Croft Circuit 14.9.08

[grotbag]

I had planned to get to the circuit mid morning so I could watch some of the practice sessions, so on the A167 I started to get excited, as I wasn’t far away from the circuit and then wham! The traffic came to a standstill. It was around 11am and after a little while we moved up a few feet then crawled stopping then crawled again before stopping for what seemed like ages, then I saw the helicopter land further ahead. My excitement diminished passing the B1264 turn off as the helicopters was just taking off with it’s casualty then I saw the black bike parked in the road and my heart went out to another rider sat on the grass verge.

The ambulance and vehicles had blocked the other side of the road but a policeman was doing his best to keep the traffic following both ways even if it was at 0.5 mph. Then I noticed the smoke from the car infront exhaust so I gave him a wider birth! About half an hour later and now spending more time stopped than crawling forwards a few feet I saw the smoke again, only it wasn’t coming from the car infront it was coming from under my bonnet! My temperature gauge was on the ¾ mark and I know from past experience that it doesn’t like to crawl for long, so windows down and heater on full pelt until I could see six or so cars infront then ignition off. I eventually arrived at the turn off for the circuit and the young guys who were behind me were now alongside of me just as a bigish bellow of smoke emerged from under my bonnet. The driver was frantically pointing to my smoke and I told him that it’s just over heating but he told me that he had seen the water I had lost back along the road. So choices were to keep moving or block everyone behind me, I kept going.

In the field used as a car park, the two lanes of traffic with bikes filtering between still crawling, we turned a corner and I saw red!! Some idiot was trying to leave in his car and had blocked the lane I was in forcing both lanes to merge to get around him! This one car driver was causing chaos! I asked a passing steward if there was much further to go, explained my problem and he let me go into the next bay to find a place near the end. So off I went along the mud path then a big open space where I decided to pull in to my right and park next to the last car. I got stuck in the mud half way through the turn but two passing bikers very kindly pushed me forwards a few feet onto firmer ground. It was now 1pm, 4 hours since I left home to do a 2 hour journey, so I decided to enjoy what was left of my day and worry about getting home when it was time to leave.

I followed the crowd to the entrance where the sound of bike got louder and my mood lifted again. Gary came to collect me and gave me a lift on his scooter to the Team Replicast pits in paddock C that I would never have found by myself in a million years! We had a chat while riding and I was greeted by Ben and ‘Mike’ (without his mechanics) and watched the hustle and bustle while he got the bike back up on the bench and whipped the faring off, hooked up the lappy and made adjustments in prep for the race which was in three hours time. Both Ian and Ben were chuffed when I told them that Manky Cat, Scudnut, myself and a few other’s will be at Brans Hatch in October. So while I was polishing off a really nice cuppa Ben had a copy of his practice times / grid sheet. He was dead chuffed, as he was to start the race on row 3 instead of row 4. He showed me and explained how the fastest qualifying times linked to row position and that the ‘C’ was all the riders were also in the ACU 14 – 16 Academy Cup aswell as the Championship.

I left them all to do what they do before a race and wandered up the paddock where there was a long row of porta loo’s which even Lady Clara would use! Then the food smells drifted among the petrol /diesel /oil /leather smells so I got a burger and munching away looking for a programme I saw Jason wandering over. He had been trying to find a spot to get some pic’s but the whole place was chock-a-block with people and he explained that only about half of the track is accessible because the far side land owners wont allow usage. There was hundreds of people wandering around with bike’s, scooters and quads skilfully picking their way though them. We wandered back to the Replicast team and had rest and a chat with Ben before I headed off again insearch of a programme. I said bye to Jason as he was heading off on his long journey back down south to his home.

