Friday, September 30, 2011

The perfect way to spend a Saturday!

It felt great to be racing again.   Since the World Final things haven’t really been going my way and I’d started to feel a little despondent, and had forgotten how much I really do love it.   There really isn’t a better feeling than blasting a National round Foxhall on a dry Saturday night under the floodlights - something I was quickly reminded of during my first lap of the night!
After rebuilding the car it’s always great to get back out and drive it but this time after 6 weeks it was something a bit special.   It instantly felt as if I’d never had a break and the car felt the best it’s ever been.   I wasn’t in the first heat so I watched it and straight away you could see it was going to be a fast paced meeting.
My first race saw me starting third row on the outside.   The first few laps were going brilliantly with me getting past a few cars and making good progress but after the pace car came out following an accident I seemed to lose my way a little bit crossing the line in ninth – still it was a finish and a few points too!
The second race was pretty much the same story all over again except I started on the fourth row. This time the car was absolutely brilliant doing everything I could ever possibly want it to do.  The race started well and I made good progress . . . I even nearly got up the inside of Mr Kew at one point.   I think that would have been the highlight of my year if I could just have made it stick!     The pace car came out again and just like the first race I saw myself go backwards again from that point.   With some other drivers receiving penalties I collected another ninth at the end of the race.
If the rest of the meeting had been anything to go by the final was always going to be fast and close and sure enough it didn’t disappoint.    It was going well enough to begin with and I was having a good race until I got involved in a little tangle exiting the scoreboard bend . . . unfortunately it was just one of those racing incidents that ended up with me parked on the infield.
I finished the night happy - it was the first meeting since July where I hadn’t got a load of damage, the car had been brilliant and I’d managed to collect a few points in the process.   I’d seen all my friends and had a good laugh.  A perfect Saturday night really.
As we’d been up since the crack of dawn on Saturday rather than drive home after the meeting dad and I decided to stay in the truck stop and head home next morning.   We had a beer and something to eat . . .  and suffered the worst singer in history doing karaoke in the back ground!    We slept in the lorry and then had breakfast next morning before setting off for home.
All in all I had an absolutely brilliant night, it was really great to see everyone and be back doing what I love.   We have the car in the workshop and preparations are well under way ready for Northampton.   Even if you have a good meeting you still seem to find loads of jobs you want to do. We’re getting through them now though and come the weekend we should be all ready to go.   I’m going to Devon for a week on Saturday for a bit of “R&R” and to do some fishing, so we want the car finished so Dad can have a week off from the workshop too!
On a completely different note before I sign off I came across the Spedeworth Champions video that was shown at the NEC again this week.   It still manages to send a shiver down my spine every time I watch it and I think the song has pretty much become an anthem for National Hot Rods now.   It certainly means something special to me.   For any of you who haven’t seen it for a while or - heaven forbid - not at all, here’s the link from the Spedeworth website. http://www.spedeworth.co.uk/videoplayer.php?id=14     Enjoy!
Thanks to everyone who has read this, helped me, supported me, given up their time for me and taken time to say “Hello.”
See you all at Northampton.
Mikey

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Desperate to race...

I’m desperate to race again now.   It seems like ‘forever’ since I last drove a National and I’m itching to get back out there and have another go.   Things are on target here and a good day on the car should see it ready to go.   All the panels are painted and ready to bolt back on, the wheels are all repaired (again) and everything else is falling into place nicely.    Saturday will be here before I know it and I’ll be back doing what I love.
Last weekend saw another trip away for me.  I headed straight off to Gavin’s house after work.   Gav and Mel were having a barbeque and had kindly invited me to stay with them for the weekend and go racing with them at Yarmouth on Sunday.   It was a very leisurely trip across for me, stopping firstly at Jay’s house to collect some National Hot Rod merchandise for Garry Staines then stopping again to visit my friends Nicole and Emma for an hour before taking what can only be described as the scenic route to Gav’s - the mirrors of my truck were touching the hedges on both sides of the narrow country lanes in some places!    Really the last thing in the world I wanted to meet was a tractor, and when I did, it felt as if I had to reverse for miles before there was a gateway I could just about squeeze into to let him past.
I was the last person to arrive and Gav was already busy cooking when I got there, and as usual in true Murray style I was greeted with some kind of insult.   Mr ‘bank manager of the quarter’ Shaun Taylor, his wife Carrie,  Mel, Gav’s mechanic Rob and his partner Faye, Chris Haird’s legendary mechanic Scott and myself completed the guest list.   It was a really chilled out night with a few beers and a lot of laughs.   Gavin’s barbequing was definitely up to scratch and no-one has come down with any weird illness from a bad sausage - not that I know of, anyway!
As it started to get cold we headed into the house and put a film on to watch - now Gav and I being hardcore as we are both promptly fell asleep.   It’s a tiring old job being a scrapman!   Sunday morning was very chilled until approximately when we headed off to the race track.
To date my only experience of Yarmouth was the soaking wet affair from last year when I managed to have a small head-on with Gav in the final, one lap from the finish, so it’s fair to say I hadn’t set my standards for the place very high.  However, when we arrived I was pleasantly surprised.   As far as spectator facilities go it’s probably the best track I’ve been to - the bar and the stand are certainly impressive.   Although the track is small, the cars seemed to go round alright with everyone being very respectful of the post and wires around the edge!
It wasn’t the best racing I’ve ever seen but I think everyone out there drove with their heads and kept it cool.   They seemed to be giving each other some respect and no-one ended up with their car wrapped around a post.   Gavin had another good night, and considering he started last car every race and overtaking was challenging he did well picking up two 8th places and a 13th.
I stayed at Gavin’s on Sunday night, then snuck off the following morning at and drove straight to work.  Doing it that way meant I could enjoy the racing and have a couple of beers at the bar.   As much as it was nice not having to worry about my own car, it felt very strange not actually racing.  It was a great chance to catch up with people and have a chat - and with my friend Steph heading off to university in a couple of weeks it was my last chance to have a drink with her before she goes.  Racing definitely won’t be the same without you!
As a lot of you will know Jason and I are possibly the world’s biggest ‘Inbetweeners’ fans and we finally managed to go and watch it at the cinema this week.   We had our drinks and popcorn - and the back row of the cinema to ourselves . . . it was a real little man date . . . one where we insulted each other a lot (nothing unusual there then).  It was a brilliant film and luckily for you, neither of us can remember any of the jokes from it, so you’re all saved the pleasure of us quoting it all the time!
Saturday can’t come quickly enough for me now – I’m almost counting the hours until I’m back out there.   I just want to say a really big thanks to Gavin and all his team.   You really helped me get back into it and we’ve certainly had some laughs these last few weeks!
Thanks as ever for reading.
I’ll see you all Saturday.
Mikey

