“PEOPLE DIE ON CRASH DAYS”

Well fortunately they didn’t die at Pembrey last Monday but that was my Freudian malapropism as I concluded the briefing with my customary reference to the Grim Reaper and a stern admonition not to do it. Didn’t understand why everyone was laughing until told of my substitution of “crash” for “track” — ah well, we can all get obsessed.

It wasn’t a “crash day” either. Only three fallers and one extra recovery, reported to me as a “fuel starvation problem”. On further investigation this was the type of fuel starvation caused by not turning on that little tap before going out. To spare his blushes I will merely report that it was a ZXR ridden in Advanced and bearing the number 41.

There was an interesting degree of symmetry to two of the real fallers. Regulars will recall that Terry Harris and David Cooper always want to be mentioned in the report but it took David dropping Terry’s brand new Mille “Factory” at Cadwell six weeks ago to get them the headline they craved. At Pembrey David dropped his own GSXR 750 coming out of Hatchets Hairpin (that’s the one at the end of Park, the start finish straight) and caused Terry to go grass tracking on the same Mille whilst avoiding him. Fortunately he stayed upright. David was back up and running within an hour. Probably a good thing he didn’t take Terry out!

The other symmetrical one was also at Hatchets and was an almost carbon copy of our own Graham Alcock’s tumble there the last time we were at Pembrey, perhaps 5 years ago. Graham blew an oil seal coming down Park Straight and was blissfully unaware of the plume of smoke behind him caused by the oil that wasn’t going on the back tyre, burning off the exhaust. He became aware on tipping into the corner. This time it was track day novice (but not obviously so) Patrick Wallace riding Stephen Jones’ KTM 660. Being a single it vibrates and it was the bolt wot secures the oil feed banjo that vibrated loose — plume of smoke, blissful ignorance etc etc. Patrick has fractured something complicated sounding in his wrist but the KTM bears hardly a scratch — so that’s OK then!

Again, like last time, we all had to stop whilst they scrubbed the oil off the hairpin with water and detergent. They use the fire tender for that. Unfortunately it had no water and had to go back to fill up. I’m pleased it wasn’t a fire.

Proves we are all optimists though. Last time we said, “Useful delay, glad to be inside out of the rain”. This time it was “Ah well, nice to have a break to enjoy the sunshine”. There was just enough sunshine too. Cool breeze, fleecy clouds — perfect weather for a track day. Which was particularly galling for old time Folly regular (Officer even) Chris Hendon who was supposed to be joining us on track for the first time in years. He set off from Torquay on Sunday afternoon, rode through torrential rain as far as Exeter before giving up in disgust, secure in the knowledge that the weather had to be worse in Wales.

If you would like to mock Chris I recommend the chat group accessible through the Folly website. He is a regular contributor and has to be told occasionally not to talk about football.

The day was also wonderfully relaxed as we only had 45 riders (plus instructors and officers). This was despite Sukie Davies who brought seven friends from the Professional and Executive Motorcycle Club to play and various non-combatants who sat around in deck chairs and were generally friendly to anyone who came close enough.

The PEMC crowd included Kidge on his BMW who I spooked going outside him on Dibeni (the bend with 1000 lines), Frank Maddrell doing amazingly on his Pan European (for those that recognise the in joke, he actually came with a real granny on the back!) and the aptly named “Rif-Raff” Evans whose dinner table charm and repartee has to be experienced to be believed but, who after overtaking me coming out of Hatchets on his Fazer 1000 and almost binning it as a direct result, became almost tolerable. I look forward to meeting him again.

Like a number of other tactless characters who overtook me in novice group he got moved up to intermediate at lunch time leaving a much diminished novice group for the afternoon — I think eventually they got down to about ten riders.

