Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Final fling!

Our Charlie and Gary enjoy the last rounds of their season and reflect on their first full season of racing.

- WORDS: CHARLIE OAKMAN, GARY HARTSHORNE

Round three had been quite an experience ... my teammate Gary 'Bridgeston­e' Hartshorne ducked out after a race one high-side; other fallers had left our joyous racing commune decimated with injuries, that left me as the last man standing.

Highs and lows are all part of racing at every level - even aboard humble Honda CB500 twins in the East Midlands Riding Associatio­n (EMRA) series, which would now be heading to Mallory Park and Gary would be returning and we'd be going toe-totoe! That he would attend was amazing enough, considerin­g his extensive bruising! With me getting better each time out he would be my ' black and blue' target this round ...

Gary had qualified a full second ahead of me for both the CB500 and Mini-twin races we had entered, four in total at Mallory. Though gutted with qualifying in the 1:04s, having Gaz in the 1:03s he was clearly in my sights. As the lights went out for the first race he was just in front. After a lap-and-ahalf I had ducked under him at Edwina's with some late braking and was winning, albeit back some 10 places from the actual race leader, but I didn't care! I knew that it was the exit to Edwina's that would see our Gaz lose a bit of pace as this is where he had hit the ejector seat at the last round. Gary was a second off his pace, but I still had to find a second to eventually claim the 'win' by 0.188 of a second, recording what would be my fastest ever lap of Mallory Park.

Race two was different as Gary put me back in my box as I battled with others to get a clear run at him, which cost me the two seconds that separated us at the end. Race three was more like race one, with me getting over the line 0.294 seconds before Gary. I was elated to beat my team mate and yet I genuinely think no one was happier for me than he was. To be fair he still wasn't 100 per cent from his last-round crash as he had to sit out the last race of the day so he was fit for the last round finale ... this meant space at round five for Fast Bikes magazine tester and seasoned racer Carl Stevens.

He rolled up to Mallory on Saturday night having just completed an endurance race at Cadwell Park on his GSX-RLO00. This was going to be interestin­g, as he had never ridden the CB500 that our mechanic Chris Smith had leant him for the round. In fact, he had never ridden a CB500, or navigated a lap of Mallory!

Despite this, Carl was something else and was up in the thick of it pretty much from the off. I showed him a lap of Mallory with his behind and then off he popped! Carl ended round five with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the races he finished. He only pulled out of the first race as he was on a dry set up and it rained (not his bike, so he erred on the side of caution ... ). Gary (now on the spanners) had advised I stick in a wet front, which got me round the opening 10 lapper of the day, nursing my faultless CB home in 4th place - my best result all season.

What was interestin­g though was the amount of fun that Carl had. He explained: "I was giggling in my crash helmet as opposed to trying to hold on to 200bhp of craziness!"

The season finale ran across Saturday and Sunday, having entered two series - CB500S and Bridgeston­e Mini-twins I would have a total of six races and two qualifiers. For Gary (back and fully fit) it would be very different as a Suzuki SV650 replaced his CB500 as he would be campaignin­g the SV next season.

I was happy on my CB, having achieved all but one of my pre-season wish list points, including collecting all of my signatures to now race without the novice bib. All that remained was to see the weekend through in one piece, though this would end up being a hindrance as I completed day one with two 11th places knowing I was better than the results suggested. Maybe I was being too cautious? On the other hand, Gary was having a great crack at it on his new steed, taking 5th, 2nd and 4th place finishes that weekend against SVS that have been running all season.

We had a great final night in the paddock, before some restless sleep in the back of my van before day two dawned, wet and thundery! But that didn't stop me enjoying all four races with top 10 finishes along with my final race with a respectabl­e 7th place . My season had come to an end and it is genuinely one of the best experience­s of my life. EMRA and Bridgeston­e offered me the opportunit­y to do this and hopefully give other people - maybe even you - the impetus to give it a go.

Big thanks to Joyce and lain Rankin for their support of every rider and the running of all logistics of the series. They presented Gary and I with a laurel wreath each as a thank you for helping to promote CB500 racing and all classes that East Midland Racing Associatio­n serve. I was also given a glass EMRA Trophy that remains in pride of place on my mantelpiec­e. I may or may not race again, but will never forget my amazing rookie season and all involved - I cannot recommend the experience highly enough, it's an absolute blast!

 ?? ?? TOP: Charlie LEADS Gary!
TOP: Charlie LEADS Gary!
 ?? ?? ABOVE: Gazza in pain!
ABOVE: Gazza in pain!
 ?? ?? BELOW: All action with earl up at the front!
BELOW: All action with earl up at the front!
 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? ABOVE: Yes, it's quite wet!
ABOVE: Yes, it's quite wet!
 ?? ?? ABOVE: Teammates for the day...
ABOVE: Teammates for the day...
 ?? ?? RIGHT: Always a good craic!
RIGHT: Always a good craic!
 ?? ?? RIGHT: Luxury accommodat­ion!
RIGHT: Luxury accommodat­ion!
 ?? ?? earl dicing for the lead .
earl dicing for the lead .
 ?? ??
 ?? ??

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