After a poor years racing in '08 I had high hopes for the season, and for the new "Air-Cooled 500cc" class.
I had new straight-cut primary gears fitted by Pete O'Dell, and a new first gear from Moore Engineering, so took the bike to a trackday at Pembrey the week before the race for a "shake-down". We found that the new primaries had left my sprocket collection largely redundant and we could not get it right with what we had, although it was still interesting to mix with modern machinery...
Unfortunately the new sprockets didn't arrive in time so we set off for the race knowing that we were down by 2-3 seconds..
Saturday: It was a slightly poor turn out for the new class, just six of the eight entries started, ..we should have many more once the class is established. However, it was good to see Andy Wilson and Justin Shaw out on their nicely prepared T500s.
Race 1: My first racing start with the new first gear went well, it was just a case of riding it like a 125cc and I could get almost as good a start as before. The race went well and I enjoyed some battling with machines from the 750cc Post-Classic class, mainly 350cc Yams. The vastly experienced French international, William Gougy left us all behind to take the class win with myself nearly half a lap back in second.. Phil Bootherstone suprised a few with his Triumph in third.. 
Heading toward the Hairpin... Pic by Kalvin Burrows
Race 2: Crashes and oil spillages had caused delays so our race was rescheduled for Sunday morning..
Lap one saw Glyn Williams making an undignified exit from the proceedings ( 2 snapped meta tarsels, 1 cracked meta tarsel, 1 cracked fibula, 2 cracked ribs, loads of bruising and some nerve damage..).
We restarted after a long wait on the grid and Gougy again led the way. On the second lap I passed him as he coasted to a standstill and had just realised that I had inherited first place, when I lost power on one cylinder. I rolled in and found that the left carburetor had come loose...
Race 3: Starting dead last, due to the previous DNF, I got a fair start and as things settled found myself stuck behind Ian Whitnell on his #44 Yamaha. Paul Wood passed us both but I just could not safely get inside the nimbler Yam. 
Nearly getting inside... Again. Pic by "Myspace Mike". Thanks Mike. I had greater top speed but Ian "cut my nose off" into almost every corner to eventually cross the line 0.01sec ahead... I took first in class, but would have preffered a few more bikes behind me. I think we were down to just four Air-Cooled bikes.
Race 4: I found myself behind #44 again once the dust had settled, with #24 Paul Wood in close attendance. 
Good Clean, close racing Pic by "Myspace Mike". Thanks Mike. Paul passed us again, but this time I was able to follow and eventually pass him. I wish there were more like Paul as he is a safe, clean rider. I dont mind him all over my back tyre at all, and he has beautiful lines, so following him is a pleasure.. I held Paul off right to the last corner of the last lap, where I had a "moment". I had gone down from fourth gear to third as I tipped it in, but had hit a "false neutral".. I didn't instantly know what had happened so pulled in the clutch and shut off the throttle causing the engine to stall as there is no tick-over. Having realized the problem and having found third gear, I let the clutch out... Of course all this happened in seconds, so I was now effectively bump-starting at speed and leant over. Apparently the ensuing slide was most spectacular, but I hardly noticed as I was too intent on getting the power on and racing Paul to the line.....He beat me by half a second, but I was still first in class (albeit reduced now to just the T500s..) 
Paul Wood breathing my fumes.... Picture by Sports-Pics
All in all a good weekend. Good weather, good racing, good support and no broken bits (organic or otherwise).