storm42
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2011
- Messages
- 1,220
All change again for this year, I wasn't going to bother with this but someone asked the other day so here is another racing thread for you all.
The last race at Cadwell in 2022 presented me with the opportunity of buying a Manx, this is a bucket list bike for me, and whilst I really want to sort the ES2 out, and what I paid for the Manx would have done that, I couldn't resist the pull of racing a Manx.
I made a couple of changes before I took it on track, I raised the seat an inch and lowered and moved back the footrests, I took the dead battery pack out of the Interspan ignition and now have a remote battery hanging from the frame. I fitted new tyres and headed off to the Mallory test day at the end of March, cold and wet was the order of the day and my nice shiny Manx, leathers and helmet were well and truly baptised.
The bike was as expected apart from the front drum, it didn't fail but when the marshals were standing up every time i approached the hairpin, I figured it needed improving.
The first race was at Mallory mid April and I took the front end off the Petty ES2, the drum from that is 30mm bigger and I didn't remember having problems with it before. The practice session showed I had made the right decision, the brake was a fair bit better.
The first days racing went well and apart from a MT125R Honda buzzing us (horrible smelly thing) I got two 3rd places, I am happy with that, new bike and all that. That Honda was put in our race on a not for points basis and the corner entry speed was unbelievable, so much so I went to find it in the paddock because I was convinced it didn't have any brakes.
We woke up Sunday to a damp track and for some reason I couldn't get going, I was still third in class though but the fly in the ointment this time was Merv on his old Rudge, girder forks, no rear suspension and running on methanol, his speed round Gerrards was fun to see.
Second race Sunday was dry but cold and it was back to normal, another 3rd. The biggest shock for me came a couple of days later when I looked at my lap time from the year before when I was on the ES2, despite only doing 2 races on the ES2, and 4 races on the Manx, both the first time out on the bikes and both at Mallory, I was 0.2 of a second faster on the ES2. I think it was a lot warmer a year ago so I should get faster on the Manx.
Next race weekend is at Cadwell park 13/14th may.
The last race at Cadwell in 2022 presented me with the opportunity of buying a Manx, this is a bucket list bike for me, and whilst I really want to sort the ES2 out, and what I paid for the Manx would have done that, I couldn't resist the pull of racing a Manx.
I made a couple of changes before I took it on track, I raised the seat an inch and lowered and moved back the footrests, I took the dead battery pack out of the Interspan ignition and now have a remote battery hanging from the frame. I fitted new tyres and headed off to the Mallory test day at the end of March, cold and wet was the order of the day and my nice shiny Manx, leathers and helmet were well and truly baptised.
The bike was as expected apart from the front drum, it didn't fail but when the marshals were standing up every time i approached the hairpin, I figured it needed improving.
The first race was at Mallory mid April and I took the front end off the Petty ES2, the drum from that is 30mm bigger and I didn't remember having problems with it before. The practice session showed I had made the right decision, the brake was a fair bit better.
The first days racing went well and apart from a MT125R Honda buzzing us (horrible smelly thing) I got two 3rd places, I am happy with that, new bike and all that. That Honda was put in our race on a not for points basis and the corner entry speed was unbelievable, so much so I went to find it in the paddock because I was convinced it didn't have any brakes.
We woke up Sunday to a damp track and for some reason I couldn't get going, I was still third in class though but the fly in the ointment this time was Merv on his old Rudge, girder forks, no rear suspension and running on methanol, his speed round Gerrards was fun to see.
Second race Sunday was dry but cold and it was back to normal, another 3rd. The biggest shock for me came a couple of days later when I looked at my lap time from the year before when I was on the ES2, despite only doing 2 races on the ES2, and 4 races on the Manx, both the first time out on the bikes and both at Mallory, I was 0.2 of a second faster on the ES2. I think it was a lot warmer a year ago so I should get faster on the Manx.
Next race weekend is at Cadwell park 13/14th may.
Last edited: