Friday, January 21, 2011

TT - Official Review 2010 - Duke DMDVD

Just finished watching this DVD, - http://www.dukevideo.com/Bikes/DVD/TT-Isle-of-Man/Events-2000-onwards/TT-2010-Review-DVD.aspx - and I'm left in my habitual awe of the abilities displayed by road racers. This season's initiative of "High Motion", (very slow motion to you & me), is able to capture the extremes of machine movement so that you and I can begin to appreciate just what these riders achieve each time they race.

A couple of old maxims are obvious,

i/ - riders allow their bikes to move around underneath them, trusting in the gyroscopic effects of their wheels to pull them through, and do not try to "fight" their machines - see particularly Keith Amor & Guy Martin at the bottom of Barrgarrow in the Supersport Junior TT Race 2, and Ian Hutchinson's mastery approaching the bottom of Bray Hill
&
ii/ - how often a rider drops a gear just before entering a bend in order to maintain drive through the corner. Put me in mind of David Jefferies' commentary lap, and his cool description of his practice lap on Wednesday of practice week in 2002, also on Duke DVD. - http://www.dukevideo.com/Bikes/DVD/TT-Isle-of-Man/On-Bike-TT/On-Bike-TT-Experience-6-DVD.aspx

N.B. - I have no connection to Duke and their products.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Motorrad Course @ The 'Ring

Just received the Motorrad course dates from Neil Leigh, (he instructs on these courses).

Not as comprehensive as the BMW Club Mulheim Rhur three day course in August and you don't get the full lap covered by section training - but these courses are much cheaper.

"Motorrad chief Mathias Schrotter has given permission for me to get these dates and details out to you at the very earliest possible moment so that plans can be hatched, holidays booked and dreams realised on the mythical Nurburgring Nordschleife during the coming year!
For 2011 iam structuring the pricing system differently to allow those who wish to make their own accomodation arrangements to do so thus possibly making the courses even better value for you the participant. Another point of interest is the intention to make the lunch breaks rolling and requiring that Instructors assign their groups a 1 hour lunch break over the midday period, again meaning better value for money regarding time on track.
As always we will be getting the payments together in the UK them making one full payment per course to Motorrad thus preventing the hard up UK banking system having our trousers down, so to speak!
If the following courses appeal to you please in the first instance get in touch as soon as you are able to commit, we will then forward booking forms to you in good time and then arrange a payment deadline.
The Juice!
RING SHARP 28/6-1/7
Suitable only for riders who have attended previous Nurburgring courses and shown a high level of skill as there is a large proportion of open lapping without grouping and instructors.
Basic Course( on track 29-30th June) 849 euro including 3 evening meals at the Dorint hotel.
Accommodation 3 nights sharing a twin bedded room 190 euro B&B
Accommodation 3 nights single room 325 euro B&B
All accommodation is taken at the Dorint Hotel situated at the GP track.

RING PURE 24-25th July
If you have attended this course before please read carefully as for 2011 the structure and timings have altered due to its close fit with F1 at the Ring. This course begins Sunday 24th July (you make your own arrangements for the night of the 23rd) at 11.45am riding ontrack till 5pm. Monday 25th is a full day ontrack. No evening meals are provided, participants are free to eat where they please.
This course is suitable for all levels of rider of high skill on sports and sport touring type motorcycles irrespective of the level of Nurburgring experience. All track riding is done in groups under the supervision of the instructor.
Basic Course(1/2 day 24th and full day 25th) 669 euro no evening meal provided.
Accommodation 2 nights sharing(24-25th) 130 euro B&B
Accommodation 2 nights single (25-25th) 220 euro B&B
All accommodation taken at the Dorint Hotel.

RING MILD 31/8-3/9
Suitable for all skillful riders on sports or sports touring type motorcycles regardless of skill level at the Nurburgring. All riding taken in groups with instructor. Note this course is taken directly before the WSB event at the Ring)
Basic course( 1-2nd Sept on track) 849 euro incl 3 evening meals
3 nights sharing twin bedded room 190 euro incl B&B
3 nights Single room 325 euro incl B&B
Accommodation at the Dorint.

I reckon thats a good starting point and I dont know about you but iam already getting a bad need to sling a leg over the 'gixxer' and string some skillfull riding together, problem is outside is looking pretty damn bleak so best keep my powder dry for the fight proper, bring it on!

Sporting Regards, Neil"

See Neil's link for further details.  --  http://www.aeaventures.com

All the best, Jim.

Friday, January 7, 2011

The very best introduction to The 'Ring

BMW Club Mulheim Rhur have just announced the dates of their course @ The 'Ring for this year : -


1st July to 4th August 2011 


One week earlier in the calendar than usual, expensive, but it remains the way to learn the entire circuit in safety.


Have a look at their website - http://www.fahrerlehrgang.info/ -

(and for detailed information in "American" see this : -  http://www.bmwccaringschool.com/faqs.aspx )







Monday, January 3, 2011

They didn't tell me she was a motoring journalist!

When I was last out at The 'Ring I bumped into a friend who was leading a tour of some twenty motorcyclists from the UK. I offered to lead anyone who was interested around for a few laps.

There were five riders who wanted to experience the ring for the first time as a pillion. They didn't tell me that Julie was actually a motoring correspondent until that evening at dinner.

From her article for the 'Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group'

We arrived at the circuit and I was introduce to Jim Bryan, a rider from West Yorkshire and Nurburgring track instructor. He asked if I’d like to ride pillion with him and of course I agreed. He knows every one of the 73 corners along the 14-mile track and could probably ride around it blindfolded. Jim assured me we’d be fine. We paid the 22 euros toll and we were off. Speeds of 130mph, corners that banked so alarmingly I thought we were never going to make them and wannabe racing drivers in Porsches didn’t faze him one little bit. Less than 10 minutes later we arrived back in the car park and Jim presented me with a badge for my helmet as a reward.

The complete article (with pictures) is here:

Part 1
Part 2