Classic Ducati is proud to sponsor
Roger Smith
(Ducati 250)
Good Luck for 2013!
Team 'Never Prepared' Racing
Rider: Roger Smith
Bike: Ducati 250 (Widecase)
Introduction
Team 'Never Prepared' Racing consists of me (Roger Smith) supported by many friends (including Classic Ducati). The bike is a 250 single cylinder Ducati. Road Racing takes place on various circuits and with various clubs - local and national - mainly in the classics classes.
History
I've been riding bikes on the road since the early 1980's. These were all Japanese bikes until the late 90's when I got my first Ducati, a modern (belt) 750SS. First time on a track was in 2000 on a Ducati Owners Club trackday. Before long the first bevel Ducati (a Darmah 900 SSD) came along and the modern one went. A couple of singles got added (250 Mototrans and 200GT) and a few more DOC trackdays took place on the Darmah.
Towards the end of 2005 I came across the 250 race bike which I thought I might use for doing a few more track days, however I didn't take much convincing that racing would be better so I started off with the Wirral 100 and Aintree clubs in 2006. In 2007 I started racing with the Preston and District club (in 250 classic and open 250 classes) and in 2008 I did my first couple of races with the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club (CRMC).
During the 2008 season I snapped a tendon in my thumb in an accident at Aintree. My season finished in September following an accident at three Sisters where I broke my collar bone.
Team Name
The 'Never Prepared' name is derived from the Scout motto 'Be Prepared'. Roger is an Explorer Scout leader and the 'Never Prepared' team name was originally said as a joke, but somehow it stuck. On the days when everything is going wrong it can still seem quite an apt name!
Bike Details
The bike is a widecase Ducati 250.
The engine was originally from a 239 MkIII, but has been increased in capacity to be competitive in the 250 class. It has a race cam, high compression piston and, for 2009, straight cut primary gears.
The original frame has started suffering from cracking, so an SCR frame is now being used. Taper roller head races have been fitted for 2009.
Forks have been re-vamped by Maxton.
New bodywork for 2009 has been supplied by Disco Volante Moto.
Past Results
As well as an increasing number of trophies for race positions, my championship results have been:
2006: Wirral 100 - 250cc Classics - 2nd
2007: Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd
NW Centre ACU Road Race - Single Cylinder - 1st
NW Centre ACU Road Race - Classic - 2nd
2008: Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (Open) - 3rd
NW Centre ACU Road Race - Single Cylinder - 1st
NW Centre ACU Road Race - Classic - 3rd
NW Centre ACU Road Race - 250cc - 3rd
Support
As well as getting help from my friends locally and from within the Ducati Owners Club, at then end of 2007 I had talks with Classic Ducati which resulted in their sponsoring me for my entries into the Preston & District series in 2008.
Support from Classic Ducati has continued into 2009, with the addition of support from Disco Volante Moto.
2009 Plans
Although I'm doing a few races with the Wirral 100 and Aintree clubs, my main focus is to be with the Preston & District club and with the CRMC. I'm also going to try out racing with BHR (British Historic Racing, part of the VMCC). Racing with the national clubs will be much more challenging than with the local clubs (where the numbers of classics can be quite low).
Circuits
Circuits I've raced at so far are:
Anglesey (old circuit, new circuit coastal and full).
Aintree
Three Sisters
Cadwell
In 2009, in addition to these circuits I'm also expecting to race at Pembry, Darley Moor, Donnington and possibly Mallory and Tonfanau.
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Preston & District - 250cc (open) - 3rd Preston & District - 250cc Classics - 2nd
Wirral 100 - 250cc Classics - 2
Wirral 100 - 250cc Classics - 2
I’m not doing the CRMC race at Snetterton next weekend, so Saturday (at Three Sisters) was my last race of the 2011 season.
Have had a pretty steady year, nothing spectacular, but I’ve stayed on the bike – no injuries.
Had a frustrating start to the year, until I discovered that the reason I couldn’t go round corners was because my frame was twisted!
Have been using the frame from the 239 road bike for the rest of the season which feels much better.
My confidence is taking a while to come back, but it’s been steadily improving and I’ve not had many DNFs.
Hopefully I’ll start battling a bit more next year.
On paper my championship points look better than my position towards the back of the field (mainly due to having finished in most of the races).
With CRMC I’m currently 4th in the 250 single cylinder class, but expect to drop to 5th once Snetterton is complete. I’d have been happy with a top 10 position.
With Preston & District I’ve finished 2nd in the Classics up to 250cc class (just one point ahead of the rider in third place) which I’m really pleased with. Much better than I would have expected. I think it might be a different story next year though as there are a number of strong riders (several on Ducati’s) who have started racing at Three Sisters in the last couple of rounds.
2012 Season
Roger, Caroline and friends at Tonnfanau
From Roger...
Doesn’t look quite so good now as I crashed in the second practice session!
