It’s Official – Summer’s Here !
The
clocks have gone forward, the days are getting longer and it’s
even going to get warmer if March has been anything to go by.
So what are you and your bike going to get up to this year?
Let’s see, come Sunday you’ll meet up with your
mates at the usual place and ride the same bit of road as you
did last year, stop at the same cafe/pub/snack bar, and then ride
the same road back home again; where you’ll put the bike away
after you’ve cleaned the flies off the fairing and oiled the chain.
And if the weather looks good for next weekend, you’ll call your
mates on Friday night and see if they want to go for a ride on
Sunday. Sounds familiar?
You
know, there’s a lot more to biking than that . . . so here are
a few of the alternatives.
Take a Weekend
Break. Although the UK has often been called the “Land
of the Gatso” and there’s no getting away from the fact that
our roads are massively overcrowded, it’s also true that there’s
a lot of good riding and scenery out there in this small island
of ours if you only take the time and effort to search them out.
Get yourself a good large scale road map of the UK, pick an area
that you’d like to visit, work out an interesting route there
and back that avoids motorways and trunk roads, but leave yourself
time to explore when you get there. You’ll need somewhere to stay
when you arrive, but there are loads of hotels, inns and B&Bs
out there to choose from. The local tourist boards can be a great
help here and if you’ve got access to the Internet (you must have
or you wouldn’t be reading this!) there’s loads of accommodation
resources on the net, and a lot of them can be booked online.
Do book something before you go though, as sleeping under a hedge
in a wet field is not going to enhance the experience.
Go
Off-Road. Dirt riding off-road is not only a lot of fun,
but can give you additional bike control skills that will improve
your normal road riding. There’s been a big increase in the number
of places that offer off-road riding courses in recent years,
and there’ll be something within a couple of hours ride from you
wherever you live in the UK. Putting something like “offroad+motorbike+training+uk”
into a Google search will turn up a good selection of places to
try. Go for a school that handles all experience levels from novices
to experts, and can supply everything you’ll need – bikes, boots,
clothing, helmet, etc. Most provide a complete set of packages
with durations from one day to a full week, with food and accommodation
if necessary. For your first time, then a one-day session is a
good starter, unless you’re one of the super-fit. A few hours
standing on the pegs will exercise parts of your body that you
didn’t know existed . . . and you will fall off – trust me in
that!
Go to a Race Meeting.
There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere you’ll find at
a race circuit, whether it’s a club meeting, the BSB championship,
World Superbikes or even MotoGP. And don’t think that a small
club meeting will serve up a lower standard of competition than
the big boys on the factory machines with all the razzmatazz and
the lycra. When the red lights go out, everyone’s out to win.
| The
British Superbike Championship
is over twelve rounds: | | March 30th | Silverstone | | | April 13th | Snetterton | | | April 20th | Thruxton | | | May 5th | Oulton Park | | | May 18th | Knockhill | | | June 22nd | Brands Hatch | | | July 6th | Rockingham | | | July 20th | Mondello
Park | | | August 10th | Oulton Park | | | August 25th | Cadwell Park | | | September 14th | Brands Hatch
Indy | | | September 28th | Donington
Park | One of these can’t be a million miles
away from you, so get on out there and go and see the racing.
It’s awesome. |
World
SuperBikes comes to Brands Hatch
on July 26/27th. See if Neil Hodgson can keep on
winning in front of his home crowd – or maybe Chris Walker
or James Toseland will take the WSB race honours. Details
on www.superbike.it |
MotoGP
arrives at Donington from July 10th to the 13th.
This could be your last chance to see Rossi at his peak and
in action on two wheels (who knows what he’s going to be doing
next year). The 10th is the Day of Champions, when
you can get up real close to the stars in aid of charity.
