Assen 2012

                                         
This was Steelcraft's 4th visit to the famous Dutch circuit and this time we were joined by BHR regular Rod Graham who was making his first appearance.

Rod making final preparations

First qualifying was a little damp, and as usual the Eurosingles were mixed with the Euroclassics which makes for good fun battling with 900 Ducatis, Rocket threes, Bimotas and so on but it can be difficult to get a clear lap. Despite this our times were not too shabby especially as Andy was running in a new big end.

Second qualifying was dry and, like last year, both Steelcraft bikes were on the front row, Stu third and Andy fourth. Unfortunately, Stu had done a little too much sliding in qualifying and found that his rear tyre was badly worn. The budget didn't run to a replacement so it would have to do for the race.

As usual there were  plenty of Ducati and other italian singles around the paddock.

Even the odd road bike

  


On race day we had a long wait until our 4.30pm scheduled start, but eventually we made our way to the grid. Both riders made a good start with Stu running second and Andy fourth early in the lap. Stu found that his decision not to raise his gearing was a serious mistake. Half way along the back straight he went for another gear, by the time he realised he was already in top, Jeroen Jager, Roel Weijers (both 350 Ducati) and Andy had all gone past in persuit of leader Peter Van Giersbergen (450 Ducati). Peter led from start to finish with Andy and Jeroen having a great battle for second, the place eventually going to Jeroen. Stu later re-passed Roel to come home fourth. So Andy again made the podium and the Steelcraft bikes were far ahead of the other 250s ( the next one home was the "Finch Morini" in tenth).  Sadly Rod suffered from a misfire due to a fouled plug and  retired on lap five.

                                             Here are some video clips from the race


After this Andy was due out almost immediately in the NK classics race. There was a bit of a panic when we found his gear lever was broken. We quickly removed the lever from Stu's bike and fortunately it was a good fit on Andy's bike.

Andy again ran an excellent race and won the 350 class, not bad on a 250.

Our thanks as ever to the Ducati Club Netherlands for such an enjoyable and well run meeting

See you at Assen?

If any of you are planning a visit  to Assen this weekend for the Ducati clubraces, please come and find us in the paddock and say hello.

Look out for the Steelcraft van. We will be there with our 250's along with Rod Graham, making his first club race appearance.

We hope to see you there.

BHR Mallory park 2012

BHR held their traditional opener at Mallory in sunny but cold conditions.  Andy's bike wasn't ready but Stu was optimistic after a good test session, apart from the crash, a month earlier. However, as is so often the case, a good test day didn't guarantee a good race day.

The first outing was 250 specials and it was immediately clear that the bike wasn't on song. After a poor start Stu was battling with Rod Grahams Ducati for third, close behind the leaders, Ade Armson (Cotton Telstar) and Ian Cramp (Greeves Special). Rod made a rather desperate lunge to pass Ian at Shaw's hairpin and T boned Ade. Stu emerged from the melee in the lead but the race was red flagged and the result taken from the previous lap and Stu was credited with third.

In the second race, Ducati and Bantams championships, the problem with the bike became apparent, the gearbox was jumping out of second gear. This is a real handicap at Mallory with three sections requiring a second gear exit. Despite this, a rather sparse Ducati grid meant that Stu took a comfortable win from Bob Millinship (250 Ducati) and Tim White (472 Ducati) but had a good battle with Ian Scutt's indecently quick water cooled Bantam. Stu took the outright win only on the last lap.

 

 

 

 

 

Stu and Ian Scutt

Due to the gearbox problem, that was the end of racing for the day for Stu.

Not the best start to a season but the gearbox has now been rebuilt with some new bits
(thanks to Rod Graham) and both Steelcraft 250s should be ready for the Ducati Club Races at Assen on the 12/13 May.

BHR Test day Mallory

The Steelcraft Ducatis didn't make an appearance at the test day, Stu had tested there two weeks earlier and all went well until some over enthusiastic braking after a hail shower led to a close up tarmac inspection at around 85 mph. Andy, meanwhile hasn't got the 250 ready as he is concentrating his efforts on a 750 Kerby Kawasaki that we hope to take to Spain for an 6 hour endurance in Late April.

We were, however pleased to see a number of Ducati singles that seemed new to the BHR paddock.

I don't know if Staccato are still in business but we have one of their cams kicking around the workshop

A red one

And another red one

A very shiny red one

                                                 

And a red one

Another

      Another new addition to BHR this year is the BEARS class which may bring in a new batch of Italian classics, like this Pantah

Ok not a single, but not to be sniffed at

Whereas this is a single but not a Ducati and still not to be sniffed at

         The warm weather made for a good days testing at Mallory.

         BHR will be back on the 15th April for their opening meeting where Stu will contest the 250 specials and Ducati classes.                                                                                                    

A rather special 500 from the Netherlands

Eldert kindly sent me some photos and information about his 496cc Ducati

After receiving this photo I asked for some further info and this is the reply from Eldert:


"Hi
The modifications are really too many to mention them all. The cylinder head is modified to 60 degree combined valve angle,  relocated the rocker arm pivot points and used Pantah rocker arms, then when timing the camshaft we found out the lobe centres where way off so we made new camshafts with V2 profile on them with the lobes pulled further apart."

Stronger gearbox

"The close ratio gearbox we bought kept on breaking gears ( mostly 4th ) so I had new gears made locally in a bigger module and made the gears  wider where possible."

Comparison of 4th gears

"We had new crankshafts made with 78 mm stroke to accept Yamaha big end pins and rods."

78mm stroke crank

"Cylinder liner is a modified Peugeot diesel engine item  ( about the only one with a collar big enough to suit the Ducati )"


Thanks to Eldert for the photos and for sharing so much about the modifications to his engine.