Jake

We arrived at the track not sure what the bike would run after the National Finals.

Up early Saturday morning ready for scruitineering and the first run, after some thought between two times written on either side of the board we decided on a dial of 10.7 from last meeting over 10.4. We went out to run and you would not believe it ... a 10.4! I thought the timing boards where broken when I first looked up at the gantry! Other than that, the bike launched better than it has for a long time and begun to hit the bars again. Time to turn the board round and a dial of 10.4 for next time.

Next run out and after another good launch, a 10.2. Got back to the pits, still laughing inside my helmet and gave the ticket to Dad to which he replied "You are so fired! A dial of 10.2 for next run. Went out again hoping for a time the right side of the dial this time, and that was exactly what I got, 10.4, the right side, now we need to get a bit closer.

Sunday morning at time for another qualifying round, so we decided on a 10.4 dial. I ran 10.6, yet another completely random time!

Eliminations and we decided on a dial of 10.4 as it seemed to be the most reliable time, went out, and had another cracking launch, 10.7, so it turns out we were correct to begin with!

I would like to say thanks to Dad, Lizz, Mandy, Stuart, Helen and Julie for their help over the weekend and also my sponsors, "Uncle" Steve Wood at Motorshack and Doug at ensys.co.uk.

Also to Dave Branch and Pete Davis who are working on my new bike for next year.

Well done Scott Collier for winning it great lad great way to leave juniors good luck for the future! Last event on my bike so 2014 new bike, new season , new start.

Lizz

I came into this meeting quite inquisitive about the outcome! I always try not to read Eurodragster on the eve of the last meeting of the Season, as they forecast what all the riders have to do to win the Championships! This time I did have a quick glance, and I “would have to qualify well, and get through one round of eliminations” No pressure there then !

After the disaster of the National Finals where I didn’t even qualify due to an electrical issue, this may have seemed quite a lot to have to achieve. Thankfully we did go testing to see if the untested “fix” had worked, and I ran a new PB of 7.600. I came to the meeting a lot happier, and was determined to do my best, enjoy it, and see if we could find the elusive 7.5.

Arrived Friday, set up, scrutineered, and all ready for the following day. Took a tumble and twisted my ankle which didn’t help!

Woke up to rain, which held up proceedings for a while. The track Crew as always beavered away until the track was dry, prepped, and we were called.

Q1 – I did the girliest burnout ever, and cooked the clutch somewhat, so it dragged me through, red lit but still managed to run a 7.63 @ 174mph!! Being qualifying, it still put me in number 1 position, so was very happy with that. Kev sorted the clutch out, told me exactly where I went wrong, did some minor adjustments (which I still don’t know what it was) and ready for the next one.

Q2- Burnout a lot better, but then horrors….I was shut down due to an oil leak. One of the clutch cover bolts had worked its way loose, and was dripping oil all over the exhaust. Pushed back a bit glum. Phil Leamon was up next, and uncharacteristically oiled the track so a clean up operation ensued, so we went to check if we managed to sort out our issue, were we able to go again, thankfully we are allowed, so Kev dashed back to the pits, got the bike sorted, and off I went again. The bike felt really slow, I seemed to be waiting for the light on each gear change, but no dramas. When Stuart came to fetch me, he had a big grin on his face, I had just run a new PB of 7.43@175mph!! Ecstatic was an understatement ! When I got back to the pits the Crew was leaping about, Kev just looked at me and grinned “That was meant to be the 7.5”, he said!

Parked the bike up for the rest of that day, checked it all over and prepped for Eliminations Sunday.

Saturday had very sadly been full of breakages, Phil (Leamon) had a broken crank, Allan Davies had destroyed a piston in the liner, Jem Ven also had crank breakage, but was able to replace. We were dropping down like flies. Big well done’s however to Kev Osman for finding the 7, and Tony Clarke for running a 7.66 – awesome !

E1 – against Harold Wolfenden, I love racing him, it’s always calm, and a bit of a giggle at the top end. It was a good race, I thought I had red lit again, again no dramas, launched hard (1.16 60 foot) and ran another 7.4, this time a 7.46@173, and no red lit fantastic – Harold found his 7’s again, and ran a 7.97, happy days, but I took the win – and the ACU Comp Bike Championship!

E2 – I could relax a bit, and try to win the meeting. I was against Phil Crossley, another guy I like to race. He had me off the light, both ran a 1.18 60 foot, I went passed him, and then something gave way, big bang, the vibration went through me, and my leg was beginning to get a big warm, and Phil went past me. When I got to the top end, and off the track, there was oil everywhere, but thankfully none on the tyre. Kev has always insisted on an under tray with a nappy in case of moments like this, which had caught the majority of the oil, and apart from Kev being handed bits of engine cases, there was not much of a clean up to do on the track, but I am so sorry for holding up racing.

On first inspection of the damage, the cases are broken and damaged the barrels. The small end of the con rod is broken, the rod punched out of the back of the cases and through the barrells. Until it is stripped we can’t be sure what else, but suspect some bent valves minimum in the head, as the spark plug has been closed by the piston.

Congratulations to Jem Ven on the win, and Phil runner up – it was an amazing race, and hardly anything in it !

What an amazing year. The little chassis has seen 3 Championships now since 2005, it has been an amazing teacher. Huge thanks goes to John Austin for loaning it to me – he bought it from Kev in 2006 with the CB1 plate on, and it has the CB1 plate on it again !

The biggest thanks go to some pretty amazing crew, without them I would be totally nothing!

Kevin Charman, the better half, and Jake of course. Our Crew Chief Chris Pyke, who deserves the biggest mention, has seen and helped Kev win 3 Championships Comp, Funny and Top Fuel and runner up in Pro Stock Bike. Who was happy to step in again to crew for me, and be there for another one ! He is always there, a terrific man, whose knowledge and tireless enthusiasm is limitless. Thanks is, again not enough!

Richard Gipp, Nigel Sadler, Stuart Aston who have been there for me in one guise or another!

The girls, Sarah Chapman (Minx), Julie Moxley, Mandy Chant and Helen Hayward. You 4 are awesome.

My Sponsors and supporters - I could not have got up the track without you either! Ken Cooper at Cooperized Dyno and Service Centre, Tony and the gang at Abbey Motorsport, Doug at Ensys, Jay Regan at MRE, Jeni at Yawning Cat Photography, Debs at Armadillo Ink, Steve at Motorshack, John Austin, and Dave at Dave Branch Engineering.

Finally Eurodragster and the Track Crew as always, fab. Thanks for the updates, and relentless hard work – muchly appreciated.

P.S The twisted ankle got x - rayed, and I have in fact broken my ankle, and rodded a ligament. Hard as nails me… adrenelin is a pretty fantastic thing! In plaster and on crutches, but still grinning!