At 11am on Wednesday I phoned Wrexham rider Simon Evans to see If he wanted to go practising that evening.
He mentioned that there was a Wirral Off Road 2.5hour race in the evening. I hadn't heard
of the event before so I phoned organiser Steve Ireland and he said to turn up and he'd sort
out an entry for me. I finished work at 4pm, raced home to get all my stuff and arrived at
the event at 5.30. The race started at 6.00 but my bike was as I rode the final lap at
Hawkstone. In half an hour I changed a filter, gear oil and adjusted the chain. Simon turned
up and lended a hand while I signed on and scrutineered the bike. We also filled
my camelbak and fitted numbers to the bike.
Needless to say I was last in my class to scrutineer so I had a crap start position. When
the race started I let everybody get away. After a lap I was up to 3rd behind a fourstroke
rider and Jason Rennie. The course was excellent. Lots of hills and mostly fast and flowing.
There was a series of long downhills which were very hard on the brakes. My rear brake overheated
which lost me some time but it cooled down on the uphills and I soon learned to change down
on the downhills and use some engine braking instead of all rear brake. Jason Rennie on a CR250
set a fast pace for the first few laps and we passed each other a few times. I'd pass him on a tricky
rutted up hill and he'd pass me across the top of the hill. He pulled out early
though which was a shame as I was really enjoying the competition.
For the rest of the race I was on my own. Simon and Julie Evans cheered me on with some
welcome pit board comments and they provided me with a very slick pit stop and goggle change.
I finished nearly two laps in front at the end and had thoroughly enjoyed the ride round.
Thankyou to Steve Ireland and the Wirral Off-Road team for laying on another fun event at another
superb venue and to Simon and Julie for their help.