Notable amongst those moved up for the afternoon were Folly newcomers but not real novices Lottie Roskill and Mick Linford on their pair of “Baby Blade” CBR400s. You immediately knew that Lottie was serious about her biking because her name was writ across the shoulders of her leathers. She was also, how can I put this? a nice little mover, leaping lithely from side to side of her bike through Paddock and the Esses, if a touch tentative going into Hatchets. She thinks she wants to race and seems to be headed in the right direction.

I had an interesting day. First it was crash days, then I got told off for “stuffing it up the inside” of some novices on Honda Curve (the marshal that grassed me up was the chap in the holding area who I swear plays for ZZ Top when he’s not marshalling at Pembrey). It wasn’t me Gov honest, and anyway I gave them loads of space! Next it was Kidge wanting a word about that nasty moment in Dibeni and then someone around whom I was just about to go on the other hairpin (this time in Intermediate) because he was entering too slowly, decided that in fact he was entering too fast and would rather ride onto the grass (talk about a narrowing gap!). I used those twin Brembos and narrowly managed to go inside him.

If that wasn’t enough I was just about to undergo some high speed instruction in body positioning (It’s those L Plate knee sliders, give the instructors ideas.) from Chief Instructor Mike “Peanut” Edwards when some bit of gear pedal linkage sheared and the Guzzi was Hors de Combat. Apparently I stick my bum out too far, need to be more modest.

Anyway all was not lost as Geoff Kendal came to the rescue in the afternoon and prevented me being a paddock saddo by letting me out on his Blade. Having had a go on Nick Bracey’s Aprilia 250 in the morning I felt a well-rounded rider (and I don’t mean either of our lady riders) in the afternoon.

Couple of random observations — there were RAF Hawk trainers (or at least that’s what someone said they were) flying round and round the circuit all day. Did they not hear me say that the circuit was clockwise?

The PA loudspeaker immediately above ZZ Top’s station had house martins nesting in it. Presumably deaf house martins.

Peter Wilson was riding a sensored up R1 in Advanced Group on a test session for Avon Tyres. He assured me that he was not out there to discover the point at which the bike fell over but he was flying. Various people who know what they are talking about were very complimentary about his riding (in awe might be a better expression) and he was apparently also very interesting to talk to.

Circuit staff were friendly and efficient and helped the day go very well. The restaurant was up to scratch but a cold alternative — even a bun, would have been nice.

Julian of Moto Mondo a mobile tyre man was with us for the first time and has said he will come again. Specifically he is going to Oulton on 27th July where he can supply and fit tyres from his substantial travelling stock. If you have specific needs you can pre-order on 07759 308283. (Oulton is full except for Advanced so if you want to ride Advanced get your booking in soon).

If you missed that knee down moment at Pembrey or want an enlargement of the photo you took home, do not despair – an e-mailed description of your bike and leathers to Stuart on snorris @ netcomuk.co.uk will bring proofs to choose from or to use to tell him which one to enlarge.

Finally, serious stuff. After years of sterling service Peter Fox has decided that the demands of career and family make continuing as a Folly Officer impossible. He will be retiring at the end of the year. Ian, the older Fox, will remain fully involved as will Justine, Peter’s wife. We are hugely grateful for all that Peter has done over the years, particularly on website, database and mailings but mainly for introducing us to Justine!

The Folly is now seeking a volunteer or volunteers to take over Peter’s role after the end of the season. There are two main requirements which could be done by one or two people - first website and database management and e-communications. Does not necessarily require attendance at all days. Second is paperwork design & printing (booking forms, indemnities, bike stickers, etc.) and attendance with them at the days to help with sign-on. This requires someone who can make all if not most of the days as the forms have to be printed with the final details in the days immediately preceding the track day.

If you have commitment and enthusiasm for the Folly are prepared to put in the time and would like to become an officer please email Peter on email @ motorcyclefolly.co.uk and he will send you the full “job description”. If you are still interested then we would like to know what you could do for the Folly.

Geoff.

Any comments on the day or this newsletter (not bookings) to carefulrider @ megalith.plus.com

Views or suggestions on our instructors/instructing to mike.edwards @ biketrackdays.co.uk