More details on www.motogp.com |
The
New Era MotorCycle Club
organises a whole bunch of club races for different formulae
at major UK race circuits. Find out what’s on and when by
going to www.neweramcc.org |
Scarborough
International Bikeweek is probably the closest thing
to real road racing left in mainland UK – like the TT and
NW200 without the use of a ferry. The 12ft wide track around
the park is one of the scariest things you’ve ever seen, and
they do 130 mph round there you know! Grab the Gold Cup action
between September 13th and 22nd. |
Glorious
Goodwood. For nostalgia buffs everywhere, the sights, sounds
and smells of all that ancient racing machinery just can’t be
beat. The Festival of Speed runs from July 11th to
the 13th as the bikes and cars race up the drive between
the straw bales and the brick walls, to see who can be first to
deliver the mail to the Big House! Then, over the weekend of September
5th to 7th the action transfers to the track
at the Goodwood Race Circuit. Unhappily, this year the famous
number 7 won’t be seen in action. For more information call 01243-755055
or www.goodwood.co.uk
Try
France. It’s that big chunk of land that you can see in
the distance from the top of the cliffs at Dover. I know they
drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, but the traffic density
is about a fifth of what it is in the UK and heavy lorries are
banned from the roads of France at the weekends. What’s
more, over there bikes and motorcyclists are positively welcomed
and motorists move out of the their way. Get there on the Chunnel
(ww1.eurotunnel.com) from
Ashford or on the ferries (www.posl.com
or www.seafrance.com) from
Dover. For a weekend break, the area around the Pas de Calais
is no great shakes, so head off down past Bologne and Honfleur
to Normandy for some great riding and wonderful scenery. If you’ve
got more time then head further west to the Cotenin peninsular
or even as far as Brittany where things just get better and better.
For somewhere to stay, the Formule 1 hostels (www.hotelformule1.com)
provide basic low-cost accommodation, a bit like the UK Travelodges
and Travelinns, or for something a bit more up-market try the
Mercure chain of hotels (www.mercure.com).
There are masses of French B&Bs, and one of the best accommodation
sources is the book “Chambres
et Tables D’Hotes” available from French bookshops,
and published by Gîtes de France who now have an on-line
booking service (www.gites-de-france.fr).
It’s also worth contacting the French Tourist Office (www.franceguide.com).
Of course, if you’ve got more time to spare then there’s even
more fun to be had the further you get from the Channel. The Central
Massif area has some spectacular scenery and stunning roads, while
the east of the country from the Alps all the way down to the
Mediterranean will blow your socks off. And finally there’s the
Pyrenees and northern Spain for a sensory overload that will make
Wales seem like the Fens.
Watch Endurance
Racing. These guys are plain nuts, so you owe it to yourself
to find out just how bad the racing bug can bite with some people.
Of course there’s also one hell of a party going on off the track,
but you’ll be far too interested in the racing to even consider
getting involved in all that – won’t you?
| The
Spa 24-hour
is on July 5th/6th, and as the circuit
is only around 250 miles from Calais, what more excuse do
you need for a long weekend break – and a wee bit of partying
on the side! Take a walk around the circuit to get rid of
the effects of too much Belgian beer/hospitality and visit
the famous corners of Eau Rouge, Stavelot, La Source and
the Bus Stop – although don’t expect anyone to stop and
give you a lift home! See www.spa-francorchamps.be
for more information. |
Le
Mans is perhaps the most famous
24-hour endurance race in the world. The bikes have their
day (and night) of glory on April 12th/13th,
and if you recover in time you can go all the way back again
to watch the four-wheelers do the same thing on June 14th/15th.
Or stay over between the two and make it a very, very long
weekend! Check out www.lemans.org
for more details. |
The
Bol D’Or
is now at Magny Cours, so don’t travel all the way down to
the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France for the race
and party action, unless you’re really into taking the long
and scenic route! The race takes place over the weekend of
September 13th/14th. Take a long heavy
chain and a big padlock. More information can be found on
www.magny-cours.com |
Visit
a Show or Rally. The biggest
(in Europe) and the most famous is the BMF Rally at the Peterborough
Showground. Join the other 89,999 expected this year for the entertainment
and to search for that elusive bargain. During the weekend of
May 17th/18th there’ll be over 900 trade
stands, a massive arena and even a display of Harrier jets to
keep you occupied. Expect to find a fair bit of congestion too
on the access roads! For something on a smaller, more intimate
scale, try one or more of these:
| April 26th/27th | International Classic
Motorcycle Show | Stafford |
| June 14th/15th | Garden of England
Motorcycle Show | Paddock Wood, Kent |
| July 13th | Kelso Bikefest | Kelso, Scotland |
| August 23rd/24th | South West Motorcycle
Show | Exeter, Devon |
| September 21st | Rossendale Valley
Motorbike Show | Rawtenstall, Lancs |
Do
a Trackday or RaceSchool.
