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Shrewsbury at Condover 30th August 2010
We had the promise of better weather this weekend and in the end the weatherman was right…..but only just!! Sunny Sunday turned into wet Sunday so we had visions of a wet Condover, never a good proposition, but Monday turned out sunny but in some ways the damage had been done. The circuit rutted up quickly making a lot of it one line, but due to its good layout some extra ways around did develop during the day and Shrewsbury club did endeavour to take some ruts out during the meeting.
Due, I expect, to the way the entries came in all classes were unlimited which is always a shame, with a strange variation of sending the juniors out first in practice. Of course this didn’t help the initial race lines that were cut into the circuit and made the track take longer to recover.

I must admit I was impressed with being first practice and last race, (not) by the time we had gone out the circuit was nothing like our practice which led to some wild moments on the first lap from the quicker but less experienced riders.

Another strange touch was the ‘run off’ that went across the road in the paddock, ok that happens sometimes, but rather than have signs warning the odd vehicle that went across the run-off, they made all the riders get off and walk.

Now ok it’s a bit strange but that’s what the sign said so that’s what you do, but in a group where riding in the paddock is endemic it’s a bit galling pushing the bike when everyone else is riding past you.

Whilst we are on about that, the season prize for the biggest moron this year goes to the rider that tipped his toilet out in the paddock before he left, but at least he washed it away with more water. I was also impressed with the sign that said ‘no camp fires’, I guess there were more than one but they had been used for kindling.

This was Ryan’s first outing after having three weeks off to go to a wedding, (don’t even begin to give it some thought) so he was never going to set the world alight but he did (as usual) get quicker and more confident as the day wore on. Nina was sporting a new camera so he HAD to try a little harder and I think by the end of the day we were pleased with his performance.

Due to the weather at previous meetings this was my first full set of races completed for three weeks as well, but a few collected problems in the first race left me a little jaded but I still enjoyed the track time anyway.

I must admit that maybe the barbeque at Nathan & Becky’s house the day before may have helped my poor performance but it was interesting watching Nathan experiment with how much it is possible to shrink a steak and still get people to eat it. Next time I go to the butcher for Nathan I will just ask for flip-flops.

Shrewsbury ran a good meeting and despite a couple of red flags and some track maintenance, still gave riders three races with some good commentating and music……..very sophisticated. Many thanks Shrewsbury!!
Polesworth at Stipers Hill 22nd August 2010
Gordons Racing Team was down to me again, no other team riders and no pit crew! Who cares… I parked next to Mike Penn (no choice this time as I towed him in) the ‘Tudors’, the ‘Marchants’ and surprise, surprise……Martyn and Dale Raynor.

It’s been over 30 years since Martyn and I were in the same race but I think we were both a little more successful in those days.

Polesworth club had been busy on the track with too many improvements to mention but the weather bit back which was a shame but never the less, we could all see the improvements.

It was so wet that I didn’t go out in practice with the result that I had a clean bike all day.

It was great to talk to Martyn after so many years (well I last saw him 3 years ago really) and realise just how fast we were all those years ago……….

Poor Bradley Tudor got stung on the nose by a wasp but Jo, his mom, made more noise over it than he did. Hardly any swelling and just a little redness, this one’s a toughie, watch out mom and dad!!!

I couldn’t get to grips with the track conditions although I did find them interesting with lots of fallers in my race. The track was always waiting to ‘bite back’ which has always been the case at Polesworth.

I think it always looks so simple to ride but always becomes a handful when you are on it.  What a shame they have to share this circuit with other operators, I am sure that if Polesworth had the circuit to themselves we would see even more improvements going on.
Our old Hungry Hill track should be flat now, in the end we paid for a contractor to do the work for us to save our members hours of work.

I will try to get some photo’s next time I am there but I am sure the land will be scarred for many years to come.

Who will run the Sidecar IMBA next year? Well the first question is ‘will the AMCA wish to run a Sidecar IMBA next year’.

I am certain it won’t be Wolverhampton so if someone (and I hope there is) would like to pick up the chalice and inform the AMCA, sooner would be better than later.

I know that Sidecars are not everyone’s cup of tea but they have given support and entertainment over the years and I am sure they can do it again with enough support.

Let’s hope we don’t get to much rain before next weekend and thanks to Polesworth Club, a neat meeting, well run and impressive.
Double the Value 15th August 2010
No report last week as Vanessa Tighe from fotox was on holiday. Strangely Ryan is away as well at a wedding in Cyprus. I think it’s a great idea for Ryan and Vanessa to get married (at least he would remember her name), but I think that Nina and Tim may have something to say about it (like good luck). Why go to Cyprus to get married? Well I guess the chips are good one side of the border and the kebabs are good on the other and that’s probably all that can be said of Cyprus I guess, other than they like goats and olives there.

