www.hrc1.org
www.hrc1.org
APRIL NUMBER 123
*** NEXT MONTHS TRIAL AT NORTHLANDS
- TEAM ENFIELDS ***
Layout Saturday 30 April - Richard
Shoesmith 01798 869296 Phil Jobbins
01293 851462 Nick Herridge
01403 210925 Sean Parsons 01403 730799
Graham Knight 01293 871955
MAY 8TH - HR GROUP TRIAL AT ROME WOODS - OBSERVERS WANTED - PLEASE PHONE DICK 01403 257094 - PRE ENTRY TRIAL - REGS ON WEBSITE OR AT NEXT CLUB TRIAL................Entry form here
NEWS AND COMMENT
Thanks to the Stalwarts
Northlands Working Party
Yes, you all need to give a pat
on the back to the few that arrived to provide you with new sections and
3 more bridges. It was all done in a Saturday morning, glorious in
the sunshine with a few laughs thrown in. Jack Northover and father
Bob were chain saw kings though Benge’s saw was a bit blunt, it worked
till it was red hot. Pete B and Tim were spademen, Gordon (remember
him?) was heavy lifter and Mike the critic! Sam H, expert with Japanese
pullsaw, Katie an onlooker, while Fiona hacked at overgrown bushes, Dick
got in everyone’s way and got his van stuck too! Benge made us all
a welcome cuppa so we all survived. GOOD FUN - TRY IT! DON’T
FORGET NEXT WORKING PARTY SATURDAY 23RD APRIL AT ROME 9.30 AM ONWARDS.
A G M
Again not a rush to attend from
our large membership so you must think everything is to your liking.
The committee elected itself en bloc, the Treasurer reported a healthy
state of finances and the Secretary a report on the years events with a
full membership. Riding shirts were to be sold off at less than cost
(get one quick!) Possibility of extending the social side, following
the success of the skittles, was discussed with no conclusions and that
was it for another year. First Committee meeting at the club night
in June.
CLUB NIGHTS WILL BE AT SHELLY ARMS BROADBRIDGE HEATH FROM APRIL.
EXTRA CLUB TRIAL
Sunday 19th June
At Don Barrett’s, Betchworth where
Dave has his practice days. Duncan and Dave have requested this event
and I understand are taking control of the organisation. I’m sure
they will need some help setting out etc. so give them a call if you’re
available.
HR SHIRTS - ONLY A FEW LEFT - SEE THE QUALITY - FEEL THE WIDTH - RIDE INSPIRED - HURRY WHILE STOCKS LAST!
WHO ARE YOU?
When Ken Rickets phoned to offer
his services at the Group Trial he said he thought going back to a pre-entry
event was better for everyone. The competitors are interested in
who’s entered and the observers can look up who the riders are - makes
it more interesting says Ken. And whilst on the subject of names
he says at club trials frequent riders know all the faces but can’t put
names to them making the report and results list of less interest.
I agreed on this point; those of us signing on do get to identify bodies
but how can we improve the problem for other members. A permanent
riding number might be an answer or you could stick your name under some
sell tape on the front number plate - it’s a talking point!
TEABAG’S BARBEQUE
Dave’s practice session at Don Barratt’s
on 16th April will include a barbeque around midday - bring you own grub
and liquid refreshment - Jamie Oliver will not be there to supervise but
Teabag is an excellent stove watcher when the sections get tough.
OUT AND ABOUT
Group Trial
13th March
Run by Eastbourne Club at a venue
near Heathfield didn’t get a big entry especially not from HR members.
The expert class was won by James Fry while Mick Huskinson led the Over
40’s by a wide margin. In the O 50’s Bob Collins got a 4th place
losing 33 and way back Charlie Harris on 65 obviously had a hard day.
A Reminder
Our own Group Trial is on 8th May
and all entries must be sent in before April 30th. Forms on website
or ask at next Trial. We have some Observers but more are needed,
please give names in at next event - YOU COULD WIN £35
Brian Fowler Memorial Trial
Worthing Club ran this at Dunsfold
and got a big entry. That man James Fry won again losing 21 marks.
The expert was Clint on 74 (needs more practice on the new Mont!)
The O 40 class leader was Mick Marshall on 38 but Alan Lavender dropped
to 10th on 86 ml, no wonder, apparently he’d looped his bike over his head
when he found some unexpected grip, so he tumbled down the hill for a big
5!
ANOTHER ROME SURPRISE Club Trial 3rd April
It was DRY!! Slipping about
the previous week, keeping sections on the level to avoid the dnf record
of this site, then the sun shines hot and riders get an easy day.
Thanks to the well supported Kwacker team, Tim set whites, Keith Tracey
and Phil Walker Blues, Mick Dunstan and Fiona Yellows and Same H the reds.
