Video overview Snetterton

Anglesey - great track.

I have to say I was a bit apprehensive about what the new track would be like, but it is fantastic - smooth, with loads of grip and a great combination of corners and gradients.

Also there is the opportunity to have a range of circiut layouts; we used the 'Coastal Circuit' with the Corkscrew section.

Not quite as radical as its namesake at Laguna Seca - but a very challanging section none the less.

It is a great place to make a pass on the last lap - provided you have what it takes!

Also the scenery in North Wales is just so gorgeous - it's just a pity the weather wasn't a bit kinder to us all weekend. The picture was taken on the way back, the coast road (A55) allows you to take in some spectacular vistas.

I've had a look at the championship points table, and totally unofficially, I think I am now leading all four Classic championships.

Classic racing - it's not a parade...

Just in case you didn't think it was competitive - here's a fabulous shot of me and Lea going for it yesterday.

We had just gone off the line Lea leading into turn one and I managed to drop Betty underneth him, 'just'..

Photo by Russell Lee, Sport-Pics



Click on the photo to see the fantastic detail.

Fantastic finish!

At last the sun came out and the track rapidly dried.
The 500 race and National event were back to back so that meant things would be a bit hetic.

Had a cracking race with Lea in the National really nip and tuck stuff, unfortunately he crashed out, me and 'Buster' took the win.

Lea did not start the last 500 race, the win gave me my sixth victory of the day - a real clean sweep of success!

First 500 race.

Well 'Buster' took his first win of the weekend.

It was in the opening 500 race, once again wet track and light rain.
I led again from the flag to the finish, Lea came home in 2nd.

350 National race.

This is a longer race with more status, the Nationals are the races that you must finish to count towards the overall Championship.

Young Richard Molnar stole Steve's job of warming her up.

Track is still wet but some how more slippy.

Took the win from Lea in 2nd.

Betty's wide awake.

Once again the first race of the day's the 350.
Track is wet with a light drizzle.

Andy had changed the gearing and Betty was on it from the flag to the finish!
Team mate Vannie came home a brilliant 2nd!

Last race.

For the last race of the day I did some major suspension changes. However, it was guess work as we had such little set up time in the dry conditions.

In the leading pack Alan Oversby unfortunately fell off in front of me. I did my best to avoid him but I think I did run over his legs; he's okay though.

Managed to stay on but ended up on the grass though and Lea had broke away by the time I was back on the black stuff, came home 2nd behind Lea.

2nd 350 race.

Starting from pole I had a belting race

with Lea.

Swapping the lead several times in the drying conditions he just got me over the line though to take the win.

First 500 race.

Once we picked up the pace for racing the 500 just did not want to turn and was pattering everywhere. It was the first dry session we had and needed more set up time.

Managed to get a 3rd though.

Made a couple of changes but it is really frustrating having to try them out for the first time in the actual race!

First 350 race.

Just won the first of two 350 races today on 'Betty'. Very wet conditions were tricky but I like the rain so I enjoyed them.

She shot off the line and we led from the start to the finish six laps later.

The first 500 is just before lunch.

Practice day.

The circuit is challenging, I quite enjoy it though.

Both bikes are going well.

The wet track has really halted any further development today, looking forward to racing tomorrow.

First session.

Well Steve has already learnt his lesson, turning up with ear defenders.

Essential when you are having to rev the bike for 20mins to warm them up.

I hope I can learn the track as easily.

Here I'm teaching Steve to write (just kiding) we were going over the suspension settings of the new suspension on 'Buster'.

Fast, very fast.

It's my first time here at Anglesey so walked the track tonight with Vannie, Tommy and Steve.
I must say that I rather fancy plenty of rain now.
It looks fast, very fast and I am a bit concerned about how the Avon tyres might hold up on this new abrasive surface.
It is beautiful here, right on the edge of the coast.

All videos in one place.

I have now gathered together most of the videos I have made over the last few years and put them all together in the one place to make viewing easier.
Click here to find the video blog, and remember to add it to your favourites: Mike Edwards Video

Engine demise overview

Gordon in his prime...

I thought I would just share this great action shot of 'Gordon' when he was absolutely flying and in his prime.

Action photo by: Racing Line Photography

Gordon's demise.

I am afraid to report that Gordon is no more.
First lap, second corner and the con rod broke, smashing everything in it's path.

Photo shows bits in belly pan that trackside marshalls kindly returned to me before finally loading him in the recovery truck.

