Local meeting (only a four hour drive) managed to fit it in between my international duties! East Fortune saw the Eurocup coming for the second round so we headed of to that (anything sidecar)
The weather for the weekend was to be sunny and hot, and was it hot!! just spot on for the teams and fans, a lot of the teams had never heard of East Fortune let alone race there!
A great weekend racing over the two days, great to catch up with the Scottish teams as this would be only the second race this year in Scotland for us, been all over Europe but not to the home meetings!

On my travels again,mid July saw me heading to Moto GP at Sachenring in Germany,the 4th round of the Superside World Championship once again running with Moto GP.
I met up with my travelling pals Stuart +Lisa Graham and John Morrisey at Stansted airport.
When we arrived in Germany we were met by stifling heat, seems the heat wave has spread all over Europe. The weather over the weekend was great, very hot and as the race was running with MotoGP the crowd was expected to be large, however no-one expected the 210 000+ folk who turned out. The paddock was outside the main circuit which was good and bad ,it was peaceful but meant that the teams had to battle their way through huge crowds to get to the track to race. The main race on Sunday was one of the best for years, watched by a near capacity crowd.
Next trip is a back to back in Austria and Croatia at the beginning of August.

Travelled to the remodelled Van Drenthe Circuit at Assen for the 3rd round.Was pleased to have been given an official pass from Dorna ,aquired by my own efforts without input from Superside.This gave me access to the closed shop world of Moto Gp and allowed me track access when Rossi ,Melandri et all were racing.
The sidecar race followed the MotoGP class and saw a great number of the knowledgeable Dutch crowd staying to cheer the large field throughout their race. In blazing sunshine a great battle ensued which at one point saw Tim Reeves doing a bit of unscheduled grass tracking, saw Andy Laidlow leading at one of his favourite tracks and finished with the Finnish teams on the first and third steps with Andy and Patrick on the 2nd step for the second time in two years. Andys youngest son found it all a bit too much as was seen being pushed round the paddock by mum Kirstine after falling asleep just as dad took the lead in the race.
WE thoroughly enjoyed the weekend having not been to a GP since goodness knows when the sound of these four strokes is well worth making the effort for. Alison enjoyed catching a glimpse of Rossi in the paddock.
After the race myself, Alison and Stuart Graham headed for Amsterdam where we enjoyed a great meal and a few beers in the sweet smelling bars around the city. The next round is at Sachenring Germany on the 15/16 July, watch this space for news and pics.

Having enjoyed the TT we got of the ferry on Friday morning having just caught it by the skin of our teeth(too much blethering in the Cunard) and headed for Castle Combe near Bristol for the second round of the world championship.
Having been there for a round of the Eastern Airways Championship I was a bit surprised to hear it had been included on the world stage ,however it gave a chance for the teams to show what they could do to a home crowd. The programme contained a range of pictures provided exclusively by me but unfortunately the organizers forgot to credit me with this, I was pretty cross about this and made my feelings known to the producers especially as I had worked hard to make sure they had them on time and to their specification. After a practice session where some passengers found out more about the bumpy surface than they wanted to , testing their leathers directly on the track surface, we arrived at Race day which was again hot and sunny.
The sidecar teams and the crowd were treated to a grid show by the cheerleaders who had helped launched Tim and Tristan Reeves at a MRO Meeting at Brands Hatch. Led By Tim and Tris's sister Tanya they added a splash of glamour and entertainment to the day. Good racing despite the bumps saw a great battle between Tim and Andy Laidlow,with Tim finally coming out winner. Teams packed up and preepred to travel to what was billed to be a highlight of the year ,a race weekend at Assen with the Moto GP circus.

Returned to the Isle of Man for the TT after a 20 year break. The ferry left at 3am from Heysham and we arrived to a beautiful sunny morning ,parked the van in the paddock having had a wee drive round. The first bike action we caught was the Superbike race on Saturday afternoon, an awesome speed from the solos made the journey worthwhile even before we saw any sidecars. Saturday also saw the sidecar practice in the evening when we were treated to a great show of speed. This was the second time we had seen the new LCR F2 ,it had an outing at East Fortune where Andy Laidlow was trying it prior to going to the Island.Klaus Klaffinbock and Christian Parser also had an LCR F2 ,I enjoyed catching up with Christain again after a 2 year break from world level racing also the mechanic Paul who gave me a guided tour of the chassis while he was working on it. Other notable faces were Tony Williams and his mad welsh mate Stu.
They arrived at our van in the paddock where we managed, in the space of 20 minutes, to dispose of a bottle of Scotlands finest . Tony ,unfortunately wheel chair bound again, still managed to take his share. Monday brought another fine day and the first of the sidecar races. Without Molly it seemed that no one would challenge Nicky Crowe,he managed a win with the rest of the field providing great racing ,we enjoyed this from several vantage points along the road at Ballacry. I was advised by Nick to find some places to take pictures where no one else went so on Wednesday took to the Goose neck and walked over the hills to Guthries for a lonely but awesome afternoons racing. Returned to the van thirsty and sunburned but thoroughly pleased with my day. On Wednesday attended the prize giving and caught up with folk for a chat. Dave Molyneux confirmed that he would after all be returning next year after saying he was to retire having had a really nasty crash and fire on the bike. I thoroughly enjoyed my week at the TT and noticed many changes around Douglas .Those who know the Island will be pleased to hear that the Cunard hasn't changed and still provides a place for a few refreshments and a lot of sidecar chat.

