Motor Sport Trucking to Hockenheim

[Sgt Bilco]

As I have a free afternoon in hotel thanks to the climate twats glueing their hands ti Frankfurt Runway (see my Alaska thread in 2 wheel trip report), I thought I'd give you an idea of the motor sport world which I frequent on occasion.

I do the UK rounds and odd run into Europe for a loacal company called Academy Motorsport who are the current British GT4 champions and are also competing in the European GT4 championship this year.

They race a couple of Mustangs which are absolute beasts and are the official Ford team in Europe.

The competition includes Astom Martin, Lamborghini, Porsche. Alpine, BMW Mercedes and McLaren so it's a very competative series especially in Europe.

Anyway, I took the cars down to Hockenheim for the latest round of the European and here is just an idea of what we do and how we do it at least from my perspective.

Many people think the world of motorsport is all glamour but it's far from that I can assure you with long hours and difficult working conditions but it kind of gets in your blood.

So, it's 10.00am Monday morning at the yard and just checking that we everything in the trucks and all is OK. We only got back from Snetterton at 11pm last night so still a bit weary. We take teh 2 x Scania's and leave the big Mercedes in the yard. It's a spare truck and we only use it if there is an issue with one of the Scania's



I put my bike in the back of one of the trailers as I have to get back for a hospital appointment on Friday.



We head off for Dover and down on the M20 operation Brock is being set up. This is an absolute clusterfuck of an operation and is designed to stagger the amount of trucks going into Dover and The Shuttle during the holiday season. It can delay trucks for hours and hours as they are held with absolutely no facilities provided for the drivers and all so that Mrs and Mrs Smith and family from Croydon can enjoy easy passage to their Eurocamp holiday. It's not popular that's for sure.....



So the next chapter in the fun and games starts at Sevington near Ashfordwhich is the UK customs centre. Since Brexit, taking trucks into Europe has been difficult due to al teh paperwork and this crowd at Sevington are frickin useless. Because we run on an ATA Carnet, we have no choice but to clear customs and there is no knowing how long it takes. On the way to Spa a few weeks ago we sat there for 5 hours but generally 2 hours covers it. Brexit, the gift that keeps giving.......


Not supposed to take pictures in there but I took a couple so you can see what it looks like. Very few facilities for drivers again and it's just an unwanted procedure. There are a lot of European hauliers who now refuse to come to the UK as it's so difficult which just increases the costs of goods on the shelf......hey ho!








Nice to see this old Fiat truck in there though after a trip to Goodwood.



All cleared, we head off to Dover and top up with Diesel. I've got 2 tanks and about 1200 litres of capacity so topped both tanks. At 9mpg it's an expensive game......


























.

I put my bike in the back of one of the trailers as I have a hospital appointment on Friday and need to get back for it.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Into Dover docks and another queue to check onto P&O to Calais





For those interested in the trucks, they are a pair of Scania R730's with 16 litre V8 lumps pushing out around 730 bhp. They were the most powerful trucks in Europe at one point until the increased the latest ones to 770bhp.

Coupled to a 12 speed auto box, they are unbelievable to drive and the world seems flat as hills barely slow you down. They are a real high spec wit h heated and cooled leather seats, double glazing, fridge and microwave, alloy wheels and just about everything else you could want. They are completely over the top but it's all about image and it doesn't get better than this.

Every driver has a hankering to drive a big Scania V8 and I'm lucky to be able to. Thetre is an old saying "how do you know a driver drives a V8"...."he'll soon tell you" It's a bit like guys on a triple black GS..........

I often get asked about the dash of a truck so here is what's on it.



So what you see here is:

Left dial is RPM, just lumbering along at 1200 rpm. The small dial is current fuel consumption.

Small dial underneath is coolant temp

Right dial speed in mph and kph. 90kph (56mph) is max permitted speed in UK and Europe.

Small dial below is fuel level

In the box above the V8 badge starting from the top is the truck is in auto and 12th gear along with the time. Underneath you have cruise control set at 55 mph. the little truck on a hill symbol when you can set the engine brake to come on when you go down hill. On this one, I have it set at 58 but you can't see it so technically, when the truck hit's 58mph down hill, the engine brake comes on to slow it down. It works quite well but when you are very heavy, it will roll on if you don't check it with the foot brake.

Underneath the badge, you have tacho hours so here I've done 17 minutes since my last break and can do another 4 hrs 13 minutes. Below that, I've had a 45 minute break and have another 4 hours 55 minutes driving in the day so I can keep a close eye on my driving hours.

Below that is mileage and temp.

Onwards and upwards and after a 9 hour break in Calais we head south in pouring rain.



Which soon torns to sunshine as we get towards Metz.



And after 9 hours driving we rock up at Hockenheim and it seems we are the first there.

 

[Doc]

Looks good. Udders will have truck envy.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

After a cracking nights sleep, we wake to find other trucks who have arrived. from all over Europe and the temperature has gone bonkers with 29c at 9.00am!!



We were due intoi teh paddock at 9.00 am but as it usual, they are running late and we didn't get in until nearly 12 which was a pain as I had to go as soon as I got the bike out.

I would normally help with set up but had a way to go home so left the chaps to get on with it in brutal 35c heat.