You owe it to yourself to do this at least once, even if racing
and race circuits are not your thing. Why? Well, the surface is
billiard-table smooth, there’s no overbanding or manhole covers
to screw up grip levels, all the traffic goes in the same direction
so you can use the whole width of the track without worrying about
whether there’s a bus or a Volvo coming the other way. There are
experienced instructors on hand to help you out and offer advice
and assistance, and as you keep going round and round the same
bit of tarmac you get the chance to learn the best way around
a corner. And if something does go wrong, then there’s usually
plenty of space to try and sort things out and avert the disaster.
If it’s your first time, going with a friend who’s done it before
and who you can trust can be a good idea, or you could try one
of the schools who provide the bike, leathers, boots, helmet,
gloves and instructor, so if you have a spill all you’ll come
away with is a few bruises (hopefully) and they pick up the repair
bill.
Watch
World MotoCross. Is it a bird? . . Is it a plane? . . No
– it’s a motorbike. The international aerial assault teams come
to the UK on August 3rd at the Rushmoor Arena in Hampshire.
To get close to the action and see overtaking maneuvers in mid-air,
bring binoculars – or hire a helicopter! Your eyes will be opened
to a whole new way of riding – and racing – bikes.
Go
to the Isle of Man. If you
want the atmosphere, the tradition, the partying, the hangovers,
the history and all the big names, then it’s got to be TT fortnight,
which this year runs from May 24th to June 6th.
However, such is the popularity of the event that nearly all the
B&B and hotel accommodation has gone by now, but there’s still
camping available; and you’ll have to take what you can get as
far as the Steam Packet ferry crossings are concerned. If you’re
more into the racing than the tradition, then the Manx GP from
the 16th to the 29th of August may be more
of your cup of tea. The circuit’s the same, Bray Hill, Quarter
Bridge, Ballacraine, the Mountain, but the atmosphere is more
like a club meeting and everything’s more focused on the racing
than on the off-track happenings. For more information on the
racing, the island and what accommodation’s still to be had, take
a look at www.gov.im, and
for ferry crossing info try www.steam-packet.com.
Ride
around Ireland. It’s time
to pack your waterproofs and catch the ferry for a combination
of some of the most memorable scenery, emptiest roads and greatest
hospitality you’ll ever experience. In the past Ireland’s roads
have come in for a great deal of criticism, and most of it was
fully justified; but recently the powers-that-be have managed
to unload a considerable quantity of euros from the EC coffers,
converted them into tarmac, asphalt and concrete, and laid them
on the roads. The transformation has been remarkable, so much
so that you get the feeling that it can’t all be quite “above
board”, and sooner or later some EC commissioner is going
to find out what’s been going on and take all the roads away.
Before that happens you have duty to get over to the “Emerald
Isle” for the riding, the scenery, and the inevitable craic.
Be warned though, Ireland is a country that has to be seen at
it’s own pace (it’s said that the word “mañana”
couldn’t be translated from the Spanish as it implied too great
a sense of urgency!), and if you try to rush things you’ll miss
it all. And don’t plan too far ahead either, as Ireland has a
strange habit of making you do what it wants to do rather than
what you thought you’d do. The further west and south-west you
go, the better it gets in every respect. For information on ferries
try irishferries.com or www.stena-line.com,
and for accommodation and places to see, look at
www.goireland.com and www.ireland.travel.ie.
Watch the Weston
Beach Races. If you thought that endurance racers were
mad, then the guys who take part in this race are positively certifiable!
This has to one of the craziest events of the year. Split your
sides as up to 800 simple-minded speed-freaks plough their way
across and into the beach and each other at Weston Super Mare.
The mayhem continues for three hours and takes place over October
18th/19th. The first corner of the first
lap is a guaranteed pile-up of gargantuan proportions.
