It's always a pleasure to sit down and start writing this — it suggests that most of the hard work of putting the programme together has been done and that Castle Combe is in sight - as it is.

As usual the impending season means that the black Guzzi is all over the garage floor — seems I can never summon up the enthusiasm to do anything to it until late January but have you seen the new Guzzi MGS01? What a beauty and only £16,000 without lights etc! Don’t think Mrs S will be encouraging me to get one somehow.

Hope you lot have either fettled your machinery or acquired that shiny new toy you were promising yourselves last season. Now you just need the chance to try it out properly.

The dates so far are as follows:

• Monday 18th April Castle Combe
• Tuesday 17th May Mallory
• Wednesday 13th July Oulton (I’ll be there this year)
• Tuesday 23rd August Mallory
• Friday 16th September Donington (noisy day).

As you might imagine we are delighted to have got one of the few noisy Donington days on offer this year — you ask, you beg, and sometimes we are able to deliver!

There is a noticeable gap in June. We are still looking.

We are likely to be staying at all the usual hotels on the nights before (full details on website I hope, if they are not there yet we don’t know them yet so don’t ask) with the exception of Castle Combe where we have finally (with deep sorrow but admirable realism) dumped the White Hart in favour of the even more conveniently situated Crown Inn at Giddea Hall. This was found for us by the restaurant manageress at the circuit who has test driven a number of possible hostelries for us and who recommends this one highly. Again booking details on the website.

We recommend very early bookings for hotels. We chose smaller (nicer) ones so they do get booked up.

Prices etc and booking form for the circuits also on the website - http://www.themotorcyclefolly.co.uk/booking.htm. Don’t forget that five or more days paid with one cheque prior to the end of February brings a 10% discount and that if (God forbid) we should need to lower any prices later you get a refund to the cheapest price. Can’t say fairer than that gov.

At the time of writing rumours abound about a shake-up in the industry with various players changing their offerings and affiliations. There is no doubt that last season was hard and not helped by what looked like suicidal price wars between some of them.

Well we are still here and offering the same old formula — small number of days and quality - both in our offering and our riders. As always we rely heavily on you to support us and promote us to others.

Last year I conducted many in-depth interviews of riders both at the trackside and in the bar. On the basis of information received I prepared the following entirely unbiased and independent report:

MOTORCYCLE FOLLY—UNIQUE?

The Motorcycle Folly is these days a unique phenomenon amongst trackday organisers—a not for profit organisation run for the benefit of those who attend its days, not for the benefit of its owners. Those attending a Folly day for the first time usually express their amazement at the differences from a commercial day. Less riders so less hustle and hassle; real instructors who actually want to help; sensible riders, many of them regulars so with consideration for others on circuit; a friendly, clubby atmosphere; but most of all fantastic organisation with things clearly explained and happening on time and in the right order.

When it started up in the late 80s it was just a bunch of mates and anyone else they could get to come along to share the cost of circuit hire. You can’t operate like that now so they have had to get professional with written procedures, briefings and bracelets, insurance, official photographer and so on but the bunch of mates ethos remains—they even send out a written report to all their “members” after each date saying who did what and who fell off and what was funny.

Riders do fall off of course—wouldn’t be a bike trackday otherwise, but they like to keep below the industry average of one in ten riders and serious injury is very rare. Worst injury in 15 years has been a broken arm. Trackday tramps say that the incidence of “headbangers” at Folly days is remarkably low. The Folly themselves say that headbangers do attend from time to time but they soon get the message and either adapt to Folly style or go back to Deathwish Trackdays Inc.

Fast riders can stretch themselves in the Advanced Group. With 20mins on track every hour and minimum stoppages (less loonies around) they believe they get more track miles in with the Folly than with other organisers.

The Folly ethos extends to novices too. They get their own briefing at the beginning of the day, are shown around the track and get a debrief after their first session. Novices are encouraged to have one to one sessions with instructors during the day. There is even a “Novice Guide to Trackday Riding” handed out to all to reinforce the message—no pressure, no fear, take the bike home in the same condition in which it arrived.

They only do six or seven days a year and advertise rarely so most people find out about the Folly by word of mouth. It’s not exclusive, anyone can attend, just use the booking form on the website at www.themotorcyclefolly.co.uk. Whilst doing so check out their “what our members say” section. The Folly say and believe that they are “probably the best trackday organiser in the world”. We can’t comment but they may well be the best kept trackday secret.

Actually I do believe it and would ask that you all do anything you can to spread that message. We will only survive as the world’s best (you can forget that “probably” stuff) motorcycle trackday if we fill our days with riders. As usual some of you said we should charge more to help maintain quality. Once again we are resisting that although it would be easier if we could and not risk putting off new riders.

We are also resisting taking credit cards — yet again. Same reason: too difficult for a small organisation staffed by volunteers.

Other news:

• The tyre man (Moto Mondo) should still be attending. His telephone number is 07759 308283 so that you can pre-book your new tyres.
• This year we hope to have a suspension man too. Watch this space - he should be at Castle Combe.
• New improved website goes live very soon with blogging feature (notice board/forum) to replace sad old Yahoo groups. For now updated old site with booking form etc still available.
• We made a very small loss last year — not serious but that’s why we need your support. One or two more riders each day and we would be in clover!
• Mike Edwards and team will continue as resident instructors.
• As you probably know Peter Fox has put himself out to grass and we have new officers Jeff Brown and Richard Morris.
• We are going to experiment with a free place on a future day raffle. Pay an extra £5.00 at sign on and be entered into the raffle to be drawn at the end of the briefing.

So that’s it until the evening of Sunday April 17th at the Crown Inn for renewing old acquaintance and talking up the following day. Yes, we are all going to be better than we were last year. Roll on April. I can just feel the anticipatory pleasure of that Sunday afternoon ride across Salisbury plain! See you there.

Geoff.

Any comments on this message (not bookings), .