No94 Pirate and Buddha Season Review 2011

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 18:22:06 +0000

Phil Luhr (The Pirate) & Dave Currell (Buddha) had spent quite a lot of time during the 2010 season developing the outfit and trying to sort out some handling problems. At the start of the 2011 season although the outfit was handling better than previously there was still some problems – mainly with left hand bends.

Mallory Park - March – 4 good finishes for the start of the season with no mechanical problems.

Pembrey – April – A good practice session on Friday and a good practice session on Saturday morning. Whilst checking the outfit over after Saturday’s practice Phil discovered a crack in the forks. The rest of Saturday was spent with John Simper repairing and welding the forks. Sunday racing produced a 6th and a 4th place.

Anglesey – May - Four finishes in wet conditions. This was the meeting when Phil & Dave realised that the outfit was still not handling very well at all. At one point they went off onto the grass at flat out speed and were lucky to re-join the circuit safely – albeit in last position!

Knockhill – June – This year Phil & Michelle (wife) decided to fly up instead of driving. Dave drove up with Jimmy (The Mentor), with the outfit in the back of the van. Another four finishes notched up, although there were still clearly some handling problems.

Brands Hatch – July – Race one was a good result, finishing 4th in class. Race 2 was memorable for all the wrong reasons! Up to now Phil & Dave had finished every race that they had started – unfortunately race 2 was a couple of firsts for the boys – the first time they did not finish a race and the first time that Dave was launched out of the outfit (luckily unhurt)! The boys were not so disappointed after a few hours when the Gristwood annual party got underway. Sunday was a much better day and provided 2 good finishes.

On Sunday morning - Phil asked Simon & Dave to take the outfit out in the practice session to see what they thought of the handling. The conclusion was – not good! As Phil & Dave were travelling from Brands Hatch straight over to Belgium to take part in the Chimay Road Race – Simon and Dave were not happy with them taking their own outfit for safety reasons – and suggested that they take their no. 73 outfit. And so the no. 73 went off to Chimay whilst no. 94 was transported up to D & D Engineering to have the handling problem sorted.

Chimay – July – This was the 3rd year in succession at Chimay for Phil & Dave – unfortunately the previous 2 years were not good with 4 DNF’s. Phil & Dave came back from their first practice session and both said straight away how much smoother and safer the no. 73 outfit was compared to their own. They qualified in 11th position, which they were more than happy with but both boys said they would like to finish the racing in the top 10. They were well happy with the final results finishing 5th in the first race and 6th in the second. They managed to knock 8 seconds off of their practice lap times.

Darley Moor – August – Before this meeting the outfit was at D&Ds for a week, a lot of work had been done on the outfit including; sidecar wheel tow had been altered, handlebars changed, Phil had also fitted a new water pump and repaired a leak in the header tank - so in theory the boys should have been set for a good weekend! But it was the worst race meeting ever for Phil & Dave! The sidecar grids were completely different for this race meeting, due to limited numbers on the grid. Phil & Dave found themselves on pole position for their first race. All was going great as they came into the hairpin on the first lap leading the pack when they had a Torvil & Dean moment and spun out. The frame sustained a break after the spin when Mr Bellaby could not avoid colliding with them. The frame was welded up before the 2nd race. Race 2 was a DNF due to clutch problems. Race 3 was DNF due to rider and passenger mis-communication! Race 4 – after a good start there was a problem with the lanyard which stopped the engine as they went into the 1st right-hander, causing the boys to lose quite a few places – finally finishing in 8th position.

Cadwell Park – September – A great weekends racing with some of the closest racing for Phil & Dave all season. Three finishes in 8th place – one DNF on Sunday morning when the gearbox mounting bolt came out.

Snetterton – October – Another good weekend – finishing in 5th, 4th, 4th and 6th places.

Overall a good season for Phil & Dave with 2 DNS’s and 5 DNF’s out of the total 32 races. The handling problems had been well sorted through the year – although Phil had come to realise (after riding No. 73) that their outfit was slightly too small for his height despite making a new seat unit, changing handlebars etc.

Simon and Dave had their new BMW outfit delivered at the Sidecar Festival in October and very generously offered their No. 73 outfit to Phil and Dave. The boys had a big decision to make – go with No. 73 which they knew they both enjoyed riding and had had some success in Belgium – or stick with the No. 94 which they had spent nearly 3 years developing. The decision was made for them at the Sidecar Festival when the boys knocked nearly 5 seconds off of their lap times riding the No.73 outfit.

So roll on the 2012 season – a new outfit – a new challenge!

International Festival of Sidecars

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:01:00 +0100

Simon Smith and Dave Gristwood were very happy to take delivery of their new outfit just in time for the International Festival of Sidecars at Mallory Park on the 29th/30th October 2011.

Testing on Friday and racing on Saturday and Sunday meant the outfit completed over 80 laps on its first outing without missing a beat.

The frame has been made by D&D Engineering who delivered the rolling chassis on time. The engine, exhaust and ignition was supplied by Moorespeed with final finishing by John Perkins. Again, delivered on time as agreed when the project started in April.

Dave and Simon have already managed to knock over 3 seconds off their previous best times around Mallory and are very grateful to all involved with the project.

Dick & Seb 3rd in Belgian Championship

Sat, 1 Oct 2011 21:59:17 +0100

Congratulations to Dick Hawes and Sebastian Barr who have been confirmed as finishing 3rd in the Belgian Classic Sidecar Championship.

It is Dick and Seb’s first season on the BMW 16’ wheel machine.

Rare photo

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:03:45 +0100

Here’s a rare photo of Dave Johnson with James Blackmore in the chair.

The machine was destroyed after this photo was taken in an accident exiting Gerrards at Mallory Park.

No 92 Jack’s a demon in the wet at Anglesey

Thu, 26 May 2011 21:57:04 +0100

Jack Gristwood had his most successful race to date when the CRMC visited Anglesey. Jack races in the hyper competitive TZ350 class. On Sunday in very wet conditions Jack started from the back of the grid and had passed several riders on the first lap.
By the final lap Jack had made it up to fourth place, not only passing, but then gapping many very experienced riders.

This was the ride of the weekend for Team Gristwood.

SS

Team Gristwood Blog

No94 Pirate and Buddha Season Review 2011

International Festival of Sidecars

Dick & Seb 3rd in Belgian Championship

Rare photo

No 92 Jack’s a demon in the wet at Anglesey