Superbowl

Without doubt it has been a hectic few weeks.   Even though there hasn’t been any racing I’ve found plenty to do.   Ross and I, along with some other friends headed across to France for a week’s fishing.  Nothing at all to do with racing but one of the best experiences I have ever had with some great people and some massive fish . . . I can’t wait to go back again next year!

When I went back to work it seemed like the longest week ever and I was counting down the days till the weekend when I could head off to Scotland for the Superbowl.  I’m sure you all know how much I love Scotland and have lost count of how many times I’ve been up this year . . . it’s only a matter of time till John starts charging me rent!

I had a trailer belonging to John which I brought home on my last visit, so after loading it up with stuff to take back up with me, I set off.  Leaving to go on a 400 mile journey at 1pm on a Friday afternoon is - in hindsight - not the best idea, and after what seemed like days and miles and miles of traffic jams I finally arrived.  Hope was not lost though and there was time for dinner, a shower and then to head out on the town.   Well it wouldn’t be Scotland without a little drink!

The one downside to Scotland is how cold it gets, and I can safely say it was freezing at the racing on Saturday.  This was easily overcome by heading straight to the bar.   Along with Richard and Siobhan I did manage to go outside and watch a few races, but the weather soon had us heading back inside.

I know I always say it but there really isn’t any other track like Cowdenbeath and the Saloons round there are brilliant. I never get bored of watching the chaos they cause, and mixed with F2s and Ministox it was a good night of racing.

The nights out that follow the racing are always legendary and after convincing Richard to come out with us, John, David, Robert, Richard and I headed back into town.  It didn’t disappoint and I have never seen so many people in fancy dress in a night club before. It was a quality night topped off with a hilarious ride home in a minibus that has rescued us twice now this year!

As much as I would have liked to, I didn’t go to the racing on Sunday.  John and I had a few bits to sort out and after some lunch I headed off on the long drive home.  It seemed even further on the way back and it’s always hard leaving your friends after a great weekend away and going back to reality.

Back at home the car is very nearly ready.  It seems like an age since I last raced and I’m really looking forward to getting back in the driving seat.  It feels like the season has gone so quickly and it’s nearly the winter break already.   I always enjoy this meeting at Hednesford, the fire works are always amazing, and racing under the lights is pretty impressive too.  With Birmingham the weekend after it should be a good couple of weeks.

I have some big plans for the winter but more on that over the coming weeks!

Just one final thing:  I’d like to apologise for not blogging as regularly as I should.   I am so busy with work at the moment and it’s a struggle to even find time to think sometimes.  I haven’t lost interest though and fully intend to keep going until you’re all sick of hearing what I have to say!

Thanks as ever for reading and I hope to see you all over the next few weeks to help me round off what I can only describe as a truly amazing year.

Until next time

Mikey.

A long way forward

With the way the averages are now being worked out I knew I’d be starting near the back at Northampton, but it was a bit of a shock starting right on the back row with Gavin and Chris.

Once again the weather was kind and the car was brilliant in practice.  It always seems to fly at Northampton these days and even after a few laps I was happy with how everything was going.  Back in the pits with my car all ready to go Jason and Chris offered me a few laps in the #174 machine, so with a look of pure worry on Dad’s face I strapped myself in and headed back out.  It was good to try something different and compare it to my own car.  As it wasn’t mine I took it steady and didn’t do anything silly!  It was obviously my lucky touch though that led Jason to win two races later in the day!

Starting from where I did I knew I wouldn’t create any miracles but I managed to finish 14th in both heats and 15th in the final.  I enjoyed starting at the back as it created an entirely different challenge.  Every car I overtook was a huge achievement in itself and I can’t believe how tired I felt when I got back into the pits.  I also learnt some valuable lessons:  firstly, just how fast Chris Haird really is.  Starting last position on the grid, week in week out, and getting the results he does, is pretty amazing.  Secondly, just how hard it actually is starting at the back.  When you line up for the final and see all the other cars in front you realise just how much work you need to do.  And finally, you see just how little respect drivers give each other.  You see all that is happening in front and the total lack of respect people have.  The same applies when trying to overtake.  The amount of people who run you into the wall or cut your nose off lap after lap makes it a miracle the top boys actually finish any races at all!

