Monday this week saw me @ the vastly improved Snetterton 300, working for the BMW Club as an instructor. An excellent day organised by the inestimable Robert Bensley; racer, raconteur, and thoroughly nice chap. (N.B. - the amount of effort, time, energy and skill that it takes to run such a day is enormous, & the BMW Club are very lucky to have someone like Robert prepared to put up the necessary - not to mention his wife Ann & her admin & pit lane support).
Of the 150 riders who took part - some for the first time ever on track, (28), some were ex-racers, (one TT winner), some current racers, one 22 years old, one 73, one rider had started riding only three weeks previously - the overwhelming majority seemed to have a superb time & many of the "newbies" expressed an intention to return again.
But; isn't there always a "but", why, oh why, do some folk expend thousands and thousands of pounds on the latest, fastest, shiniest, must-have motorcycle, then even more thousands on a full race exhaust system, even more on matching leathers, helmet & gloves ...... & then wobble around corners @ a pace & in a fashion more suited to a Triangle tricycle? Both straights were dispatched with reasonable speed - once their bikes were vertical - but the approaching corners saw them back to little more than walking pace, resulting in following riders having to negotiate an additional chicane that lap.
Why?
Well, a discussion with one of the track "newbies" shed some light on one possible reason. "They buy the fastest, "best", newest, must have bike, not to ride but to just say that they ride that bike. "Say" to themselves, their mates, strangers down the pub/golf club. They adorn it with the most expensive accessories, as if in some manner that makes them better riders! Actually riding their bike is not on their radar, it's the image that is all. Those who come along to days such as this are more open to learning how to ride their bikes. So, in the general bike riding population out there, there will be huge numbers of bikes bought as status symbols, to be polished and parked - preferably where others will notice & make approving comments".
Still, one positive bonus from this faction of bike buyers - they trade their bikes in very often, thereby allowing skinflints like me to profit from their largesse!
Such individuals were in a very small minority, and I can only hope that they engage in some advanced training in order that they learn to make fuller use of their beautiful machines, (but then I would say that wouldn't I?).
I'll post up some photos in a couple of days.
All the best, Jim.
No comments:
Post a Comment