Jeff Booth writes:-
18 July 2009
Race Report to follow
Jeff Booth writes:-
6 June 2009
Arrived at Oulton Park on the Friday ,the weather was sunny and the meeting was packed ( as Friday was the test day for the racing on Saturday ).Met up with Billy Boy and his mate Damo as they were on their way to the I.O.M ( the greatest road race in the world) It was good to see him again as he could only stay briefly before he had to get going again to catch the ferry ( enough time for him to take my bike to Scrutineering for me , he had a beaming smile on his face). The rain started late on Friday night and into Saturday, Wet day expected all day.
Qualifying was a 20 min session:
I went out with a touch of nerves as I haven't ridden Oulton really hard in the wet. I picked up my pace and had the back spin up about 3/4 of the way around SHELL OILS HAIRPIN (which shouldn’t happen due to the positive camber there .Through DRUIDS was a little slimy everywhere else seemed to be fine, qualified 23rd with a time of 2min 12.985, (about where I expected to be considering the weather and track conditions).Quickest qualifier was 2.00.616
RACE:
Got a great start and managed to get around the outside through OLD HALL, THE AVENUE & into CASCADES slotted in nicely and got on pace quickly there were a few fallers coming out of SHELL OILS & FOULSTONS CHICANE passed people on the brakes into HIZZY'S I was catching people into OLD HALL then the race was RED FLAGGED so we were held on track then given the positions were had last crossed the line in 19th for me.
RACE RESTART :
Did the same round the outside from the start and got into a good pace chasing Jules Croft I couldn't match his pace ( or wouldn't because of the conditions ) I ended up battling with 2 riders that passed me , going over CLAY HILL 6th gear the back spun up and kicked sideways ( I thought to myself oooooh don't lose it here )but it gripped as quick as it let go and were on it into DRUIDS I tried closing up even more exiting DRUIDS but then the bike went sideways again, this time both tyres slipped( it must only have been slightly but it was a bit of an ass twitch moment )so I knew the pace was as fast as I could do through that corner without binning it, I could close right up on the brakes into most corners but they were on the gas a bit quicker than I was then I tried making up more ground into CASCADES ( blind downhill right kink before going left ) I was a bit too late on the brake and when I downshifted the rear wasn't settled enough for me to tip in so I over shot into the slip road and waited on the exit to re-join behind the lads I was chasing- so I wouldn't get penalised. Game on again but I just couldn't make enough ground to catch them and they slowly got a bit further away. I finished 12th a lot better than I thought GREAT RESULT. All in all I had a great race day with lots of friends who came down to support me and most importantly the wife & kids, just glad I put on a good show for them and for the team. Will put my lap times on as soon as I get them off the website but here's the time sheet we got I did 10 laps in a total of 21 mins 28.686 seconds. Quickest guy did 10 laps in 19 mins 43.736 secs.
MY QUICKEST TIME WAS: 2:02.724,
FASTEST GUY WAS: 1:55.029
Jeff Booth writes:-
9th / 10th May 2009
Arrived at the circuit on the Friday as a friend, Paul was doing a trackday and we wanted to get there early to setup.
Race day came the weather was really windy and raining all night, more like a monsoon. The gazebo me, Kaz and Lewis were sleeping in was getting some battering but we had it well secured to the vans. (Courtney and her friend Chloe were in the van). Qualifying in wet windy conditions was going to be a challenge in it's self but I managed 9th on the grid (out of 17) with a time of 1:17.45.
Race 1 :
I was positioned on the outside just where I would want to be, we set off on the warm up lap and I did the usual watch where people are entering the first corner in front of me , the time had come waiting for the lights to go out - boom were off I got a good start in tricky conditions ( standing water in some places on a totally wet track ) I was chasing the championship leader BEN PHILLIPS when on lap 5 he binned it entering TURN 3 at that point I knew the pace was fast enough for me as the bike was sliding here there and everywhere the front tried tucking on the same corner where BEN had fell, I managed to stay on to finish 6th with a time of 1:21.75 ( fastest guy 1:17.73 loony ).
