BACK TO DATES

KNOCKHILL 5/6 MAY 2007

Apologies for the delay in issuing this race report (been off for a week!) Well, yet again an eventful weekend. We set off for Knockhill on Friday to set up ready for practice on Saturday. Alan Shand also wanted to use the sidecar to complete his induction to get his race licence back. By Saturday lunchtime he had finished his classroom assessment and was ready to go out. He was joined by another returning racer Arthur Fulton both of them with many years experience on the track. Or so we thought! Alan, who will never live this down, proceeded over Duffus dip, at the end of the start finish straight, backwards and parked up in the gravel! Jenny’s response from the chair cannot be repeated…

Alan also took the outfit out in first practice on Saturday afternoon to see how the brakes and handling were set up. He seemed quite happy with it so far. Kerr took it back for second practice and set about perfecting a line through the chicane and working out how to slide round the hairpin. The session went well and we were looking forward to race day.

Kerr and Jen after the first race

In between practice sessions Nicky, also paraplegic, took a shot of the sidecar round the paddock with his partner Jill in the chair. Their faces were a picture and we wish them well should they decide to take up the sport.

The sidecar was checked over and given an oil change that evening ready for racing. It sat proudly in the new awning sheltered by the restaurant walls and the lorry. You can tell what’s coming can’t you! At 3 o’clock in the morning a ferocious gale whipped up (typical Knockhill weather). In seconds the awning took off like the launching of a space shuttle. It cleared the lorry without even touching it and landed on the restaurant roof. Thanks to McCaff and Chris for scaling the heights at the crack of dawn to dismantle it. During take off the awning tipped the work table, with the large tool chests on, to the ground miraculously missing the sidecar by inches. Don’t know if this makes us lucky or unlucky!! Thanks to Carol and Rhys for diving out of bed at the shouts of emergency and helping lug everything into the back of the lorry.

Anyway, Sunday dawned a new day and there was racing to be done. The weather was very changeable. Everyone went out on slicks for qualifying but after 3 laps the heavens opened and we were not allowed out again. This led to a mixed arrangement on the grid. Those who were warming their tyres up first falling foul of the black cloud.

Race 1 action

It was good to see Dougy and his son on Sunday. Dougy, who has created this website took some pictures in the paddock which will appear in the gallery soon. The first race was thankfully dry. We were again caught up in a dice with Geoff Smale but this time pipped him to the post and came in 14th (again!) Most enjoyable racing.

Regrettably, while waiting for the second race to come round Jenny’s friend telephoned to say that she had to take the old dog to the vet. Molly, a faithful friend for nearly 14 years was found to have multiple tumours and was allowed to quietly slip away on the operating table. Sadly missed but survived by her son Eddie. A little surprise she brought us while Kerr was in rehab! This brought a tearful end to the day. We packed up and headed home missing the second race which, by all accounts, wasn’t much to miss. It only lasted 3 laps before a downpour again stopped play – it was not restarted – very disappointing.

Thanks to Moray Firth Precision, Richie Foss and Ness City Tyres for an amazing combined effort the week before Knockhill that resulted in having the wet chair wheel rim fixed in time.

The end of Race 1

Since returning from Knockhill and in preparation for the East Fortune (North East Club) meeting on 21/22 May the standard engine has been replaced by one with a bit more bite. Jen’s been eating her spinach to help her hold on. Keep your fingers crossed for calm conditions.

Don't forget to keep checking back for the latest race reports.

Best wishes to you all

Kerr and Jen

Back to top

BACK TO DATES