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Published: January 31st 2008
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The 9-riders
Left to Right, the Girls, Lynn, Jackie and Kate. The Guys, Pete, Stuart, Paul (wasting away at the back), Me, Nigel and Carl With the ‘s no rally coming up in just over a week I suggested a ride out the following Sunday (28th), just to blow the cobwebs off the bikes and to give new members the opportunity for a ride out with the club. Someone suggested the Sand racing at Mablethorpe as a destination and with me as the leader.
Sunday arrived and I headed off to Mc Donald’s just off the M1 at junction 30, a regular meeting point for ride outs, having walked the dog beforehand. I was the second to arrive and I knew some of the regular riders wouldn’t be able to make the ride out but I was quite surprised to see 6-bikes turn up with a total of 9 riders in the party. We set off towards out destination around 10:15 with the Sat-Nav programmed and me leading and Paul riding as back marker.
Our route took us through Retford where we took a stop for fuel, then on through Gainsborough, Market Rasen, on to the Louth bypass, then the A157 to Mablethorpe, arriving just after noon. I wasn’t sure where the event was to be held but once in the town centre I
The Juniors ready to start
These kid realy do go for it, I don't think they have any sence of fear could see bike parked in an area ahead which had to be the place. As we rode up to the parking area we were marshalled to the top of the beach against the sea wall. Everyone seemed to enjoy the route I’d followed to Mablethorpe although Paul did say I might have put a stop into the route for people to stretch their legs and maybe a snackette.
The racing had already started a few hours earlier but we new we wouldn’t be there for the whole days racing. Once parked people headed off to the toilets and some to the café for a warm drink, the sun was out but the time of year meant it was still a little bit cool. With nature satisfied and a warm drink we moved towards the track to watch the racing just as the junior classes took to the track. These kids really went for it, maybe not as fast as the older guys but just as determined, it made us think these kids had no sense of fear. Soon it was the adults riding again with heats for different category of bikes and quads. One of the spectators close to
us pointed out a guy with a yellow jacket, helmet and number 24 on his bike, he explained he’d been sand racing for 30-years or so and winning his heats, regularly. I wish I could have got a bet on him because he won every heat he was in, shooting off in front almost at every start.
We watched a few more heats then people’s stomachs started to rumble and we headed towards a Fish and Chip shop, unfortunately I was on my diet so had to abstain and make do with my bottle of water. Of course everyone came out of the fish and chip shop waiving their lunches under my nose in torment, never mind I’m coming off the diet for the ‘s no rally next weekend so I’ll make up for it then. With lunch over we headed back to the beach for more of the sand racing.
Close to where our bike were parked on the concrete slipway were 4-new 1000-cc super bikes, one from each four major Japanese manufactures Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and the new Honda Fireblade with their riders looking on as the bike receive admiring glances from passing riders like ourselves.
This Guy was fast
No fancy kit, he just got on with the job in hand. just look at how his boots are sealed from the sand and water with... Packaging Tape Soon the riders started their bikes and rode away. The ladies in our party noted the riders leather didn’t match the bike’s colour schemes and we debated how if we rode brand new machines like these then we would have matching leathers for our bikes, not like these guys who were all mixed up i.e. Honda colours on a Kawasaki and Kawasaki colours on a Yamaha.
Now we made our way to the pit area to take a look at the machines and to the start line to see several heats start. The guy in yellow started to kit up so we stayed a while to see his starting technique before returning to the café area for a drink prior to the ride home.
The journey home was just as good as the ride through to Mablethorpe earlier in the day but after Paul’s comments about not stopping, I decided to make a small pit stop at Willingham Woods’s picnic area because he’s a big lad and needs to have regular food and drink breaks. While we were taking our break we saw the guys with the 4-super bikes but this time their leathers matched their bikes. We soon found out they were road testing these machine for and article in the Motorcycle News paper and were swapping between bike so each one of them could express and opinion. Soon they set off on their way with the guy on the Honda Fireblade pulling and impressive wheelie as he accelerated down the road.
Soon we were back on the road heading for home, we followed the same route back to Gainsborough as we’d came out on then after Gainsborough, because most of us were from the Sheffield area, we the Bawtry road then headed towards Maltby where we split up at the M18 round about with me taking a cross country route and the others joining the motorway.
Once home and the bike back in the garage, I was impressed at the speed Paul had updated the Three Shires website with the ride out details, even if he was still bitching about not stopping en-route for a break. I was also pleased with the email from Pete and Kate saying how much they’d enjoyed the trip, it does make it worth while when the day’s appreciated. Thanks to everyone who came along.
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Paul
non-member comment
Hmmm
Well some people do like a leg stretch whilst others feed there faces :). Took me 33 years to get like this I don't want to loose it in an afternoon. Great ride out thou John see you Friday