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KNOCKHILL 8/9 SEPTEMBER 2007

We had an addition to the load as we set off with Shaun’s bike on a trailer so that he could take part in a track day on Saturday morning. We joked about how many laps he would manage before he fell off but thankfully he proved us all wrong and finished the morning without incident.

Mechanic Shaun in track day action

Having blown the head gasket in the number one engine at East Fortune we were carrying the newly run-in second motor for Knockhill. We spent Saturday morning cleaning up the exhaust pipes and checking everything over in exceptional sunshine. Then went out for practice in the afternoon. The engine didn’t feel quite as quick as the last one and had a small oil leak that would need attention. We got signed on and scrutineered that evening and were ready to go.

Kerr ready to race in ‘Aspire’ funded Kevlar/Leather suit.

The turnout of sidecars was poor as there were race meetings in Ireland and at Cadwell Park clashing with the date and only 8 sidecars rolled out for qualifying on Sunday morning. Only a couple of laps in and there was a red flag out. Team Udall on a Formula 2 outfit had gone straight on at Duffus dip and things didn’t look good as they lay motionless in the gravel trap. Thankfully Jen, (another one!) the passenger escaped with bumps and bruises and Bob, the driver, is on the mend after a short stay in hospital. Qualifying was re-started but we only got a few laps in before the end of the session.

The field was now down to 7 sidecars with most lapping faster than us. Without an immediate rival to dice with it was difficult to improve on our best time of 59 sec/lap. We lapped consistently at 60 trying to use the time to improve lines and technique through the chicane, Clarke’s, round the back of the circuit, and the hairpin. Interestingly, Alan Shand timed us up the start finish straight and said we were within a fraction of a second off the leading outfit’s time over the same stretch – food for thought. We finished 6th in both races picking up valuable Scottish Championship points. Last time we looked at the Scottish Championship standings we had moved from joint 18th to 11th and we are still 2nd in the Scottish Sidecar Club Championship.

We packed up and left for home slightly deflated at not having made more progress. We planned to get the head gasket replaced on the other engine and put it back in for East Fortune the following weekend.

Douglas Racing-Carol, Bob, Shaun, Jen and Kerr

Best wishes to you all

Kerr and Jen

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