RACE 2 :
The track had dried but still had standing puddles and damp patches, If I get away with the front guys they will tow me so off I went around the outside again but by TURN 2 I had got blocked a little , I was out of shape a few times when hitting the damp bits.
My biggest moment was when I was flat out in 6th going through the fast kink towards HILLTOP I hit a large wet patch and the bike lost grip on the front and rear, it went totally sideways (crapped myself is an understatement - I’m still scraping my leathers out LOL).I stayed on to finish 8th with a time of 1:15.53 (fastest guy 1:12.16 - bloody hell).
END OF DAY ONE AND IT'S BEEN GOOD. (But could have been better - in my eyes).
RACE DAY 2
We had the choice of qualifying for grid positions or starting at the back of the grid if you don't want to go out ( due to the conditions not wet but not dry)NO WAY I WASN'T GOING OUT I WANTED TO BE ON THE FRONT ROW.
I went out with wets on and passed people who had opted for dry’s, qualifying in 5th - RESULT.
RACE 1:
Do the usual and watch where people go into TURN 1 - that sorted , sat waiting for the lights WE ARE OFF round the outside and into 3rd by TURN 2 stayed with the front 2 until about lap6 when I had a small slide that slowed me a little ( enough for some bugger to pass me on lap 7 -JUST LIKE BILL DID A YEAR AGO ) I just couldn't get passed him as I lined him up for another lap to get back passed him we went over the line with a chequered flag - BALL'S , thought I had another lap( must get a pit board).
Finished 4th with a time of 1:14.19 (fastest guy 1:12.29 we are getting closer to their times - RESULT).
RACE 2:
Got a good start but got blocked into TURN 2 ended up in 6th chasing for 5th I had got myself next to the guy going over the CREST but not quite enough to do a clean move, so it stayed like that till lap 5 as I tried testing braking points to nip passed but I decided to get underneath him and out drag him into TURN 7 ( corner leading into the CREST) would have worked too but the front tucked as I got near the exit of TURN 6, I turned the bike a little tighter to fire out under the guy and into T7 but lost the front OH S*** was my first thought the second being how close is the guy behind me ? As I picked the bike up he came around the corner so not too close fortunately. (Only cuffed the lower fairing and the edge of my exhaust can) thank god for crash bungs. ALL IN ALL HAD A GREAT TIME AND SET MY FASTEST LAP OF 1:14.02 before dropping it, would have been in the 1:13's easily ( fastest guy 1:11.55).SMASHED BILL'S FASTEST LAP HERE ,LOL. Still not the same at the meetings without Bill's banter.
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS, THUNDERSPORT GB AT OULTON JUNE 6th.
Jeff Booth writes:-
18th April 2009
Arrived at Oulton on Friday 17th , got ourselves set up ready for Saturday my first race meeting with WIRRAL100.Not sure what to expect but ready for any challenges that are put my way after doing what I would say was a good result at the THUNDERSPORT GB meeting last week. Went out in timed practice and qualified 19th BUT to my surprise irrespective of that the grid positions are done on known ability by the club - bit of a piss take really (I thought) so where was I going to be on the grid ? Well it turns out I am on 33rd ( only 34 on the grid )Think this club needs to get it sorted out, as anyone not raced with them before can expect to have real shitty grid positions until the club recognises their achievements.
