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Here we will keep you up to date on news, results and reports from Craigs Meetings
18-07-2007
Coventry stadium 7th July 2007
Pre-Meeting & Meeting Report from Craig!! (See folks told you I would nag him into submission for input!!)
This is it, it has finally happened, hang on a minute let’s rewind a bit here the Saturday before Emma my partner and Dave (F2 716) her dad were involved in a head on smack courtesy of some drunk Russian so the week leading up to Cov wasn’t exactly great as I got collared in to do a lot of the work at the black boy hotel in bewdley as that is her folks place and she started back there after her maternity leave on the Friday night. So that was short lived as I was helping out as much as I could doing whatever needed and it went something like this;
Saturday week before Coventry the accident happened about 10 pm so we left Worcester hospital about 03:30 Sunday, sleep for about 5am, up around 8 am to collect Danny as he had been dropped off at his great Nan’s last night. So collect him then down the pub to get it ready for opening as Dave was meant to be doing the 12-6 shift, so I did it instead, Sunday evening Emma and Dave feeling crap so we went home about 7 ish Emma went to bed I was left holding the baby, no problem as he is a good kid but just doesn’t sleep at night so after being up about 3 times during the night he finally woke up around his normal time of 6:30AM!
Monday just general work around the pub well it would have been if it wasn’t for the smoking ban coming in so we decided to redecorate the whole place so basically that took us until Wednesday morning, fortunately Emma and Danny stayed at the pub so I could get a decent kip.
Thursday in preparation for the upcoming weekend we had a party on the Friday night for Dave and Lynne’s 2 year’s as landlord’s then Saturday another party for a fund raising day for the kids play area we erected three pretty big marquees in the car park, so that took up about 8 hour’s of the day so after the painting in the morning finished about 7:30 pm em was staying at the pub again so off home bath beer bed onto Friday.
Friday phone call at about 8am from Lynne and my first words were not the marquees as it had been a bit windy and yes the answer was all three had come down at about 5am so Friday once again was spent repairing the bent bits and putting them back up again finally finished doing it about 4:30 so quick dash home bath dressed back up the pub(bearing in mind that Emma cant drive still so I haven’t had more than two pint’s all week as I am the driver)about 6:30 go to collect Emma’s grandparents back at pub about 7 party went well the marquees stayed up and a good night was had,took grandparents home about 10:30 so we got home about 11pm Danny to bed quick beer and cigarette then bed about 12:30.
Saturday morning Danny got me up about 6 and then it hit me IM RACING TONIGHT???????
Strangely enough I wasn’t too nervous more I just wanted to get out there I think but Danny changed fed and off to the pub about 8:30 to set up the stall’s bbq football table marquees etc etc in readiness for the afternoon’s fun,finally left the pub about 2:30 for Coventry and I think then it was a case of I don’t believe it this is after all the grief we have had getting this going and getting me back out there it is finally going to happen,arrived at cov about 4 the car hadn’t got there that arrived about 4:30 so in to the pits get the car unloaded and away we go,oh no not as easy as that my jaw was aching after the first hour so many people came around just to say hello or to offer there good wishes for the meeting I was absolutely gobsmacked and very chuffed aswell,bill stiggins was doing a meeting report which I have to say was fantastic and Dave g did the photo’s and once again they were great so many thanks for that lads,
So finally after all the grief off the previous week it was here it was happening and I needed another pee,them nerves are a funny thing as I hardly had anything to drink at all but went like an elephant!
So off to scruiteneering I went followed a car that had just gone into the bay only to be told no go round the other way as this is the out gate(it’s been a while Mick used to come to the car last time I raced)so back around and car passed no problems only problem was my helmet I bought off a f2 driver last year only to be told it was illegal,bugger no probs Chris had his helmet it fit’s me so job sorted,back to the bus and then more people coming around asking questions people I haven’t seen for a long while etc etc Steve botham doing a interview for stoxnet then three f2 heat’s god they dragged on,not because they were boring or anything as I didn’t watch them anyhow but I was in heat 1 and it took an age to get round to it.
Finally all strapped in not feeling to comfortable in the car as I had trouble with the steering which hopefully will be sorted next time I race but all ready to go,just about to go on track and bill Morris stops in front of me I stop and then guess what get grounded on the hump over the dog track oops 462 pushed me over so onto the grid for my 1st line up in not sure but either 7 or 8 years and strangely I still wasn’t too nervous at all I just wanted to get going.
I cant really report on the race much as I cant remember much of it apart from mucking up a hit on bill 481 which spun him and took us both in the fence after a couple of laps trying to get unstuck I finally managed it so back to racing and immediately I noticed the car was going where it wanted and not where I wanted so just thought get on with it stick on the line let them move me and have fun which I didn’t really as like I say the car was a pig then I got a flat then the starter lead came off so it ground to a halt on the pits bend in the middle and for a split second I thought ok is this where I put my thumbs down to get the car moved to escape any damage or just do as I did give the thumbs UP and tighten my belts fold my arms over my chest and keep an eye on the mirror ready for the inevitable,fortunately nobody hit me so back to the pits with a flat and the starter lead but that was it so ready for the consi which I wasn’t looking forward to as all we did was change one tyre so wasn’t expecting it to handle any better but onto the grid green flag and I haven’t a clue what happened I must have just slipped back about 15 years or so as I just thought sod it if you want to move me move me but next bend your getting it back and I did until I hit 231 and the dizzy cap came off,so a rubbish result but I might have been on for a final place even with the car handling like that but saying all that I felt like I was back again I had a beaming smile and loved every minute of it,talking to Andy 493 and Steve 40 on the middle we had a good laugh about it and for me that summed it up I went out I enjoyed it by the looks of the feedback on stoxnet it was well received so
Craig has requested a booking at a forthcoming meeting, we are not going to reveal where until it is confirmed, but hopefully sometime in the next 30 days car #407 will be on track!!
Craig has made a bad error in giving the webmaster his phone number so although he can ignore emails he can't hide from the phone (Plus I intend to get his better on side to nag him into submission!!)
I have been asked to inform everyone that Craig will DEFINATELY be racing this year after the hiccups of last year.
He will have to hurry though or with the experience his nephew Chris Stafford (#157) is getting in the car he won't be able to prise him out of the seat (or worse still be made to look old 'n' slow 'n' past it!)
