Hi all,
After a very shaky start to Saturday, with the ignition rotor coming loose on the 500 in practice, causing it to stop after less than one lap, the 350 which didn't go out in practice, due to the potentially fragile nature of the hastilly built engine went out in its' first race only to retire with misfiring above 5000 rpm. New plugs didn't help until I shut the gaps right down [coils getting tired, I think]. Her second race of the day was very successful, rider 'Henchy' passing and beating current and many times champion Graham Buller on his very fast Manx to second place behind Tim Jackson [Manx]. Tim has beaten Barry Sheene and Wayne Gardner on several occasions, so is no slouch!. The 350 beat four Manx, two Goldies and various other machines including Velos and some Ducatis that set off 10 seconds earlier in their own race!
The 500 took 7th and 5th places in a large field of top class machines, we didn't get the gearing quite right, but not bad in any case.
Steve Cotrell's crusader took a 3rd and a 2nd place, only beaten by a very quick Rudge [Mervyn Stratford] and once, also by a Greeves.
Sunday was blighted by torrential rain and an early fuel spill which halted racing for several hours while cleaning up operations were underway.
First out after the all clear was the 350, which took its' first victory at this venue. However, Henchy was not smiling when he came in, declaring it was treacherous out there and that was his racing over for the weekend. as we left we saw one of the other guys pushing his smashed up Bantam back to the paddock.
So, a mixed bag, with plenty of drama, but all three machines and their rider survived intact. The 350 didn't blow up after all. Fingers crossed for this motor, but another, tougher one is taking shape, just in case!
B.W.
Topic: 350 Clipper takes 1st and 2nd at Cadwell (Read 2235 times)