They were supported with an entry of 58, just right! When they started
signing on at 9.10 am it looked like it was going to be another oversubscribed
entry but since that January day everyone gets there really early, ‘cept
Alan Lavender and 4 mates at 10.30. But no bikes for Tea Bag who
revealed an enlarged knee and reported Andy Martin was in dock with meningitis
or Pete Brooker still awaiting head to fully connect with rest of body
- his bike had got in the hands of other son George where it seemed to
go better (see yellows). Nice to see Tony Martin with Phil as minder,
as the one who wore the trousers at home didn’t know of Tony’s intentions,
if his trousers got dirty Phil had to take them elsewhere to wash!
One bit of sad news, those who have ridden in the Greybeards trial will
have know Dick Little, his funeral was last week, he was 93.
Blues are going first as they had
the hardest ride. New member Steve Barrow led the HR entries 2 marks
off Tom Kear the leader. Alan Lavender finding the top rung harder
to stand on lately, watch out, here comes Jesse Brooker on his nearly new
Gas Pro and Nigel Sparks, not on his Mont according to signing on sheet,
pushing up as well. There were 7 riders on less than 40, it was section
4 that was the big test for both blues and whites, many may have lost 20
points down in that ditch, taking that into account it was a low score
trial for blues too. Phil W who’d set out did his usual act and the
bike broke after 3 sections, he loaded it up and took it home to mend -
rather like the time he dashed to Maidstone for a broken whatever - worse,
says Phil, Tony Flegg ain’t here to fix it!
Yellow was 50% of entry and of those
50% finished on under 20 marks lost. Easy? As Mick Dunstan said ‘I’ll
never see another card with my score as low as this - he lost 3 and came
3rd. But it’s Cranners with the only clean then John Y who dropped
his dab on section 1 on the last lap. The ride deserving the award
of merit goes to George Brooker (who are all these bloody Brookers?) who
only lost 8 marks in this his second trial, level with Richard S, one less
than Graham K. Dominic J was best schoolboy, although Jack Northover 2nd
schoolboy was only 11 marks behind, that equated to 10 places! Still
yellows are happy when the going gets easy and with low scores thinking
‘at last it’s all fallen into place’ Nick H was pleased with his ride and
Tony M too (Phil said he didn’t need the kiss of life but if you do it
Dick take your teeth out first!) Jim Scott’s loss of front brake
set him 16 marks down and behind Tony in the old ‘uns league where Ken
R and Brian B levelled on 10 apiece. Section 9 Ken had a 5 first
go on the slippery bank then others seemed to go further down making the
turn easier, apparently a flag had been moved by Mr. Nobody to make it
so - NOT ON!
White Not too challenging for Phil
Martin who lost 3 on the first 2 laps and 2 on the second. The only
section to test their expertise was Section 4, originally section 10 was
a bit harder with a log on the greasy bank but when Adam Bird spun his
rear wheel on it the log rolled away leaving a doddle of a ride.
Duncan A was dnf, his bike was well in bits at lunchtime, with Mike and
Mick H as consultants - at one time a compressor was brought to bear on
the situation - just to think (said I) in 1949 we went out with a screwdriver
tucked in our boot (1849 says Mick).
Sam Aldrich bust his mudguard for
the second trial in a row - when I saw him struggling he says ‘you’ve seen
the rubbish, now watch the good’
Tim H was finding the tree on section
2 a serious problem as he lay on his back to inspect the underside of the
log ‘Dad’s off’ says Kate ‘Good’ says Sam!
On some sections looping miles out
of the intended line was going on, although it may be the fault of the
setter out it didn’t seem to be advantageous and the whites finished nearly
in the order you’d have put your dough on.
Reds were not many to say the least.
The two dnfs were on their first outing and wanted the easiest of rides
- bet they were surprised. Anyway with 3 wobbler entries and one
schoolboy Sam H couldn’t help being first, a position well earned as he
did 6 laps, 2 of them clearing up with Katie and Adam Bird - thanks.
And what a smashing sunny day was had by all.
