Another poor start to the racing season. We started off at Croix en Ternois. Mechanical failure did not allow us to finish either race.
The next race was at Lydden Hill. This was much better this time. Out of 4 races we won the class in 3 and were 2nd in the other race.
We then had the long journey in June up to East Fortune in Scotland for the Bob Macintyre meeting. It was worth the trip as it is a really good circuit, a real rider’s track with plenty of bends. Out of the 4 races we competed in we won our class in 3 and were 2nd in the other race.
Then in July we were racing at Brands Hatch. On the Saturday we won our class in the two races we competed in and broke the lap record. On Sunday we started the 3rd race, but had to pull in with mysterious mechanical problems. We were not able to start the 4th race.
Then we went to Assen in Holland, to take part in the Camathias Cup. This is another great circuit. Unfortunately the intermittent problem we had been experiencing all last season was still evident. We did not finish either race.
The next meeting was at Chimay. This was another disastrous meeting. We did not finish either race.
Then we went to Gedinne in August and faired a bit better. We won the first race which was apparently a real thriller to watch. Eddy Wright led the whole race. We were was close behind him throughout, then on the last lap and the last bend a backmarker was in the middle of the track, we went one way and Eddy went the other. Luckily for us I chose the right one and won by a whisker! It was a wet race and we enjoy racing in the wet. The 2nd race was not so good for us, we finished 4th. The bike was running rough again with the intermittent problem. On the first lap another rider put me into the straw bales which was very dangerous. I am not used to racing against such dangerous drivers on road circuits. Then another competitor in front of me missed a gear and Bert’s left hand hold was ripped off on the other driver’s rear tyre. A good weekend of racing though.
Then we went to the beautiful circuit of Magny Cours, where the Camathias Cup organisers had arranged two sidecar races at the B’ol Dor Classic meeting. Magny Cours is a proper rider’s circuit, with fast sweeping bends. Unfortunately the gremlins rose their ugly heads again. We did not finish either race. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and it was a real plus being able to compete at this circuit.
The last race of 2014 was at Snetterton. I still had problems and on the Saturday did not finish either race. However, due to elimination it was discovered that the new battery I had been using all season was duff. Luckily I managed to borrow a decent battery for the ‘Race of the Year’ on Sunday and we won, setting a new lap record too!
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