CMRC Mick Pennell
Classic Racing Motor Cycle Club at Cadwell Park
A story of “Grass Roots” Racing in 2020 Part 2
Report by David Gowshall
18 July 2020
Well …………who saw that coming? Covid 19, about to turn the world and the 2020 race season, like the “Northern Monkey”, Mick Pennell on his BEMSEE debut at Brands Hatch, on its head.
The bonus of the “lockdown lay off” is there has been plenty of time to repair damaged machinery (before and after photographs show damage incurred at Brands Hatch), heal any bumps, scars and bruises ……… and catch up on that long list of little jobs around the home.
So reflecting on Mick Pennell’s 2020 race season so far:-
4 months in, 1 meeting for Mick, none for 95% of racers.
4 races held at Brands Hatch over the Indy circuit, one unfinished, three not started.
Championship challenge, nil points…. much like UK’s annual entry to Eurovision.
After lots of discussion with Barry at Blue Haze Engineering, with the 2020 season now severely truncated, a decision was made to take a new direction, which will take in both BEMSEE and CRMC Championships for the remainder of an amended season.
As a consequence Mick will compete in two championships, in potentially 7 race meetings, 3 BEMSEE meets at Cadwell Park, Donington Park, and a return visit to Brands Hatch, albeit on the GP circuit, and 4 CRMC meetings at Cadwell Park, Darley Moor, Anglesey and Pembrey.
A splash around Cadwell only last week got the Monkey back in the saddle to try and iron out and adjust suspension / tyre set up, but the weather didn’t help, each of the three sessions taking place in pouring rain. So, the 2020 season re-commenced at Cadwell Park this weekend in dry and sunny conditions.
The normal format of 4 CRMC races over the weekend, two on Saturday and two on Sunday, was replaced, due to COVID restrictions, with Saturday practice and qualification and two races only on Sunday.
Saturday’s practice and qualification both went well, and on a gorgeous sunny day Mick was eagerly looking forward to a run on his 350 Yamaha on Sunday in two Classic Formula 750, P/Classic Clubman 750 and Supermono races, on his home circuit.
A good start from the third row of the grid was spoilt when the race was brought to a premature halt after just one lap as one of the machines competing spread oil all over the circuit and on a number of the riders’ helmet visors. Red Flag, Race stopped.
To maintain the programme on time, the riders were sent to the Paddock to await instructions for the re-run, which eventually got underway immediately after lunch.
Another good start saw Mick pushing for a top six position, but once again, the race was stopped on Lap One, when a rider took a tumble on the fast approach to The Gooseneck. Red Flag, Race stopped again. A lengthy delay led to the second re-run being reduced to 4 laps.
Third time lucky, and everyone, including Mick, got away to a clean start.
A problem free run for Mick, which at one time looked like it might result in a top six finish overall, eventually finished with a creditable eighth place overall, less than two seconds behind two more powerful bikes who only overhauled him in the later stages.
First race under his belt and with 3rd Place silverware in Class 8c secured for the trophy cabinet, Mick was eagerly looking forward to his second race of the weekend, which as the result of his first race being delayed, came up rapidly and demanded a quick turnaround in the Paddock.
Race two followed a similar pattern for Mick, settling down in a comfortable top ten position and a three-way tussle for overall eighth place, with two other Class 8C rivals.
Despite his best efforts, Mick missed out on a repeat eighth place overall by just half a second, but his ninth place, this time fifth in class on his 350cc machine was commendable, given he was up against much larger capacity bikes.
The meeting had provided Mick with a big boost of confidence for the remainder of the season, on what was effectively his first competitive weekend of 2020 after his pre-Covid first race of the season misfortune at the BEMSEE Brands Hatch meeting.
He can now eagerly look forward to his next planned outing at Cadwell Park on August 7th, 8th and 9th when he will be hoping to open his BEMSEE championship account and add further to his 2020 silverware collection.
to be continued ………….
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