RESULTS
White
Blue
Yellow
Phil Martin E 5
Tom Kear N 17
Derek Cranfield O50 0
Steve Farrall E 11
Steve Barrow N 19 John Yardley O50
1
Mick Huskinson I 12
Alan Lavender O40 23 Ray Broughton O50 3
Mike Husband I 31
Jesse Brooker SBB 30 Mick Dunstan O50 3
Adam Bird I 36
Nigel Sparks N 32 Ian Phillips C 4
Tim Husband I 62
Paul Reynolds N 37 George Brooker C 8
Sam Aldrich I 67
Ian McCulloch O40 39 Richard Shoesmith C 8
Ryan Geere N 41 Graham
Kight C 9
dnf Duncan Archer
Phil Walker N 45 Dom Jarratt
SBC 10
Elim Lillywhite SBB 55 Ken Rickets O50 10
Bob Collins O40 58 Brian Barnes O50 10
Kev Brooker N 58 Michale Hyden
C 13
Mark Johnson N 64 Nick Herridge
C 14
Red
Benge N 72
Tony Martin O50 15
Jim Taylor W 4
John Mitchell N 79 Jim Scott O50 16
Sam Husband SB 41
Neville Lewis O50 17
dnf Keith Tracey Paul Holder
C 18
dnf Chris Bowers, Martin
Gough
Chris Drew O50 20
Jack Northover SBC 21
Steve Mitchell C 28
Spencer Page C 29
Charley Page SBC 30
Emma Thompson SGC 44
Rob Hyden C 56
Katie Husband SGC 60
Josh Bray SBC 78
dnf Nigel Bray, Joel Sawyer
Analysis % Entry
Entered DNF % Fin
Tim Martin, John Richmond
White
13 8 1 90
Blue
28 16 1 94
Yellow
52 30 4 87
Red
7 4 2 50
After last weeks “get off” my foot
was still a bit sore & a funny colour, but I could get my other boots
on (the ones I was wearing in the crash broke at the ankle hinge…) so no
excuses! The format for MRO (Motorcycle Race Organisation)
races has changed slightly this year. Saturday we have practise & qualifying
in the morning, followed by a Super Pole race in the afternoon. This
is a nine lap race which if you finish in the top four; you will start
there for Sunday’s two races, with the rest of the grid shuffled behind.
You also score half points down to tenth place.
Going round in qualifying, I managed
to tag onto one of the quick guy’s & was comfy at his pace. It wasn’t
until later that I found out he was nursing a few injuries sustained in
a practise crash! Qualified 11th, which is respectable, but
not where I wanted. In the race I got away ok, but only made one
place & that’s where I stayed. Quite an uneventful race really. I could
see 4th place but couldn’t do anything about 9th. We were all going at
the same pace & just went around like a big freight train. So
I came in 10th which at least gave me the last point available & opened
my MRO account for 2005. With that race in mind I wanted a good start
as the 4th place lap times were well in reach & why shouldn’t I get
a bit further up there? Starting 11th again (from yesterday’s qualifying)
I got a good start, in among the second row guy’s; I think I was about
6th or 7th. Then exiting from Paddock Hill Bend, Ollie Lindsell, who was
just in front, had a bit of a moment as his back wheel lost traction &
sent him sideways, he must have thought he was going to high side it, I
certainly did!
As I rolled off the throttle to
miss him he somehow gathered it together & powered on up the hill towards
Druids. Well I can’t have that, he made a mistake & so I must get in
front. Due to me backing off, I saw a couple more appear just on
my outside, so I went tight up the inside to Druids, hoping to out brake
all three of them into the bend. The idea was right, but the physics
didn’t agree…..
As I braked the back wheel lifted,
natural reaction is to have another go, so off with the brake & on
again only to have it do it again. By this time Ollie was already diving
for the apex & had put his bike in my way, like you do. Enough
time for a quick swear before my front wheel (the back wheel still air
borne) hit Ollie’s back wheel almost square on. This sent me straight over
the handlebars with enough time to get another quick swear in while flying
through
the air!
I landed quite heavily on the back
of my shoulder followed by my butt. The track is fairly wide at this point,
but I had managed to make it to the gravel trap on the outside. When I
tried to get up I was a bit winded & could feel my left collar bone
not behaving like it should. As soon as I got my breath back I asked the
marshals to help me out of leather’s, before it started to hurt too
much, so they wouldn’t be tempted to cut them off in the med centre!
A quick check over at the circuit
then off to the hospital to confirm the break & my sore butt! Last
year I got away with one silly crash in qualifying. This year I’ve already
had two & we’re only in March!!!
Our next outing was planned is in
two weeks time at Lydden, which is looking doubtful & this is the next
round of the Nationwide Championship. So another set back to the
season. I have been talking to Paul Ankers, who specialises in sports injuries
& has put me together a “few” times before, so we’ll see what happens.
Next stop Lydden, maybe…..
Budge
Oh, Ollie managed to stay
on & finish 6th!
FOR SALE - 3 bike trailer
- good condition - Spare Wheel £120 - Dave Alder (Teabag) 0208 397
9660
FOR SALE - Beta Rev 3 2000
Model. Runs well £1400 ono - Phone Alan Lavender 01306 631882
CLUB CLOTHING We have a stock
of riding shirts in stock available in M, L or XL at the highly competitive
price of £20 each. Quality is good, many members have found
they wash and last well. Why spend more on one covered in adverts
when you can wear a shirt with the HR logo? Phone Dick or Fiona for
sales pressure. CLUB STICKERS 4 for £1 for car or bike