Friday, September 9, 2011

A Trip Overseas!

Sometimes the last minute plans turn out to be the best, and this was certainly the case with last weekend.   I was out fishing with my cousin when I got a text from Gavin (Murray) asking if I fancied a trip to Northern Ireland with him for the Irish Open and British Championship.   Never one to turn down such an opportunity I quickly agreed.   Although plans changed several times I eventually found myself waiting for him on the side of the A14 ready for the drive to the ferry at Birkenhead.
Once on the ferry it was time for a meal and a few drinks before retiring to a cabin that can only be described as ‘an oven’ for the next eight hours until we docked in Belfast at six the following morning.   Four of us cramped into a cabin just over the size of a postage stamp with a shower in one corner and a pointless chair occupying most of the floor was a touch cramped to say the least!
Once on the other side it was off the ferry and then following the Hairds and Simpsons we headed off to Antrim to pass the day before racing that evening.   With everyone else having hotel rooms, Gav and I took the money-saving route and opted to stay in his truck in the hotel car park - whilst making full use of the hotel’s bar facilities!   With a whole day to kill before racing we headed off with the Simpsons to the shops to pass a bit of time.  Now I’m sure most of you will agree that neither Gavin or myself are really the ‘shopping kind’, and after about half an hour, a cup of coffee and a new pair of jeans we were both bored and started walking back up the road towards the lorry.
Having never been to Northern Ireland before I had no idea what to expect at the tracks and was pretty shocked when we arrived at Ballymena to find a football game just finishing up!   From my vantage point in the stand it looked like a very unforgiving track with no room for error.   Probably best I wasn’t racing!   It was one of those nights where you just knew the weather wasn’t going to play ball.   Gavin’s crew for the weekend were his father Graham, Graham’s friend Linda and ‘yours truly’, so we all set about getting everything sorted for the racing to begin.   After a couple of minor setbacks we were good to go and Gav got himself lined up for the first heat.
In truth luck just wasn’t going to be with him at all over the weekend and he found himself starting smack bang in the middle for heat one.   Due to the reverse grid for heat two it would find him once again starting in exactly the same place!  Even with a strange track and some pretty random conditions he had two strong drives and racked up a 14th and a 9th in the two heats.   These results left him starting 13th on the grid in the Irish Open, and after a cracking drive he saw himself crossing the finish line in 8th, the car having come really good at the end of the race.   Glenn Bell had been in a league of his own all night and was a very deserving winner, and his doughnuts after the flag were among the most impressive I’ve ever seen. 
Saturday night saw us heading back to the hotel for a few drinks and some fish and chips in the lorry! There was a wedding in full swing when we got back and as the evening wore on it was team Simpson, Gavin and myself left in the lounge representing the oval racing world in the drinking!  We retired back to hotel Renault at about with surprisingly clear heads.   I mention this as  Gav and I have got into some pickles before after a few beers . . . .
Sunday morning saw us up and about early for breakfast then off to Tommy and Terry Maxwell’s to get the cars ready for the afternoon.   As soon as you get around the docks then over into Ireland every other truck seems to have Maxwell Freight Services emblazoned down the side.   We counted ten trailers just looking out from the bar on the ferry!   I jumped in the car with Tommy and had the tour with him as we headed to his yard with the Hairds, Simpsons and team Murray all behind in their trucks.   You really are a very good tour guide Tommy - don’t worry, I didn’t record what you were saying...
With the diffs changed and the cars ready it was off to Nutts Corner for the British Championship.   It was dry-ish when we arrived and Gav was soon out practising.   Now from where I was standing, this looks to me like an awesome track and as I watched him going round, I really wished the #27 machine was out there with them.   By the time the first race was due to start the weather had changed and it was raining.   Everyone was on slicks and the track was quite slippery.    After a brilliant drive Gavin crossed the line in second.   It was definitely full wets for the next race as the weather had got worse and after a spin in the first lap Gav followed it up with another cracking drive through to 9th.
By the time the final arrived the weather was worse still and I can honestly say standing watching that race is probably the wettest I have ever been.   Gav was 5th on the grid, inside, 3rd row.   Now as a lot of you know I don’t normally watch racing but I was literally clinging on to the fence shouting for him as loud as I could throughout the whole race.   This mixed with Graham and Linda shouting and the Simpsons stood next to us cheering for Matt who was almost glued to Gavin’s bumper must have led to everyone else being temporarily deafened!
25 laps into the race Gav was running 3rd, and as an accident unfolded taking John Christie out of the lead Gav found himself leading at the restart.   The car had been flying up until this point and with 15 laps to go at the green flag the car just went off completely.   Unfortunately Gav lost a couple of places and was later forced to retire.   A total bummer but a brilliant drive nevertheless.
Well done to Malcolm on the win, Stewart on his second and my old bud Jason “2-litre” Kew on his third.   Jest as I might he did pull off some pretty epic moves whilst out in the 2-litre!
From the track it was straight back to the ferry to catch the night boat back to Liverpool.   A few vodkas as we left made me realise just what a good weekend it had actually been.   I’ve never been anywhere where I have felt so welcome and I’d like to go back next year with my car.   I was really surprised by the amount of people who came up and said they read this every week, so thanks for putting up with my ranting!
I could tell you so many stories from the weekend . . . involving such things as broad beans and diesel . . . but definitely not printable in this family publication!   All in all it was an absolutely brilliant weekend, a great laugh and a new experience.    Thanks Gav and ‘Team Murray’ for inviting me.
I’ll be at Yarmouth on Sunday wearing a #95 shirt again and then I’ll be back out myself at Foxhall on the 24th Sept.
Thanks as ever for reading and thanks Northern Ireland for the craic.        
Until next time.
Mikey

