Lydden

Mixed feelings as I loaded the van in preperation for the trip to Lydden. I was looking forward to another crack at Lydden, hoping to beat my sub 50 sec. target. I was also looking forward to the Sat night BBQ and end of season hilarity. Downside was the end of the season and that long dark haul that is the close season. I was also cheesed off at having to fork out 180 for a new nearside wheel bearing and track rod end for my LRTT.

Practice, well I did my usual "Impersonating an I.A.M. instructor". But I got my head down for qualifying and blazed round in a new pb of 50.3. A usefull start toward breaking my 50 sec duck at Lydden. With four races on Sat there was barely time to grab a coffee n fag between races. Rumours that I was drinking pre-mix and putting coffee in the tank are only partly untrue. Which, despite improving starts, left me still the proud possessor of a 50 sec lap cherry by the end of Saturdays racing. Still I'd had two very enjoyable races. Race three hadn't been that good as I insisted on impersonating Kevin Schwantz into the elbow lap after lap and outbraking myself to no advantage whatsoever, in fact inheriting last place as Graham Tickle took full advantage of my silliness.

Sat night and the much anticipated end of season Party, BBQ and prize giving. Congrats to all who bagged a pot, especially "Pastry" and Doug "Wolfman" Howell who also manned the BBQ. Bally lifted "Crasher of the Year" I'd ask him to step forward and take a bow but I' afraid he'd fall over. We then had a tug of war challenge from the MZedders. They looped their end of the rope round the tow bar on a van, we retaliated by showing them a bar of soap and while they shrunk in horror we pulled them into the middle of next week. Nice try guys, next year send your sisters, rumour has it they suck almost as much as you do ;o)

Back at My LRTT and over an "afterburner" or two the heady wine of intellectual discourse began to flow, ah the joy of reasoned, erudite debate. Wayne engaged a sophisticated metaphor "L'shees 'andle li'ssheet" in a vain attempt to counter this with a witty riposte Matt rejoined "Sshee zedsrs ,,,ish ,,, ish ,,,". Alas exhausted by his days racing and the cognitive rigour Matt passed out. Under "Paisley" rules, Wayne as the last man standing won the argument.

Sunday morning, and I emerged from my LRTT, coffee in hand to greet the day with a smile on my face. Small Paul, mechanic to the stars - and the Colonel, turned up and rhymed off a list of jets sizes/setings, tyre pressures, pre-mix ratio, tyre and brake pad combination before disappearing off to help Finsky. I put some gas in in and kicked the tyres "Close enough for some Hamster Rock n' roll" I thought.

Race one and I chased Griggsy for a couple of laps till again I outbraked myself into the elbow and that was that. So Race two I dropped the gearing by a tooth on the rear and just went out to have a bit of fun. It worked and I had probably my best race of the season, locked into a four way tussle with Howard, Den and Mark Legg, who I thought I had out of the top hairpin but he recovered brilliantly from a lurid slide and not only slammed the door in my face but took Howard on the run to Paddock. Cheers guys we must do that again sometime soon. I also managed a 49.7 to crack the 50 sec round Lydden, a fantastic end to the year.

Well thats that, the 05 season is over and the start of the 06 is a long dark winter away. Still we have a dvd of some of this years racing, full botg thanks to Daz for a sterling effort. Looking forward to next year and seeing if I can continue to improve on my times. Will I crack the 1:30 at Snett or the 1:55 at Cadwell, theres only one way to find out. This is George Watson for Back O' the grid, see you all next year.

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