Maybe it wasn’t the best night results-wise but I came away with no damage and learnt a great deal from the evening.  My top five position in the points chart will be long gone but I think I should still just about be in the top twenty which is good.  We have a month off now, so a bit of time to catch up on some overdue jobs.  It’s been a great few weeks but racing every weekend can get a bit hectic.

As you read this I’m away on a fishing trip to France, so you won’t hear from me next week.  It’s going to be a complete contrast to my usual crazy lifestyle and I can‘t wait for a bit of peace and quiet!

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time.

Mikey

A busy couple of weeks

Recently we’ve had a lot of meetings in a short space of time. This, coupled with a new venture at work, means I’ve been very busy this past few weeks, leaving little time for much else.

By now you will know that I personally think Birmingham Wheels is the best Hot Rod track in this country.   The location however, leaves much to be desired and the hill up into the pits is a bit of a killer - but from a spectator point of view it’s pretty good.

After having a few handling problems with the car at Ipswich we decided to head up to Birmingham for the Wednesday night open practice. On the way we drove through some truly awful weather but luck must have been on our side because when we arrived at the track it had stopped raining.  Lucky really, as we hadn’t taken any wets with us!

We’d left work late so there wasn’t much time left to practice when we got there but we got a few good runs in and changed everything we needed to.    We left the track happy and made a pit stop for food at Big John’s on the way out of Birmingham.   That rounded off the evening nicely…

As the meeting itself came around the weather was looking promising and with a fair number of cars booked in it was set to be a good night.  The car flew in practice so that made the Wednesday night practice worthwhile.   I managed to finish all three races with 4th and 5th in the heats and 6th in the final.   Maybe I didn’t create any miracles or get the whole world talking but it was three top ten results and a good haul of points to go with it.   After the meeting it was a rush to get everything away and get back to Big John’s to eat.   I’m sure this is the reason my Dad likes going to Birmingham - with the car and racing second on his priority list!

I knew I’d climb up the points chart after that meeting but I didn’t realise I’d be fourth.  It was a great feeling even if it was only for a few days!   What a shame it’s not July but never mind!   Luckily I escaped any damage so it was just the routine bits to do.  When you only have a week between meetings it all seems a mad rush, and after a breakdown with one of the work vans on the way home on Friday, we were still rushing around trying to get the car loaded up on Saturday morning before going to work.

On the drive up to Ipswich the weather looked as if it would be kind to us again, and sure enough it held out and made for a fast and furious night of racing.   Now, like most drivers from that particular meeting, I could probably fill a book with moans.  As much as I love Ipswich I will say that it’s the worst night of racing I’ve ever been to in my years racing Nationals.  It seemed as if everyone left their brains at home and thought they were driving National Bangers.

I was incredibly lucky and managed to escape the chaos pretty much unscathed.  The car has a good few battle scars and the bumper could really do with replacing but besides that I got off very lightly compared to a lot of other drivers.   I was also starting further back on the grid and all I’m going to say is “Fair play to the boys who start at the back week in week out and make their way forwards.”  I can assure you it’s not as easy as it looks.  Besides all the chaos happening around me I managed to finish every race with points picking up 15th in the first race, 9th in the second and 10th in the final.  Not an outstanding night, but a brilliant one considering the car drove off the track in one piece - unlike so many others.

Obviously I’ll have slipped in the points a little but I’m hoping to still be in the top ten.   It’s Northampton this Saturday then a much needed couple of weekends off.   I’m already well underway getting the car ready and hopefully everyone will have calmed down a little and wound their necks in by Saturday.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time.

Mikey

Trial and Error

Even though I’ve been happy with the car recently I’m always looking for ways to improve it.  Sometimes the changes work and sometimes they don’t.   What might seem like a brilliant idea in the workshop can quite often turn into a disaster when put into place on the track, and something that sounds ridiculous can often make the car much better.  No matter what you decide, the only way to know for sure, is to try it.

