MMRA Minimoto British Championships - Round 7 - Whilton Mill

[Marci]

Back from another weekend stinking of petrol... twas an interesting one this time round - Round 7 of the Minimoto British Championships at Whilton Mill nr Daventry (also featuring the British Metrakit Championships).

Twas a weekend of tight racing, with many battles in the sidecar classes... fortunately a DNF from our nearest competitor resulted in our point total giving us the win over the weekend... and has secured our British Champion title for 2006... all we have to do at the final round in October is finish every race in any position. Phil (SJ - F1 Class Sidecars and close friend) found himself spending much of Sunday in hospital after a spill in the morning practice resulted in him strapped to a stretcher and carted off for X-rays. He's back on his feet (was the same day, much later), but had us all worried in the meantime... which saw the sidecars take to the track and approach the final corner significantly slower than the day before.

Me n' Rich managed to land a win at last after spending the latter half of the season relegated to 2nd vs the superb handling of Mick n' Mark Leigh's Fullsize-F2-Sidecar scale replica... 3x 2nds and 1x 1st beats 3x 1sts and a DNF (Mick managed to cook his plugs)... It's a tougher battle for SJ & Gordon tho over in the F1 class - Gordon Martlew did the dutiful thing and accompanied his passenger, Phil Mapplebeck, to the Hospital so missed all but one race, meaning the F1 championship is now a bitter fight between the top 3 contenders - Rd8 is really gonna be chaos on 3-wheels.

The return trip saw me nearing death as my sidecar driver decided to have a hypo fit at the wheel of the transit half way up the M1 at 90-odd mph, swerving backwards and forwards across 3 lanes of traffic before I finally grabbed the wheel, kicked his feet off the pedals and grabbed the handbrake... dumping us up against the central reservation with inches to spare.... stuck in the fastlane with a driver approaching a coma. Rather that than the rapidly approaching splattage with an HGV that would've resulted in bye-bye Mr Marci. Fun fun fun (crap crap crap!!). Half an hr later, after the closure of the M1 to get us out of the outside lane, 1x police officer, 1 pack of chocolate minirolls, a bus full of nurses, 2 paramedics and 2 Highways Agency d00ds later, back on the road and on the way home!! Still in a mild state of shock.

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3520-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3563-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3569-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3682-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3684-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3745-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3764-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3963-01.jpg

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_4118-01.jpg

More info and photos'll be up at www.mmra.org.uk when I get the chance to sift thru em all and pick out the best (from over 2000!)

And I'll post the top3's etc soon as I receive em in my inbox!

Pix courtesy of www.cdhphotography.co.uk
____________________
FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[swaffs]

Sorry I couldn't make that one Marci, Bemsee/MRO duties!

some funny pics there, great wheely, and following the leader wide at the corner

Sounds like a good weekend, I hope to make another one at least.

Scary journey home, glad you all came out of it ok!

Rich Swaffs
____________________
Swaffs Photography |
BCF vinyl stickers
"Look not back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around you in awareness."

[Marci]

No worries d00d - got some better ones too - sadly none of Gordon n' Phil's smashup...

Hopefully you can make it to Rd8? (May be a bit far to go however - it's in Cardiff...!)
____________________
FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[Marci]

Lots more pix now online HERE
____________________
FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[Gazdaman]

https://www.mmra.org.uk/marci/mmra/Whilton_MG_3520-01.jpg

I really like the look of those things! Any more info on what they are etc?

Gaz

[Marci]

Metrakit FunBike - 70cc 2T engine - Derbi 50cc with bigbore kit I think... can usually wipe the floor with an Aprilia RS125 with ease... depending on size and weight of rider. Have seen 12 yr olds outdo RS125's on the equivalent MotoGp style bike that they produce... (the 70cc and 80cc models) so in theory the funbike'd do the same.

https://www.fab-racing.co.uk/obj119geo137pg4p2.jpg


Engine: Minarelli AM-6 or Derbi Senda fitted MK SP70 top end kit
Bore & Stroke: Minarelli 47.6 x 39 / Derbi 47.6mm x 40mm
Carburettor: MRD 28mm Flat slide
Gear Box: 6 Speed
Power: Approx. 18.5bhp at the rear wheel
Clutch: Multi plate running in oil
Cooling: Liquid
Lubrication: Petroil Mix
Exhaust: MetraKit SP
Frame: Chrome molybdenum steel tube. Aluminium central spine and sub-frame.
Wheel base: 1220mm
Overall length: 1700mm
Width: 800mm
Seat height: 740mm
Dry weight: 65Kg.
Fuel Capacity: 11 Ltrs.
Wheels: MetraKit 12 inch
Tyres: Dry weather: Dunlop or Sava. Wet weather: Sava.
Front Forks: MetraKit hydraulic damped
Rear Suspension: Swinging arm with Metrakit MRD monoshock
Front Brake: 220mm MetraKit disc with AJP caliper
Rear Brake: 168mm MetraKit disc with AJP caliper
Price: £2795 inc.vat.

https://www.fab-racing.co.uk/

Some of the MopedMayhem boys come along with Kwaki 50cc bikes and run in the same class alongside em... think there's pics of those within CDHPhotography's gallery at the link in my post above...
____________________
FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[Gazdaman]

They are COOL! Expensive though!

And that website is shoddy.

Gaz

[Marci]

Yep they are expensive... and yep, that website is rather iffy unfortunately... however, if u come along to MMRA rounds (see www.mmra.org.uk for dates) they're frequently for sale 2nd hand for much less... and I think if u wanna race em, contact Roger at FAB-Racing regards entering and he may rent / loan bikes out for the weekend - not entirely sure... they sorta tag-along with the MMRA
____________________
FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[Gazdaman]

Do you need an ACU licence?

Gaz

[Marci]

Nope... see rules n' regs over at www.mmra.org.uk

Full leathers, boots, gloves, ACU-tagged lid - thassit. To ride any Metrakit bikes tho, you have to go thru FAB-Racing's site rather than MMRA's, but need to be a member of MMRA (I think - s'only £10 for weekend membership) - so, Membership form at www.mmra.org.uk & Race Entry form at FAB-Racing.co.uk (overly complex innit!!?)

For minimotos and solos, go thru MMRA for everything. For Metrakit, go thru FAB-Racing. Safest bet is to give em a bell on 01903 212143 and ask to speak to Roger Keys regarding having a go at an MMRA round or fire em an email to [email protected] ... or just turn up to an MMRA round (bring a minimoto 110cc pitbike if u can in case he knocks u back on the day due to too many entries or summat, then at least u have summat to play on and will be allowed out onto track within same class as the 70cc funbikes - he lets 110 pitbikes run with em to boost the numbers usually, and it makes the 70cc metra look good when it leaves the top-o-the-range 110 pitbikes fer dust) and collar him there and see what he says. He's a nice approachable kinda guy... he'll also likely have contact details to hand for anyone selling off 2ndhand Metrakits too seeing as he's the sole importer in this country...
____________________
FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[Gazdaman]

I sent him off an email, I fancy giving that a go on a rental machine.

Gaz