DONINGTON COMES UP TRUMPS

Donington on 16^th September was our last day of the season so this is the last you will hear from me until the Spring Message with 2006 programme and prices that will be mailed to you in February.

Thanks to all who continued to support us during the year and to the new members who joined us. New instructor Ryan Harris said to me at the end of the day that you were the friendliest and most civilised group of riders that he had ever met at a track day. We agree with him.

So how come trumps? Numbers, behaviour, weather and the MGS-01 – oh, and faultless performance from circuit supremo Frank the Tannoy, the marshals and recovery crew at Donington.

Apart from a couple of places in Novice we sold out. In fact because some of you (despite my entreaties) fell off, thus releasing your places, we were able later in the day to make room for others who had turned up on spec. This means we ended up the year in credit with a small surplus for the circuit hire deposit pot.

Only twelve of you fell off and no one was injured bar the usual bumps and bruises. Most bikes were capable of riding again. Whilst twelve sounds a lot we had nearly 150 riders so it was short of the 1 in 10 industry average. If only more of you had paid attention to my Redgate warning in the briefing - half of those were at Redgate including Alex Cheeseman (Novice) and Robin Gilman (Advanced) who both managed to fall off before the apex – remarkable.

Even more remarkable was the fact that Robin achieved it within five seconds of leaving the pit lane at the beginning of his session – a touch of over enthusiasm?

Interesting how on track behaviour is in the “eye of the beholder”. At lunchtime a rider complimented me (not that I had anything to do with it) for the civilised behaviour in Intermediate and told me that I should stop calling them “the Loony Group”. Shortly thereafter Officer Justine relayed to me comments from riders in both Intermediate and Advanced to the effect that there was too much loony behaviour in those groups. A short talking to was delivered to both before they went out after lunch and I received no more complaints.

The weather was unexpectedly, but as usual, kind to us. Despite dire predictions at the beginning of the week and weather so bad the day before that a Donington track day had to be stopped, we awoke to clear blue skies and had not a drop of rain. It was sunny, chilly and a bit windy – sufficient to be felt whilst riding – but we couldn’t have asked for better.

As the season has progressed (we’ve had good weather for every day) some have suggested that I pray a lot. At Donington there were those beginning to suspect that it’s rather more serious and that there is an eternity in Hell lined up for me.

And the MGS-01? Read on a little further …

Twenty four for dinner at the Donington Manor Hotel the night before. That may be a record and was probably prompted by my report of free champagne (compliments of Chris Hendon) at the Royal Arms last time. No free champagne but I did manage to blag free red wine for every table from the Maitre D’.

Actually I didn’t buy a drink all evening as the bar seemed constantly lined by people offering to buy rounds. Justine (mellifluous voice at end of FollyFone and Madam Pitlane) was in her element holding court and accepting alcoholic tributes from her many admirers.

Towards the end of the evening I was talking about the privilege of having been offered, and enjoyed, rides on so many different bikes over the years and saying that there were only two bikes that I’d seen at our days and still particularly wanted to ride – a Buell and the modern MV Agusta. This was directed at Geoff Kendall who had owned a Buell which, apparently, he’d offered and I’d not got round to riding. “Anyway” he said, brightly indicating brother Mick, “He’s on his MV tomorrow, he’ll give you a go”. Slightly sick smile from Mick – “Of course, no problem”.

Sickest smile of the evening came from hotel manageress Jane who managed to impale her husband’s car on my bike trailer whilst negotiating her way out of the car park. I was extracted from the bar to deal with the situation by an almost gleeful Ian Lishman (I thought it was a set-up) and Jane didn’t known whether to smile at the nice customer whose trailer she might have damaged or shout at the bastard who had parked it there.

Donington is always a worry to us because it’s so big. Even staying below the circuit limits, riders plus instructors, plus officers means over 150 riding. More worryingly the majority are usually new to the Folly. I was therefore heartened to see at the briefing that about half the riders had ridden with us before. In fact we had a great day and I never felt any concern that chaos, group jumping, headbanging or any of the other things that spoil a good day were threatening.

The MGS-01? This is Guzzi’s dream track toy (Ł16,000 without lights or number plate mounts) of which fifty have been made and five have been sold into the UK. If there is one bike in the world that I wanted to ride this is it.