This is exactly what I decided when I saw they were running an open Hot Rod meeting at Northampton to support the Lightning Rod world final.  It was a good chance to go out with no pressure and change the car without the worry of scoring points. With only four cars booked in it would give us a lot of space on track to be able to make changes and not worry too much if the car was terrible. Unfortunately only one other car turned up though, Classic Hot Rod star Roger Wright in a National spec. Ludlow 206 - a car that had once belonged to Adam Scott.

Considering it was just the two of us we had some good races and spent all day making changes on the car.  Incidentally, I ended up back exactly where I started, but learnt a lot in the process.   It was also the first time I towed the car to the track myself.  Not having use of the lorry I took my pick-up and trailer and, as I’ve  recently  passed my trailer test, it seemed the perfect opportunity for me to take myself racing so to speak . . . although my Dad was riding shot-gun in the passenger seat!

After that it was time to get the car ready for Ipswich.  I didn’t have that much to do, just the usual time consuming jobs - fitting tyres, changing the diff and so forth. We always work on a Saturday morning then head off to racing in the afternoon; this leaves us plenty of time to get to the track and not have to rush around before the racing starts.  However, things were looking a bit dodgy when we got stuck in traffic on the way up and with rumours flying around about hours of delays we did start wondering what to do.   Luckily the hold-up cleared and we made it to the track with no further problems.

It was a lovely evening and everything was set for a good meeting.  The car flew in practice and felt okay at the start of the first race, but as the laps progressed it started to develop some understeer causing the front of the car to push on.   Dad and Sonny changed the car for the second race and again for the final and thankfully it was back on form.   At the end of the night I had a 7th, a 9th and a 12th, and although I hadn’t set the world on fire I had scored points in all three races and that is what you need to qualify.

The current points chart sees me sitting in 16th position.   It’s all very close and at this early stage it’s anyone’s game!  I’m looking forward to next weekend at Birmingham.  Whatever the outcome it’s always my favourite track and I really enjoy racing there.   John and Billy are leading the Scottish championship (on joint points) so John needs a good day at Crimond on Sunday to edge himself back in front.

I didn’t realise until talking to my Grandfather the other day just how much I have to thank Stock Car racing for.   When he was younger there were a lot of old Stock Cars abandoned around the family farm and his Father (my Great-Grandfather) told him they ‘had to go’.    Consequently they were scrapped and both our yard and business were born.   Now 50 years down the line the farm is our yard, and there is still racing stuff everywhere!  So maybe things have not really changed that much - but without Stock Cars I might have been working in Tescos rather than doing something I love with my family.

I’ll be back after Birmingham and update you with all the goings-on as I start a busy three weeks of racing with a meeting each weekend.

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time

Mikey.

A Hectic Start

The new season got itself off to a flying start!   After a somewhat disastrous National Weekend we came home determined to get the car ready and have a better start than we did last year.   Before any of this though, it was a trip to Taunton for the Saloon World Final, a race I felt sure would be full of action.   I must admit I was a bit disappointed with the big race - compared to their usual standards they were a bit tame.  They made up for it in the following races with all the usual chaos and carnage restored.   Having a lot to do the next day we decided to come home on Saturday night rather than stay for the racing on Sunday.

Then it was all systems go for the start of our season the following Saturday at Northampton.    The weather forecast was good and with lots of new and returning drivers it looked set for a great evenings racing.  We got there early so that I could practice and after doing a couple of laps I was satisfied with the car’s performance.   We hadn’t changed or altered anything so why it was so good I don’t know.

The averages saw me starting mid pack and after a few silly little slips on my part I finished the first race in 12th.^.  The next race was to be a lot better with me picking up a 6th, and the final was probably up there in the most enjoyable races I’ve ever had.   After many laps racing closely with Danny Hunn I was caught and passed by a very fast moving Robert McDonald with only a couple of laps to go, leaving me with a 5th.

Now, if ever there was a meeting where we wanted to come home with a straight car that was it.   Having raced the Saturday night Ross and I were heading up to Scotland after work on Monday, then coming back down again early the following  Monday morning and meeting Dad and the car at Hednesford.   So whatever state the car was in when we rolled it into the workshop, we only had one day to sort it out!   Luckily it was hardly even scratched so Dad and I got stuck straight in and got it ready to go again.

