I could have. Never mind, I’m just glad John finished in one piece, and he even bloody won the race.

Sunday – 26 and a day years old

Yesterday has got to be one of the best birthdays I have ever had. What a way to see in my 26th year by throwing a Lammy around a track. Then an awesome team dinner at a restaurant and then even a decent sleep in a hotel, this truly is the life. However, the pouring rain now heading back to the track doesn’t bode well for today’s events. Let’s hope it dies down and the track dries before we’re out.

Third Stock race

I almost didn’t get out in time, I thought we had plenty of time so went to the loo and sorted myself out. Then when I got back to the paddock everyone was gone! I very quickly had to fumble around with the flip choke on the carb and get to the holding bay. No one was there either, the gate for the race was just closing as I went through onto the track. The sighting lap was just beginning and I tagged onto the end. A good chance to have a bit of practice with no one around. I was last to my position on the grid so the lights went out almost as I got there, not quite ready I had another pretty rubbish launch off the line and ended up much further back than I’d have liked.

Close battle

Plenty to work for, but the quicker-than-usual sighting lap had already got my head in the game so I was on it, past John Holt, past John Balcomb. With Steve Wright in view, he was the target. He fumbled a gear change on the straight and I managed to get past. Assuming he’d be on my tail and wanting the lead back, I worked hard but thought he might come back past. To my surprise, Gary Smyth shot past me. Okay then Gary, let’s go. A very close battle commenced for the rest of the race, us both very obviously working as hard as we ever had to get in front of the other. He’d get past me on a corner then I’d get him back on a straight, or he’d pass me on a straight and I’d just slide up the inside to regain the lead. The fight was really anyone’s. The last lap and I come around the last corner onto the start/finish straight expecting Gary to be right next to me. But as I looked back around said corner I see Gary just getting up from a fall. Not how I wanted our battle to finish, but a 2nd place finish for me nevertheless.

Third Supers race

A bad case of self-preservation. Just as we were waiting in the holding bay the rain started. And the mind games began, what if there’s no grip? Should I have wets on? Will my brakes allow for the same stopping distances I’ve been doing? Out we go and I immediately know I’m not at the pace I have been. This time mostly battling with newbie Gavin, and it seemed pretty clear the rain wasn’t bothering him. Although I’m faster in a straight line he just had so much more confidence around the corners. A few times I would just edge ahead, but ultimately he kept the lead and finished first. Well done Gavin.

Fouth Stock race

I’ve been ill the past few weeks leading up to this race meeting, having a tiny bit of time off work with a horrible flu thing. I probably should have gone to the doctor and got it sorted but I’m far too busy for that. Anyway, I think I did a good job of ignoring not feeling 100% yesterday in the pursuit of having a good birthday. But today I’ve felt exhausted, been to and from the loo and blowing my nose every two seconds. Anyway, before going out I had said to the team I was not sure I’m gonna go out, and they said ‘Just take it easy and see how you go’. Honestly thought I was going to vomit in the holding bay, but went out and gave it my all. My pace was really good on the first few laps, just about keeping up with the Nikita and Wright battle, but as I went on I could feel myself getting tired really quickly. By the last few laps they were both miles away, a few peaks behind let me know that the people behind were far enough away for me to relax just a bit. Finished with another 3rd in Production, and that’s me done. I came back to the pits got off the bike and just lay on the floor for a while trying to catch my breath.

Last Supers race

I thought that would be the end of the weekend’s efforts as I decided not to go in in the last Supers race. However, once I’d regained my breath I noticed John furiously working on his bike. In the previous Supers race, where John has lost his cooling fan, he had also blown the base gasket. John had got the cylinder off, made a very nice new base gasket from one of the pages of the complimentary race program and was almost done putting it back together. A mad rush ensued to get the bike back together and him back out for the last race of the weekend. Cylinder back on, head back on, tightened, exhaust back on, exhaust springs back on, fan cowling on without fan, and no head cowling. We’d be relying on the wind rushing through the large carb hole in the panel. Once, back together, a bump start and it was running again. John putting it thoroughly through its paces up and down the paddock. It looks spot-on and it sounded even better. Just in time for the first call, John heads off along with the rest of the scooters towards the holding bay, and I begin the walk to go and watch the racing. The race started and it is clear that John is not thinking of the lack of cooling fan, he is absolutely flying around the track. A few laps, and then we stop seeing him come round. Please don’t say he’s seized and come off, no red flag though, so he must have just had a mechanical. Yep, the race-programe paper base gasket held just fine, it was the carb that popped off, obviously not tight enough, or possibly too tight.

On reflection

What a weekend it has been, from the mad rush of even getting to the track to the relaxed birthday meal, I’d had it all this weekend. Walking away with three 3rd place finishes and a 2nd place finish, what a start to this year’s LCGB Production Class Championship.

Words and paddock shots: Ben Readings #65

Race images: Paul Naylor