Mick Pennell – The Final Chapter

A very wet family weekend following Pistonclick’s adopted “Grass Roots” rider, The Northern Monkey.

Report and Images by :DEEGEE: Motorsports Photography

Supplementary Images by Lauren Gowshall and David Harbey

3rd - 4th October 2020

Mick was eagerly looking forward to the final CRMC meeting at Pembrey, a favourite circuit of his, where he started his racing career in 2014, and scheduled for the last weekend in September, where he was hoping to push hard for a top three spot in the Superbike 1 Championship on his little 350.

Unfortunately, only days before it was due to take place, albeit behind closed doors, Welsh Government restrictions and the spread of COVID-19 led to the cancellation of the closing round of the CRMC championship leaving Mick just tantalisingly 3 points short of another championship 3rd.



Keen to not end his season on such a disappointing note, and, at the same time, fulfil a lifelong ambition, Mick logged an entry for last weekend’s final BEMSEE meeting of the year at Brands Hatch, where he would get the opportunity to experience the tree-lined GP circuit for the first time.

Here is the story of both Mick’s weekend and that of :DEEGEE: Motorsport’s photographer David Gowshall, his wife Helen and youngest daughter and apprentice photographer Lauren. 

Mick’s weekend started on Thursday as he and Jack set off late afternoon on the long journey south from North Lincolnshire to Brands Hatch in his trusty Ford van, with a days testing on Friday and two days of qualifying / racing to look forward to, as well as three nights in the “Transit Suite”.



After the first of those nights Mick awoke to torrential rain as Storm Alex passed close to the South coast. 

As a consequence, the testing time he had planned was not as he had envisaged as he cautiously set out to learn the Brands Hatch GP loop, on which he had never raced on before. 

Having only been able to complete one competitive lap of the Indy circuit at the previous round of the BEMSEE championship earlier in the year Mick was on a massive learning curve as he splashed his way round the famous venue.

The day went reasonably well, but the treacherous conditions meant the day could only be of limited use for the next two days competitive action.  Nonetheless, Mick was able to settle down as darkness fell over Kent, confident he now knew the undulations and bends of this iconic circuit a bit better than he did when the day started.

The DEEGEE family’s weekend away began approximately 24 hours after Mick’s and for about half their journey to Brands, everything was going smoothly.  It was about the same time as Mick was settling down for the night that a line of cones guiding the DEEGEE clan off the A14 began almost 45 minutes of total confusion.

Caused by either the locals playing with the diversion signs relating to the road closure, or the traffic management workforce with responsibility for putting up the diversion signs using the drawing issued to them upside down. 

Even the satnav gave up as the signing very helpfully led motorists in a huge circle around the outskirts of Huntingdon before returning to the point of the original road closure.  Some good old-fashioned map reading eventually got the journey back on track.  To add to the heightening stress levels the last part of the journey on the M25 was conducted in a monsoon, literally helping traffic flow along the road.

There was a huge collective sigh of relief as they pulled up at the Swanley Premier Inn from the DEEGEE family.

The next morning Mick again woke from his slumbers in the “Transit Suite”, to heavy rain, which had carried on unabated throughout the night, this time eagerly anticipating qualifying, when he would get the chance to match himself up against his potential rivals in the Blue Haze GPF championship, before two race outings later in the day. 

At the same time the DEEGEE group were being awakened with an ear-piercing shriek as the hotel fire alarm chose to malfunction. It only stopped on for about ten seconds but its effect was amazing as everyone managed to jump out of bed and get dressed before the noise had even stopped!! 



A full English breakfast more than made up for the shock and after travelling just five miles down the A20 the intrepid threesome entered the hallowed gates of Brands Hatch.

They took up station on South Bank, which provides a panoramic view of the infamous Paddock Hill Bend where Mick had fallen heavily in his first visit to the Kent circuit earlier in the season, Druids Hairpin and Graham Hill Bend.

On their arrival, which had been planned with military precision, (not really), the rain stopped and Mick emerged from the pits hoping to set a good qualifying time and gain a good spot on the grid for his first race, scheduled for later in the day.

 

Unfortunately, the qualifying session proved to be a disaster as Mick very quickly realised he was lacking something, his brakes, the lever was coming right back to the bar !!!