The next week was spent up on the west coast of Scotland with our boat - a complete contrast to the busy world of racing.   It’s a week I always look forward to every year. After a relaxing break on the island it was back to John’s house on Saturday morning to get his Hot Rod set up and loaded ready to race at Cowdenbeath.  Now I have passed my trailer test I found myself towing the car to the track in some of the worst rain I have ever seen, and it looked pretty set to be a nasty evening at the Racewall.

It was an emotional start to the night with all the cars out on the track for a minute’s silence for Scottish stock car hero George MacMillan - a man people spoke highly of and who will certainly be missed at tracks up and down the country.   I’m lucky enough to count ‘Young George’ among my friends and my thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time.

John obviously had plans to use the weather to his advantage going out and taking the win in the first heat.  With the rain stopping but the track still wet for heat two he promptly backed it up with another win.   Come the final it was that awful decision of which tyres should he run, with it not raining but the track still being pretty greasy.  We opted to run two slicks and two wets and hope for the best!     As he pulled on track though it was obvious we’d made the wrong choice as most of the other cars were running full slicks.   John still drove a blinder of a race and although there was no stopping Billy Bonnar and despite a serious attempt from Graeme Callender, John managed to hold on to second.    This has put him into the lead of the Scottish points.  So it’s ‘finger out’ now John and hold onto it until July!

Obviously after the racing finished for the evening spirits were high so a good night out was to follow.  Sunday was spent sorting a few bits out and getting ready for the long drive home.   We met up with Robert McDonald and his posse at 5am and followed him to Hednesford.   It makes you realise just how little travelling us English drivers really do when you look at the miles these boys do week in week out to get to the meetings.

Hednesford has been a problem track for me in the past and Monday was to be no different.  It was another one of those indecisive weather days, raining one minute then stopping the next, making tyre choice and set-up a complete nightmare.  It looked set to be wet for the first heat and then it stopped, but we decided to change the tyres to slicks but leave the rest of the wet set up on.    Although the car was okay, it just wasn’t as good as normal.  No major dramas in the race though and I finished 11th.   The second race was definitely dry so it was back to the standard dry settings. It was a better race but I made a silly error trying to go around the outside and letting the train of cars come straight up the inside of me - never mind though, that’s racing and I finished the race in 8th place.

Just before the final it started to rain so after much debating and taking wheels on and off the car we decided like John at Cowdie to run two and two; again a decision I would regret pretty much instantly.   The car was terrible on the first few laps with absolutely no grip at all . . .  then it seemed better and I got in a few good laps. . .  and then the tyres went off completely and the car was worse than useless again. 

I don’t know why but I’m struggling with these wet and damp conditions at the moment. I’m not sure if it’s me or the car but hopefully I’ll be able to find an answer to it soon.

So all in all not the best day ever but it’s only the second meeting and there’s still plenty of time to go.  We had very little damage so that’s a bonus.  There’s an open meeting at Northampton on Sunday so whilst everyone else is away in Ireland and there are no points at stake I’m going to go and try a few things on the car.

I think the next few months will see some really good racing from the Nationals. I’m really looking forward to it.

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time.

Mikey

National Weekend 2012

For me, National Weekend really sums up what Hot Rod racing is about - everyone all together in the pits having a good time and usually with the best racing of the year to go with it.

This year was the same as previous years with us heading up early on the Friday morning ready for the practice session.  Dad drove the lorry to the gate then headed back to work, leaving me to wait in the seemingly endless queue till it was time to go in.   All I’m going to say is thank God I had my iPad otherwise they might have been a very boring few hours!

Once I was in and everything was set up and sorted for the weekend it was time to wait for the practice.   We’d just fitted new brake pads so the main objective was to get them bedded in.   With three practice runs the first one was rather slow while I got the brakes sorted before heading in and fitting new tyres ready to rub them in during the next practice.    With the new tyres on the car felt brilliant and the brakes seemed perfect too so I was debating whether to go out for a third time or load it back up ready for Saturday.   I decided in the end to put old tyres back on and head out for another go.   It was ok but felt like something wasn’t ‘quite right’.  A closer inspection revealed the wheel spacers were all stuck to the inside of the new wheels, meaning I’d been running round the track with no spacers and the wheels all over the place.