The first round of the world championship took place at Schleiz in.
I left on the Wednesday before the race, met Stuart Graham at Stansted ,he and I stayed at Hotel Stansted airport floor overnight to catch our early flight. We managed about an hours sleep ,not good preparation for a weekends racing!
We arrived at the track and got set up the weather was cold and wet ,just like Knockhill in fact.
It was good to catch up with old faces and new teams for the first round and see who had what for the new season.
Returned home with a real buzz looking forward to the TT as I haven't been for 20 years.

On Friday we travelled to East Kilbride to the wedding of Brian Stewart and Helen Sutherland. Brian is a former Scottish Champion sidecar passenger, Helen has passengered as half of the only all girl team to qualify and finish around the Isle of Man. She currently passengers Andy Cooper in the Scottish Championship.
An early start from there on Saturday saw us heading over the M 8 to East Fortune. Heavy rain during the journey looked as if it would make the NEMCRC Championship meeting a wash out, however skies cleared on our arrival at the East Fortune circuit and the crowd were treated to a great race with Ken Knapton, Irishman George Kennedy and Andy Laidlow producing one of the best races seen for some years. Andy was doing some final testing on the LCR F2,one of only two specially built by Louis Christen ,to contest the Isle of Man TT this year.
Klaus Klaffenboch is scheduled to ride the other over the mountain circuit.
On the move again on Saturday night to Team Shand racing headquarters at Auchintiber to view the new truck paint job and new outfit colours.
Sunday saw Gordon Shand testing his Kawasaki engine on the rolling road in final preparation for the first round of the World championship at Schleitz Germany.
I travel to Germany on Wednesday to see how things shape up .

Well this was a meeting out of the blue!!! I had a phone call from Tim Reeves wondering if I could make this meeting because it would be the first time the team would be all together and both Tim and Tris would be finalising their launch on the 2006 world championship. Went out early to work on Friday morning 4.15 am so I could finish early, had a flight to catch from Edinburgh to Gatwick. Got checked in to find the flight had been delayed so that was that, went for a beer!! Only one!! Honest.
Timís father Brian (Bomber) was waiting for me at Gatwick he was there at half five, Tim had got the time wrong, that was the time I was coming home on Sunday. Got down to Brands at 1am Sat morning Team Reeves had stayed up waiting for me, got in to the pit and had a bottle of beer thrust into my hand, very civilised. I had the team truck for my bed for the weekend, just perfect.
Saturday daybreak the sun was splitting the tarmac, I went for a shower on my way back I bumped into an old buddy, Walz, Had a good old yarn with him finding out whatís been happening over the last year. The racing over the weekend was spot on, sidecars were brill F2 mixing with the big boys, met up with a lot of folk I have not seen for a while. The football cup final was on TV on Saturday, and it turns out Tris Reeves is a big Liverpool fan, so it was out to race and win then even before his helmet was off he was shouting at the box!!! Liverpool won.
We all had a curry and a few beers on Saturday night and a good old natter round the table. We went up to the bar for a visit, where I met up with Bill Philp, he raced against Jock Skene when I first got involved with the chairs big time, had some great times, Bill races Miniís now and loving it.
We got back to the team truck and had a bit of a film show with a projector hooked up to my computer, showing the folk some picís where I live in Jockland, to comments like ìwowî ìawesomeî and ìwe will need to come up for a visitî.
Sunday morning saw the sun again, but by midday it had dulled over but staying dry, I could only stay for one race, and do some paddock picís as I had to get back to the airport for my flight home. No delays this time! Got back to Edinburgh and Alison picked me up for the three and a half hour drive home we got home at half twelve, and itís all for the love of sidecar racing.