RACE 1:
Got to my grid position on the outside of the track luckily set off on the warm up and I watch where people are going as they set off ( like I always do to way up the opposition). Red lights go out and it's all go , I blast down the outside on one wheel past god knows how many riders round the outside of people in the fist corner ( OLD
HALL) round the outside down the AVENUE and down the outside into CASCADES up the inside towards ISLAND BEND ( don't quite know what I was thinking except get past these lot in front of me) tried getting up the inside into SHELL OILS HAIRPIN no joy though from that point I was on the gas at every moment I could passing people on the brakes wheeling past them on the white line as I pass someone on the outside over HILL TOP the bike still lifting it's front wheel slightly as I am powering down towards the new CHICANE could see I was on the brakes a little too soon compared to some ( so next lap I will be ready for improvement)accelerating up towards CLAY HILL flat out in 6th slight wheelie but also noticed the rear was leaving the floor as I could hear the engine rev's pick up as the rear wheel left the track and then the noise you get when I touches down with a bit of a wobble into DRUIDS( double apex right hander) I tried a couple of new lines as was way faster than the ones in front passing them on the exit ( having to climb up the front of the bike while it's wheeling over the crest )down towards LODGE CORNER again the front lifting over the crests in the track hit the brakes last minute and throw it in going through DEER’S LEAP and wheeling again onto start finish ( I was in 17th after the first lap and I hadn't a clue ) got myself into a little battle with a couple of guys and got an outstanding result I think 14th and set a time of 1:50.5 BLOODY GREAT.
Race 2:
grid position 29th ( arseholes)still on the outside but slightly inwards I'm gonna have to go between riders rather than down the outside of them, but I thought I will try and do the same as race one and nearly did except someone shut the door on me as I tried going down the outside on the AVENUE so I had to shut off slightly or end up clashing handle bars or running onto the grass anyway as you can imagine it made life difficult because I couldn't get past all the slow ones they were all over the place, got myself into a battle with a guy that had "SHIPPO" on his leathers no way is this guy beating me to the after getting in my way I had already beat him in the first race, kept weighing up where I could do a great over take so I ran into DRUIDS faster than him and was on the outside of him going around him mid corner ( had it done to me by BSB rider Adam Jenkinson - so I know it can be done) got on the gas and I was neck and neck coming out but he just had the edge as he closed the door with it being
the last lap and approaching the last corner "LODGE" I thought "Billy Boy" has passed me here on the brakes so I am gonna do it, we were approaching a slower rider so I used it to my advantage I stayed next to the "SHIPPO" so he couldn't pull out from behind the slower rider and I just darted up the slow rider at the last minute finish 23rd with a time of1:53.6 , HOW CRAP after such a good result in race one it just goes to show you getting stuck behind slower riders you end up on their pace and not the pace you can run at WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN I WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DROPPED INTO THE 1:49 BRACKET AND I'M SURE I WOULD HAVE IF I HAD NOT BEEN BLOCKED BY OTHERS AND GOT AWAY WITH A FASTER PACK OF RIDERS.
As for WIRRAL100 they need to sort their qualifying grid positions properly.
Next round ANGLESEY with NEW ERA MCC 9th and 10th May.
Jeff Booth writes:-
12th & 13th April 2009
Arrived at Cadwell on Thursday 9th April ( to get a good spot near a tannoy) bugger me there was only me the wife and kids and Holbeach tyres there, thought it was going to be heaving with it being bank holiday weekend. Anyway setup camp ( not the same without Bill being there )Friday came and there was a trackday on quite busy all racers turning up now by Saturday morning the whole area was jam packed right up into the rear fields.
Saturday was test day for me the weather was not quite wet not quite dry but there again not quite intermediate weather it was cold enough to see your breath. Went into the paddock after trying to decide what tyres to go out on ( wet front / dry rear ) only to find every other one in the paddock was on full wets, thought to myself have I chose wrong tyres or have they ? went out on my first lap a bit cautiously to say the least got to barn corner and everyone vanished out of site - these guys were on it, did a lap with no slides but wasn't pushing to chase them so I came back in and put my rear wet on for the next session. Track still looked like it was so I knew I would be on the same
tyres as everyone else. Went out in my second session and got into a steady flow to get a feel for grip- plenty or so I thought, a few laps in my rear let go exiting the old hairpin-but gripped again and off we went again, made some passes and got passed. The rest of the day I decided to save my tyres as I didn't want to rip up a new set of wets.