I would just like to add in now that I was there on my own rushing around like a fool and I want to say a massive thanks to Gavin Taber for coming and helping me out over the weekend, you got me out of several tight situations mate!

With the practice finished, the car checked over ready for Saturday and loaded back into the trailer, it was time for what is quite often my favourite night of the year.   After a shower in Robert McDonald’s lorry and a good feed courtesy of John (and a few others!) it was time to head over to the bar.   It’s one of the only times in the year when all my friends are in the same place just generally having a good time.  Now in recent years I have been the last man up and crawled into the truck at some unholy hour, then woken up next morning feeling like the world has fallen to bits around me!   I’m either getting old or turning into a more sensible person (which I doubt very much) and after a couple of beers and a chat I retired off early to the comfort of Gavin’s new lorry (he was staying at a hotel) to get a good nights sleep.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling fresh and ready.   I got everything sorted and was eager to go out and give it my best shot.   It wasn’t to be though with it all going terribly wrong first bend of the first race and me ending up in the Armco almost straight away.   Now if I’m honest I was prepared to just cut my losses, load the car up and call it a day, but this is where National Hot Rods is so brilliant; people appeared from everywhere and with very little help from me the car was repaired and ready for the next race.    I will add here that whilst all this was going on it was absolutely torrential rain and the pits went from dry to flooded in minutes. I really can’t express how grateful I am to everyone who dropped everything to come to my aid.   It’s nice to know you have such great friends and people who are so willing to help you.   I have never seen so many people working on one car!  I’m sorry if I have left anyone out but massive thanks to Gavin, Chris, Nick, Gerry, Nigel, Gareth, Colin, Jay, Ben, Sarah and Elaine.

So with the car back out on track and me starting last it was time to go for it, in the only complete race I would do all weekend.  Things went well, the car felt right again and I managed to go from 24th to finish 14th, so not a bad race.

As the third race approached the rain was looming again and after a quick tyre change from Chris and Nick the car was on wets and on the track.   Now somehow it was a complete contrast to the car I had been driving in the dry just an hour before.   I couldn’t even touch the throttle without it wanting to spin.   After a spin in the warm up lap and again on the second lap of the race I gave it up as a bad job and pulled off . . . . .  with it my hopes of qualifying again disappearing.   It wouldn’t have been so bad but I was starting pole and my Mum and Dad had just arrived!

So after what can only be described as a disaster of a day, the car was again loaded in the trailer ready for the Saturday night to start.    It was pretty much a repeat of Friday night the only difference being that John must have gone back to Scotland to fetch the Chinese meal we’d decided on for supper judging by the time it took!    Again, after a couple of drinks I retired early back to Hotel Scania to get another good night’s sleep . . . . . . ready for what can only be described as the biggest race of the year next day!

I’m sure most of you will have heard about the bike race, Jason and I did - one lap of the track in fancy dress to raise money for Fords Care.   All I can say is I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity.    We thought we might raise £500 if we were lucky, so to total slightly over £1400 was truly amazing.  Either that or you just wanted to see us dressed as women!   Also, a big thank you to Martin Kingston for the outfits.    And so it was looking like complete fools we both took to the track on our bikes.  Just to boost my ego a little bit I will say that I won but it was great and thanks so much to everyone for their very generous donations.   It’s still hard to take in how much we raised.     Oh yes and thanks to Adam Maxwell for the soaking with the water pistol!

The  main race over it was time for the stars of the past race and it was great to see such legends back out in the old cars.  It turned into pure carnage and it was great to see Chris Kew take the win.   Maybe you should let him race the National, Jason!

With me on the sidelines for the National Championship it was always going to be a good race but with the rain coming down as they lined up it opened it up even more.   After a quick tyre change on John’s 629 machine it was back to the pits to watch it all unfold.  Now it’s fair to say Gary Woolsey was a man on a mission but I guess it just wasn’t to be his day with a puncture putting him out of the race, handing the lead and ultimately a well deserved win over to a very fast moving Glenn Bell.   Jason took a great and again much deserved second and Kym Weaver took an incredible third from starting almost last on the grid - fantastic drive!

