Category:
Trackdays
Created: 21 September 2005
Words by TonyZRX
We met up at Grant’s to be met by Jay, Rod and Anna with what looked like a KTM team outing! Three KTM’s (drool! – Rod, Anna’s and Ashley’s – which he was kindly lending to Pete on his first off-roading experience) and a WR450 (Grant’s), along with Jay’s trusty DRZ400. The weather looked a bit overcast – but the cotton was jumping and the fish were high...(errr...?!) as we set off. Grant went to pick up our other companions, Steve and his girlfriend and Steve’s Kawasaki.
We made good time down the M40 with Rod and Anna leading, and me and Pete following at a more sedate pace with Jay opting to ride his DRZ there close behind us. In a very short time we arrived “near” the site and the usual fiasco ensued with us becoming local tourists (!) for a while and visiting the local dry slope ski centre (a couple of times!) and the Clay Pigeon shooting club, before ringing Grant! And soon we were sitting happily outside the locked gate of Z Racing at 9am – with rumbling stomachs (Well, me and Anna anyway!) – And Rod and I trying to race each other to find the nearest food stop on our Sat Navs (!) – But then Grant et al. arrived and we just chatted for about 20 minutes before the owner came along and opened up the gates.
We parked up next to the track, and I wandered around (well about 50 yards!) to find a good spot to take some photos, as I seemed to have become (sadly!) the designated camera guy – as everyone had got so distracted with their Bling kit that they had forgotten to bring cameras! So I was left with my trusty Ixus 400 digital to take the photos.
The day consisted of 30 minutes sessions for kids and adults – a very good schedule as it was very tiring and physically demanding (and I wasn’t even riding!) and soon “The Guys” were out on track. Pete went onto the practice track for about 2 minutes (!), got his lovely new boots dirty! And then rushed out on the main track not to miss out on any of the action. It was amazing to watch everyone’s progress (and levels of fitness!) during the day. Everyone started off fairly leisurely (!?) as they learned the track, and Rod (in the usual LB manner) led Pete round for a lap to show him some techniques (remember, it was Pete’s first time out) – and soon I started to see some marvellous “air” developing for all the Team – including Pete – who soon got the hang of it!
Then the “kids” came on track! – My God!....fearless or what!?..... They ranged from about 5 (!) to 12.....and they kicked serious butt!..... Magnificent “air” combined with a little bit of embryonic FMX, suffice to say it was gripping to watch! They are so lucky to have the facilities these days (as we are now too!) – And they certainly showed their potential!
Then “The Guys” were rushing to get back on track – with a Breakfast Burger still sticking out of Jay’s mouth! This time “The Numbers” arrived – the guys who were obviously practicing their skills for racing – and the action really heated up, driving “The Team” onto new zest and skill, doing a more than admirable job at showing they were not to be left behind!
Obviously with the more extreme riding there were a few “off’s” – with Grant’s lovely Orange kit (of course!) finding the only puddle on what seemed to be a fairly dry circuit! The action was superb (I wish I was a better photographer!) and soon there were more of The Team that bit the big one! Grant crashing out at the end of a jump (again, of course!) to be landed on by the next rider!, got up brushed himself down, pushed his bike back to the “pits” and blithely straightened his forks before going straight back out there! And Jay doing a spectacular Low Side – and taking it in his stride even though he rode home with mis-aligned forks!
The track was extremely “LB Friendly” – and I got chatting with all the other guys out on the track – who were amazingly friendly and very enthusiastic about the LB site – and whatever their standard – some of them were very good! – were really open and good fun to chat too.
We drained the Hot Food van dry at about 2pm! And were there until about 3.30pm when everyone (apart from the kids!) started packing up to leave. I was completely exhausted (and I was only watching!) as were all “The Team” – Rod showed his Endurance experience by being the longest member out on track, but everyone else did LB proud!
