Or why I wasn't at the Hograost. 
No pics yet as my scanner is u/s, but lots of words:
A slight change of plan meant that my pit crew was larger than normal. We brought Denise’s two kids, Aaron and Hannah with us, as well as my black lab, Toby. Arriving at 10.30 on the Friday evening gave us plenty of time to try and set up an unfamiliar tent in the gathering darkness. Thankfully, it stayed up, as did the new airbed in my trailer, so after a nightcap we hit our respective sacks at around midnight.
I was awoken by the dawn chorus of Sheryl the Crow and her mates in the trees far too early for my liking, but at least that gave me plenty of time to get ready! When I had pulled the bike out of the trailer there was a small trace of oil on the floor under the left hand fork, so a quick fertle with the end of a cable tie and a rag was called for to ensure there was no further leaks.
My time of 10.39 rolled up, and away we went, following a wave of KTM twins over the moors to the start area of the forest lap. Here there was a catering van, portaloos and the fuel dump, but unfortunately for me, a blanket ban on smoking. I understood why, but my nicotine addiction didn’t.
On my minute there were two Honda XR650’s, so I let them go and settled down just behind their dust cloud for the sighting lap. The course seemed to be roughly reversed from last year, with a couple of additions. There was still the stretch of randomly spaced rocks to deal with, but this year I had mousses and a stronger front rim!
The special test consisted of a flat out blast, then a 90 degree right into the trees, through the waterhole (far shallower than last year) then out into some quicker, but sandier and bumpier tracks, before finishing off with a longer WFO run to the timing chicane. This committed to memory, there were more fire roads to bimble along, keeping a reasonable gap where possible to stop ingesting too much dust. I spied a place on the tarmac stretches to satisfy my cravings, and was able to enjoy the glorious scenery afforded by the strangely clement weather.
Back to the start for the second lap, quick brew and an investigation of the rattle that had developed from my rear end (loose mudguard) and away we go again. By now I had sussed out the riders around me, and thought I knew when to position myself at the start of the first timed lap. Unfortunately, the later numbers were mixed in with us (more of this later) adding an unknown to the mix. At the stage, a lady was telling the riders on their sighting lap to watch out for the ones who were now racing against the clock, which eased my mind somewhat. Three marshals set off before me, but the dust was allowed to clear before I was given the “go!”
Nearly overshot the right turn, bounced through the water as cleanly as possible, passed one rider in the lower of two ruts, then wound her up on the last stretch. Two riders up ahead, riding in line, definitely not at race speed. This could be messy. I leaned on the horn button, crossed my fingers, and aimed for the far right side of the track, praying they would stay where they were. They did, I managed to rein the thing back in and get through the end without destroying the chicane, so all’s well.
The first of the two riders didn’t look too happy with me though.
This lap I was sent off in a different direction to the first, and again I recognised some of the tracks from previous years, albeit in the opposite direction. At the last waterhole after the sandy stretch, I tried to be clever and ride up the bank, only to be thwarted by a wheel-sized ditch. Thankfully, No.27, Karl Wardle spotted my plight and came to my rescue, pulling my front wheel round as I kept the bike upright. This good turn was to be remembered!
Up to the start of the test again, and the field has spaced out now. A clear run, with only one other rider in the whole stage, and he left me room to pass easily. Competitive element satisfied I was enjoying my run out to the last checkpoint when something strange happened. My fuel light came on. Now I had put in approx 18 litres, giving me a good safety margin over the anticipated mileage. Perhaps I should recalibrate my fuel consumption, or maybe moderate my right wrist, but whichever solution was not going to get me back to the campsite on what was left!
One of the marshals sorted me out, though there is little more embarrassing than running out of fuel when you have one of the biggest tanks in the entry.
Back to the start, and we are being sent home in number order to keep the traffic manageable, so time for a quick brew. Following Karl, only a couple of miles from the campsite and he stutters to a halt, his 45 litre tank empty. Time to repay the earlier favour! I have a towrope in my rucksack, and we trundle along at a steady 20 mph for the last few minutes to camp. We passed a group of riders stood at the side of the road, but they waved us on.
Check the bike, quick wash and change, then dive into the excellent roast pork at the catering van, and the cans in the coolbox. Toby hoovered up around our tent, but then attempted to scavenge further afield, so if you were plagued by a black lab looking longingly at your food, please accept my apologies.
All the fresh air must have got to me, by 10.00 I was tucked up in my trailer asleep.
Rising bright and early to a much fresher morning on the Sunday, refreshed and raring to go. No aches from yesterday, but a stiff neck from having no mirrors on the road sections! Looking over to the start, there seemed to be far fewer riders than yesterday, and sure enough, there were at least 4 missing from around my time. What happened to them all?
9.39 and away we go, different forest, and different tracks. Again some familiar, but in reverse. Half an hour of fire roads and easy single track brings us to the first checkpoint, then ten minutes down the road is the start of the test.
