It was a boyhood dream come true to ride at Donington, the countries premier motorcycle circuit and favourite of many international riders, including Valentino Rossi. It didn't take more than a couple of laps to see why, its fast sweeping and undulating nature is a real test of nerve, but very rewarding if you get it right.
The meeting was combined with the Norton owners club and friday was split between CRMC practice and NOC parades which included demonstrations of their rotary racers, including the new factory racer which was a highlight of the weekend for many. We then had two races on Saturday and just one on Sunday.
Race 1; We were mixed with the post-classic 1300 race as well as the UEM and were put to the back of the grid. I got a good start and managed to keep amongst the 1300s for a while until I found myself behind Nigel Clarks 950cc Moto Guzzi. We were evenly matched on the straights, but he had better drive out of the corners so I was having to make the space back on entry and corner speed. I felt sure that I could do a faster lap so eventually managed to outbrake him into "Redgate" and pulled away fairly easily. Carl Tyrer on his 1100cc Bimota had made it a three-way dice but took another lap or two to pass Clark and was unable to catch me. In terms of the 500cc Air-Cooled championship, it was something of a disaster with nobody finishing except myself and John Benton who was a fair way back.. 
Clear track ahead and behind.. Lonely, but it allowed me to enjoy the circuit.
Race 2; We were two men down on the grid with Andy Wilson having lent his bike to Justin Shaw after Justins clutch had disintegrated, and Nigel Collier suffering mechanical failures with his Yamaha. I had a very definate plan to stick with the 1300cc pack and let them pull me along, but on a fast circuit like Donington this was to prove impossible. I got a good start, as ever, and got myself as deep into the pack as I dared on the first corner and really made an effort not to get left behind by the bigger bikes. Unfortunately after two laps it was evident that I was having to push myself too hard to make up space in the corners. I was leading my race and had the presence of mind to stop pushing to beat someone who was 20th or so in a completely different class. Despite having an empty track directly ahead I really enjoyed the ride and managed to keep a consistant speed to eventually finish first with the rest of my class far enough behind to have been lapped by Lea Gourlay and Co in the UEM and 1300 races.
Race 3; Of the 500cc class, myself, Justin and John Benton had got the best starts and went into "Redgate" in that order, albeit mixed with 1300s.
Myself(69), Justin(96) and John(31) mixing it with the big boys...
Justin thought he might follow me for a lap and pick his place to pass, but I was able to eek out a larger and larger gap with each lap. Again, I was out on my own with several seconds space in front and behind... However, with two laps to go I was catching Dean Simkins big Harris Kawazaki so I made a concerted effort to catch him. I was closer with every corner and almost had him at "Coppice" but my back wheel lost a little traction and he got better drive onto the straight. I had one last chance to get past by out-braking him into the esses and stuffing it up the inside onto the star/finish straight, but again I backed off as we are not in the same race and heroics were just too risky with the healthy lead I had.
A fantastic weekend all round, and with Andy Wilson not having scored and Justin behind me I have repaired some of the damage done with my appalling results at Darley Moor. Roll on Brands !
My back tyre.... An all too familiar sight to some. Pic by Sports-Pics