Ride
the Nurburgring. The ultimate
track day experience. The seventy three corners with their three
gravel traps take you thirteen plus miles through the breathtaking
Eiffel mountains and make this one of the most challenging and
difficult racetracks to learn in the world. As as it’s officially
classed as a public toll road, you can share the action with other
bikes, cars and even the occasional coach! A lap will cost around
£8, but it’s cheaper if you purchase a few at a time. Just
buy a ticket, pass through the barrier, and you’re away. Take
it very, very easy until you’re you begin to get the feel for
the place, and avoid getting sucked into keeping up with the locals
and the experts. Oh yes, and if you crash you could end up paying
for the track repairs as well as the damage to your bike. Nurburgring
is around 300 miles from Calais, so if you’re planning some serious
lappery make sure your tyres are in nearly-new condition before
you set out, ‘cos they’re going to be seriously second-hand by
the time you get home! For more information on riding the ‘Ring,
see the Nurburgring pages elsewhere on this site or visit www.nuerburgring.de
for details of open days/times and events.
Enter
the National Rally. This annual
event has been going since the year dot, well 1934 to be more
precise, and is one of motorcycling’s best kept secrets. It’s
a “navigational scatter rally” which means there are
numerous controls, no fixed route or start point but everyone
has to finish at the same place before a certain time. Depending
of how far and for how long you want to ride, you pick one of
of seven award levels that you want to go for. Then it’s up to
you to work out a route from the information you’ll receive some
three weeks before the event. This year the Rally gets underway
at 2.00pm on July 6th and the finish is at Uttoxeter
Race Course at 10.00am the following morning. If you want to attempt
one of the four highest awards you’ll be riding through the night
with mandatory one hour rest stops. Entry is £20 per rider
and all proceeds go to Mencap. Everything on two or even three
wheels can take part, so it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got
an R1 or a D125 Bantam, a trike or a Vespa. Last year around 1000
bikes took part and many got sponsorship to raise extra money
for the charity. It’s a great challenge for your riding and navigational
abilities, so find a couple of friends to ride with you and give
it a go. MotorBikesToday will be entering a team this year, but
don’t follow us because we’ll probably be getting lost! You can
get more details and entry forms from www.national-rally.co.uk
and take a look at the article in the Features section on this
site to see how I got on in 2002.
Hopefully, there’s some ideas amongst that lot
to fuel your imagination, but if you need more then take a look
through the “Whats On” and “Events” pages
on this site. Whatever you and your bike decide to do in 2003,
have fun and do it safely.
Top things motorcyclists should do in 2003
It’s Official – Summer’s Here !
The
clocks have gone forward, the days are getting longer and it’s
even going to get warmer if March has been anything to go by.
So what are you and your bike going to get up to this year?
Let’s see, come Sunday you’ll meet up with your
mates at the usual place and ride the same bit of road as you
did last year, stop at the same cafe/pub/snack bar, and then ride
the same road back home again; where you’ll put the bike away
after you’ve cleaned the flies off the fairing and oiled the chain.
And if the weather looks good for next weekend, you’ll call your
mates on Friday night and see if they want to go for a ride on
Sunday. Sounds familiar?
You
know, there’s a lot more to biking than that . . . so here are
a few of the alternatives.
Take a Weekend
Break. Although the UK has often been called the “Land
of the Gatso” and there’s no getting away from the fact that
our roads are massively overcrowded, it’s also true that there’s
a lot of good riding and scenery out there in this small island
of ours if you only take the time and effort to search them out.
Get yourself a good large scale road map of the UK, pick an area
that you’d like to visit, work out an interesting route there
and back that avoids motorways and trunk roads, but leave yourself
time to explore when you get there. You’ll need somewhere to stay
when you arrive, but there are loads of hotels, inns and B&Bs
out there to choose from. The local tourist boards can be a great
help here and if you’ve got access to the Internet (you must have
or you wouldn’t be reading this!) there’s loads of accommodation
resources on the net, and a lot of them can be booked online.
Do book something before you go though, as sleeping under a hedge
in a wet field is not going to enhance the experience.
