Racing Skoal Blandit

[Hanma-shin]

This is not kool, but this is a race bike, so guess it is kool, but it’s not. Hammer not glow blue so must be true.

simon we salute you.

[Simbec1863]

First race of the season getting nearer,rolled the runt out of the shed to find a weeping front brake seal,pulled the piston gave it a clean and stuck a new better quality seal in.Brakes bled hopefully now sorted.

Dropped the oil and changed the filter,then removed the clutch cover took out the sight glass, cleaned and resealed let’s see if that stops the leak.Just need to retorque the head when the engines cold,then stick some oil in and she’s race ready for Donington in May.

[Rossco(Iceman Josros)]

On 4/11/2021 at 3:22 PM, Simbec1863 said:

First race of the season getting nearer,rolled the runt out of the shed to find a weeping front brake seal,pulled the piston gave it a clean and stuck a new better quality seal in.Brakes bled hopefully now sorted.

Dropped the oil and changed the filter,then removed the clutch cover took out the sight glass, cleaned and resealed let’s see if that stops the leak.Just need to retorque the head when the engines cold,then stick some oil in and she’s race ready for Donington in May.

A tail of two clutch covers ?? .....

[Simbec1863]

On 4/13/2021 at 6:20 PM, Rossco(Iceman Josros) said:

A tail of two clutch covers ?? .....

Same one hidden by quality crash protection 

[Simbec1863]

Donington is only 2 weeks away so operation head gasket commenced today,everything stripped down and had a quick go at lifting the head,bugger won’t budge then the rain arrived so abandoned the outside workshop and it’s beer o’clock.Will have another go at it tomorrow.

[Markz9]

Great isn't it last minute problems just dropped my engine out 

[Simbec1863]

5 hours ago, Markz9 said:

Great isn't it last minute problems just dropped my engine out 

I feel your pain Mark hope you get it sorted otherwise we can use the test day to finish building them 

[Simbec1863]

Bit more progress today the head gave in after some swearing,surfaces cleaned, new o rings and gasket fitted and head torqued down.Helicoiled the exhaust thread on number 2 cylinder as well,hopefully it does the job.Will do a bit more tomorrow.Pistons looked pretty good for a 30000 mile ex road bike.

Edited May 1, 2021 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

A few more hours today,refitted the cams,set the timing and rechecked the valves.Cam cover back on, hopefully get it finished Saturday as I’m working tomorrow 

[Simbec1863]

Less than a week to go until Donington so had to brave the shitty weather today.Oil tight,carbs on,cables connected,stuck some oil in and turned her over just to circulate a wee bit before I fire her up.Need to seal and fit the zorst tomorrow then check for leaks and rebalance the carbs.Hopefully a bit drier tomorrow.

[Simbec1863]

Suns out and the runts done,no leaks was only running on 2 at first,changed the plugs and CDI and seems to have fixed it.Ran it nice and hot balanced the carbs and stuck everything back on,just need to check her over Thursday before I head up to Donny.This racing lark always seems to be last minute the runt needs to stay oil tight and upright next weekend only doing 4 rounds this season then the runt will be sold as I have plans to change class next season on a non Blandit race bike 

[vizman]

Whatcha running next season Simon?

[Simbec1863]

24 minutes ago, vizman said:

Whatcha running next season Simon?

If all goes to plan a 750 slabbie 

[vizman]

Oh fuck yes

[fatblokeonbandit]

Good man 

[Simbec1863]

Race day tomorrow and all ok so far  the runt survived the test day at Donny it’s beer o’clock now 

[fatblokeonbandit]

I hope you’ve got your wellies 

[Simbec1863]

Well I’m back travelling to Denmark with work after 5 months at home writing this in hotel quarantine as other than going to work can’t leave my hotel.

Just about recovered from the weekend which was a tough one due to minute by minute weather changes and a shitty one across most of the paddock due to crashes and bike failures,at one point the race schedule was paused for an hour as they had run out of ambulances.

I was 4th fastest in class during free practice then came TQ,left the wets in due to a damp track and knew I could do max 2 or 3 laps if the track started to dry,it did but didn’t matter as on my 2nd lap the bike died on the straight so that was that.Ended up 24th on the grid which wasn’t in my plan.Back to the pits to try to fix the problem,while working on it my lad goes out on his new skool suzuki for TQ I hear other bikes come back but there’s no sign of him.Off to race control to find out if he’s ok,he is but has had a big off at 100+mph, the bikes in a bad way so after sending him off to the med centre I start working on both bikes,mines running again after borrowing a CDI off a mate.

Now focussing on his bike I lose track of time and hear my race called, I look at the bike to realise I’ve forgot to put my drys in.....and the track is now dry...to race or not...I just go out and form up on my wets looking around at everyone else on nice dry tyres 

Lights out and a great start I’m up to 17th in a 7 lapper after 4 laps my wets are running me wide firing me out the seat but I manage to finish losing places every lap as I go slower and slower....oh well .

Plan for Sunday is dry tyres in unless it’s standing water, lads bike is bodged and passes technical.

My 20th place finish Saturday gets me a better grid position and another flying start in a 8 lapper and I’m in the points with 2 laps to go,I miss a gear coming out of the old hairpin and the freight train comes steaming past,end up 20th again but have done my best ever lap a low 1.28 of Donny 10 seconds faster than 2019 when we last raced here so still happy.Every year we get more ex racers returning to do cheap blandit racing and these boys are proper fast so I have to be happy with going faster each time and maybe getting a point or 2 now and then.