Blast down to a chicane, to slow you down for the tight right hander, then a WFO stretch to another chicane and another tight right, followed by the longest “throttle to the stop” part where I daren’t look at the speedo. Short hop across the grass and into the trees. Tight slalom and trees, that hurts, then across a heavily rutted field, that hurts even more. Another section of trees, then a longer slalom run across more of the rutted field. That really shows up the limitations of my rear suspension, and boy does my backside know it! Glad to be out of it, I ride gently down the fire road to get some air through my helmet.
A lovely bit of woods follows, which was treacherous last year in the wet, but is a pleasure to ride today. Out onto some flowing fire roads, then into the cool tunnel like woods past a big campsite, where little kids wave at you to pull wheelies, while their parents wonder what is going on! A last bit of single track before onto tarmac and back to the start.
Denise has packed up the tent and came over to see me while I have a quick brew and a smoke. Cain walks carefully past with his bad back, and tells us why he and Michelle are not riding today, I hadn’t realised it was Michelle down the bank while I was towing Karl in.
Fortified, I go up to the start, to begin lap two. At the checkpoint there is enough time to put a couple of names to faces, before we set off for the start of the test. In the queue I was invited to go in front of a couple of riders, which was jolly decent of them. Ran wide at the first right, then even wider at the second. Did my best to stay loose and relaxed as I held the bike to the stop for longer than I ever have, then spotted Karl just ahead. Caught him just as we entered the trees, and took advantage of his wide line to nip through. Clattered across the first rutted section to catch Shep on his twin, then did my best to get round him unsuccessfully. Into the next set of trees we’re on converging lines, and he dabs his brakes to let me past, onto the tail of DG on his twin. At the next corner the final member of team Bravo Two Zero has lost it on a root, and DG stops to help, leaving me just enough room to get through and away. I got lucky with that run! Thanks guys.
Back to the start, another brew, another smoke, but notice a split in my front tyre. It’s about an inch long, thank goodness for mousses! I set off for the last lap about 15 minutes early, am waved through the checkpoint, and arrive at the test start all on my own. The dust from the last rider was just settling, and from the howl in the distance I wouldn’t need to worry about catching him up! A quick check of my front tyre before the off, and away we go. Get both right handers better this time, the straight seems a lot shorter, the woods longer, and the ruts sharper. I can see another bike gaining on me as we weave through the trees, but only hear him on my tail at the very last corner.
A breather is called for, then a gentle run back to the campsite, pack up and drive home.
A superb weekend!
Huge thanks to everyone involved in running the event.
Mark
(#30)
No pics yet as my scanner is u/s, but lots of words:
A slight change of plan meant that my pit crew was larger than normal. We brought Denise’s two kids, Aaron and Hannah with us, as well as my black lab, Toby. Arriving at 10.30 on the Friday evening gave us plenty of time to try and set up an unfamiliar tent in the gathering darkness. Thankfully, it stayed up, as did the new airbed in my trailer, so after a nightcap we hit our respective sacks at around midnight.
I was awoken by the dawn chorus of Sheryl the Crow and her mates in the trees far too early for my liking, but at least that gave me plenty of time to get ready! When I had pulled the bike out of the trailer there was a small trace of oil on the floor under the left hand fork, so a quick fertle with the end of a cable tie and a rag was called for to ensure there was no further leaks.
My time of 10.39 rolled up, and away we went, following a wave of KTM twins over the moors to the start area of the forest lap. Here there was a catering van, portaloos and the fuel dump, but unfortunately for me, a blanket ban on smoking. I understood why, but my nicotine addiction didn’t.
On my minute there were two Honda XR650’s, so I let them go and settled down just behind their dust cloud for the sighting lap. The course seemed to be roughly reversed from last year, with a couple of additions. There was still the stretch of randomly spaced rocks to deal with, but this year I had mousses and a stronger front rim!
The special test consisted of a flat out blast, then a 90 degree right into the trees, through the waterhole (far shallower than last year) then out into some quicker, but sandier and bumpier tracks, before finishing off with a longer WFO run to the timing chicane. This committed to memory, there were more fire roads to bimble along, keeping a reasonable gap where possible to stop ingesting too much dust. I spied a place on the tarmac stretches to satisfy my cravings, and was able to enjoy the glorious scenery afforded by the strangely clement weather.
Back to the start for the second lap, quick brew and an investigation of the rattle that had developed from my rear end (loose mudguard) and away we go again. By now I had sussed out the riders around me, and thought I knew when to position myself at the start of the first timed lap. Unfortunately, the later numbers were mixed in with us (more of this later) adding an unknown to the mix. At the stage, a lady was telling the riders on their sighting lap to watch out for the ones who were now racing against the clock, which eased my mind somewhat. Three marshals set off before me, but the dust was allowed to clear before I was given the “go!”
