Post by donkeychomp on Jul 24, 2024 21:15:46 GMT 1
I got to Andrew's place about noon, we loaded the bike into the enormous Transit, I got behind the wheel and off we went.
The journey started off well, doing about 75 all the way (140 miles), and about an hour in we decided to stop for a quick toilet break and for me to have a fag. Off again, hit a stretch of road restricted to 50mph, stopped again for a drive through coffee (£8!!) and arrived at about 3pm. Well early. Bike unloaded, we had a stroll about, watched some very fast riders and Andrew went off to get into his romper suit ready for the off. I had spotted a restaurant that was open so at least dinner was on the cards.
There were some cool bikes there, and some massive motor homes.
The riding was divided into inters and advanced and he was in the former, he did a couple of sighting laps and nailed it. He was on almost the slowest bike there (bar some Honda 500s) but got past quite a few in the twisty bits and no one overtook him on the straight.
You got 20 minutes of riding, then the other lot came on for 20 and so on. There were 2 red flag incidents that forced everyone to go back to the pits. Two blokes crashed and were taken to hospital but both were okay, not so the bikes. On the last stint yet another red flag, another crash and the chap lying unconscious in the middle of the track. One ambulance was still at the hospital so the last one was used and that bought and end to the days events. That rider turned out to be fine too. Phew. We loaded up for the drive back...the restaurant had closed...and hit more 50mph restrictions, had to do detours down country roads as some parts of the motorway were closed, saw 3 cop cars chasing a Merc doing about 150mph and at 11pm hit the worst traffic I have ever been in. We got home at midnight, Andrew drove us back all the way (well done sir!).
Was it a good day? Hell yeah. Now I'm looking for a cheap race bike!
Brands Hatch on Monday!!
Alex
The journey started off well, doing about 75 all the way (140 miles), and about an hour in we decided to stop for a quick toilet break and for me to have a fag. Off again, hit a stretch of road restricted to 50mph, stopped again for a drive through coffee (£8!!) and arrived at about 3pm. Well early. Bike unloaded, we had a stroll about, watched some very fast riders and Andrew went off to get into his romper suit ready for the off. I had spotted a restaurant that was open so at least dinner was on the cards.
There were some cool bikes there, and some massive motor homes.
The riding was divided into inters and advanced and he was in the former, he did a couple of sighting laps and nailed it. He was on almost the slowest bike there (bar some Honda 500s) but got past quite a few in the twisty bits and no one overtook him on the straight.
You got 20 minutes of riding, then the other lot came on for 20 and so on. There were 2 red flag incidents that forced everyone to go back to the pits. Two blokes crashed and were taken to hospital but both were okay, not so the bikes. On the last stint yet another red flag, another crash and the chap lying unconscious in the middle of the track. One ambulance was still at the hospital so the last one was used and that bought and end to the days events. That rider turned out to be fine too. Phew. We loaded up for the drive back...the restaurant had closed...and hit more 50mph restrictions, had to do detours down country roads as some parts of the motorway were closed, saw 3 cop cars chasing a Merc doing about 150mph and at 11pm hit the worst traffic I have ever been in. We got home at midnight, Andrew drove us back all the way (well done sir!).
Was it a good day? Hell yeah. Now I'm looking for a cheap race bike!
Brands Hatch on Monday!!
Alex
