After trashing his usual race bike at Cadwell, George raided the piggy bank (dad’s shop) and built himself a new one…
Arriving late on Friday there wasn’t much to do, so we just took a chilled-out afternoon, talking to a couple of people before heading off to bed for an early start on Saturday morning.
I woke up early to a misty morning and it was freezing cold; no sign of torrential rain at this point though. A few hours later, the racing started and the wind started to pick up. A few races in and the rain started to pour. We decided to change my tyres to the wets and it was definitely the right decision to make.
Practice
As it was torrential rain and practice was near I started getting ready. Turning on my rain light, getting geared up and heading down to assembly on the second call, I was ready after my recent accident at Cadwell Park. I decided to take the practice steady. A few laps in I felt back on my toes again with the scooter, it was going great, so I decided to put some fast laps in in the pouring rain. I ended up qualifying 15th in Stock and had a fastest lap of 1:10 the average for that race was around 1:06 seconds, so I was relatively happy with myself. Coming in with a cool head I got ready for Super qualifying.
Super qualifying
I was a bit more level-headed for this one and went out just to enjoy myself, having loads of fun in the rain. I was battling with John Holt and Andy Walker for a good qualification. After a fun few laps, John ended up ahead by quite a gap and I had qualified 15th, again not too bad as it was in Supers and the scooters are a lot faster. With a 1:07 I was super happy, it was three seconds of my Stock qualifying and I was really getting back into a rhythm with the scooter again.
First Stock race
Time for the Stock race and it was pouring! Lining up on the grid for the sighting lap the conditions worsened. I came round taking it steady, warming up the tyres as much as possible. I was back on the grid. I knew I could get a decent start and was quite confident in the wet, so I decided to go for it. I was really getting on, battling with a few people that I wouldn’t imagine. Having loads of fun and therefore finishing 13th place. With a better-than-average time, now finishing a fastest lap of 1:03 I was amazed…
First Super race
Now for the first Super race of the day. My goal was just to finish the race as the conditions were really bad. My main focus for the Super races is to practice and have fun. I was doing really well, overtaking a few people (even including our other SLUK reporter Ben Readings)… sorry Ben. Crossing the line in front of eight other people I finished ninth overall. I had now had a fastest lap of 1:01. By the end of that Super race there was a river with a current crossing the track!
George follows Andy Walker’s #90 Lambretta, little did he know that he’d be racing it later in the day…
Second Stock race
Now for the second Stock race, even though the conditions had started to die down it was still key to keep the wet tyres on going out on the sighting lap. You could see where the track was drying and the patches were appearing. There was still enough rain for the wet tyres to work but it is important to know when to change as the wet tyres don’t really work in the dry. Well, I guess you can say they destroy themselves. Getting on really well, and staying in front of a few people I managed a best lap of 59 seconds. As I came across the line I hadn’t thought I was going that fast. Looking at my times after I was really happy with my improvement. I guess I like Lydden Hill after all…
Second Supers race
The second Supers race had now arrived and all riders had swapped back to their dry tyres. There were a few patches of wet track but nothing that could affect your riding. Going really well I was following Jer Crew. The slipstream must’ve been going well as I achieved my fastest lap of the weekend, 58 seconds. Finishing 15th again and somehow managing to still keep up with Jer. I was really happy with myself.
Presentations
Now the championship races of the weekend were over and there was just one little scratch race to finish the day. Thanks to Simon Palmer. I was on pole position for the scratch race. It was dry conditions as the sun had been out on the track for a while now. I decided to go for it as no one was in front of me. Spending a whopping 10 seconds to the second corner before Stuart Day was able to catch me, the grid slowly started to overtake me and I was put back to 5th place. It was only a little mess about though so there weren’t many laps to it, but the six or so there were, I definitely enjoyed. Coming back in, we were given five or so minutes before we had to arrive at the presentation, this is where all the championship winners would be announced and luckily for me, it was right outside our camp… Nikita being the first woman to win a class outright, she had won Production Class and 6a with, Graham Tatton winning Group 4 and Group 6.
#90, George takes a spin out on a Lambretta for the first time…
Sunday
We all woke up to a surprisingly sunny morning, later to be greeted with masses of rain. To start the day we had the memorial race, this was on everybody’s own scooters and we weren’t allowed to share. With the rain being absolutely horrible, I just set out to finish and have fun. After coming in, I knew I had to make a decision. Was I was going to do two of the scratch races on a borrowed Lambretta?
And yes. I took the offer. From starting Andy Walker’s Lambretta to riding it down to the holding bay I was shaking with adrenaline, it was a completely different kettle of fish. Out on the sighting lap, I couldn’t understand whether I liked it or not. Now, for a proper start off the lights. I kept with the group for a couple of laps. I was enjoying it a lot, finishing 10th place and actually winning the Steve Wright cash prize and even earning myself a bottle of champagne – it’s gonna be a few more years till I can drink that though!
TASS Scratch race
Now on to the TASS scratch race, I was learning the ropes of the Lambretta. I had a good start, keeping up with David Bristow, and following him around we were going past each other but sticking that same distance apart. After a few laps, I got a bit more speed into the hairpin at the top of Hairy Hill and we were both were neck and neck going down the hill. Me getting to the last corner first, keeping it as flat out as possible I ended up making the gap and taking the lead. Dave and I both arrived in the paddock with big smiles and had a good time. I believe Graham Tatton ended up winning the cash draw.
Lord of Lydden
Now for the last but definitely not least, The Lord of Lydden. As the rain picked up we all lined up on the grid. Now for the start, most of the top runners flew off into the lead and I was at the back with a few others, going around having a good race all in all. On the final lap, I got a little startled when I opened the throttle a bit quickly going round the top hairpin and the scooter tried spitting me off. This messed my head up for the rest of the race and I found myself in last with a massive smile after the best weekend of racing I’ve had so far this year.
Thank you to everyone who has helped toward my year of scooter racing and hope to see you all in the 2025 season!
George Fielder #229
Photos: Paul Naylor
Coming up on SLUK
Last year’s SLUK Rookie, Ben Readings will be giving us his 2024 round-up soon…