As I mentioned, I had to high tail it home so smashed out a quick 640 miles on the mighty Super Tenere. Can't think of a better bike for something like this as I got home in 10 hours door to doorr which is a great average and that incudes the tunnel Cruise set at 140kph she just sits there solid as a rock and does about 50 mpg.





Took the bike for a service on Thursday and had new Arrow decatted headers fitted so will be interesting to see the difference on the way back to the track.






It seems odd that I came back for a couple of days but as I said, I had a hospital appointment and they couldn't get another driver in so needs must. Anyway, what not to love about a couple of long days riding.

Saturday morning comes around and it's back south via teh tunnel. Got lucky as I got straight on almost without stopping but I did have Flexi Plus so grabbed a few cold drinks and a sandwich for later.




I always like the tunnel as you get to chat to other riders and spent a happy 30 mins talking to 2 guys returning a couple of hired 1300's to Paris.

This absolute belter was on there with the couple nipping over to Dieppe. What a beautiful bike and I bet the couple had a load of stories to tell.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Looks good. Udders will have truck envy.

He definitely will

 

[Sgt Bilco]

The heat was brutal on teh way down hitting nearky 40c and was glad to get some welcome rain near Saarbrucken.



But got back to Hockenheim safe and sound.





Just in time to go out with the team for a couple of cold ones and a schnitzel. When in Rome and all that

So it's down to the track for the Sunday morning race. The team did brilliantly on Saturday with 2nd and 12th whci is brilliant. Prepping the cars in high heat in an awning is not enjoyable.





The beating heart of the beast.......





Cars all prepped so it's off for the fight.




Whilst we have a tidy up around the awning and get the bike posing with the trucks.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We don't get a lot of chance to really watch teh race but I managed to get 15 minutes in the stand watching and the Mustangs were brilliant again coming in 2nd and 8th out of a field of 52 cars. They were only beaten by an Alpine which is an absolute rocket ship.

A major issue was the heat and with track temp of 53c, it was the hottest temps the cars had ever run in and very difficult for everyone.

Ford were absolutely thrilled with the result as it's better than anyone imagined and the Europeans certainly have some competition.

I've got a coupe of video's with the epic sound of the Mustang at full chat and will load them when I figure that one out.



De brief....



Then pack up in 40c heat. No real pics as it wast just too damned hot and it was bloody hard work getting all that stuff in the trailers!!



We finished pack up at around 5 then parked the trucks and found the shower and a couple of beers.

We had to leave early and 4.00am came round very quickly and the temp was still 30c which is bonkers but we pulled out on time and headed north.



As dawn broke, there was a great moon on show. Some people never see this time of day and they are really missing out.



We had an easy run up to Calais in around 9 hours and into French customs. It takes 5 minutes to do the carnet in French customs in there small hut so why in gods name is it so difficult in the UK?



Waited a couple of hours for the ferry than a nice trip back across the channel.




Off the ferry and into UK customs clearence and this time at Motis in Dover. They are quicker here but the charge you for the priviledge





As we are out of time, we had a 9 hour break here and headed off at 4.00 am on a dark and misty morning.



And back to the yard. No more racing for 6 weeks so the trucks will all be unloaded, cars completely rebuilt and everything sorted out before Monza in September.

It's a tough old life but someone has to do it.

 

[G&T]

I wondered where you had got to

 

[Wapping]

Thanks for that, interesting from beginning to end.

 

[Davey B]

Interesting read, thanks for taking time to post....quick question....do you not try to fill up the trucks on the continent with cheaper diesel or aren't the firm bothered about the odd £50?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Interesting read, thanks for taking time to post....quick question....do you not try to fill up the trucks on the continent with cheaper diesel or aren't the firm bothered about the odd £50?

It's a fair cheaper in the UK at the moment.

 

[HGS]

Enjoyed that

 

[Daffy]

You’re a lucky bugger Chris, I bet you can get every channel with those aerials on those Scania’s

 

[timeandtide]

Very interesting insight into (part of) your world Chris.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Greg Masters]

Welcome to what has been my world for the last decade and more.

The races at Hockenheim this weekend are organised by SRO as part of or in support of the GT World Challenge.

 

[Doc]

All looks very exciting from an outsider.

 

[Tinytim]

Very interesting thanks Sarge.

 

[Udders]

Looks good. Udders will have truck envy.

Oh no he won’t!
Gimme a DAF over everything else all day long! It’s just what you get used to.

 

[Doc]

Oh no he won’t!
Gimme a DAF over everything else all day long! It’s just what you get used to.

Keep on trucking pal.
Just in a truck inferior to Gregs.

 

[Udders]

This motorsport lark is a lot harder than people think! I did a BSB team for just over 7 years, getting there 2 days earlier, unloading ( the majority of the team coming out with all sorts of bullshit excuses as to why they can’t get there to help set up, and the same when it comes to packing away, c#nts ), keeping the truck spotless, keeping yourself spotless ( for team image etc ) which isn’t always easy when you have to maintain the truck / trailer. I was responsible for making sure we always had the right amount of fuel ( supplied by a single company at the meetings ), occasionally getting the tyres renewed, keeping the water tank full in the trailer for the kitchen and shower / bathroom etc….
We also had some absolutely fantastic down time too!