With only the Grand National left to go we made a few changes to the car and I went out and started last on the grid.  The car was leagues better in the wet this time and I found myself slowly moving up, but the film in my goggles snapped leaving me unable to see anything at all and forcing another retirement - I was gutted, but it’s one of those things.

So that’s another National Weekend over and we are well on the way to getting the car ready for Northampton and the 2013 qualifying campaign.  A huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who sponsored us, helped me with the car, fed and watered me and just generally looked after me.   I’ve said it many times before and will say it many times again - “Hot Rod folk are the best folk in the world.”    Now let’s see what this season holds in store!

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time

Mikey

Weddings and Bike Races

With Spedeweekend over it was time for the most overdue wedding in Hot Rod history.   Finally, after being together 18 years Gavin and Mel tied the knot.   After leaving home in the morning I headed up to the Bigmore residence in Ipswich to get changed - then with the hindrance of a music festival and some flood water it was off to the church.   It was certainly a contrast to see everyone in suits and dresses instead of the usual racing overalls and work clothes!   I even went mad and bought a new suit for the occasion.   Everybody looked amazing though and it was a lovely church service, although I must admit Jay Austin and I could have been a little more enthusiastic about the singing!

After church it was back to Gavin’s house for the reception which was held in a big marquee in the garden.   The prospect of food and drink paid for by Gavin is my idea of a perfect day out!   Now I will always be the first person to have a joke and ‘take the ----’ but I have to admit that Gavin did stand up and make an absolutely brilliant speech.  Being a bit of a wild card I don’t think anyone knew what to expect but it was awesome mate so spot on!

The disco and evening do that followed was brilliant and a party that should have finished at 1am was still going strong long after 3 - although it was only the diehard racing folk left by that point.   Once again Kym Weaver and myself managed to get involved in the Jaeger Bombs in a repeat of Tipperary last year and it’s safe to say everyone had a great time.   It was a wonderful day and thanks to you both for letting me be part of it.   All I’m going to say is that you’re a saint for putting up with him Mel.     Thanks also to Shaun and Carrie Taylor for letting me stay at their house - see how well behaved I was and no carnage or chaos ensued . . . .  apart from a savage attack from the cat in the morning!

Back to the world of racing now and even though there isn’t much to do to the car we’re still rushing around getting ready for National Weekend.  The engine had a very minor oil leak so went back to Toovey’s to be sorted out.  This meant it could go on the dyno to make sure everything was one hundred percent right.  It was all done and ready in little over a week so brilliant service there yet again.

After the wet Sunday at Spedeweekend the car looked terrible and I think a third of the speedway track was stuck to it.  A good half day with the jet wash left it looking somewhere near presentable again . . . shame I can’t say the same about my beloved Compomotives.   Another refurb for them in the winter I think.

We’ve also had to put new brake pads on the car and with the Friday practice at Hednesford offering the perfect opportunity to bed them in it seemed a good time to change them.

Another piece of good news is that John Sibbald has decided to get himself another National and go back out and do the Scottish qualifying series.   He’s done one meeting at Knockhill so far with a second in the final, and is coming down on Friday for the National Championship.  I was up there at the weekend and the car is looking good so hopefully things go well and once again he’ll be on the grid next July.

I’m sure most of you will already be aware of the charity bike race that Jason Kew and I are doing on the Sunday of the National Championship Weekend.   It’s in aid of raising money for Fords Care http://www.fords-care.com/ a charity that directly helps us and those involved with our racing.  It’s going to be one lap of the track and it’s fair to say that neither Jason nor I are in particularly good shape so anything could happen!   All the details of how to donate are on both the National Hot Rod website and the Hot Rod Facebook page so please dig deep and help a great cause - plus if we raise enough you get to see us do it dressed as women.  Yes, you did read that right, if we raise £500 we shall take to the track dressed as ladies!   I’ve had several people pledge money already including Cattermoles of Ipswich and Andy Lane’s Ideal Commercials.   Thanks for that.

I’m looking forward to the weekend and seeing everyone from far and wide.   It’s usually a great weekend so let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint. The weather forecast isn’t too special so bring your coats and I have the lucky wetsuit on standby.   If anybody out there is feeling extra generous  and would like to sponsor me a couple of new wets that would be very much appreciated!

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time.

Mikey