The BSSO season kicks off at Lydden Hill next weekend (18th-19th April), and it’s looking like one 16-year-old racer won’t be there, unfortunately.
Looking for sponsors
Racing isn’t a cheap hobby, and teenage exuberance doesn’t pay the bills, so George Fielder will be watching trackside instead. Although we sponsor George (do a Google search for ‘George Fielder SLUK’ to see just how much coverage he gets from us), he’s still short of the funds needed to race a full season. If any wannabe sponsors are reading this, George would love to hear from you. Maybe you can help him race at Lydden next week.
Anyway, here’s how he got on at the BSSO test day at Darley Moor last month…
Up and at ’em
A bright and early wake-up led my friend Leo and me to meet my dad down the road at 4:30 am to make the trip up to Darley Moor. With a couple of toilet breaks and a few stops for snacks, we made it up to the track at just five past seven. Greeted with a lovely misty morning with the sun glaring through the clouds.
Warming up
I started off the day by going out on the Street Class spare scooter for the warm-up. This Lambretta would be classed as a 4E scooter if built within the regs. As it’s an endurance scooter, it doesn’t bother people that much. The fact that it’s an endurance scooter also means the gearing is ultra-low. Getting out there, the first couple of laps were quiet, with no one around me. I took my time, learning how to ride a scooter again after a long five months of not being on the track! Making my way round Darley Moor, I realised I haven’t lost my touch, so that means it was time to thrash it!
For the second practice session of the day, I decided to give the Targa Twin 275 a whirl. This scooter is honestly amazing. Even with the gearing as low as it was, once I got out on track, I lined up for the start finish straight. Each gear just pulled through and kept pulling. The front wheel felt like it was off the floor 90% of the time! The first corner came up, and I had already left the pack. Kept it pinned and I led for the first 2-3 laps before the son and father duo of Clipstone Racing swiftly overtook me. From then on, only Dave Cann showed a nose, and I was off into the distance. The only unfortunate problem was that the gearing was so low that it meant on the straight it was over-revving way too much, and quite frankly, it worried me, so I pulled off…
Bite the hand that feeds you
For the third session of the day, I jumped back on the street scooter and came out just behind my old man. Just getting past him into the first corner, I led through the chicane and hairpin at the top. Coming down the straight, I noticed a loss of power, and the lap after my plug came out! What a bugger. That session was short-lived.
Black flag
For the last session of the day (or so I thought), I just went out and took it easy, getting the laps in. I joined the track just behind my dad again, just chasing his tail along every corner. Unfortunately, he had longer gearing and was able to pull away on the straights. Just as I got past him on the last corner, he got a black flag. As he was using my old race number, I mistook it for myself and made my way into the paddock. Looking to rejoin, they wouldn’t let me, so I called it a day and got the scooter all packed up.
Overall, an awesome day at Darley Moor and a big thanks to SRP for letting me use their two Lambrettas, with just one day’s notice before the test day, as my other scooter fell through. Here’s to a season of greatness.
Unfortunately, I won’t be riding at Lydden, but I’ll definitely be supporting from the side!
Words: George Fielder
Images: Paul Naylor
