The The Shipping Forecast....Brands Hatch 4th,5th, 6th July

[Fastfasulli]

Well what can I say but it was an eventful weekend all round. Not even the most outrageous TV Soap plotline could have dreamt up this one.

Anyway here be the adventure of Fastfasulli Munchausen:

My approach to Brands was meant to be relatively simple and straight forward compared to Assen and Pembrey. I only live around the other side of the M25 and I have ridden the Indy circuit a few times before so my plan was to book the afternoon track day, on the 4th, to refresh my memory and get me in the groove; do all the qualifying and racing on the 5th; and obviously the races on the 6th.

I arrived mid morning and found where the dynamic duo (Mike Dawson and Ant - (the Black Art crew) were parked up. Nice and slowly I set up base camp ready for the weekend. Once done I found Alex Vespa and quickly realised that he had had a crash already. As we were chatting away we noticed that a recovery truck had pulled up in over the other side of the paddock where we knew more DDers were parked up. We watched as Bradders stepped out of the truck followed by his crashed bike out of the trailer. We went over to see him and found out that he had crashed on Paddock Hill bend. Luckily he seemed physically ok and the bike wasn’t as bad as it looked.
The omens were not good though.

I signed on and sorted myself out for my first afternoon session. Once I was out there I quickly realised that the bike was behaving quite strange – very nervous on the front. I concluded that this must be due to the fact that I’d increased the seat height significantly. I stuck at it thinking I’d get used to it. By my third lap I ran into Druids quite hard taking a late apex. Suddenly I felt the front go and I could do nothing about it. I was on the tarmac sliding with my palms down….session over.

It took the rest of the afternoon to sort the bike out. I nearly got out in the last session but it was too late.

Evening
Beers, pasta, music and cigars with Alex Vespa.

5th July
I wasn’t a happy man really so Ant made some tweaks to my suspension. (I can’t tell you what he did because it involved sprinkling some magic dust while saying “I canna change the laws of nature captain” or was that Mike??? )

As I’d lost track time on Friday I decided to use Saturday as a test day. I slowly began to build up some speed in both the untimed and timed qualifying sessions. The only problem was that I wasn’t happy with my tyres so I decided to buy a new set.

Race 1
I was scrubbing in tyres for the first race. They felt like they were on ball bearings sometimes. Not sure if that’s normal but just concentrated on lines for the race, trying not to get myself into trouble.
Race 2
Different story. I knew I could push the tyres now so I decided to pick up my speed and even try a bit of racing. I duly did and had some fun with Graeme Blakey and Ollie for a while. My best time was 1:04:XX ish. I was going forward which is the main thing.

Evening
Beers, Food, cigars, laughs, spilt beer, etc with Mike, Ant, Mike’s Dad and other fellow DDers in the Kentagon. Good fun.

Sunday. Race Day.

Qualifying
I took it steady in qualifying. The track was pretty greasy and although some people were going for it a bit harder I just concentrated on lines and keeping the bike upright. I got a 10th Place in class which I found surprising because I felt I was going really slowly.

Race 1
More like Henley Regatta than road racing at Brands. It started less wet and then just got wetter and wetter. I started the race fairly well and took some people and then others were taking me. People were teetering round feeling for grip. My old adversary Graeme Blakey and new one Ollie passed me. I was following Andy C and Skidlids I think. I tried to up the pace and found myself going round the outside of Andy C at Paddock because I was getting dangerously close to his back wheel. Basically I spent the rest of the race in this weird dance where I would get really close to Andy and not pass him and then go back a bit and then close in again, ad nauseum. Race was red flagged and I came 12th. Not bad but could do better.

Race 2
I was watching the Sound of Thunder at Druids and the sun had put his hat on and was coming out to play. At last!!! The SOT race was awesome to watch, with the KTM LC8 battling with what looked like a Triumph 675 till the bitter end. But, more awesome, was the fact that the track was getting drier and the sun looked like it was going to stay.
The sun did stay in the end and we filed out for Race 2 in glorious sunshine on a dry track. The lights went out and go go go. I twisted that throttle and never stopped twisting it until the end of the race. I had some battles with TP and Phil H mainly. I nearly rammed Phil H from behind into Clearways – instinctively grabbed a load of brake and somehow induced a tank slapper moment. I thought I was going down but managed to steer the bike round. My clearest memories are of outbreaking people into Druids and attempting to go round others into Paddock.
I ended up 8th with a best time of 1:00:48.

Lessons Learnt: Pass people don’t follow people.

Thanks to:
Chas for the brake lever. You are a credit in my books.
Mike and Ant (Black Art). For another excellent weekend and all of your help throughout.
Phil W – (Ghost) for helping me with my gear pedal.
Graeme and Ollie for the racing (when we were near each other that is)
All the family and friends who came to watch in the pouring rain. Err maybe that should be sorry not thanks ;-)
Phil H for tickets and use of fridge.
It really hit home this weekend ‘the swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortunes. ‘ One minute you can be up and the next down. I am not simply talking about me but all the DDers who had mixed fortunes. And finally the protest was the cherry on the DD drama cake to end the weekend.
That’s the DD series for you……,until next time

[Ghost]

Nice read Franco, I was one of those you passed into paddock then leant on your shoulder going up th hill, then you just went.

Donny will be good with one long race. Don't want it wet there tho'.

[Steve GD]

I agree with Phil...an excellent write-up, Franco. Roll on Donny!

[Earkle]

Dude!! you ok! no-one said!

So we have both had an off this season now... welcome to the club!!

I aint lookin forward to donny, apply'n too much pressure to perform as usual!!

Glad you 'sound'ok though fella, offer still stands with donny mate, just let me know!, remember if you wanna come up for a test day earlier than the friday b4 just let me know and i'll save up some pennys!!!

laters!

[Fastfasulli]

Sorry my reports are so long - I can't help myself. In fact it could have been longer

Yes Phil I remember. That was fun. I imagine a few famous racers have =scraped fairings and rubbed shoulders right there. Great stuuf - what it's all about....

Earl - I am talking to my wife about your kind Donny offer. Just gotta work out logistics and then i'll be back to you.
As for test days pre-donny i may not get out there as I've just spent £500 on my car

BTW - the crashing wasn't the end of the world. It set me back a bit in preparation but ultimately i know why i crashed which is the main thing.

What I forgot to say is that I have now crashed on every major bend on the indy circuit - Paddock, Clearways, Graham Hill and Druids

[graeme]

Originally Posted by Fastfasulli

Thanks to:
Graeme and Ollie for the racing (when we were near each other that is)
All the family and friends who came to watch in the pouring rain. Err maybe that should be sorry not thanks ;-)

I enjoyed racing with you Franco as always. Looking forward to Donington when hopefully our on track battles can continue - as long as your Sunday second race form doesn't continue - in which case I shall look forward to the paddock banter!

g