Ashdown MX Track

[Mav]

I saw this link posted somewhere and wondered if anyone had tried this track? Was think it could be somewhere to get some practice on the HP2

Seeing as it's in your neck of the woods, I thought I would ask here...

http://www.bebo.com/AshdownMX

 

[LiquidLAN]

Funny you should ask...

I was up there a couple of weekends back Marshaling on the enduro they run and had a lot of fun. The enduro is run 3 times a year and encompasses parts of the track, in my humble enduro experience (I've done 1) it seemed a lot easier that Tidworth, but it was lovely and dry at Ashdown and I'm sure it would get a lot more tricky in the wet.

From what I can tell from the various videos of the place, when the track is open to the public it's restricted to the "track areas" they seemed pretty well maintained and obvious - the enduro course was pretty cool, with lots of nadgery twists and turns, but the track seemed pretty simple and straight forward... that said the videos don't do the hills any justice

definately worth having a wonder up there and having a look imho... place is a little hard to find, I'll see if I've got a waypoint for the enterance.

there seem to be a lot of good reviews for it elsewhere as well

 

[Mav]

Thanks!

Sounds like it's definitely worth a look - might try and find it on the way home from London tonight.

Is it just a case of turning up on the public days? Looking at their Bebo site, looks like it's open every Sunday...

 

[LiquidLAN]

I've got to be honest Mav, I really don't know as I've only been there the once, but my understanding is yep, you pitch up, pay and ride, there's not need to book in advance...

Let me sort that way point out... and btw, what are you driving/riding on your way back? the track up to it is a bit pot-holed, but a mate of mine managed it on in an Audi estate

 

[Mav]

Tonight, I'll be on the GSA and when I take the HP I'll likely be riding there.

I'm not geared up for trailering my bike - I thought that was for girls

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

The track is just off the A417 and signposted as 'To The Downs'

Let me know when you're going on the HP2 I'll bring a video camera and a first aid kit

 

[LiquidLAN]

N51 32.952 W1 10.505

it's on a corner of the 417, you access it via a byway - I think it's called the Fair Mile, should lead up to the Ridgeway - you'll be fine on the GS

 

[Loz]

Thanks!

Sounds like it's definitely worth a look - might try and find it on the way home from London tonight.

Is it just a case of turning up on the public days? Looking at their Bebo site, looks like it's open every Sunday...

pay on the day every sunday,first aid,tea van,jet wash,helicopter landing pad

 

[Mav]

pay on the day every sunday,first aid,tea van,jet wash,helicopter landing pad

In that case I'll heli in the HP2

On a more serious note - is the track HP2'able?

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I'd say it would be very tricky especially if it rained. On the few occassions I've been there I've seen plenty of damaged bikes and smashed up riders. It going into and coming out of the punch bowl that fooks em

You need to go and have a look and make your own mind up. The good thing is there is no pre-book just pitch up & ride if you want to

 

[Mav]

I was going to take a look at the track tonight on the way home... but I think it's gonna to dark to see it

So I may just have to go down Sunday morning and see what happens! blast

Feel free to bring the camera!

 

[Possu]

Mav,

Me & Loz were up at Ashdown a few weeks ago. Despite the rain, there were 50+ MX bikes out. I've not ridden it yet but hope to do so later in the year. Riding a track is not like trailriding, not sure that the HP2 is an ideal bike for a track novice, very fast & furious......

 

[Mav]

Mav,

Me & Loz were up at Ashdown a few weeks ago. Despite the rain, there were 50+ MX bikes out. I've not ridden it yet but hope to do so later in the year. Riding a track is not like trailriding, not sure that the HP2 is an ideal bike for a track novice, very fast & furious......

There's no doubt here - the HP2 is NOT the right bike for a track novice... I won't be at all surprised if I don't venture out when I get there... but at some point I will have to learn!

That being said, the HP2 probably wasn't the right bike for that quarry either, but she did fine there

 

[LiquidLAN]

+1 on the heli pad... one guy got heli'd out of the enduro the other week as he flipped it on or before the start line and they think he broke his leg... though talking to the organisers after there was some debate about it...

probably have to agree with Possu regarding the track, I havent seen it on a Sunday, but it looked like it'd be pretty quick

thinking about the enduro though, I think you'd probably get the HP2 around that ok... especially in the dry, it was a good course but seemed more fiddly and interesting than flat out racing - courses change the whole time, but the only thing I think might have been a prob for the HP2 was a big log that needed to be crossed - maybe 2 - 2.5 foot across?

will be interesting to hear what you think about it on a Sunday.

 

[Possu]

There's no doubt here - the HP2 is NOT the right bike for a track novice... I won't be at all surprised if I don't venture out when I get there... but at some point I will have to learn!

That being said, the HP2 probably wasn't the right bike for that quarry either, but she did fine there

It's not so much about the bike, it's more to do with hordes of speeding MX'ers of varying levels of skill flying past at speed.

Berin & myself rode round Eynsham MX track, both on 400 trail bikes, it was manic. This is an easy track compared to Ashdown, very flat with a good line of sight......

I'd suggest borrowing an enduro bike (or buying a G450 ) instead of taking the H20 out on your firts track outing......

 

[Mav]

Well chaps, it's taken me far too long to change the oil, cleaner the rockers covers and get half way through changing the rear brake disc on the GSA so I'm gonna have to give it a miss tomorrow and stick to going out for a couple hours on the lanes by me.

And possu - perhaps I'll have to borrow the G450 again

 

[Possu]

Well chaps, it's taken me far too long to change the oil, cleaner the rockers covers and get half way through changing the rear brake disc on the GSA so I'm gonna have to give it a miss tomorrow and stick to going out for a couple hours on the lanes by me.

And possu - perhaps I'll have to borrow the G450 again

Sorry Mav, sold the demo a few weeks ago. Not sure that we're putting another on the road for the moment. New G450's are readily available, I'm sure I could do you a deal....... You like a bit of bling, the one in the window is calling out to you.......