At the beginning of April the Bike Tutors held a refresh meeting to discuss developments and to discuss how we might improve training.  We were joined by Tony Dix, the Gloucester RoADAR Chief Instructor Motorcycles, which was a welcome addition to add some depth to our discussions.  We all agreed events such as these are essential to maintain standards and all tutors should conduct personal development to maintain currency.  We have also asked Bike members what they thought of their training and if there are areas we might improve.  These events are always humbling as they highlight how little you know (or how much you have forgotten).

 

 

Please join me in congratulating Angus McAfee, Stuart Camp and Tom Eatough in successfully completing the Bike tutor course.  Great to have some new blood in the tutor cohort and thank you for all your efforts and commitment.

Gloucester RoADAR will be holding a Low-Speed training day on Sat 21st May 2022 to be held on the site of the old Berkeley Nuclear Labs site GL13 9PA. The day will run from 1330 to 1700 and will include a range of low-speed riding skills and exercises designed to improve rider confidence and skill. The low-speed circuit favourites such as the snowman, figure of 8 and intersection will feature alongside braking drills and a slow race to make for an enjoyable learning experience. It does not matter if this is all new to you as we will be running a session to revise the basics and if you have been before there will be an advanced low speed circuit to test your skills – there really is something for everyone!

Please reply directly to Tony Dix (chiefinstructormc@glos-roadar.org.uk) to register an interest and further details will be sent out nearer the time.

 

 

 

 

The first round of the Combe Hot Hatch Challenge was on April 18th and was a double header (two races in one day). The Hot Hatches were out in the first qualifying session, so we all set off in cool conditions to set a few good lap times. I was feeling confident after our test day a couple of weeks earlier. On my third lap as I gained some pace, I went over Avon rise with a tiny bit of lock on, and lifted off the gas ever so slightly - and the car stepped sideways! I caught the slide, but by then I was on the grass and slid into the barrier at around 90-100 mph. The recticell barrier did its job, slowing the car rapidly and a bit more energy was dissipated as I pirouetted twice!

The car was recovered and I was transported in the "biff wagon" back to the medical centre for a once over by the track medics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After checking me over, the doctor pronounced me fit to drive, but we had to meet with the scrutineers to see how fit the car was. My concern was that 25% of the season was happening that day!

 

The car bore up surprisingly well. The headlight was smashed and the bonnet plus all the panels on the nearside had been dented, but with a smattering of duct tape we were signed off to race!

 

My two quick laps before I binned it enabled me to qualify P2 in class E for race 1, and P3 for race 2.

 

Starting a little tentatively in race 1, I was able to maintain my start position in spite of some attention from 2 or 3 other Minis. After breaking away from them at mid distance I reduced my pace a little as I was marginal on fuel - we forgot to top the car up after the off in qualifying. I finished second in class and was very relieved to do so!

 

We topped the car up with enough fuel and tweaked the alignment between races to make sure the car was straight before getting set up for the second race.

 

Race two started well, I held onto third in class until the bottom of Avon Rise on lap 1. A couple of spinning cars caused a few of us to check up to avoid contact. Mini #84 slipped past me, but Mini #95 dropped back behind me. The class leader took to the grass in Mini #119 and dropped right to the back of the pack. We did a couple of laps behind the safety car, before being let loose. I caught up to the back of #84, and slipped past him at Quarry to lead the class! I hung on in the lead until 3 or so laps from the end when a fast charging car #119 reeled me in. We diced for a couple of corners but he had the faster car and so got through. I was pleased with another second place finish in my somewhat scruffy car!

 

The second meeting is on May 2nd. Let's see if I can maintain my finishing record.

 

 

Bob Fram was Marshalling at the British Superbike tests at Donington Park on 31 March and Silverstone on 6 & 7 April.  The forecast for Donington Park was so bad many of the teams decided not to attend – this was a good decision as we had every weather event in one day and the track temperature was very low.  A few Hady souls did venture out but the pictures below show how the conditions varied.  Glad I took my thermals!  Pictures are from Hollywood Corner at the top of Craner Curves.

 

 

 

           How it Started                                 How its Going

 

The pictures below are of the air fence at Copse Corner at Silverstone.  A very windy second day gave new meaning to the words air fence as sudden gusts lifted the padding over our heads on 3 occasions – each incident stopping the testing until the fence was replaced to its rightful position.  Always expect the unexpected!

 

 

 

           How it Started                                 How its Going

Bob Fram took part in the Land’s End Trial organised by the Motorcycling Club.  This is a reliability trail consisting of 284 miles (according to my odometer) of road riding with 12 special sections of varying difficulty (mostly off road).  As I am new to off road riding and this event, I chose to ride the easier “O” route rather than the main trial.  This avoided some of the tougher of road sections and removed some of the hill restarts on other sections.