Went to the M/X committee meeting at the AMCA and it went ok I suppose. The FroCH entry has been increased from 25 to 35 (we do like our barriers at these meetings) allowed to transfer their ride, everyone else will be forced to ride where they are told or forfiet there entry. Should help the popularity of the sport no end (not).

The fear is that riders will not go to a poor meeting unless they are forced to, the clots would only go to the better meetings unless it was controlled. This is proven by the fact that riders will not travel large distances to poor meetings but they will travel to good meetings (are you following this).

The trouble is that good clubs will get all of the riders entering and become successful and the poor clubs who run poor meetings will have to be subsidised by the AMCA. Hang on nooooo that’s not right, the good clubs become successful and the poor clubs get subsidised by the riders who leave that group.

They get fed up with travelling and force the poor clubs to either put on better meetings or stop running at all so they don’t have to pay FroCH all the time. But that would only work if we had too many clubs putting on too many meetings (DOH). This may also help save the projected loss the AMCA may make this year. It’s that old business stratagem, follow success-not failure. 

The other great news was that the AMCA are starting a new club in the Doncaster area which I think is great news, but, they failed to tell members present that it will be an ‘electronic’ club ie you do not attend club nights. I think it’s a good idea which has been presented to the committee meeting many times and rejected. So this time rather than mention it, we are told what they want us to hear and hide the rest. As I say I like the idea but the way it was presented is cheap. No wonder there is a lack of confidence in management.
Wolverhampton’s meeting the day after and the last one at Hungry Hill. We have had a great run there but the farmer just wants his land back. We are parting on good terms and we are fulfilling our promise to leave his land as we found it by levelling the whole area and destroying the pools. The farmer has been helping in our search for a new venue and the club see’s this new chapter in a positive light. Hungry hill was not successful just because of the venue, it was the lay-out and work put into it by members that made it work. Mike Penn our chairman was always at the forefront  and has put many hours in at the circuit and deserves a good pat on the back but as you would expect he is already planning for the ‘new home’.

What a nice way to finish with a special one day licence race. What a bunch of heroes, it was great to watch and you just had to smile. To many names to mention but no one got hurt (a real worry, and the main reason transponders were not used) and everyone seemed to have a smile once they had got their breath back! Eloise was in charge of transponders ably assisted by Hattie along with an appearance from Vicky Halls (wonder woman) and Vanessa. All of them mentioned the confusion that wrong numbers and back-grounds on machines brings.

This weekend should have seen us at Alport Heights run by Derby club a nice natural circuit using plenty of steep hills but Wem club were running a vets race at Tunstall Hall so that is where we went reasoning that we have one more meeting this year at Derby. Wem club ran a good meeting although for most people the weather spoiled the track a little. I was useless! I just could not get on with the conditions but by the last race things had dried out although the chances of finding smooth lines had disappeared.

After a couple of laps I was deciding to try a little harder when I popped out of a rut and went for the ropes. Three weeks ago the same thing happened at Stenson sending me over the bars and I am still carrying some of the injuries so I decided to call it a day. Thanks to Glen Howard for the practical joke, who needs friend’s aye!!
Comments about the meeting, well none really, it all went like clockwork which is what you expect from Wem club, they could give lessons on how to run meetings. Just a note….their  group pa is about as good as ours and they have just as much trouble with the start gate as we do.
Thanks Wem club, we hope to return. 
Burntwood at Branston 1st August 2010
by Ryan Palmer
So Mom and Dad have taken a trip to the south of France this week and left me in charge of the prestigious Gordons Racing web site. I’ll try not to go off topic like some of the writers for this site can do.

This week saw the Burntwood club hosting the MX1 IMBA and also a round of the MX2 championship. The atmosphere in the paddock on the Saturday night was great as was the beer from the mobile bar, although I did drink a little too much. We had a full entourage Sunday as most of Nina’s family came to see how amazing I am, after all those stories you tell, you know the ones!! If not, Big Malk will tell you a few.

As normal the track was prepped well but “roughed up” quick and by the time my practice had come round, I found myself taking lines to avoid bumps and ruts. The event ran well and to watch the speed of the top guys at our level mixing it up together is quite inspiring. Well it inspired me to a 14th, 17th and a 7th. Not that it would take much inspiring to finish in those places!

I’m off on my holidays for the next three weeks so it will be business as usual as of next week, which reminds me, it's Wolves meeting this coming weekend and there are still a couple of places left in the “slow” one day licence race, contact the AMCA office for an entry and save a tenner!! I’m off for a sunbed in preparation!
 
Stylus Ink