Nearly overshot the right turn, bounced through the water as cleanly as possible, passed one rider in the lower of two ruts, then wound her up on the last stretch. Two riders up ahead, riding in line, definitely not at race speed. This could be messy. I leaned on the horn button, crossed my fingers, and aimed for the far right side of the track, praying they would stay where they were. They did, I managed to rein the thing back in and get through the end without destroying the chicane, so all’s well.
The first of the two riders didn’t look too happy with me though.
This lap I was sent off in a different direction to the first, and again I recognised some of the tracks from previous years, albeit in the opposite direction. At the last waterhole after the sandy stretch, I tried to be clever and ride up the bank, only to be thwarted by a wheel-sized ditch. Thankfully, No.27, Karl Wardle spotted my plight and came to my rescue, pulling my front wheel round as I kept the bike upright. This good turn was to be remembered!
Up to the start of the test again, and the field has spaced out now. A clear run, with only one other rider in the whole stage, and he left me room to pass easily. Competitive element satisfied I was enjoying my run out to the last checkpoint when something strange happened. My fuel light came on. Now I had put in approx 18 litres, giving me a good safety margin over the anticipated mileage. Perhaps I should recalibrate my fuel consumption, or maybe moderate my right wrist, but whichever solution was not going to get me back to the campsite on what was left!
One of the marshals sorted me out, though there is little more embarrassing than running out of fuel when you have one of the biggest tanks in the entry.
Back to the start, and we are being sent home in number order to keep the traffic manageable, so time for a quick brew. Following Karl, only a couple of miles from the campsite and he stutters to a halt, his 45 litre tank empty. Time to repay the earlier favour! I have a towrope in my rucksack, and we trundle along at a steady 20 mph for the last few minutes to camp. We passed a group of riders stood at the side of the road, but they waved us on.
Check the bike, quick wash and change, then dive into the excellent roast pork at the catering van, and the cans in the coolbox. Toby hoovered up around our tent, but then attempted to scavenge further afield, so if you were plagued by a black lab looking longingly at your food, please accept my apologies.
All the fresh air must have got to me, by 10.00 I was tucked up in my trailer asleep.
Rising bright and early to a much fresher morning on the Sunday, refreshed and raring to go. No aches from yesterday, but a stiff neck from having no mirrors on the road sections! Looking over to the start, there seemed to be far fewer riders than yesterday, and sure enough, there were at least 4 missing from around my time. What happened to them all?
9.39 and away we go, different forest, and different tracks. Again some familiar, but in reverse. Half an hour of fire roads and easy single track brings us to the first checkpoint, then ten minutes down the road is the start of the test.
Blast down to a chicane, to slow you down for the tight right hander, then a WFO stretch to another chicane and another tight right, followed by the longest “throttle to the stop” part where I daren’t look at the speedo. Short hop across the grass and into the trees. Tight slalom and trees, that hurts, then across a heavily rutted field, that hurts even more. Another section of trees, then a longer slalom run across more of the rutted field. That really shows up the limitations of my rear suspension, and boy does my backside know it! Glad to be out of it, I ride gently down the fire road to get some air through my helmet.
A lovely bit of woods follows, which was treacherous last year in the wet, but is a pleasure to ride today. Out onto some flowing fire roads, then into the cool tunnel like woods past a big campsite, where little kids wave at you to pull wheelies, while their parents wonder what is going on! A last bit of single track before onto tarmac and back to the start.
Denise has packed up the tent and came over to see me while I have a quick brew and a smoke. Cain walks carefully past with his bad back, and tells us why he and Michelle are not riding today, I hadn’t realised it was Michelle down the bank while I was towing Karl in.
Fortified, I go up to the start, to begin lap two. At the checkpoint there is enough time to put a couple of names to faces, before we set off for the start of the test. In the queue I was invited to go in front of a couple of riders, which was jolly decent of them. Ran wide at the first right, then even wider at the second. Did my best to stay loose and relaxed as I held the bike to the stop for longer than I ever have, then spotted Karl just ahead. Caught him just as we entered the trees, and took advantage of his wide line to nip through. Clattered across the first rutted section to catch Shep on his twin, then did my best to get round him unsuccessfully. Into the next set of trees we’re on converging lines, and he dabs his brakes to let me past, onto the tail of DG on his twin. At the next corner the final member of team Bravo Two Zero has lost it on a root, and DG stops to help, leaving me just enough room to get through and away. I got lucky with that run! Thanks guys.
Back to the start, another brew, another smoke, but notice a split in my front tyre. It’s about an inch long, thank goodness for mousses! I set off for the last lap about 15 minutes early, am waved through the checkpoint, and arrive at the test start all on my own. The dust from the last rider was just settling, and from the howl in the distance I wouldn’t need to worry about catching him up! A quick check of my front tyre before the off, and away we go. Get both right handers better this time, the straight seems a lot shorter, the woods longer, and the ruts sharper. I can see another bike gaining on me as we weave through the trees, but only hear him on my tail at the very last corner.
A breather is called for, then a gentle run back to the campsite, pack up and drive home.
A superb weekend!
Huge thanks to everyone involved in running the event.
Mark
(#30)
