Christian Iddon
Iddon’s been trucking about.
Well, things have finally calmed down for me but only slightly. The last few months have been just plain hectic but my feet are starting to hit the ground again and I’m finally managing to get a few nights in my own bed which is good as BSB is mental at the moment. As I’m sure you’re all aware, it’s pretty much a split championship and after nine rounds the championship challengers are decided. By the time you read this I’ll be either in or out so it really is crunch time…
Looking back, I had a rubbish Thruxton. Despite having all the pace in the world, we just couldn’t get a grip (see what I did there) of the tyre wear situation so I did a bit poop. I faired a bit better at Cadwell but nothing too incredible so at the time of writing we just have Silverstone left to decide the top six. Three races, and 75 points up for grabs. Between us, I don’t know the exact points situation and I don’t really want to. What I do know is that it’s mathematically possible and I know who I’m racing against to get into that Showdown. That’s how I’m playing this one. I figure if I do the best I can in the last three races then the rest will take care of itself.
I just hope the next column is all about how I’m now a championship challenger! Aside from the racing, about the only thing that has happened outside of the racing is I’ve finally passed my articulated lorry licence thanks to the guys at Silicone Engineering – I think it was a ploy to get me driving their truck to the races for them but whatever the reason I’m very grateful! At the time of the test I wasn’t grateful at all though. I despise that ‘test’ feeling. I would genuinely take start line butterflies over a driving test feeling any day of the week. Long story short, I didn’t mow anyone down and I got a pass so that’s me ready for the big rig rubber ducky.
As it goes, I’ve only done a few races and driven some lorries but somehow, as much as everything has calmed down, life is still full tilt. When you ‘only’ race 12 times a year people always ask, ‘What do you do the rest of the time?’ and to be honest it leaves me pondering where my time actually goes. This year I did an extra two rounds of World Endurance (and a Suzuka test) but even with Tyco’s testing, it still doesn’t seem to fill out 365 days, so I have stuck my fingers in a few extra pies. I actually have more pies than fingers at the moment with a few ‘extra-curricular’ jobs on the go and I’m currently going through the process of buying a house as well. By buying a house I actually mean, my mum has lent me a wheelbarrow load of money to buy me a house. I’m assuming she is going to want paying back at some point but I’m keeping quiet on the situation for now…
Alongside becoming a property tycoon I do some coaching (wheelies) on the Whitham track training days which is mega, and race weekends are essentially four days long so that soon adds up with the season running from the end of March until October. November months are taken up with shows and a month working in a back street tyre garage (yep, really) before I leave for warmer climates with a few other racers to find some winter sun before testing begins. Then it’s back to business!
And it’s not even just that; training itself has to be one of the most time consuming parts of the job. jo I’m not sure folk realise the lengths we go to for marginal gains outside of the ircuit in pursuit of perfection, but it really s a 24/7 job. So far this year I’ve run, swum and a cycled over 10,000km which is the equivalent e of my house to Tokyo (and a bit more) and that doesn’t take into consideration gym work…
So yeah, the life of a racer can get pretty hectic. If anyone wants me I think I have a bit of time December to mid-January but I think the girlfriend is after a holiday at some point and a after everything she puts up with (being with w me) she probably deserves it so that’s another week of ‘work’ pencilled in… but until then it’s time to pack the motorhome. Bring on the Showdown!