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KIRKISTOWN 2010
Loading on Thursday night was typical motor sport weather lashing rain and assistant with back problems. Hopefully Friday and Saturday will not be the same. Bad language and threats of leaving Ireland were the order of the evening.
Friday dawned rain free and we headed off North stopping en route at the new services for a splash and dash. If you are towing where do you park – HGV or car area? Decision made just park sideways taking up three cars spaces. We met up with another crew who mirrored the parking etiquette. As we left they were going for the healthy option breakfast of the full Irish. Apparently the eggs had already done a few laps.
We arrived at Kirkistown and set up and ready for testing – not the car the driver as it is a very fast circuit but. Did two sessions without repeating the Anglesey mistakes. We decided to do scrutiny and sign-on on the Friday evening as qualifying was early on Saturday morning. A different system than Mondello where you have to queue up for “noise” testing and join another queue for scrutiny. I wonder will they do noise testing at Mondello in the future? Whew, passed both and headed to Portaferry for an early dinner with the “healthy options” crew.
Up early but had to skip breakfast as it started too late. (Memo to self: arrange early breakfast when we are here next year). Good coffee at Kirkistown which restored our spirits. Clive Brandon had an oil leak on Friday and unfortunately had to pack up and head home. Quite a lot of cars did not make the meeting due to various mechanical problems (with cars and drivers). This left a small grid which was a pity as the weather was lovely, i.e. not raining. Qualifying over and the usual grid position secured. Time for more coffee and chat – one driver, who was obviously so focussed, went to get a coke and forgetting where he was offered to pay in Euros which weren’t accepted!
A few snippets from the two races follow: Alan Kessie broke a half shaft and had to retire. He made the mistake of abandoning his Gryphon in another crew’s area and came back to find a “For Sale - any reasonable offers considered” on it. Coupled with the threat of penal parking charges it was hastily removed. Jackie Cochrane’s Tiger was flying although his car was not set up for Kirkistown but for Donnington in two weeks time. This didn’t seem to make any difference though. Good luck at Donnington. Garth Maxwell appeared a vision in motor bike gear (not sure about scrutiny of this outfit) but due to technical problems he was unable to race and was there in his capacity as Grid Official.
John McCandless in the nifty Ginetta spun going off the start and put the fear of God into the following pack and probably himself as well but recovered to continue the race. Barry Smith had some technical problems and so did Leo Nulty but got going. There was great racing and the sight of Bernard Foley and Jackie Cochrane belting it down the main straight would lift your spirits. Noel Kavanagh’s MG had to be push started for the second race. Shades of Angelsey here obviously it is a bit like cheap wine and doesn’t travel well. New alternator required I think(?). The results for both races were as expected.
As with all race meetings things started to run behind time but this delay gave us the chance to wander around the paddock and catch up with friends and make new ones. All-in-all it was a most enjoyable meeting and we were made very welcome by everyone at Kirkistown. Another safe race meeting completed we retired back to Portaferry for dinner having decided it was too far to head home. More importantly the driver and assistant were in need of re-hydration.
One more meeting to go in the Novice’s first season which so far had been full of “up and downs”. Motor sport is really 90% hanging around, 5% disappointment and 5% the best fun you can have!
Signed: “The Novice”
© Druid
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