Hi again,
we ended part 1 with the beginning of our trip to Cesis for the second race of the weekend. We traveled together with the teams of Hammarblom/Källander (Sweden) and Lindgren/Trybom (Finland/Sweden). Halfway it started to rain and, especially after crossing the Latvian border, we were confronted with very heavy rain showers making driving in the dark not an easy task.
We started already to get worried about the circumstances for the coming race. Strangely at some point, not that far from our hotel in Valmiera, the weather changed completely and we were driving over completely dry roads, no rain at all. The next morning we continued to Cesis and after a short drive entered the paddock.
This classical track had partly received a new layout and for the sidecars I prefer the old track but the solo bikes are majority and for them this suited better. 14 entries and a lazy 13th position after the training session. Nothing unusual thus.
We missed somehow the gate and found our self back in the pack. Halfway the first lap the Latvian team Vapa/Macs made a mistake and we quickly passed them without looking back.
The next team, Ivanov/Jalas from Estiona, made no mistakes and we needed 2 laps to pass them too. The Swedish team Hammarblom/Källander rode in front of us but we were never really able to pass them. With a small gap between us we did our laps. But at the last lap, only a few corners for the finish line, the Swedish team stalled their engine in a single line corner with very soft sand on the outside. Two choices, wait till they get the engine running again or go around through the deep soft sand. I decided the latter and it was very deep and soft on the outside. But just when I made the decision and steered in the deep sand the Swedish got their engine running again because they had an electric starter.
When they started driving again the best line was wide open for Vapa/Macs who had done a hard ride to get back the meters they did loose during the first lap. Without any possibility to accelerate we could do nothing but see them passing us. With only 4 corners to the finish line we tried to put them back but no change to pass anymore. I needed the 3 extra points a win in the veteran class would have given me to keep realistic changes for the championship.
But instead of narrowing the gap in points it did expand only and my changes for the veteran championship became very theoretical. Back in the paddock, already very disappointed, we noticed that the engine had lost a lot of its cooling fluid. At nearer inspection it looked like the head gasket had failed. We put the bike back in the van and watched the second heat from the side of the track. Riding back to Tallinn we were not in a very good mood.
A week later the last round for the Estonian championship in Kose, not far from Tallinn. Also here a partial new track layout and this time I liked the new part of the track. 15 entries and 14th position after the training session. The first corner of the Kose track is always a little scary because direct after it starts a wash board! During the first start a team started rolling over the ground and we needed some heavy braking to avoid them.
During the start of the 2nd heat it was our turn to study the soil in the first corner. We were sandwiched between two sidecars and the handlebar was not anymore where my hand was. We finished the heats at a 12th and 11th position. After the 2nd heat we also received a penalty for too much noise but it had no influence at our position. Riding was not bad but neither highly inspired.
Then it was time for the last races of the season, the 2nd race for the Finnish championship in Lappeenranta at Saturday and at Sunday Kegums in Latvia. During the week before the race it rained very heavily but that was only a good thing because the Lappeenranta track is one with deep, deep and soft sand.
Only 6 sidecars in Lappeenranta and we had the 4th position after the training session. With our third place in Orimattila we had the possibility to finish the championship at the 3rd spot but already during the sighting lap I noticed that clutch slipped and our race was over before it started. Back in the paddock I checked the clutch and the friction plates were just too thin. I had them replaced only recently with original parts but maybe the factory has a new subcontractor with lesser quality, very strange.
The 2nd heat we had a good battle with the former Finnish champions Laitinen/Dammert that we decided in our benefit. After the race we packed everything back in the van and drove of to Helsinki together with Lehtinen on our way to Kegums, Latvia. In Helsinki we loaded our stuff in the van of Mantila who would do the driving during the night while we would be able to sleep.
With Mantila and Lehtinen taking care for the driving we could rest and wake up in the Kegums paddock the next morning. 16 entries and we had an rare 9th position after the training session. The season was ending and we were building up steam.
We had a good start and stayed the whole heat at the 8th position. During the first laps we tried to pass a team in front of us but weren't able to push trough. The most important issue was that we ended for the first time at the first position in the veteran class. This result motivated us and we repeated it in the 2nd heat with an other first place finish. During the last laps it started to rain and I had to throw away my goggles. Our first overall win and also first in both heats. The loss of Cesis was made up for but it could have been so different.
For the regular Latvian championship we finished in both heats at the 8th position. In a good mood we drove to Sigulda and celebrated this positive result and also the end of the racing season with a good dinner before we continued to Tallinn.
After this season Mikael and I will not continue together. Mikael starts riding with his friend Marko Styrman as passenger and I'll continue with my quest for the latvian veteran championship together with Juuso Suominen. But about this later more.
Regards,
Stephan