Go
Off-Road. Dirt riding off-road is not only a lot of fun,
but can give you additional bike control skills that will improve
your normal road riding. There’s been a big increase in the number
of places that offer off-road riding courses in recent years,
and there’ll be something within a couple of hours ride from you
wherever you live in the UK. Putting something like “offroad+motorbike+training+uk”
into a Google search will turn up a good selection of places to
try. Go for a school that handles all experience levels from novices
to experts, and can supply everything you’ll need – bikes, boots,
clothing, helmet, etc. Most provide a complete set of packages
with durations from one day to a full week, with food and accommodation
if necessary. For your first time, then a one-day session is a
good starter, unless you’re one of the super-fit. A few hours
standing on the pegs will exercise parts of your body that you
didn’t know existed . . . and you will fall off – trust me in
that!
Go to a Race Meeting.
There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere you’ll find at
a race circuit, whether it’s a club meeting, the BSB championship,
World Superbikes or even MotoGP. And don’t think that a small
club meeting will serve up a lower standard of competition than
the big boys on the factory machines with all the razzmatazz and
the lycra. When the red lights go out, everyone’s out to win.
The
British Superbike Championship
is over twelve rounds:
Park
Indy
Park
One of these can’t be a million miles
away from you, so get on out there and go and see the racing.
It’s awesome.
SuperBikes comes to Brands Hatch
on July 26/27th. See if Neil Hodgson can keep on
winning in front of his home crowd – or maybe Chris Walker
or James Toseland will take the WSB race honours. Details
on www.superbike.it
arrives at Donington from July 10th to the 13th.
This could be your last chance to see Rossi at his peak and
in action on two wheels (who knows what he’s going to be doing
next year). The 10th is the Day of Champions, when
you can get up real close to the stars in aid of charity.
More details on www.motogp.com
New Era MotorCycle Club
organises a whole bunch of club races for different formulae
at major UK race circuits. Find out what’s on and when by
going to www.neweramcc.org
International Bikeweek is probably the closest thing
to real road racing left in mainland UK – like the TT and
NW200 without the use of a ferry. The 12ft wide track around
the park is one of the scariest things you’ve ever seen, and
they do 130 mph round there you know! Grab the Gold Cup action
between September 13th and 22nd.
Glorious
Goodwood. For nostalgia buffs everywhere, the sights, sounds
and smells of all that ancient racing machinery just can’t be
beat. The Festival of Speed runs from July 11th to
the 13th as the bikes and cars race up the drive between
the straw bales and the brick walls, to see who can be first to
deliver the mail to the Big House! Then, over the weekend of September
5th to 7th the action transfers to the track
at the Goodwood Race Circuit. Unhappily, this year the famous
number 7 won’t be seen in action. For more information call 01243-755055
or www.goodwood.co.uk
Try
France. It’s that big chunk of land that you can see in
the distance from the top of the cliffs at Dover. I know they
drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, but the traffic density
is about a fifth of what it is in the UK and heavy lorries are
banned from the roads of France at the weekends. What’s
more, over there bikes and motorcyclists are positively welcomed
and motorists move out of the their way. Get there on the Chunnel
(ww1.eurotunnel.com) from
Ashford or on the ferries (www.posl.com
or www.seafrance.com) from
Dover. For a weekend break, the area around the Pas de Calais
is no great shakes, so head off down past Bologne and Honfleur
to Normandy for some great riding and wonderful scenery. If you’ve
got more time then head further west to the Cotenin peninsular
or even as far as Brittany where things just get better and better.
For somewhere to stay, the Formule 1 hostels (www.hotelformule1.com)
provide basic low-cost accommodation, a bit like the UK Travelodges
and Travelinns, or for something a bit more up-market try the
Mercure chain of hotels (www.mercure.com).
There are masses of French B&Bs, and one of the best accommodation
sources is the book “Chambres
et Tables D’Hotes” available from French bookshops,
and published by Gîtes de France who now have an on-line
booking service (www.gites-de-france.fr).
It’s also worth contacting the French Tourist Office (www.franceguide.com).
Of course, if you’ve got more time to spare then there’s even
more fun to be had the further you get from the Channel. The Central
Massif area has some spectacular scenery and stunning roads, while
the east of the country from the Alps all the way down to the
Mediterranean will blow your socks off. And finally there’s the
Pyrenees and northern Spain for a sensory overload that will make
Wales seem like the Fens.
