The sixth round will take us to Chimay in Belgium, after cleaning and checking the bike, we fi nd out that our rear brake disc is cracked, I then start chasing around the paddock to fi nd one from another competitor to fi x our bike to no avail, no one has the same customised bike!
Fortunately, one of our local friends who knows an engineer is able to modify anything and offers to go back to his house to make us a new one. Brilliant, we have a couple of hours before the fi rst race. It is getting closer to the start of the race and we fi nally receive a text from our friend to let us know that he is running at the entrance of the paddock with the new disc … we all crack on with it and everything is ready at last. Ok, part is secure, lights out.
Warm up lap done, we get into our grid position … nothing, the engine turns off! What now?? We try to get the engine started start again, and again but nothing … well that’ s a DNS( Did not start) for us. After checking everything once more we feel prepared for Saturday. Again during the warm up lap everything is absolutely fine, before the engine once more drops of on the starting grid, a second DNS … I suppose that’ s racing.
On Sunday we experience the exact same fault again, before a red fl ag( racing halted) is issued meaning we have a bit of time to try and get the engine going … two small laps around the paddock later,
“ Warm up lap done, we get into our grid position … nothing, the engine turns off! What now??”
we think we can give it a try and start from the back of the grid. New warm lap, and the engine drops again leaving us on the side of the track to watch the race!! Another DNS, that’ s 3 DNS for Chimay 2016!!
We then fi nish the season with solid fi nishes in Round 7 Donnington, and Round 8, before our engine blows at Snetterton in round 9. We are then unable to take part in the fi nal race of the season at Silverstone. Summary of the season, three engine blows, but we still managed a very respectable 4th place.
Overall, it was a story of what could have been for Nancy and her partner in 2016, ongoing mechanical issues robbed the pair of a top 3 fi nish, but there is always the exciting prospect of next year. It was also a great experience for us as a brand to get involved with something a little different, helping get iCandy some exposure amongst groups who may not normally come across the brand.
Fingers crossed that 2017 is a much more successful year for Nancy, if they can avoid the mechanical faults, she could once more be a champion.