Got home from work Friday evening and got the van sorted, we set off, a cracking night the sun splitting the tar, a great night for a blast on the bike!!
Was speaking to Gordon Shand on the phone when the boys in blue went flying past, lights and sirens!
We got about a mile down the road, bits of bike all over the road!! the rider was lying on the verge, thankfully moving, his mates around him, so not to bad I hope.
Got to Balloch, got a pizza for the road, got to fill the belly!!! well not really it's big enough!!
Had a dram or two with team shand on Fri night, very nice.
Saturday morning say me fall oot the van at 6.30, it was a cracker of a morning, the paddock was coming to life, more riders arriving, teams getting sorted for the days racing.
When racing got under way the wind had got up and it looked if it might rain, I thought, not again! but no it stayed off. the days racing went without a hitch.
Been a lot of changes to the circuit since I was last there, all resurfaced, new signing on buildings, marshal buildings, a new commentary box (Mose and Ian better watch out it might get towed down the track, with them in it, just for the craic) Ha Ha.
Sunday was a cracker of a day, sun splitting, got a red nose, nothing to do with the drink on Sat night!!
I thought my van was tidy, until I saw Davy and Babs VW split screen camper van, mint, loads of people round for a look.
The weekend saw full grids, excellent! 22 outfits, long time since I have seen that at Scottish Championship, long may it continue.
Both Alison and myself thoroughly enjoyed the weekend

We set off Thursday afternoon at 4pm, hit Glasgow right in the rush hour, (nightmare) donít know how people can be bothered with it day in day out!!
After Glasgow no probs, got to Donington at half midnight, set up oor wee van!!
Still managed a beer at Ben Birchallsí his bike looking top notch.
Friday morning saw Paul Woodhead sorting paddock space,îthis is harder than racing, sorting you lot outî with a smile on his face!
Weather over the weekend was very mixed four seasons all in a day, race day was hellish, hail, sleet, rain, wind, the sun did show his face but cleared off early morning.
Great to catch up with teams after the winter break, seeing who is racing what and what their plans for the year were. Managed a few drams over the weekend with most teams, (very civilized) I think all the sidecar teams put on a great show from start to finish not only on the track, but in the paddock, it was in the exhibition centre, with the weather being so cold and wet the race fans took refuge in the hall, and with all bikes set up out in front, fairings with there new race colours for the year all nice and shiny, they had a great time looking at the machines and talking to team members, drivers and passengers.
We set off home on Sunday evening at about 7 after the racing and got home around 4 in the morning.
A good weekend apart for the weather, and a great show by all teams, well organized and I hope we can have the same sometime in the future.

We set off on Friday 24 March at 5.30pm.Stopped in Glasgow for a curry and to get some fuel in the van. Set off from there and encountered very thick fog over the A66 towards Croft.
Due to road works we had to take a diversion through Darlington where the exhaust fell off the van!!!!! arriving rather noisily at a still and quiet Croft at around half past midnight.
Saturday morning dawned fair with spells of sunshine throughout the day, although it rained towards the end of the day resulting in the last couple of races being postponed till Sunday. Sunday dawned fair but colder and without the sunshine of Saturday. It was good to chat the sidecars teams again after the winter break.
Both sidecars and solos racing was excellent.

Phil Bell with Tony Belsey in the chair had a slight off on Saturday, Sunday was kinder to him.

Last years TT winners Nicky Crow and Darren Hope had a nightmare weekend. Having blown an engine at Jurby last week they did another two at Croft, not the way they hoped their TT and British Super F2 Championship preparations would go.

Steve Norbury and lean ,mean ,fighting machine Scott Parnell were setting up their new Windle outfit and running in new engine and suspension settings, they went away from the meeting happy with the way things had gone.

Great to see former Scottish Championship winner Bill Davie back on an outfit. He finished all races at the weekend with, Graham Davie (no relation) a passenger totally new to the sport.

Solo racing was excellent over the two day meeting with good results for the Scots lads. It was good to see Phil Stewart, back aboard his bike after last years injuries, fighting for the lead in his class in all races.

Mike Keith did not run on Sunday after a spill on Saturday left him bruised and stiff, bike and rider okay though.

Rab Davie had a good weekend, although he will be reminded to check batteries at future races!!

It’s time again to get the calendar out and see what is going on in the world of sidecar racing, see if I can work out what I can, and can’t do. Things are starting to hot up and it’s only 24th Feb. I am going to try and get to a test day at Knockhill on the 4th of March (weather permitting) I am looking into going to the “Steve Webster Tribute Race” at Donington Park on the 7/8/9 of April, it is being run with the British Super Bikes, they hope to get a grid of at least 30 bikes, should be good.

I hope to cover the FIM World Superside Championship again, (freelance this time) Money and time off work permitting!!!

I have also been looking into trying to get to the TT for the two sidecar races this is not definite though. I will try to get to as many Scottish Championship meetings as I can time permitting.