Watch Endurance
Racing. These guys are plain nuts, so you owe it to yourself
to find out just how bad the racing bug can bite with some people.
Of course there’s also one hell of a party going on off the track,
but you’ll be far too interested in the racing to even consider
getting involved in all that – won’t you?
The
Spa 24-hour
is on July 5th/6th, and as the circuit
is only around 250 miles from Calais, what more excuse do
you need for a long weekend break – and a wee bit of partying
on the side! Take a walk around the circuit to get rid of
the effects of too much Belgian beer/hospitality and visit
the famous corners of Eau Rouge, Stavelot, La Source and
the Bus Stop – although don’t expect anyone to stop and
give you a lift home! See www.spa-francorchamps.be
for more information.
Mans is perhaps the most famous
24-hour endurance race in the world. The bikes have their
day (and night) of glory on April 12th/13th,
and if you recover in time you can go all the way back again
to watch the four-wheelers do the same thing on June 14th/15th.
Or stay over between the two and make it a very, very long
weekend! Check out www.lemans.org
for more details.
Bol D’Or
is now at Magny Cours, so don’t travel all the way down to
the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France for the race
and party action, unless you’re really into taking the long
and scenic route! The race takes place over the weekend of
September 13th/14th. Take a long heavy
chain and a big padlock. More information can be found on
www.magny-cours.com
Visit
a Show or Rally. The biggest
(in Europe) and the most famous is the BMF Rally at the Peterborough
Showground. Join the other 89,999 expected this year for the entertainment
and to search for that elusive bargain. During the weekend of
May 17th/18th there’ll be over 900 trade
stands, a massive arena and even a display of Harrier jets to
keep you occupied. Expect to find a fair bit of congestion too
on the access roads! For something on a smaller, more intimate
scale, try one or more of these:
April 26th/27th
Motorcycle Show
Motorcycle Show
Show
Motorbike Show
Do
a Trackday or RaceSchool.
You owe it to yourself to do this at least once, even if racing
and race circuits are not your thing. Why? Well, the surface is
billiard-table smooth, there’s no overbanding or manhole covers
to screw up grip levels, all the traffic goes in the same direction
so you can use the whole width of the track without worrying about
whether there’s a bus or a Volvo coming the other way. There are
experienced instructors on hand to help you out and offer advice
and assistance, and as you keep going round and round the same
bit of tarmac you get the chance to learn the best way around
a corner. And if something does go wrong, then there’s usually
plenty of space to try and sort things out and avert the disaster.
If it’s your first time, going with a friend who’s done it before
and who you can trust can be a good idea, or you could try one
of the schools who provide the bike, leathers, boots, helmet,
gloves and instructor, so if you have a spill all you’ll come
away with is a few bruises (hopefully) and they pick up the repair
bill.
Watch
World MotoCross. Is it a bird? . . Is it a plane? . . No
– it’s a motorbike. The international aerial assault teams come
to the UK on August 3rd at the Rushmoor Arena in Hampshire.
To get close to the action and see overtaking maneuvers in mid-air,
bring binoculars – or hire a helicopter! Your eyes will be opened
to a whole new way of riding – and racing – bikes.
Go
to the Isle of Man. If you
want the atmosphere, the tradition, the partying, the hangovers,
the history and all the big names, then it’s got to be TT fortnight,
which this year runs from May 24th to June 6th.
However, such is the popularity of the event that nearly all the
B&B and hotel accommodation has gone by now, but there’s still
camping available; and you’ll have to take what you can get as
far as the Steam Packet ferry crossings are concerned. If you’re
more into the racing than the tradition, then the Manx GP from
the 16th to the 29th of August may be more
of your cup of tea. The circuit’s the same, Bray Hill, Quarter
Bridge, Ballacraine, the Mountain, but the atmosphere is more
like a club meeting and everything’s more focused on the racing
than on the off-track happenings. For more information on the
racing, the island and what accommodation’s still to be had, take
a look at www.gov.im, and
for ferry crossing info try www.steam-packet.com.
