FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS

The sublime was Adam Brinkworth’s Ducati 999, which he was good enough to lend me for a little tootle. The ridiculous was my other blagged ride of the day, Carl Nichols’ 750 Le Mans I.

Now, of course, I would never seriously describe any Moto Guzzi as ridiculous and I enjoyed my ride on the Le Mans very much. I thought, however, that, save for the fact they were both red Italian V-twins, I could not have ridden two more contrasting motorcycles at Mallory.

Carl was happy to take my Guzzi 1100 out. Adam looked very dubious, sat on it, nearly dropped it on me and declined. Next time Adam.

It is a constant source of amazement and delight to me that so many riders volunteer (yes, really – I never ask) to let me put their cherished machinery through its paces – one of the privileges of my involvement with the Folly.

The other big privilege is being surrounded by all our willing and so competent volunteer officers – never a whinge, never a moan and all there just for the fun of involvement and the appreciation of the riders. They are appreciated too – overheard in the paddock: “I’ve ridden with XYZ Track Days previously but, having experienced this lot today, I’m never using anyone else again”. (This was presumably not a novice who had experienced Richard Morris, of which more below).

At Mallory, we were delighted to have Jackie (looking very fetching in her baseball cap) partnering Justine as our pit lane marshals. These ladies take no nonsense and, by mid-morning, the riders were forming orderly lines without being told to. Don’t we just love those peremptory hand signals?

Hard to mention Justine without mentioning ex-officer husband Peter Fox. He was planning to be there but is, unfortunately, hors de combat following a rather nasty close encounter between his face and a pavement. Nasty dangerous things those push bikes. He is apparently a bit of a sight at present – get well soon, Pete.

I am afraid to say that two current officers also had close encounters with the ground at Mallory. First, and most reprehensively, Richard (yes, I know the bike fell off the trailer last time) Morris, who decided to go out in novice group to identify a quick rider who needed moving up a group. Bit fast for Richard too, who, after a startling display of catch-up, scything through the terrified pack “out-braked myself” at the hairpin and demonstrated graphically how not to do it!

More forgiveably (except perhaps by Ian and Tom, the co-owners of the GSXR 1000 and Mrs A of course) was Graham Alcock – “forced wide at Gerrards into gravel”. He stayed upright across the grass and through most of the gravel so had scrubbed off quite a bit of speed before tumbling.

Interestingly, according to the accident reports another fast intermediate rider, Terry Harris, was also “run off into Gerrards gravel”. Is this a pattern? Do we have a phantom forcer?

All in all, seven fallers captured in the accident reports but no serious injuries.

One man, who I think, was missed by the report, fell off at the hairpin. About five novices all tried for the inside line simultaneously, two touched, one seemed to stall (no-one was going very fast) and fell and the rest scattered outwards. I was gentling around the outside of the lot of them and got mixed up in the fall-out. Fortunately everybody managed to avoid everybody else and no one went into the telephone box. Di (our favourite female marshal normally found at Shaws) where were you? You would have loved it.

In our welcome (or welcome back) slot:-

Aaron O’Flaherty – flew in from Ireland for the day (only a little tumble).
Lottie Roskill – back after her big fall at Cadwell (not with us) and nine months physio.
Sharon Spencer (CBR 500) and Kevin Green (GSXR 1000) on their second only track days.
Patrick (Torrey Canyon II) Wallace last seen dumping gallons of the stuff on the hairpin at Pembrey.
Neil Dunsire, on dad’s Triumph. We won’t tell him about the brake light in the middle of Gerrards.
New instructor Sarah Jordan and husband Steve (Mr Suspension).
Duncan Edwards from Salisbury who won a Donington day worth Ł165 in the raffle.

On the subject of raffles, Wayne Thomson won the free raffle for those buying Cadwell places at Mallory and gets the two tickets for BSB at Brands on 9th October. We are still taking bookings for Cadwell on 9th June and those wanting hotel accommodation on the previous evening need to book it quickly — the Admiral Rodney in Horncastle on 01507 523131. There will be another free raffle at Cadwell, this time for four pairs of Brands BSB tickets — all riders at Cadwell will be automatically entered.

The Royal Arms was booked out for the night before Mallory and many people had to stay elsewhere. We were 22 for dinner and their food just gets better and better.

Final story from the day. New Folly rider David Dempsey (Fireblade with yellow tank and odd white seat thingy) booked himself in for slower intermediate. After the briefing (probably the “please don’t die on us” bit) he asked to be moved into novice. Having watched him in novice during the first session, I had to go and find him and kick him up into intermediate where he performed perfectly. Unfortunately his story didn’t end there as when he got home to Birmingham that evening he discovered an open pocket on his rucksack and no wallet and expensive shades, probably on the M6 somewhere.

Fast and slow intermediate? We had too many intermediates and not enough advanced so after due consultation we put the faster intermediates together with the advanced riders in a fast intermediate group. Seemed to work though some of the faster riders had forgotten how slowly they used to ride in intermediate.

And the weather? Great, but hey, we’re the Folly!

Now for the plugs and stuff:

Justine the Queen of the Pit Lane is doing a 5km “ Race for Life” for Cancer Research on 10th July and needs sponsorship. Go to www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/jus for easy donations. Jus says thanks to those who have already pledged.

The tyre man should be coming to Cadwell. If you want to contact him in advance to book him to bring some tyres for you get hold of him at Moto Mondo on 07759 308283.

Photos of the Mallory day should be available for viewing and purchasing on www.reillystudios.co.uk/mallory/Index.htm . Selected ones for viewing only are on the Folly website.

Geoff.

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

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