Handlebar bent through the tank, but fortunately managed to get everything patched up (no screen, duct tape holding the fairing together, made a new throttle cable, bent foot peg back into place, etc.) just in time to get out for my first race. Went OK, not last! Went a bit better in the second race, handling seems good and I was fairly confident (just could do with a bit more speed). Both races were for points and quite a few people didn’t finish one or the other (they were 15 lap races) so I think I’m in 3rd place in the points which is a nice start to the season.
Caroline borrowed a bike to race with the 50cc class, but unfortunately it broke down in both her races. A hole in the piston on the first race and it seized in the second. Not her fault as it has a bit of a history of breaking down!
Next race is at Three Sisters in three weeks (Sunday 29th April) followed by CRMC Cadwell the week after (Sunday/Monday 6th/7th May).
Hopefully will have everything repaired and looking shiny again by then!
Roger at Cadwell
Weather was atrocious on Sunday – rain, wind and hail. Very cold, lots of accidents due to lack of grip with the low track temperature. I took it easy and stayed on – had the wrong gearing so wasn’t at all competitive. Monday morning was better, still cold but dry and some sun. Changed gearing so was about 4 secs a lap faster. Mid-morning it started to rain, was heavy for the rest of the day. As I’m only doing a couple of CRMC meetings (so not chasing points) I decided to call it a day and didn’t do my final race.
Just back from a 2-day meeting at Three Sisters.
Before the meeting put new spindle and bushes into the swinging arm so no play in it at all
Entry numbers were a bit down this weekend, maybe because of another meeting at Aintree on Saturday.
Have had a really good weekend, started off a bit showery and wet on Saturday but got better as the weekend went on.
Entered the classic 250 and modern 250 classes so have done a practice session and 8 races over the weekend.
Bike ran really well, have done my best times for a while and had a few good dices. Still need to knock a couple of seconds a lap off my times but really pleased with how it went this weekend. Came away with 4 3rd place trophies and a handful of points.
Think I’m now in 3rd place in both classes at Three Sisters.
We were going to do the CRMC meeting at Donnington in a few weeks, but as it’s just after we get back from taking the Scouts to Switzerland I don’t think that we’re going to do it now. Will just do the Tonfanau and Three Sisters meeting for the remainder of the year.
Just back from yesterday’s final round of the Crewe and South Cheshire club meeting at Tonfanau.
Went into the meeting in 4th place, just one point ahead of Steve Porter in 5th.
No real prospect of a top 3 position, and I didn’t think it very likely that I could hold onto 4th place either.
However, I had a great day’s racing. Really enjoyed it and had some good dices in the first 2 races with Keith Powell and Steve Porter, but lost out to them in both of those races.
Dave Thorpe was in blisteringly good form and won the first two to put him and Keith Powell in joint first place going into the final race. Bob Millinship wasn’t present but had 3rd sewn up and Steve Porter was now in 4th, just one point ahead of me.
The final race should have seen Dave Thorpe take the championship based on his performance earlier in the day, however mechanical troubles put him out.
I got a good start, passed Keith Powell but was beaten off the line by Steve Porter, however after a lap I got passed him under braking into Paddock bend and managed to stay ahead for the rest of the race. Keith got me going into the hairpin but I stayed close behind and took advantage when he locked up the back wheel at the same place a lap or two later. We were side by side for a while, although I was off line on the fast right hander I was determined not to give up easily and kept ahead for a while till he got me under braking again. I nearly managed to catch him and almost got alongside again, but he finished in 1st place (in the race and the championship) with me only 0.28 sec behind.
That made it two 4th places and a 2nd place for me – my best performance of the year.
Because I beat Steve Porter in the last race, I think we’ve finished joint 4th in the championship.
A really enjoyable day with some very close racing, finally up towards the front of the pack again.
Looking forward to the last 2 meetings / 3 rounds of the Preston and District championships at Three Sisters on Saturday 8th September and Saturday/Sunday 6th/7th October.
I’m currently in 3rd place in the 250cc Classics and, bizarrely, 3rd place in the modern 250cc class too.
Not expecting to hold onto 3rd in the modern class but have got everything to play for in the classics.
Here’s hoping I can carry this weekend’s performance on to Three Sisters.
Cheers,
Roger
PS The luxury of having hot water and a proper bed in the camper van just topped off the weekend – much more civilised than the old converted Merc Sprinter!
Three Sisters
Had a good day at Three Sisters on Saturday (8/9/12) .
Can’t say that I was feeling my best when off the bike, but felt great while racing!
As well as riding the Ducati in the Classic 250 and modern 250 classes, I was also helping Graham Dickenson by testing his 50cc Kawasaki.
This bike has so far this year failed to complete more than one lap of any race without burning a hole in the piston (who’d ever want to ride a 2-stoke?), however he thought he’d improved things a little so I agreed to take it out for him.
Caroline also had a ride in the 50’s for this meeting on a Suzuki loaned to her by Roger Naul. Her first race (other than once riding Graham’s bike and breaking it at Tonfanau) and first time riding at Three Sisters.