Friday, September 2, 2011

The break, the strip-down, and the plan.

After leaving the car in the trailer while I headed north to Scotland for what can only be described as the best week in a very long time, on my return we put the car in the workshop so we could assess the damage.   It had been loaded up under such bad circumstances that the trailer door had been slammed shut and it had literally been forgotten about!
With at least two of the wheels definitely not going to go round, unloading it firstly from the trailer, then manhandling it into the workshop, was always going to be something of a challenge.  Being a scrap man can have its advantages though and I would almost class us as experts when it comes to moving smashed vehicles about.  We do it time and time again at work.   Armed with a jack and some clever little trolleys called ‘go jacks’,  they push against the wheel then you can jack the car up off the floor with them and push it around using the four wheels on the trolley.  Clever.   We managed after some serious pushing to get it back in place and onto the ramp.
With it up in the air and some time to look around the car it wasn’t as bad as first thought.  Everything looked pretty awful with wheels pointing in every direction and bits of body work hanging everywhere but the actual main structure was fine.   Literally every bit of damage is a bolt on item and although there is quite a list of damage it’s all stuff that can be easily sorted.   I spent the weekend stripping bits off and just having a good old look at it.  The resulting car looks pretty sorry for itself with no panels, no front suspension, no rear axle and no crash frames but now we know just what’s what and can start rebuilding it.
The panels have all been sorted and the salvageable ones sent back to Boss to be repaired and replacements ordered for the ones that looked just too far gone!   The crash frames arrived from Hairds this morning and there is an axle in the trailer . . . . so fingers crossed it will be looking like a Hot Rod again in no time.
I think Hednesford is the first meeting I have missed for the past three years and it felt pretty weird being out walking the dogs when normally we would have been travelling up there.    I declined an offer to go up with Jason and mechanic for him as I just felt I needed some time away from racing to get my head back round it all.   I did find myself itching to be there a few times during the day but I have managed to keep myself pretty much away from racing completely for the last few weeks and the only conclusion I drew is that I do still love it and want to get back out there and have another go!
My plan now is to take my time and get the car rebuilt.  It won’t be done in time for Yarmouth so I’ll be missing that meeting too although curiosity could well get the better of me and I might find myself going to watch.   Then it’s going to be a full scale come-back for Ipswich.   Any plans of qualifying again are long gone so I’m going to come back out with the sole aim of enjoying my racing. 
I’m waiting for a phone call at the moment that could lead to a very exciting blog next week involving a trip overseas!   Either that or I will rant on some more about rebuilding my car.
Thanks to everyone who helped me keep the faith!
Until next time.
Mikey