Only one race this year, and that was right at the end of the Bandit Championships.
Just for a bit of fun, I got the old girl out and we went to Mallory Park for the
Craig Mason Memorial Trophy 2000.

Just Like old times.

The old beastie has a new set of RC30 Forks, new callipers and green pads (cos it was a shitty forecast) but apart from an oil change and complete carb "N" Tank flush out, it's exactly the same as it was when it last raced. Funnily enough it last ran here at the Craig Mason this time last year in horrible conditions and I took a couple of thirds and a crash for my troubles.

With the wets on already we decided not to bother erecting the awning because the gale force winds would have it away in the night. Some of the guys around us who battled with their fourteen foot kites for two hours had since taken them down because they were lifting the caravan off their feet like a big sail. We'd put the awning up in the morning.

The field was abundant with Dukes, Trumpets, TL1000's and a few Superstockers to boot, so I knew I wasn't gonna have it all my own way (unless it pissed down all day).

Well, as predicted I failed scrutineering (for the first time ever with the VFR) because the belly pan didn't hold oil in the event of a blow up. I cajoled and grovelled and finally the allowed me to pass if I took my fairing off (where the hell is the logic in that ??). I took it off, wheeled it back up there and they passed it. Crazy. I wheeled it back, put the fairing back on again and waited patiently for morning warm up. As we were in the first race I didn't want to leave it too late but as it happened, by the time I got up there they had started the final solo practice and turned me (and several others) away point blank. The day was just getting better and better.

To top it all an horrendous night (so bad we left the awning off) broke to a dry , breezy sunny morning which clouded over as the day went on (ground temp never got above 7'C) so I had to leave my beloved wets in the van, running Dunlop's 207 "STARS" for the first time (too cold for slicks really).

I went out for race 1 with new tyres, new pads, new foot rest rearsets, new forks and not a bloody clue what the bike was gonna do. Hmmmm

Starting from Row "E" I made a reasonable start and rode around the outside of a lot of people at Gerrards for the first time, clawing my way upto 13th overall by the end, the brakes were getting better and better each lap and I began to trust the tyres and forks bit by bit.

Taking no prisoners !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bike behaved and I got gradually quicker but my best was only a 58 where the winners were doing 55's.
More to come for sure.

Out for Race 2, the races had been shortened because the weather forecast was so bad that they wanted to get it all over and done with before it got too nasty. Shame.

There are some big bikes in the background.
How many can you recognise ??

I went into Gerrards much harder after a much better start, more like the old VFR that I used to know.
That's more like it !!!!!!!!!

The big boys all around me were on Dukes and Trumpets and I did what I could to hold them at bay for as long as possible but eventually had to succumb to brute horse power, losing places on both straights. Well, it is 14 years old now !!

I finished a creditable 5th overall and only 2nd Superstock (Matt on a 911 Yamaha won and took second overall - I need more horses !!) I was more than happy with that especially as I was running a comparatively low red line, with the Superchips module set to limit at 10,500rpm out of pure pessimism. The handling was fine, the forks were working beautifully, the tyres looked good. Shame it was dry really.

For the third and final race the clouds were rolling in but for the race before mine (and bearing in mind how pedantic they were being with people late at the gate) I went out on the 207 "STARS" and sat in the rain on the grid thinking about pulling in after the warm up lap. The two guys next to me were on Slicks, I had to laugh.

I made a good start from Row "D" this time, and only slipped to eighth, by the end when the track really started to get soaked. 
(great fun - all wriggling into the hairpin).

I rode the VFR straight into the Back of Frettons van and we loaded up quick before the weather got really nasty, every race after that was wetter and wetter.

Thanks to everyone that came along to lend a hand, Steve "Groucho" and his son Michael were priceless, as were my folks who kept the kids busy between races.

Steve Lincoln and Barry, Matt from Frettons came for a look but there wasn't that much to do as the VFR was behaving itself, so everyone just milled about and enjoyed themselves.