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Fast Eddy 2003

Trentham Gardens (Stoke) 6th April 2003

A warm and sunny day greeted the riders at 7:00 am as signing on started for the Clubman race. The usual organised chaos of a motorcycle event went smoothly as riders collected their transponders and riding numbers. Only a front number was provided - but it's a good idea to have your numbers on the side as well - as Ricky Mair about that. After a riders meeting at 9:00 the 2 strokes lead off to the start at the "Lake".

The course was mostly run in reverse but with some new sections added in. It provided an interesting and challenging course with none of the massive rutted sections or bogs of recent years. The hills didn't get too badly rutted but developed some fast uphill whoops - fun to fly over at speed if you got it right - sore if you didn't. There were a couple of wee tricky loops added in for the experts in the afternoon after the Clubmen had "prepared" the course.

A complaint from a lot of riders was arm pump as the course had no sections where you could get any rest in the lap. Several of the Pros suffered from this as well and it slowed lap times until it had eased and riders could hold the bars again. It may not be an Enduro but it was no 15 minute MX.

In the Pro Class Wayne Braybrook emerged the winner with(Correction - Jason Fraser winner after Wayne excluded for receiving outside assistance on the track) Jason Fraser in second. Several of the top riders were close to running out of fuel due to the high speed of the laps. The flag went out at 2:51 just short of the 3 hour mark.

Euan McConnel had a good race for most of the day despite a couple of spills finishing finally in 7th place ahead of Richard Hay in 8th. Richard was out his new Yamaha 450 and relished the power up the hills. The electric button proving its worth when the inevitable off happened . Easier than kicking an upside down 570 4 stroke single

Sean Wooley - the Invisible Man- was finally photographed on the course riding in the Expert Class- crashing just after the picture was taken. Don't wave to the crowd !!!. He finished in 8th in the 250 class on 19 laps just beating Murray Thomson in 11th on 18 laps . Murray was another rider suffering from arm pump causing him to slow for several laps to rest  before charging again.

Ricky Mair entered the Pro class and finished in 21st place - 18 laps -only 3 laps down on the winner. Riding most of the race with no number plate due to an early tumble and a dodgy transponder.  A great performance.

One of the popular Fast Eddys with the hills suiting the Scots - only a bit more water next year please.

Thanks to Paul Eddy and his team for another great event.

Click on photos to enlarge - e-mail me if you want a copy

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