Crash damage we could mend, but this engine failure means the gordon project has finally reached it's conclusion.

Gordon is terminated.

Young guns go for it.

My fellow 400 riders Adam Lyon and Max Exton came looking for me.
They were concerned that I was missing from the grid.
I simply was not going to give these young whippersnappers the joy of effortlessly driving away from me when I was working hard to catch them on the brakes!

I'll be back lads...

Morning warm up.

Here is a picture of the lovely Kylie Mono, and her rider Judy, sorry Jody.

Just out for a few laps of morning warm up.

I have taken the management decision not to run Ming in the 400 races today, I might as well save wear and tear on the bike until Peter finishes the new motor.
Mind you if it pours down...

Every picture...

...tells a story.
The red line is ming, the top line one of the front running kawasakis.

I am riding hard, but find it a bit difficult to get round the power difference.

Full result: Adam Lyon, Parbury, Exton, Cooper.

2nd EDIasia Formula 400 race.

Last race of the day, boy it was hard keeping up though.
Managed another 5th.

Had to go to dyno after race, Ming registered just about 61bhp, the Kawasaki in the queue next to me registered 76bhp!!

Gordon gets 2nd!

12 lap race, Mark Lawes took the win.

Gordon went well though, and we did get past Mark at some stage.

The real pain is though, I rather stupidly left a set of wheel spacers at home and as a result we are having to swap the front wheel between Gordon and Ming for every outing.

Doh!

1st EDIasia formula 400 race.

Had a bit of trouble with the gear lever about the 3rd lap.

It was getting lower and lower.

Difficult to dice with folk under such conditions, but I tried to go for it Adam lyon won, then Exton, Cooper and Parbury before me in 5th.

Only Cooper and I got into the 1 minute 16s.

Gear lever rod finally gave up and broke as I approached the flag and crossed the line.

Supermono qualifying.

Gordon went alright considering he's not turned a wheel since October.
Jody was out for both his first time on Kylie and first time at Snetterton.

The session was fine, top three swapping positions were me, Mark Lawes and Nick Chadwick.

In the last couple of laps Nick snatched pole and then on the last lap Mark pinched 2nd from me.

qualifying 400

Well I had the 15 minutes to do what I could.

Man, some of those bikes are fast.

I managed to qualify 3rd behind Cooper and then Parbury on pole.

Following up on the grid are: Exton, Lyon and Palmer.
Ten minutes to qualify Gordon next.

Finishing touches.

We have all arrived safely.
Sarah and Steve Jordan have kindly offered us a space in their awning.
We also have Jody Lovatt with us. A new convert to the super mono class.
He has just recently bought his lovely bike Kylie.
Kylie Mono...

Getting ready for Snetterton.

Ming and Gordon are jostling for position, to see who gets the best spot in the van.
Setting off for Snetterton soon, once the tyres arrive of course...
Got lots of races this weekend, with both the EDIasia Formula 400 and the opening round of the British Supermono championship.

Will keep you updated with progress via this blog.

Mings new bodywork

After falling off Ming at Brands the bodywork was damaged, so a quick phone call to Dave at Replicast and he jumped into action. Quickly making a new complete fairing and repairing Ming's original one.
It didn't end there though as Ming runs a Kit exhaust system and the down pipes hang low down interfering with the fairing, so Steve and I had to make a extension to the belly pan to accommodate the exhaust, a glass fibre kit and a bit of swearing soon had the new fairing fitted and looking good.

Just needs spraying, stickering up and we'll have a backup fairing for Ming.

Gordon's new clothes

Gordon's new bodywork should be ready tomorrow, Speaking to Mark Lancaster from Colour-it-in today they were well on with the job. Gordon like Bill is being 'Wrapped' not painted for this season, but Mark is being tight lipped as to the exact design they are coming up with.

Hopefully I should be collecting his new clothes tomorrow, I can't wait to see what he is going to look like.

Pictures coming soon.

Gordon comes home

Well at last Gordon has come home. I went down to Peter Day's finished off a couple of things and brought him home.
I had Ming in the van too, I had to replace the gear lever and fit a new speed nut to the frame on Ming so I thought it would be a good idea to take him alomg for the ride. A bit of a squeeze getting two bikes in the van but it was a good test to see how they went in.
Peter has started building a new engine for Ming, lightened crankshaft, shot peaned con rods, banded clutch basket, 1mm oversize pistons, kit cams, this should be much more powerfull than the original 64 bhp motor!