50cc practice was first. I made it to the end of assembly before it broke down and only got as far as the first corner by pushing it while trying to get it going!
Classic practice on my own bike went much better!
Race 1 was the Classic trophy race. Pulled peg number 13 out of the bag so was starting from the back row of the grid with an empty row in front then most of the field so even with a good start I was towards the back of the pack. It was all pretty tight for most of the first lap till the pack began to separate a little. I got behind a 600cc Norton and in spite of being better in some places we were pretty even overall. Had a couple a hairy moments when trying a little too hard to gain some ground but had good fun too! Finished 2nd in the 250 classic class in that race.
Race 3 was the 50’s – Graham hadn’t got his bike sorted so I didn’t get out, however Caroline did (after I’d pushed her all the way through the paddock tying to get the Suzuki she’d been loaned to start – went OK once the fuel was turned on!). She came back in full of smiles.
Race 9 was the modern 250’s (and 125’s) trophy race, however I was feeling the heat and a bit under the weather anyway so decided to give it a miss and save myself for the more important points races later in the day.
Race 12 saw me out at last on Graham’s 50. He’d finally got the timing set up (more or less) and it was at least revving to about 7000rpm. Throughout the race it kept cutting in and out (I nearly crashed it on the sighting lap when it suddenly decided to work half way round the hairpin!), occasionally it would rev to 9000rpm, mostly to about 7000 and some of the time only to 5000 (or not at all) so it was an interesting experience, however it did finish it’s first race and confirmed that it needs a new ignition system, so that was a big step forward for Graham who can spend the winter sorting it out.
Caroline was in the same race and went well. As she keeps reminding me she beat me in our first ever race together!
Race 14 was the classic point race. Again I got behind the same Norton, however I did eventually manage to get past by tucking on the inside on the bend at the end of the pit lane. Managed to gain a little ground but was a little too cautions when I got in behind one of the back markers and the Norton came past us both. In terms of position it didn’t matter as I finished 3rd in the 250 class again.
Race 20 was my last race of the day, the (modern) 250 and 125 points race. I managed to keep the slowest of the modern bikes in sight for a couple of laps until I totally messed up a gear change (the only one of the day) – took me 3 goes to find a gear! Had a nice steady ride at the back of the field, slowest times of the day but still faster than I’ve done at Three Sisters since 2008 so I was happy. As there were only three 250’s in the race I finished 3rd in the class.
With just the last 2 rounds to go (on October 6th and 7th) of the Preston and District championships at Three Sisters, I’m now:
Classics up to 250cc: 3rd place, 10 points behind 2nd and 17 ahead of 4th.
250cc (modern): 3rd place, 7 points behind 2nd and 14 ahead of 4th (but only because there have only been 4 of us in that class this year, and the one in 4th has only done half the races!).
Here’s hoping I can keep going as well as I have done for the last couple of meetings. Have already changed the oil and fitted a new clutch push rod, rollers and balls as I could feel it starting to wear (one of the balls had welded itself to the roller) so the bike’s pretty much ready to go.
Had a good day at Tonfanau on Easter Sunday.
Didn’t start so well as the bike wouldn’t start and it was cold (sub-zero) which made working on the bike painful on the fingers, but after a bit of fettling the bike sprang into life.
Missed the first 250 classic practice so went out with the bigger classics, bike went well. First time it had turned a wheel with the new ignition but went well with it set to maximum advance. Good drive from low speed made the hairpin easier than with the old points ignition.
Had three races and got three third places, almost made second in one race, after some dicing lost out by less than half a second. Was more than happy with the performance as the two in front were always within sight, and often within reach.
Hopefully once I’ve got the ignition properly set up I might continue to get some decent results (if it keeps working). It is still a prototype system and I am treating this as a development year so I hope I’m not going to get too disappointed if it stops working!
Next race is at Three Sisters on Sunday May 12th.
Caroline’s probably not racing this year as she has some other commitments, but you never know, she might change her mind once the weather warms up.
Cheers,
Roger
Hi,
Had a good outing at Three Sisters yesterday, in spite of the weather.
2nd in the trophy race and 3rd in the points race.
First race started relatively dry but started drizzling, track got very greasy so lots of movement – the Ducati seemed to handle better than some of the others, not all of whom stayed upright! took a while to get past Richard on his Ariel , had some pretty close racing, once past had no chance of catching up with the front runner.
Second race was properly wet, race reduced from 7 to 5 laps. Took over a lap to get past the Ariel by which time the Benelli had gone and the Honda 250 K4 was quite a few seconds ahead. Bike felt good in spite of the heavy rain and standing (and running) water so was lapping around 1.5 seconds faster than the K4, Managed to show him a wheel in the last lap but couldn’t get past before the flag.
Have to say, I really enjoyed it. The bike felt good and the ignition was working really well (will be a couple of months before I start work on making it even better) which gave me lots of confidence in some very poor conditions.
Can’t wait to get back to Tonfanau in 2 weeks.
Cheers,
Roger
PS Pictures were taken by John Tipping.
Your basket is empty.
