By Although JMS Support class winner times three, Roddy Taylor’s Bob Smith Spring Cup didn’t at all go to plan, primarily due to a deer encounter!
Roddy takes up the story:
“This is not the Ulster GP but Scarborough had its own take on Deers-Leap!
I was asked this year to do the track walks and sighting laps with the newcomers. We did two track walks and three sighting laps with the newcomers and the only thing that happened was silence at the top of Sheene’s Rise while they drew breath.
So off I went on the now 700cc ER6 Kawasaki in to the first 15 minute session, all going well and was fastest in that group, three laps in so I was starting to push on a bit and to see where the grip was.
As normal the run out of Drurys down to Mountside can be a bit green. On lap 3 it all felt good so I had been winding it up in 2nd out of Drurys, short shift 3rd, 4th then into fifth just as it goes slightly left before the bridge.
It was at this point Bambi decides to cross the road. No, it’s not a chicken it a bloody deer heading at speed straight in from the left-hand side of the track.”
“Absolutely no chance to do anything apart from stare at it sliding towards me with serious ABS failure as all four hooves lock up sliding on the wet tar.
It hit the bottom of the left fork-leg and then went straight in to the front of the engine destroying the engine and radiator, as well as itself.
It felt like I have just hit a wet bag of sand and was then punched up the back when it went underneath the bikes back wheel.
Now, staying on could be put down to 50 odd years of riding bikes, throttle control or even being on good wets, that had bugger all to do with it and I used one of my already depleted nine lives for sure. Nothing more nothing less.
Made it back to the pits, we all tried to get it straightened out for the Twins TQ (timed qualifying) but did not make it.”
Roddy, brother of Scottish national racing great Douglas Taylor and cousin of Sidecar legend Jock Taylor, went onto add:
“By the time we had the spare SV that “Trigger” dug out and was ready to go, we made the back of the grid for the Twins race but unfortunately the grid was full and everyone turned up, so I had to start the support race from the back of the grid.
Got a good start and managed to win that, with lap times that would have had me easily in the top 8 of the Twins-race.
Sunday, went to the back of the grid and again told could not start as the grid was full, so back in the support race again but this time from pole so we used this as good laps and preparation for Cookstown this weekend.
I was looking forward to getting finding out how the Kawasaki would go but it will have to wait till Cookstown now.
Saturday night was spent at the top of the hill with a couple of cold beers and a pizza, I am sure I saw Bambi at the Marshals barbecue!
We live to fight another day, and every time Suzy asks me to do something and I say yes dear, it will never be the same again.”
As stated above, Roddy’s attentions now turn towards the CDE Group Cookstown 100.
Hopefully it is a more routine weekend for him and his team, not involving brushes with wildlife!
Quotes courtesy of Roddy Taylor
Photo courtesy of Roddy Taylor
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