Upon arrival at the circuit I was immediately informed that one of those five could be found in pit lane garage 26 with owner Jeff Couch (manager of Kawasaki Newcastle). Jeff and his “lovely lady” Helen were part of a sizeable contingent that had come down from Newcastle for the day. Now I’ve never met Jeff before and his only previous experience of me, when I actually got to talk to him, was having watched me do the briefing. He was just about to go out on his ex-Rhencullen ZXR7RR and the exchange went like this:

Me: (Pointing at immaculate Guzzi) “Is that yours?”
Him: “Yes.”
Me: “Must talk to you about it later.”
Him: “Do you want to take it out?”

Now either my reputation goes before me or he is the most amazingly generous and trusting bloke I’ve ever met.

I did take it out and it lived up to all expectations and if you want to read my report for Gambalunga magazine, send me an e-mail. Otherwise just enjoy the fact that it ran out of petrol and I had to be recovered by the circuit clean up squad – embarrassing. Riding it made my year! What an end to the season.

Other noteworthy events:-

Chris Hendon turned up (Rhencullen were prepared to hire him the now fixed SP1 again), had one windy moment and decided to call it a day – he wishes to improve his averages for home consumption. (For those of you that read the Mallory report I can confirm that he got to the wedding on time and suffered only from a leg black bruised from knee to groin that he insisted on showing to everyone).
Solicitor and claims management company boss Donald McKay invited key members of his staff and their PR guru along for a lunchtime meeting to discuss corporate image. They were there. Where was Donald? Spread out amongst the bits of his Kawasaki on the grass halfway down Starkey’s Straight. Huh? Yes Straight.
Duncan Edwards (won his day in one of our draws earlier in the year) seen sitting wheel spindle deep in Redgate gravel – but still upright.
The guys at Grip and Rip Track Services doing great business in puncture repairs – suggestions that they may have spread debris on the track to increase trade!
Gareth Hacker on his Aprilia Tuono. Wouldn’t start on wet Thursday; spent five hours trying; eventually called the AA who burned out his starter motor but got him started. Gave up on getting to the hotel. Set off from London at crack of dawn Friday with two keys (one for ignition, one for petrol tank so no need to turn off). Finally got on track at noon – dedication.
Mick lent me the MV Senna, so it’s just the Buell to go. Thanks Mick.

And the awards:-

Improver of the day – Travis whose 50 mph average (unpredictable mobile chicane) had become 70 mph and thankfully predictable by the end of the day. Keep it up Travis.
Happiest rider – Don’t know his name but his leathers said Pony. Passed his test three weeks and 900 miles previously; at his first track day on his R6 – grin from ear to ear.
Steady progress – Aidan Walker, now overtaking others in Advanced. Wants me to ride out with him. I have real concerns I wouldn’t be able to keep up.
Furthest travelled – Damian, Piotr and Tomasz from Katowice, Poland. They were on a track day holiday with their R1 racebike. Had already done Mallory twice and Oulton and wanted to know if we were doing another one the next week.
Biggest group – twelve riders put together by Peak Performance Motorcycles in Exeter including Caroline Shaw on her CBR 600 riding more than competently in Intermediate on her second ever track day. She’s one to watch lads! They should have been 13 but number 13 flipped his trailer on the way up (trying to get his knee down around a roundabout I shouldn’t wonder) and didn’t make it. Of course he wasn’t number 13 until then.

Well that’s it for our season although some of you will be meeting up at the Brands BSB round on 9^th October using the tickets that MotorSportVision gave us and we’ve been handing out through free draws all season.

I’ve thanked you all for supporting us; it just remains for me to thank the volunteers who help Ian, Mark and me as your officers. Without Justine, Reg, Billy, Jeff, Jackie, Richard and Graham there just would be no Folly – their assistance is truly appreciated.

Finally:

A picture of an MGS-01 and various other pics from the day can be found on our website at www.motorcyclefolly.co.uk/gallery

More pictures (for viewing and buying) can be found on Picture Management’s website at http://tinyurl.com/dblpg

Chief Instructor Mike Edwards is running a competition to give away his Cagiva Raptor 650 and enough tyres and entry fees to complete a season of MiniTwins racing. The bike has actually won races – ridden by the other Mike Edwards. Check it out at www.givemethekeys.com/minitwins

If you are feeling Folly deprived over the long off-season log on to the Folly Forum behind our website and keep up with your Folly friends during the boring part of the year.

Geoff.

Any comments on the day or this newsletter (not bookings) to me at mgs01rider @ megalith.plus.com

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