Sunday 1st race day and qualifying, people were falling off in each class. Qualified 19th ( 7th row on the grid )with a time of 1.43.502 not too bad seeing as though I thought I was going to be at the back of the grid 34th being last.
Sunday 12th April - Race 1:
Went on warm up lap and being a bit eager people had jumped grid positions so I ended up being on row 10 in 29th position , not to worry I’m up for it got a great start past loads on one wheel first corner uphill into COPPICE there was the usual barging but ok with that, one guy pasted me on the inside going up into Charlie’s 2 and I thought no way pal ( I was right he just lost the front - ha )got on pace as quick as possible and it took a lap but I was sat in a train going around from PARK CORNER all the way around to start finish , I made some great passes and got over took , chased the guy in front of me ( at times the wheels were virtually touching trying to make up a bit more ground for a good clean pass I was faster into some corners but a tad slower in others compared to him - BIT LIKE WHEN RACING BILL ( no joy had to settle for finishing 19th .3 of a second behind the guy I was chasing, and 19th was where I should have started on the grid instead of 29th - 3 rows back )Nothing gain but nothing lost RESULT.
Went to the office and complained and they made sure it didn't happen again.
Monday 13th April Race day 2:
Had warm up session times had dropped slightly 1.45.505 (25th fastest) arsed I
know I can go faster so bring it on.
RACE 1 :
19th on grid , again made a great start passing people, got myself into a good group and we were flying it was so level pegging for most of the race got in front of the two guys at one point then ended up behind #133 chased him then tried braking a fraction later to gain some ground going into the CHICANE but I got out of shape and rather than trying to peel in I went through the straw bail run off bit ( that was my first mistake - the second being I had enough ground to get back in behind him exiting the Chicane without dropping a position but like a dick I looked over my shoulder to see the other lad #22 was on the gas exiting the chicane as well so I decided to drop in behind him) thought I may be able to pass him exiting BARN onto the start finish but just couldn't manage it finished 20th were lapped by #2 LEE JACKSON fook me he was fast ( I later found out he was on KENAN SOFOGLU'S bike from last year ).
Race 2 :
Started from 19th again, got a flying start and made some ground up, got into a pack that were fast and they pulled me along then the guy in front of me started dropping off their pace and so caused me to end up trying to get enough on him to get onto the back of them so I could get pulled along as I was at ease with the pace , but the guy just slowed me down and I ended up racing him and trying to fend off the ones behind me, eventually got passed him but the others had got enough on me to keep them insight but not gain on them still fending off the guys behind me I got my head together and got on with it , second to last lap the guy behind tried to shove it up the inside going into CHARLIE’S 1 - no way pal this is my track I thought to myself. Last lap came and I approached the blue flags started being waved and I knew the #2 Lee Jackson was coming but didn't know how close he was, so as I ran up towards Charlie’s 1 I looked over my shoulder stayed wide and waved the bike I spotted past - SHIT it was the guy I had been fending off with Lee Jackson in between him and another rider BOLLOCKS I thought got so I got straight back on it to try and make a pass but couldn't get close enough to pass ( 3rd mistake of the weekend )could only manage finishing .3sec's behind the 2nd guy and only .4 behind the 1st guy I had let past by mistake - so again not too bad I suppose , 19th instead of 17th been kicking myself about it - but I will not make these mistakes again LESSON LEARNT. Big thanks to Jules Croft , great guy and he say's hello to you Bill , who unfortunately crashed out in race 1 while in 4th I believe, he qualified 8th - but ended up going home early due to damage on his bike. Also thanks to Tony Rainford for getting me a great tip for going into the goose neck.
Hope this report is ok for you just edit as you want.
Watch out on MOTORS TV 7pm? On the 23rd of this month for the
"slowboy/kakaracing” R6 missile.
PLJ PHOTOGRAPHY WAS THERE SO THE PIC'S WILL BE ON HIS WEBSITE SOON.