Ride
around Ireland. It’s time
to pack your waterproofs and catch the ferry for a combination
of some of the most memorable scenery, emptiest roads and greatest
hospitality you’ll ever experience. In the past Ireland’s roads
have come in for a great deal of criticism, and most of it was
fully justified; but recently the powers-that-be have managed
to unload a considerable quantity of euros from the EC coffers,
converted them into tarmac, asphalt and concrete, and laid them
on the roads. The transformation has been remarkable, so much
so that you get the feeling that it can’t all be quite “above
board”, and sooner or later some EC commissioner is going
to find out what’s been going on and take all the roads away.
Before that happens you have duty to get over to the “Emerald
Isle” for the riding, the scenery, and the inevitable craic.
Be warned though, Ireland is a country that has to be seen at
it’s own pace (it’s said that the word “mañana”
couldn’t be translated from the Spanish as it implied too great
a sense of urgency!), and if you try to rush things you’ll miss
it all. And don’t plan too far ahead either, as Ireland has a
strange habit of making you do what it wants to do rather than
what you thought you’d do. The further west and south-west you
go, the better it gets in every respect. For information on ferries
try irishferries.com or www.stena-line.com,
and for accommodation and places to see, look at
www.goireland.com and www.ireland.travel.ie.
Watch the Weston
Beach Races. If you thought that endurance racers were
mad, then the guys who take part in this race are positively certifiable!
This has to one of the craziest events of the year. Split your
sides as up to 800 simple-minded speed-freaks plough their way
across and into the beach and each other at Weston Super Mare.
The mayhem continues for three hours and takes place over October
18th/19th. The first corner of the first
lap is a guaranteed pile-up of gargantuan proportions.
Ride
the Nurburgring. The ultimate
track day experience. The seventy three corners with their three
gravel traps take you thirteen plus miles through the breathtaking
Eiffel mountains and make this one of the most challenging and
difficult racetracks to learn in the world. As as it’s officially
classed as a public toll road, you can share the action with other
bikes, cars and even the occasional coach! A lap will cost around
£8, but it’s cheaper if you purchase a few at a time. Just
buy a ticket, pass through the barrier, and you’re away. Take
it very, very easy until you’re you begin to get the feel for
the place, and avoid getting sucked into keeping up with the locals
and the experts. Oh yes, and if you crash you could end up paying
for the track repairs as well as the damage to your bike. Nurburgring
is around 300 miles from Calais, so if you’re planning some serious
lappery make sure your tyres are in nearly-new condition before
you set out, ‘cos they’re going to be seriously second-hand by
the time you get home! For more information on riding the ‘Ring,
see the Nurburgring pages elsewhere on this site or visit www.nuerburgring.de
for details of open days/times and events.
Enter
the National Rally. This annual
event has been going since the year dot, well 1934 to be more
precise, and is one of motorcycling’s best kept secrets. It’s
a “navigational scatter rally” which means there are
numerous controls, no fixed route or start point but everyone
has to finish at the same place before a certain time. Depending
of how far and for how long you want to ride, you pick one of
of seven award levels that you want to go for. Then it’s up to
you to work out a route from the information you’ll receive some
three weeks before the event. This year the Rally gets underway
at 2.00pm on July 6th and the finish is at Uttoxeter
Race Course at 10.00am the following morning. If you want to attempt
one of the four highest awards you’ll be riding through the night
with mandatory one hour rest stops. Entry is £20 per rider
and all proceeds go to Mencap. Everything on two or even three
wheels can take part, so it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got
an R1 or a D125 Bantam, a trike or a Vespa. Last year around 1000
bikes took part and many got sponsorship to raise extra money
for the charity. It’s a great challenge for your riding and navigational
abilities, so find a couple of friends to ride with you and give
it a go. MotorBikesToday will be entering a team this year, but
don’t follow us because we’ll probably be getting lost! You can
get more details and entry forms from www.national-rally.co.uk
and take a look at the article in the Features section on this
site to see how I got on in 2002.
Hopefully, there’s some ideas amongst that lot
to fuel your imagination, but if you need more then take a look
through the “Whats On” and “Events” pages
on this site. Whatever you and your bike decide to do in 2003,
have fun and do it safely.