Our BSSO race coverage has been pretty much non-existent so far this season, mainly due to us trying to do too much with our very small SLUK editorial team. Thankfully Scotty has agreed to send us some blogs from his season as Team DSC race boss and head mechanic. If any other BSSO riders, spectators or teams want to contribute from other BSSO meetings please get in touch at editorial@ScooterLab.UK
Brolly up Scotty
Never trust the weatherman, wise words indeed. Race blogger and all round “Good Egg” Scotty from Team DSC provides us with an insight into a great weekend’s racing.
The weather and a potential shortage of fire extinguishers threw a spanner in the works from the BSSO meeting at East Fortune on May 13th and 14th 2017. First off though, Scotty gives us the heads up on all the groups progress over the past two meetings.
North of the Border
Well here we are at the 3rd round of the 2017 British Scooter Sport Organisation championship at East Fortune, Scotland. After sitting with my team members and riders from other camps enjoying a well-earned beer I thought I’d re-cap on the season thus far, and partly honour my commitment to the SLUKmeister (Sticky) who I promised reviews and feedback from each meeting. Little did I know that keeping two auto riders on the track on geared Lambrettas was going to take up so much of my time.
Our group 4 rider (BSSO 24) Daz Westgarth is an independent chap and pretty much looks after himself, although it is a big team effort to keep our current line-up of three scooters on the track. Behind us are rounds 1 and 2 at Croft and Mallory Park, although my now fuddled old brain can’t remember the exact results, what I can report is that this season has indeed been very exciting so far with some excellent performances and results.
Back to the plot in Scotland…
Our little band of racers, ex-racers, ‘WAGS’ and general good sorts descended on the paddock late Friday tea time. Gone was the works van, borrowed spares and Toys ‘R Us tents from last year. We now have a fully equipped van with sleeping quarters, posh gazebo, cookers, generators, gallons and gallons of highly flammable aviation fuel and one fire extinguisher –just in case! We have more spares than we’d ever need and WAGS! Yes! WAGS! How the SLUK did this happen?
What was going to be a little time away from the rally scene has now gone, Err… a bit Pete Tong, shall we say! I knew this would happen, she told me- the WAG that is! Yes I’ve got one too.
The Groups
Group 4 (Standards Class) comprises of: SRP’s Chris Geyton, Replay’s Dave Bristow, Dan Lewis and Daz Westgarth (Team DSC) fighting for position behind Darren Conneelly (Replay Racing) who has just simply been in a class of his own. With Darren being the only member of the Conneelly family out this year he’s certainly keeping up the family tradition in group 4, which I understand is not his main focus and he’s just there for a bit of fun!
The LCGB Production class has continued its meteoric rise and now boasts the biggest grids so far with 14 at Croft, 17 at Mallory and 16 here at East Fortune. The racing has been close and exciting throughout the field with some very exceptional riding on these road based AF RB20 kitted engines. The current class leaders Justin Price (Team DSC), James Lancaster (Franspeed Racing), Dave Delaney and Stephen Graves (Team DSC) always set a fast pace from lights out, providing sometimes heart stopping moments.
The quick pace has had an equally positive effect on the group as the other riders have certainly upped their game, with Shaun Nickells, Pat Whickam and Tim Simpson to name but a few always pressing hard for position. Worthy of note, is Justin Price of our own team DSC who’s broken all the group lap records so far, much to the annoyance of certain other riders.
Group 6 continues again to provide some of the fastest most exciting races as these highly strung, very quick scooters put in some incredible lap times. Again Darren Conneelly has made his mark in the group, which as mentioned previously is actually his main focus, you can imagine the performance he puts in each race, incredible. With SRP’s Stuart Day and Doug Turner always a threat. This year has also seen Stewart “Mad Dog” Mckenzie once again flying the Vespa flag in group 6 with some excellent results, including a well-deserved race win at Croft.
Group 6A/10-Autos now being a Lambretta type of guy these weren’t really my bag, I’ll be honest. I am, however, now well and truly converted. This class without a doubt boasts some of the quickest, most skilful riders. Currently racing with the BSSO, Gary Peacock, Warren Wilkinson, Lee Bamber, Jon Woods, Steve Chapman, Steve Wright and Justin Price in 6A and Stephen Graves and Dave Delaney in group 10 (Zips) – apologies to any I may not have mentioned. This class has provided some of the closest racing of the season. The last 6A/group 10 during their last race at Mallory, for me, was simply one of the best I’ve seen since my return to racing.
Open Class, although there have been no entries so far using the technical or development element of this class it has seen a high entry presence, as riders from other classes take advantage of the extra track time with a mixed bag of scooters from across the classes entering. Again, throwing up a few surprises over the three meetings.
Cabbage Field
It’s Saturday night, I’ve just cleaned the last of the crap off the scooter after it was extracted from the cabbage field, where one of our production bikes ended up in the first race, whilst leading I might add! It’s a good job his team mate was behind him to take the win or Mr Justin Price would have been cleaning the Lambretta off himself! Well that’s not actually true, ‘cos he did make amends by winning the next race.
Thrills and Spills
The weekend saw some great action, thrills and spills with poor old Andy Barnes totalling his lovely production class TV in a rather nasty off and Phil Butterworth on his P-Range Vespa taking a hard slap to the ground when (I believe) his lay shaft snapped. Glad to say they’re both ok, although I bet they’re still kicking the arse out of the Ibuprofen as you read this.
Winners
Three different winners in Group 4 – Dave Bristow, Dan Lewis and Chris Geyton. Darren Connelly retired from the group due to firstly an ‘0ff’ (he’s ok though) and then a technical issue. Poor Chris Geyton had some rotten luck over the weekend, however, when on track he pushed hard for the lead on more than one occasion and took a well deserved win.
Production class was again very competitive with Team DSC’S Justin Price taking 3 wins and Stephen Graves the other. Franspeed’s James Lancaster pushed hard all weekend, along with my old chum from our Group 3 days Graham ‘Knee Down’ Tatton, who certainly appeared to be getting his mojo back. The result of the weekend for me though was Shaun Fairhead who picked up a very well deserved 2nd place under testing conditions in the first race on Saturday, just going to show that keeping on the pressure and the gas does pay dividends!
Group 6 again was a Darren Conneelly affair with Stuart Day, Stewart Mckenzie pushing hard, along with Giles Fielden and Doug Turner, until a snapped chain made for a very hasty DNF.
My new favourite Group 6A saw again some incredible close action, with the last race of the day seeing Warren Wilkinson stamp his mark to take the win with some very smooth, fast laps.
Catch the Gazebo
Well that was it, loads more happened, broken engines, super fast rebuilds, smashed headsets, wins, losses, gazebo’s blowing away, rain, sunshine, wind and even Geordies falling off their scooters on the way home! But I’m knackered and feel I’ve made amends to the SLUKmeister by penning this.
They say Fortune favours the Brave, well you certainly had to be brave at this year’s BSSO East Fortune race meeting! See you all at Snetterton…
Words and Pics: Scotty Team DRC and further pics from Lee Hollick