With no time, now in the assembly area, Mick was forced to coast one lap of the course in order to register a time and at least guarantee himself a spot in the race, albeit on the back row of the grid.

Although very frustrated, particularly as the problem proved easy to bleed out and solve, Mick was looking forward to his first competitive action on the GP layout.

Although the improving weather helped to dry the road surface it was still very “sketchy”, particularly in the wooded GP loop where the road was still damp in places and tyre choice was going to play a significant part in the race.

Unfortunately, it became very evident early on that Mick’s set up compromise on the classic tyre of choice, Avon’s, which he hoped would help him gain ground from the back of the grid, was not ideal, and Mick, although passing a number of the MZ’s taking part in the race, was unable to gain any ground on his Blue Haze GPF rivals.

9th place in class was a disappointment, but taking account of the lack of proper testing and the qualifying disaster, was the start of what Mick was hoping would be better things later in the day.

With Mick’s first race complete the DEEGEE gang took the opportunity to enjoy some sunshine and complete a walk around the circuit where they met up at Stirlings Bend with fellow Pistonclicker David Harbey.

David Harbey is a contributor to the excellent Brands Hatch Circuit Guide, which can be found on the Pistonclick website. We then took socially distanced seats in the Paddock Hill Bend Grandstand, surely one of the best viewpoints on any British racetrack for spectators.

Mick’s second appearance on a packed race programme, originally planned for mid-afternoon, was put back following a number of red flag incidents as all the riders struggled in the difficult conditions, and he found himself lining up on the grid in semi-darkness on a dry track, with threatening black clouds hovering over the 2.44 mile circuit.

Stuck with the same Avon tyres, things proved better this time as the rain held off and allowed him to triumph in a race long three way battle with two GPF rivals for a well-deserved 7th in class.

Mick went back to the Paddock with a huge smile on his face on what had been a difficult day for him and Jack, and settled down to crumpets, cheese and a hot cuppa in the Transit Suite.

Whilst the DEEGEE clan had to “rough it” at the Beefeater adjoining their hotel with Fillet Steak, Surf and Turf and a Rack of Ribs.  Joking apart, it was delicious!!

After an uneventful night for both Mick and the DEEGEE contingent they were greeted for the third consecutive morning, with ………. you guessed it, torrential rain and a weather forecast promising more of the same throughout the day.

From the same viewing point on South Bank the DEEGEE gang watched rider after rider fall in the opening races of the day at Graham Hill Bend, which by now was resembling a swimming pool. 

The “Orange Army” of marshals, who had no respite from picking up bikes and riders, deserve a special mention at this point for all their work in such awful conditions, all carried out voluntarily.

Mick’s final race again took place in horrendous conditions, and although he was unable to keep up with the three front runners in the Blue Haze GPF class, his perseverance was rewarded with a fourth in class, his best result of the weekend for which he received a well deserved round of applause from the DEEGEE contingent.

Mick’s COVID curtailed BEMSEE season, like so many “grass roots” riders, has been one of many “ups” and “downs”, the highlights being his fourth in class successes at a dry Cadwell Park and, similarly, his last race at a wet Brands Hatch.  Add his consistency in the CRMC championship, and particular his stirring ride at Darley Moor in wet conditions to his achievements in what has been a very strange and truncated year, and his 2020 season can be considered a success and one he is understandably proud of.

Despite the frustration of mechanical breakdowns and a heavy fall at the opening round of the season, nothing has dampened the “Monkey’s” enthusiasm and he is already working out and planning things to be in place in place for a different 2021 season. 

He, like every rider taking part over the weekend, quite frankly deserve a medal, for putting on a show for the hardy spectators who turned up.

Watching the riders struggling against the elements in the rain might not sound a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but, for some, including the DEEGEE gang, motorcycle racing holds a special place, and I know we will be looking forward to going back to Brands Hatch, even if it throws it down with rain again, next season. 

    

Mick’s Brand Hatch weekend ended in the early hours of Monday morning after the long return journey to his North Lincolnshire home. 

Following his progress this season has shown us that hard work combined with unending commitment and enthusiasm, like so many “grass roots” riders, can bring success.

Without the Mick’s of this world we would have nothing to photograph and nothing to watch and enjoy. 

Mick can now look forward to 2021, whatever it might bring ……….. 

You can see more of David Gowshall work here.

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