Richard Johnston - Racing NEMCRC, Croft Circuit August 2008. Following the foray to Chimay in July, when the 560cc cylinder barrel split, it was all change back to the 512cc barrels for the rest of the season. At Croft the bike seemed underpowered and sluggish. This was put down to the reduction in capacity, but following a poor 5th place result in race one, a binding and distorted front disc brake was discovered as the culprit. Despite my best efforts, this could not be resolved completely and poor positions of 7th and 5th again resulted in the next two races. For the final, fourth race, the gearing was lowered to compensate for the binding brake and a 3rd place was achieved. However, as the previous championship leader's bike had expired, I found myself now leading the Unlimited Class Championship with a significant points advantage. New Era, Lansdowne Cup, Cadwell Park October 2008 Although only "guesting" at this meeting for one of the two days of the meeting, we travelled to Lincolnshire with high expectations after our exploits at Chimay. The "Lansdowne Cup" is a national racing series, essentially for 350cc and 500cc period one Classic bikes made before 1964, which itself "guests" at high profile racing events . Bikes must be essentially to standard specification and streamlining is not allowed. Unfortunately, it was not to be, following torrential overnight rain, Sunday's practice was on a soaking track and the bike miss-fired miserably. After adjustment of the remote float height there seemed to be an improvement. As forecast, the weather cleared and the track dried for race one. Any hopes of success were dispelled when the miss-fire and cutting out returned with a vengeance. Back to the paddock and more checks revealed a loose connection inside the magneto. That fixed, race two appeared promising, but after a rear of the grid start, it proved impossible to break into the leading, tightly bunched pack and a fifth 350cc position resulted. However, it was still an enjoyable experience and I look forward to doing more of these meetings next year. NEMCRC, East-Fortune Raceway, October 11th~12th 2008. Coming into this meeting as the Championship leader by a healthy margin, it was essential that, to win the championship, a good finish was achieved in each of the four 10-lap races, but not to break the 512cc Dominator or fall off trying to beat the bigger 750 and 850cc Norton, BSA and Weslake bikes. Timed practice went well with 4th place on the front row of the grid, ahead of all but one of the Unlimited class opposition on his 700cc BSA-Seeley. Race one was a good result with a hard fought 2nd place overall, taken from Adam Ward on his 750cc Weslake-Norton and Anthony Ambler on his Honda after Dave Beadle had dumped the big BSA-Seeley, but behind Mark Herbertson on his 500cc G50 Matchless-Seeley. Another twentyfive points in the bag! Race two was a repeat win for Mark Herbertson, and a lonely 2nd place for me after beating-off the challenge of Anthony Ambler and his Honda. Another 25 points in the bag and a no-show for chief challenger Beadle, made the 2008 NEMCRC Unlimited Championship a mathematical certainty for me. Hurrah! Be-e-e-e-r! As Homer simpson would say! Next days racing was surprising to say the least. Local lad Stuart Gray, who normally cleans up on his 750cc Trident, chose to ride the Eclipse Motorcycles 350cc Drixton Honda instead. Any thoughts that we may now be in with a chance were soon dispelled. In Race one, on Sunday, Stuart won emphatically from a back of the grid start from Mark Herbertson and set the fastest lap on the little, but incredibly fast Honda. Setting the fastest lap in the process. I found myself swapping places with Dave Beadle for third place, on his now repaired BSA, until back-markers settled the issue on the last lap and Dave took the position. In race two I found myself in a lonely third spot ahead of Anthony Ambler, but behind the battling duo of Herbertson and Gray. Stuart again taking the result by the smallest of margins. So that is it for another year! Success again in the NEMCRC Championships and elsewhere. Many thanks to all that have competed against me or helped me and specific thanks to the TVCC for their generous financial support. If my "blog has in any way interested or inspired you to get involved with either me or the sport, or you are interested in supporting me in any way, please contact me at: richard40m@ticali.co.uk See you all next Year! Richard.