I wandered into paddock A where the bigger marquees were. This was all hustle and bustle too and after a while I stopped turning around to see if I was in the path of an bike coming up from behind as they never seemed to hit anyone! Just as I was thinking that a white ‘power Ranger’ passed me very slowly as it was really crowded and I thought that he must be wearing new leather as it was sooo white, then I spotted an accessible spot at the fence so over I went and found myself just at the end of the slip way where it merges with the track. It’s the long straight where the start / finish is. I watched race 4, and as they started guess what? There’s the white ‘Power Ranger’ whizzing by! The Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Champinship was stopped after a few laps. I waited along with everyone else for it to start again but as the crowd behind me began to move away and I could get out, I did and resumed my search for a programme.
The racing had resumed but I couldn’t get anywhere to watch so started to wander past all of the stalls selling anything you need to ride in, food drink but not a single programme seller in sight. I had a wander along paddock B where there were even more kit shacks and a jacket caught my eye and I wondered if it was the same as Ruth’s. I asked a steward who pointed me to the tiny red and white tent where they were. So programme in hand I wandered back to the Team Replicast.

The atmosphere had changed and I could feel it was electric, not long to go now BSB next then Bens race. The only person who seemed calm in the team was Ben himself! I wished him luck and wandered down the other way now to find a spot to watch. Ben had taken me down this way earlier to show me where I could get a good view of his race. At ‘Sunny Out’ the hill around the track starts to rise to I found a good spot where I could see from ‘Jim Clark Esses’ right around to the bend of the ‘Complex’.The BSB was great with lots of excitement between the first four riders and the tussles going on further back in the field. They all got well-deserved rounds of applause as they came round again after their race was won. One of the riders stopped directly infront of where I was stood and did a burn out but by the time I got my camera out of my bag, he had gone and just a disbursing cloud of smoke was left!

Then the sound of the higher pitched engines as they came tearing around from JC’s Esses. Ben’s race was on. I thought I had picked him out on the first lap but as the orange wheels whizzed by I knew it wasn’t Ben his are burgundy. (Sorry Ben!) I counted him in 12th place on lap 3 and just as he was about to go into the Complex he quite nonchalantly slipped by the orange and lemon coloured leather clad rider, his strategy was working… Go Ben … by lap 8 he was in 10th place and then I lost track of who was the leading few to work out where I could expect to see Ben as the gaps had opened out so much that the leaders were about to or had already lapped the riders at the back. I didn’t see Ben again and there was no tannoy so at the end of the race I wandered back to the team Replicast to see if he was ok.

It was all closed up and no one there so I sat on the bench and waited, then ‘Mike’ (without his mechanics) came back and said that Ben had come off, then Gary came and told us that Ben was in the medical centre and Ian was there too. They thought he had broken his finger but was otherwise ok. Ben’s lap times were faster than the race leaders so had he finished he would have been well up in the points. There was no bike and I never thought to ask about it as I was relieved that Ben was ok’ish. I decided it was time to head for home and leave them to their packing so thanked Gary then pinched all of his water for my radiator!! I left with instructions to go back if I couldn’t get my car started.

I wandered about the field a bit before I found my car (no area numbers here) and opened the bonnet found the water reservoir and poured some water in only to see there was water already in there around the minimum mark but I topped it up anyway, so the young car driver had seen me loose water hmmmmm! As I started my engine I looked around for possible conscripts to push if I got stuck and then saw the tractor pulling someone else out but I needn’t have worried as I drove away and all the way home ok and with a normal temperature gauge.

I enjoyed my time at Croft and Gary with his team made me very welcome and I’m looking forwards to seeing them all and watching Ben at Brands in October.


At Croft I learned that bike, wheel and leather colours are important to the spectator for following an individual, that watching from a straight isn’t as good as watching where there are bends, at least on bends you can blink and not miss them pass by. I learned that the tyres on the bike have little holes in them that help with the wear. I learned that travelling on a bike to Circuits which don’t have very good access roads is a must. I learned that even at bike meets there is an idiot car driver.

[Spree]

Nice report GB, looks like you had a great time despite the hiccups

[grotbag]

Yes it was great! It's such a buzz and even if you're not into racing there's enough kit shacks for a good days shopping too, it was a bit like Hull City centre on a Saturday afternoon!!

[deano]

nice one GB glad the car was ok on the way home & encouraging to hear Ben's lap times were so impressive too.

[grotbag]

They were deano and the team were chuffed about it too

Just found this;

Watch Croft highlights on Channel 4 tonight

The tenth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Croft produced some of the most sensational racing of the season and you can watch the highlights again tonight (Tuesday) at 00.15 on Channel 4.

The 55-minute highlight programme hosted by James Cracknell will feature the dramatic overtaking manoeuvres including all the action from the final Hairpin, the immense battle at the front of the field and all the post race reaction from the riders.

If you miss the earlier showing you can catch the programme just an hour later when it is repeated at 01:40 on Channel 4 +1, available on Freeview (channel 13), Sky Digital (Channel 135) and Virgin Media (Channel 143)

[Ben McConnachie]

Great report ! Put my report's to shame !

I'll post my report in the next couple of day's too !

Glad you had a good day GB ! We all enjoyed your company and support . . .

My finger's alright really .. Just a few aches and pains !

' Finger's ' crossed i'll be fit for Silverstone !

Ben#49

[druidsam]

Originally Posted by Ben McConnachie

Great report ! Put my report's to shame !

I'll post my report in the next couple of day's too !

Glad you had a good day GB ! We all enjoyed your company and support . . .

My finger's alright really .. Just a few aches and pains !

' Finger's ' crossed i'll be fit for Silverstone !

Ben#49

as the old saying goes.." a sore finger is a sore thing, but a sore thing isnt a sore finger" good luck for silverstone, were all behind you



............................Sam

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by Ben McConnachie

Glad you had a good day GB ! We all enjoyed your company and support . . .

My finger's alright really .. Just a few aches and pains !

' Finger's ' crossed i'll be fit for Silverstone !

Ben#49

Glad your ok and hope it wasn't the same finger as last time! I really did enjoy myself Ben it was smashing and thank you for showing me 'tother' end, I wouldn't have found such a good spot otherwise, it was a shame Jason had so far to travel home because I'll bet he would have had some great photo's from where I was stood

I'll look forwards to seeing Jason's photo's from Silverstone and watching 'live' at Brands!!

[Team Repli-Cast UK Racing]

Hi GB,
It was great to see you at Croft.
At Brands i will be able to give you the tour around the Team Garages to meet all the Riders and managers that we sponsor with Race Bodywork so dont forget to bring your Camara. I also had a programme for you at the truck but as you know everything was flat out at croft and i forgot to give it to you so next time please remind me as this is always our part of the deal.
Also as we said you are always welcome to snacks and sarnies at the Truck and as much Tea or Coffee you can drink (Or something stronger as long as your not driving)
You are now clearly Bens No 1 Fan so we will have a signed Race Shirt ready for you at Brands.
Thanks once again for the interest you are all showing towards Bens Climb towards Stardom and we will never forget you all when (Not if) He gets there.
Very Best Regards to all
Gary & All the Team at Repli-Cast UK Racing

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by Team Repli-Cast UK Racing

Hi GB,
It was great to see you at Croft.
At Brands i will be able to give you the tour around the Team Garages to meet all the Riders and managers that we sponsor with Race Bodywork so dont forget to bring your Camara. I also had a programme for you at the truck but as you know everything was flat out at croft and i forgot to give it to you so next time please remind me as this is always our part of the deal.
Also as we said you are always welcome to snacks and sarnies at the Truck and as much Tea or Coffee you can drink (Or something stronger as long as your not driving)
You are now clearly Bens No 1 Fan so we will have a signed Race Shirt ready for you at Brands.
Thanks once again for the interest you are all showing towards Bens Climb towards Stardom and we will never forget you all when (Not if) He gets there.
Very Best Regards to all
Gary & All the Team at Repli-Cast UK Racing

It was great to meet you, too TRC and I've got the 'bug'! I'll bring my camera and can't wait for the tour

....... and a signed Race Shirt WOW!! That's fantastic, thank you


I will most certainly remind you about the programme and I'll get Ben to sign it too ................... I have a plan to fund my care home fee's when he's rich and famous and I'm old and grey