 

The route is provided by the Motorcycling Club as a list of route directions to be printed off and read during the trial.  This meant a road book holder is required.  Fortunately for me a friend had already built one which I was able to copy – the first project which included LED lights so I could read it at night! 

 

  Road Book ready for rolling

 

 

 

 

Road book on Bike

 

The bike also needed preparing so a decent service and all the electrical connectors checked and greased – to try and prevent any electrical problems in the wet.  Tools selected, rack fitted and sufficient spares (and some clothes for the evening in a hotel at the end) packed on to the bike.  This all caused my wife to comment this trip has had more planning than the D-day landings! 

 

 

Bike ready to go

 

I had a friend to ride with who had done the event on numerous occasions – great to have a mentor and a companion.  We departed Devizes at 1900 on Good Friday in order to get to our start point at Bridgewater Rugby Club  in good time for scrutineering, sign on and catch up with other competitors before my start tine of 2252.  Bridgewater rugby club was full of a wide variety of bikes and cars to carry the 400 or so competitors on the trial.

 

We departed on time and I navigated - with trepidation given my homemade route book holder which I expected to explode at some stage; it did not so I was very pleased with this aspect of the event.  The directions were accurate and the first 2 stages were completed without incident.  I tried to be clever on the third more difficult section (advice from a very experienced off-road rider ringing in my ears) but this caused me to fall off within the first 10 metres!  Marshalls there to help and I was soon on my way up the hill without further incident; suitably humbled!.

 

The hours and miles ticked by and it was great fun.  There were 2 compulsory stops; one for half an hour and another for 1 hour.  All along the route and at all hours, selected garages were open for fuel and village halls open serving tea and cake -really welcome refuelling and caffeine hit.

 

The good thing about all this is each competitor is taking on the trial and not each other so the atmosphere is friendly and supportive – with a lot of self-deprecation and banter.  There are set times to arrive at sections and the time allowance is generous  - we arrived at Hayle with an hour to spare and we had averaged 15 miles per hour over the whole event.  Medals are awarded as follows:  the main trial no mistakes gold medal, one mistake (foot down or fail a section) silver medal, 2 mistakes bronze medal.  The O class no mistakes a tin medal is awarded with a copper medal for one mistake.  Each finisher is awarded a certificate.

 

Hugely satisfying to finish (with no problems with the Bike).  Whilst we were tired during the event the regular stops, sections and navigation kept you alert so I never felt as though I was compromising safety.  I will be going again next year and will try to do some other events if I can.  Provisional results have me 3^rd in class with a Copper medal – I am chuffed!

 

 

The Team at the end

 

 

 

 

• No training if either party has displayed COVID 19 symptoms within 7 days or is self-isolating in line with Government guidance (including Test and Trace protocols).
• Associate and tutor to have conducted a lateral flow test within 2 days of the training session.  A positive test should be treated as per Government guidelines and precludes training.
• Face covering to be worn by both tutor and associate.  These must be in place prior to entering the vehicle.
• Ensure hands are clean (washed for 20 seconds and/or alcohol gel as a minimum) prior to fitting face covering.
• Tutor and associate must not touch their face when in the vehicle or prior to washing/sanitising hands/ or removing gloves if worn.
• Vehicle ventilation system to be on and drawing air from outside the vehicle (NOT on recirculation). Ventilation enhanced by opening rear windows to allow air flow over tutor and associate to go out of the vehicle.
• Avoid face to face activity and conduct discussions outside the vehicle where safe and legal to do so.

• Tutor wears disposable gloves when in the vehicle.
• Any equipment taken into the vehicle by the tutor to be sanitised post the session (alcohol wipes or a bleach solution)
• Associate to ensure vehicle interior is cleaned with sanitiser prior to tutor entering the vehicle.

• Both parties must be happy to partake in the tutoring session – there is no penalty for not wishing to partake provided communication is clear.
• No tutoring if either the Associate or the Tutor have displayed symptoms within the last 7 days or are told to self- isolate by the Government Track and Trace protocol.
• It is strongly recommended both the Associate and the Tutor conduct a lateral Flow test no sooner than 2 days prior to the session.  A positive test should be treated as per Government guidelines and precludes training.
• All must follow Government guidelines on self-isolation and shielding.
• Appropriate Social distancing must be rigorously applied. 
• Follow Government guidelines for hand cleansing and personal safety – hand sanitiser useful at all times.
• Avoid busy locations for meeting, follow the latest Government guidelines for the use of cafes and/or take own refreshments. 
• Associates to be encouraged to bring their own copy of Roadcraft and the Highway code for ease of reference during briefing and de-briefing sessions.
• Tutor explanations and diagrams to be suitable for understanding from 2 metres.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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