DANGEROUS BRUCE

Brucie Boy has his uses, only when he goes to pick a racing superstar up from the motorhome, wouldn’t it be an idea to tell him why…?

Words: Bruce Wilson
Pictures: Dean Owen - www.racingeye.net

Before I talk Brands Hatch, and give you a couple of verses from the racer’s book of excuses, I want to bring you up to scratch with all the other antics I’ve been up to since my last scribblings.

Time has literally flown by, and I’ve been doing my best to keep myself occupied and out of too much trouble. My knee’s getting better, so I’ve been able to put in a good few miles on the push bike. Last month I was talking about having a cycle trolley behind my bike for a getaway vehicle, well I’ve gone one step better than that! I’m in the early stages of constructing a rickshaw for the CJ push bike race at Cadwell Park. I’m hoping to help raise a bit more money for the fund, by taxiing people around for a lap at a time. Unfortunately, the design layout means that I’ll struggle to carry anyone that isn’t 5’ 4”, female and has model-like looks, but if you do fit the criteria, drop me an e-mail and start the bidding!
I had my first race of the year at Cadwell Park with New Era Superclub a few weeks back. I bagged a couple of second places in the Supersport 600 class, and a third place finish in the Spring Trophy race.
It was a great start for the team and a chance to reap some early reward for all the effort everyone has put in over the winter. I was that happy I even tried my hand at a wheelie! It didn’t quite go to plan though and after nearly falling off the back over the mountain, I slammed the throttle shut which just as aggressively tried to throw me over the handlebars. Those that witnessed it probably thought I was having some kind of fit or something.

The Snetterton BSB tests turned out to be a nightmare from the word go! I was driving down on the Friday night, when I got a blow-out about ten miles from the circuit. It was dark and because it wasn’t my van, I hadn’t a clue where the spare wheel was. With the hazards blazing away, parked on the inside lane with no hard shoulder, we were playing dodgems with the oncoming cars while searching for the spare, which believe me is no fun!

Thankfully, a Police car turned up and our technician, Ian, went over to them and explained the problem. They were quite affable until he said that it wasn’t our van!
After we’d cleared up that situation, and they’d found out the van wasn’t stolen, one of the policemen gave us a hand and before long we were on our way once again.

Literally as soon as we arrived in the paddock the snow started falling, and it very rarely stopped for the next three days. We did however manage to make two track appearances, and on one occasion I even got a free flying lesson! Russell’s chicane has this nasty habit of making me highside on an annual basis, so I wasn’t too surprised when I found myself bouncing along the cold, wet tarmac.

Aside from motorcycle racing, rallying has to be the best sport in the world. I’m hoping one day I’ll get chance to have a run out with Larry when he’s got a bit of free time (hee, hee, hee, can’t wait… - Ed), but until then I’ll have to make do with whatever fix I can get. I got to try my hand at a bit of off-roading when my mate Sam got his car stuck in a quagmire of a field. Being the gentleman that I am, I volunteered to drive whilst Sam and my brother, Brod, pushed. Once the car was moving I didn’t want to stop. Sliding around on a grass field is a million miles from anything like a proper rally, but I had an awesome time.

I’ve had a couple of letters of concern from readers about locking Dan in the back of the lorry. Well fear not as we’ve kept to our word and let him back out. He, in turn, did a top job with kitting out the new pimp mobile, and we cruised down to Brands Hatch BSB in style. It was my first time on the GP circuit, and I couldn’t wait to ride it after all the hype I’d heard about it. My first few laps round the circuit were pretty difficult to say the least and I often found myself in completely the wrong place at the wrong time. After running 23rd in first practice, I was back to 29th for first qualifying, before moving up to 16th in a very wet second qualifying. The racing was cancelled because of the snow, but I still had a great time. Snowball fights were everywhere, and it was hard not to get involved.
One thing I’ve already learnt about the BSB paddock is the nights are just as packed as the days. The Fred and Scoop Charity chat show was on at the Thistle Hotel, so me and Aaron Walker had a trek up, and had an awesome time. We’d not long since turned up when Scoop started inviting riders up on stage to be interviewed, and to my disbelief I was asked up to join Aaron, Tommy Hill and Kenny Gilbertson up there.

The night got even better when Scoop asked me to go and pick Shakey Byrne up on a scooter so he could come along too. This was undoubtedly the best chore in the world! After running all the way back to the paddock, I got a scooter and went in search of Shakey’s motorhome. It wasn’t long before I found it, and after knocking on the door, I was gutted when he said he’d make his own way up as the whole of my team were outside, cameras at the ready. He probably thought I was some stalker trying to kidnap him and I forgot to tell him that Scoop had sent me to collect him!
Thruxton is next in the schedule, and I’m really looking forward to riding yet another new circuit. I’ve packed the snow skis just in case; with a bit of luck I won’t be needing them, but who knows?


Dangerous Bruce

BACK TO TEAMMCR INDEX