Hi again,
Yesterday evening back from the trip to Mežvidi. Mežvidi is located near the Latvian/Russian border. We left Helsinki Saturday morning already because we wanted to check a caravan rental but all the trailers were rented and not much to see. Outside Tallinn we were confronted with heavy rain showers with thunder and hail. At one point it was so bad that the passenger cars had to stop and wait at the side of the road. The only view was a complete white screen of water and riding was like crossing a river. Blasts of wind did topple trees along the road but luckily it didn't last very long and the sun was shining again.
Via Tartto we crossed the Estonian/Latvian border at Ape and continued to Rezekne for our hotel. We've been before in this hotel and I must say they have good food ;-), it's a nice place to stay. The next morning we started for the last part to Mežvidi but old memories sometimes cheat. On the the road sign was mentioned Moscow and without further thinking, it's East isn't it, I just took the turn and peddle to the metal. After 20 minutes we started to feel unsure because we missed some land marks we remembered from last last year and the railway crossing was definitely not a part of it. Back to Rezekne and now we had the correct turn at the roundabout (and a Latvian team in front of us to follow was a safe bet).
The track's first impression isn't very spectacular until you start driving and try to make good lap times. The soil is what's making this track so different. Very hard spots followed with soft power absorbing patches. The hard spots are very slippery after irrigation but it's necessary to control the dust, a challenge for the organization and drivers. 15 entries and for us 13th time in practice. The new settings for the rear shock made our ride more comfortable, no harsh landings and bottoming any more. We have to fiddle a little yet to get the smaller stuff under control but that's not too difficult with a good base to work from. Carburettor jetting was changed but still the same old problem of easy stalling.
The first start produced an explosion of dust at the starting area and we were very lucky with our outside line. We entered the first left corner from the inside about mid pack and were able to pass 2 teams directly. But the other teams had clearly different ideas about our position and in a few laps 5 teams found their way to pass us and we finished 13th as in practice. It was a very exhausting race due to the heat, over 30 degrees Celsius, and to keep the engine on spot of the power band.
The second start wasn't as good, not so much dust this time thanks to irrigation of the starting area. From outside we were last this time and at the end of lap one the engine stalled again for once. I didn't had the energy to push and we just did our laps to finish the race, 14th position at the end. Our overall result was surprisingly enough for the third place in the final standing of the veteran class. The organization had a photographer making prints and handed them out during the price giving ceremony, a very nice idea, good pictures.
With Aronen/Mantila we drove back to Estonia and Mikael and I stayed for the night in Tartto at the Music Academy in the students house. The next morning to Tallinn and we visited Are Kaurit to get some parts for the AYR. Also back to the caravan rental and now the trailers were on location. Why a trailer? The GP's of Kegums and Kiviöli are soon and once in your life.... or something like that. With the evening ferry back to Helsinki.
Regards, Stephan
Trip Mežvidi
Results Mežvidi (BV = sidecars)
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