Last race of the day and I’m knackered but still want some points,good start all going well and I’m up to 15th with 2 laps to go then the runt blandit drops onto 3 then 2 cylinders,my mate nearly crashes into the back of me when it cuts out then refires again,I get it over the line running on 3 having lost places and finish 20th yet again, in both races I was only .12 of a mph away from getting a signature for my national licence so you have to take the positives.
Only a couple of weeks to Castle Combe and I’m not home in the week so hope to sort the bike ready to race in time.This was definitely one of those I’m packing up racing weekends those that have done it will know what I mean, my son was battered and bruised and a good mate of mine did his collarbone and broke some ribs.

 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by Simbec1863

[Dezza]

Glad to hear your son is not badly hurt. Just imagine what would have happened if during the race that started dry when you had wet tyres on it then suddenly started pissing down. A sort of reverse re-run of the 1992 Hungarian 500 GP, in your imagination that is.....

Edited May 19, 2021 by Dezza

[Simbec1863]

10 hours ago, Dezza said:

Glad to hear your son is not badly hurt. Just imagine what would have happened if during the race that started dry when you had wet tyres on it then suddenly started pissing down. A sort of reverse re-run of the 1992 Hungarian 500 GP, in your imagination that is.....

I dream of that sometimes but it hasn’t happened yet probably my only chance of glory 

Edited May 19, 2021 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

Back in hotel quarantine in Denmark so here’s a race report from this weekend’s Blandit Challenge at Castle Combe.

Dry and sunny Saturday so no tyre decisions to make,bike was running shit after Donny so treated the runt to fresh oil,plugs and a few more bits and bobs.Practice went ok but my times were slow,TQ came round and managed to gather some speed went faster than the races last year but still qualified 21st. Race 1 soon arrived, sat on the grid in 21st with a plan,start fast,don’t lose any places and try to get in amongst the front boys by the 1st corner….lights out and go it’s worked I’m up to 16th in the 10 lapper.I hit my markers and grab another place, just keep plugging away until the flag,I head back to the pits and my lad says I’ve done my fastest ever lap and came 13th overall and 4th in the Seniors class  a mate came to congratulate me and said you were brutal on your overtakes and I couldn’t stick with you that’s a compliment I’ll gladly take.

A few beers to celebrate Saturday night then off to bed only to be greeted by mist and rain Sunday morning, I try to be calm and resist the need to change tyres until last minute as the weather is sunny,then it’s pissing it down….eventually I go to wets with only 5 minutes to my race start the ff..ing suns out and I roll up to the grid in 13th the only person on wets,the tracks drying rapidly so I think I’ll just ride as hard as I can until the tyres are destroyed and I probably crash  I manage to get to the end in 18th place chasing my mate who looks at my tyres at the end of the race as if to say how did you chase me all race on wets .The last race arrives and another decent finish with more points in the bag,I’m up to 6th in the Seniors cup with my favourite track Cadwell up next so fingers crossed for a decent weekend.

Only 2 rounds left for me on the blandit before the runt goes up for sale as I’m confirmed running slabby power in FP3 next season big thanks to @Markz9for agreeing a fair deal on his spare bike 

Edited June 8, 2021 by Simbec1863

[Markz9]

On 6/8/2021 at 9:14 PM, Simbec1863 said:

Back in hotel quarantine in Denmark so here’s a race report from this weekend’s Blandit Challenge at Castle Combe.

Dry and sunny Saturday so no tyre decisions to make,bike was running shit after Donny so treated the runt to fresh oil,plugs and a few more bits and bobs.Practice went ok but my times were slow,TQ came round and managed to gather some speed went faster than the races last year but still qualified 21st. Race 1 soon arrived, sat on the grid in 21st with a plan,start fast,don’t lose any places and try to get in amongst the front boys by the 1st corner….lights out and go it’s worked I’m up to 16th in the 10 lapper.I hit my markers and grab another place, just keep plugging away until the flag,I head back to the pits and my lad says I’ve done my fastest ever lap and came 13th overall and 4th in the Seniors class  a mate came to congratulate me and said you were brutal on your overtakes and I couldn’t stick with you that’s a compliment I’ll gladly take.

A few beers to celebrate Saturday night then off to bed only to be greeted by mist and rain Sunday morning, I try to be calm and resist the need to change tyres until last minute as the weather is sunny,then it’s pissing it down….eventually I go to wets with only 5 minutes to my race start the ff..ing suns out and I roll up to the grid in 13th the only person on wets,the tracks drying rapidly so I think I’ll just ride as hard as I can until the tyres are destroyed and I probably crash  I manage to get to the end in 18th place chasing my mate who looks at my tyres at the end of the race as if to say how did you chase me all race on wets .The last race arrives and another decent finish with more points in the bag,I’m up to 6th in the Seniors cup with my favourite track Cadwell up next so fingers crossed for a decent weekend.

Only 2 rounds left for me on the blandit before the runt goes up for sale as I’m confirmed running slabby power in FP3 next season big thanks to @Markz9for agreeing a fair deal on his spare bike 

Hi Simon good to catch up and chat at combe aiming should have my srad at cadwell see you there 

[Simbec1863]

A few action pics from Donington and Castle Combe

[Simbec1863]

My short seasons over on the Blandit,only managed 2 rounds,got up to 5th in the Seniors championship, think I was on for a best of 4th if I hadn’t of missed Cadwell and Oulton Park due to illness and the runts now up for sale ready for a class change next season.

So this story ends here for now with the blandit being replaced by slabbie power once I pay and collect it 

Edited August 24, 2021 by Simbec1863

[denisd]

3 hours ago, Simbec1863 said:

My short seasons over on the Blandit,only managed 2 rounds,got up to 5th in the Seniors championship, think I was on for a best of 4th if I hadn’t of missed Cadwell and Oulton Park due to illness and the runts now up for sale ready for a class change next season.

So this story ends here for now with the blandit being replaced by slabbie power once I pay and collect it 

Sorry to hear that, best of luck lad.