Team Tor 2000 - Ilton 15/07/2010

The forecast for the night was heavy rain and 40mph winds coming in at about 1900 hours.  Well the weather men got it spot on.  They were the worst conditions Ive ever riden a bike in.  Absolutely mad.  It started raining after we had signed on and just got progressively worse!  After a warm up lap we even asked for our money back !  This was not a nice night. The 4ths race started and 3 guys shot off the front after 100 yards.  They were never seen again.  Me and Keith were in the following pack with the wind behind us until we hit the bottom left hand corner.  It was so windy on this bend you had to stop peddling otherwise the wind would push you onto the grass!  After the bend, with the wind now coming from the left hand side the speed dropped to about 12mph!  You needed to be on the immediate left of the leader to be sheltered from the wind!  The spray coming off the tyre infront of you was a constant face wash but with dirty discoloured water !

Darren got dropped after the circuit went directly in to the wind but was picked up by a another rider and stayed with him until after 2 laps later we picked up another 4 riders.  The pace was comfortable but the conditions were not fun.  After a quick bit of maths, and realising no points were on offer for his current position Darren pulled off and got changed !  Funny but he should have stayed riding.

Keith got together with a solo rider and rode around at a fast pace.  On the last lap the commissionaire pulled along side of Keith in his car and shouted 'You two are 6th and 7th'.  Keith got beat in the sprint but was more than happy with 3 points.  Unfortunately the results dont include Keith but there is a Stewards Enquiry taking place !

Darren took his numbers back and stood under the metal gazebo watching the race.  5 minutes later the wind picked up to such and extent the gazebo was making a bid to escape!  After telling the women with the licenses, race numbers, drinks and snacks to stick em all in a box quick as the gazebo wont be about long he was left laughing out loud when she replied with 'urrr errr' and then 30 seconds later it happened.  The wind ripped through the gazebo and the numbers were scattered high in the sky causing more confusion.  After taking the gazebo side panels down and getting just as wet as he was on the bike, without even a 'thanks' from the scientists in control, Darren went back to the van to sit in his boxers and drink coffee !!

What a night !   Hopefully there will be no wind or rain in a fortnight.