Race 6:FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got a second row grid position for this race. Bike seems more lively after the modifications to the intake system and got off the line badly after controlling a large wheely. Very rusty after winter layoff, still a bit apprehensive after Silverstone and very wary of the cold tyres and track. Spent most of race going backwards , bike seems really good though. (24th position)

Race 9: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a second row grid position for this race and had same trouble getting off the line. Thanks to Les Liney who generously offered to loan me his tyre warmers and generator - what a difference these made to the level of grip. Heavy braking at the hairpin caused the front tyre to hit the new radiator, damaging the core and causing it to leak. A small amount of Radweld and repositioning of the radiator temporarily cured the problem. (18th position)

Race 19:FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got 4th row grid position for this race and once again got away badly. Had a good battle with friend 'Jason Heritage' who finished one place ahead of me.  (16th position)

Had entered for the open 1300cc class as well as the 600's, but due to high number of entrants did not get in. Rode under No. 62 today. The bike seemed really outclassed today.
Thanks to Clive Rawlings for the loan of the van. cheers Clive, you got me out a spot again.

Race 2: Formula 600cc Supersport Machines
Got a fourth row grid position for this race. Got away quite well but level of riding was high and struggled to make up any places (17th position).

Race 12: Formula 600cc Supersport Machines
Got a eighth row grid position for this race. Got away very well but again, level of riding was high and struggled to make up any places (21st position).

Race 12: Formula 600cc Supersport Machines
Got a fifth row grid position for this race. Got away very well and after a hectic first lap got into a rhythm and made up quite a few places (20th position).

Race 6: 1300 open series
Got a sixth row grid position for this race. Got away very well and finished in 16th position.

Race 12: Formula 600cc Supersport Machines
Got an eighth row grid position again for this race. As the race started I got away really well, and was accelerating hard down the inside of the straight. Several rows ahead of me two riders collided and hit the brakes. I only remember seeing the two bikes looming up rapidly but the rest is from witness accounts.

Apparently I ploughed into the two riders at a speed of approximately 100 mph. I was thrown from the bike, over the two riders and landed on my front face down. The bike also was thrown into the air and landed flat on my back.  When the paramedics reached me I had stopped breathing and my heart rate was slow. They quickly found that both lungs has collapsed and had to insert a tube through my chest into my wind pipe to inflate my lungs. Unfortunately, my left lung was punctured and was rapidly filling with blood. They had to perform emergency surgery at the circuit to insert a drain in my left side to remove the fluid from my lung in order for me to breath.

I was then rushed by ambulance, with a police escort, to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where I had numerous X-rays, a blood transfusion and several drips inserted and pure oxygen supplied via a mask. In addition to the internal injuries, I had also broken my collarbone, five ribs and had a bad burn to my right foot from the exhaust system. I was kept in hospital for three days until the lung drain was removed.

2nd May: The ribs are fine, although the pain killers mask the pain really well. The collarbone is healing well, and is mobile enough for me to carefully type this. The lungs are fine although I now have infections in the holes where the lung drain was inserted and have to go to hospital every day to have the dressing changed. They had to remove the stitches from my left side because of the infection, so now I have a 3/4 in. open wound. I am still suffering from concussion and go very dizzy if I sit up too quickly or make any sudden movements.

8th May: Getting a lot better. Collar bone is healing well and wounds are healing with constant attention from the nurses! Aiming for a return at EMRA meeting at Mallory Park on June 18th all being well.

17th June: Fit and well again but not much strength in shoulder. Well enough for tomorrow though, I hope!

Race 10: 301-600cc Machines
Got an eighth row grid position again for this race. Got away very well but got held up overtaking. Finished 24th.

Race 12: 175-1300cc Machines
Got an seventh row grid position for this race. Managed to pass some traffic but again got held up overtaking due to the high standard of riding. Finished 15th. Again Gordon Blackley ran away with it.

Race 23: 301-600cc Machines
Got a fourth row grid position for this one. Got away well but out powered on straights by faster bikes. Finished 17th.

Race 10: 175-1300cc Machines
Got an fifth row grid position for this race. Got away well. Managed to hold my own in this race against larger capacity machines. Made up a few places and improved lap times drastically over the previous race. Getting used to bike still. Finished 16th.

Race 12: 301-600cc Machines
Got an front row grid position for this race. Got away very well and was in fourth position for the first lap. Dropped to fifth on the second lap and got passed on the fourth lap by the really fast boys coming from the middle of the grid. Finished in a good 9th position and beat my best lap time around Mallory by about 0.5 second.

Race 16: 301-600cc Machines
Got a seventh row grid position for this race. Got away well again and managed to hold my position and pass a few people along the way. Had problems at Gerards corner with rear tyre grip and had some dodgy slides but an enjoyable race. Competition right through the 600 class was very high today. Finished 19th.

Race 20: 175-1300cc Machines
Got a seventh row grid position for this one. Got away very well but seemed unable to make up much ground against the more powerful bikes. Finished 21st. A thoroughly enjoyable day and a good grounding with the new engine for Castle Combe in August - See you there.

Race 9: Honda UK Formula 600 - Race 2
Grid positions for this race were determined by finishing position in race 1, so back of the grid. Same problem again, rode hard but bike just not up to this sort of opposition. Had a good battle with half dozen riders at back of field. Finished a disappointing 26th.

Really enjoyed this meeting. Castle Combe is superb circuit with excellent facilities. A real fast riders circuit, just wish I had a faster bike. Thanks to Roger Allen for getting up early and his assistance with the bike.

Race 6: 175-1300cc Machines - Denso Spark Plugs Cup
Was a reserve for all open class races today. Got a ride but had to start from the very last position on the grid. Pushed really hard in this race and managed to get up to 19th. Was pleased with this considering the back row start.

Race 12: 301-600cc Supersport Machines - Race 2
Got an eighth row grid position for this race. Got away very well but got bulked in Gerrards corner on the first lap. Only managed 26th position.

Race 21: 301-600cc Supersport Machines - Race 3
Got a sixth row grid position for this race. Pouring with rain and made the right decision to fit wets. Got away well again and managed to pass a lot of riders in the wet. The rain evens out the power advantages of the other bikes. Managed to get up to 9th position. Really pleased with this ride, makes a change to actually be able overtake a number of people.
I promised, Julie, Kevin and Simon Upton that I would get a top ten finish today and dedicate this ride to Thomas Upton who would have been 9 years old today.

Race 28: Clubman of Mallory - Open Class
Was a reserve for this race and again had to start from the last row of the grid. Torrential rain again. Had a group of six riders ahead of me and had started to work my way through them when I nearly lost the front wheel in the fast Gerrards corner - Ran wide and lost several positions. This was a really close race and was pleased with 14th position in the main race of the day.

An enjoyable meeting and an excellent weekend racing. Money has just about run out so probably won't do anymore meeting until Silverstone in October. Sponsorship offers or loan of a competitive bike would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to Jason Heritage for getting up early and his assistance with the bike, changing wheels and getting wet on my behalf. Jason, from Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, is taking part in his first Manx Grand Prix from the 19th August in the Newcomers and Senior events. Would like to wish him the best of luck and get that 100mph lap!

Race 2: Drayton Croft Mallory Trophy
Got an fourth row grid position for this race. Got away very well and moved up into 13th position, good enough to qualify. On the third lap, on the fast approach to the Esses I hit a false neutral and with the loss of engine braking was forced to go wide, allowing the riders behind to pass. Lost enough places not to qualify. Finished 19th.

Race 7: 301-600cc Machines
Got a second row grid position for this race. Got away very well again and was in 6th position at the end of the first lap. Managed to hold my own but eventually got past by faster machines and finished 11th. Really pleased with this race, managed to stay within sight of the leaders and also set a new personal best lap time of 54.6 seconds.

Race 11: 175-1300cc Machines
Got an eighth row grid position for this race. Got away very well yet again and made up some places on the start. Passed quite a few riders to finish 12th. Again really pleased with this performance.

Race 17: 175-1300cc Machines
Got a fifth row grid position for this race. Got away well again and managed to work my way through and past other riders again. Got held up behind some pretty fast guys and finished 16th.

Race 20: 301-600cc Machines
Got a sixth row grid position for this one. Got away very well again but the 600 class is hotly contested and passing riders is very difficult. Finished 16th again. A thoroughly enjoyable day and was really pleased with my performance. Need to get the bike on the dyno again to sort carburation and get ready for Silverstone in October - See you there.

Race 3: Production Based Solos - Class B 401-600cc
Got a 3rd row grid position for this one. The track was wet with dry patches but was not drying due to the lack of sunshine and wind. In practice the track was very greasy and I did not expect it to have improved much for this first race. When the lights changed to green I got away well and exited the fast Copse corner (the scene of last years big crash) in 6th position. Held onto 6th position for two laps despite being up against up to 1300cc machines. The bike was going really well when the red flag came out due a big crash at Copse corner. After waiting at the start for 10 minutes the race was restarted. I didn't get away so well this time with the bike wheelying most of the way down the start straight. Got mixed up with the pack in the first turn and spent the next five laps fighting my way up to 23rd place overall, 11th in the 600cc class. My fastest lap was 1.10:12 seconds, average speed 80.62 mph. Enjoyed the race but disappointed it was stopped.

Race 5: Open Solos - Class B 251-600cc
Got a second row grid position for this race. This was a tricky call. It started to rain lightly 10 minutes before the start of the race, but with a dry line, the track was not wet enough for wet tyres. At the last minute, and with much appreciated assistance, I decided to put on wets and only just made the grid in time. Got away very well again and was in about 10th position out of Copse corner, the first turn. On the way up to Maggots and Becketts the rain came down quite hard. On the next two laps several riders ahead lost control and crashed and having passed several more I was in 6th place overall at the finish and 4th in the 600cc class. My fastest lap was 1.17:45 seconds, average speed 74.35 mph. Really pleased with this ride. The rain takes away the power advantage of the faster bikes and gave me a chance to prove what I can do.

Race 12: Production Based Solos Class B 401-600cc
Got an third row grid position for this race. The rain had stopped but the track was very wet in places and extremely slippery.  Didn't get off the line too well in this one with several riders appearing to jump the start. Rode hard for the six laps and passed a number of riders to finish 11th overall and 4th in the 600cc class. My fastest lap was 1.14:09, average speed 76.27 mph. Again really pleased with this performance.

Race 14: Open solos - Class B 251-600cc
Got a fifth row grid position for this race. Track was still wet in places, but a dry line was starting to appear. The start was jumped by a number of riders and we had to reform the grid. Got away quite well, but from the 5th row and with five riders per row I had a lot of riders in front of me. With this being the last race of the year I pushed on in tricky conditions. The wet tyres do not perform very well on the dry bits and had to stay on the wet track where possible. Passed a lot of riders to finish 15th overall and 10th in the 600cc class. My fastest lap was 1.14:01, average speed 76.50 mph. 

A superb end to the season. I was pleased with my performance and bike performed perfectly. I would like to thank Roger Allen for his assistance throughout what was a difficult start to the year and Julie and the kids for putting up with the racing.

Not sure about 2001. Have to see how the finances are, but even so, thank you for viewing my site, hope you found it interesting and drop me an e-mail to let me know what you think.