Thrashing at Oulton Park
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 10:35 am
Been at Oulton for the last two days spanking the J with 130 members of my local club OMCC.
Extraordinary place which initially seemed like ten separate circuits having an argument with each other. Second day, the penny really dropped and they all were connected after all
Thrilling , exciting and more than a little scary would be an understatement.
Morning briefing on the first day and they told us that on average they have a medivac extraction every 'one and a half' track days
We were there for two days so you can see that nerves played a part. I dont think we had anyone airlifted or seriously hurt but there were all the usual tumbles and expensive breakages.
Brilliant atmosphere that you dont get from random trackdays with commercial suppliers' because essentially everyone knows each other.
Several failed the noise test, several had electronic problems, a few with other issues but everyone pitched in to sort it all out. Again not even remotely like a commercial trackday where everyone looks the other way.
Only minor problem i had was i killed the van battery when i went to leave:??
Did the full circuit with the steeply banked hairpin (that is some corner), had professional BBQ on one evening, full professional marshalling / tyre services and all the bits and pieces and all subsidised by club funds.
Brilliant club, brilliant organisation, superb environment to enjoy yourself in.
Clay hill, deer leap and the corner at the end of the start finish straight have to be seen to be believed. Serious butt clenching stuff.
The club as a whole have a zero tolerance for people messing about so you know you are as safe as you can reasonably be.
They constantly monitor everything going on and readily move people between groups by request or by assessment which ensures no one is 'out of step' with the group.
Thought i took a load of video, turns out it was a load of stills!
Was the only aircooled bike (actually as usual one of perhaps three / four bikes over about ten years old) in Novice / Inters, and as usual no one batted an eyelid.
Sheltering in the van between sessions. Sun / UV was relentless and i got proper frazzled.
Might be a few pics from the facebookers when they get uploaded!
AL
Extraordinary place which initially seemed like ten separate circuits having an argument with each other. Second day, the penny really dropped and they all were connected after all
Thrilling , exciting and more than a little scary would be an understatement.
Morning briefing on the first day and they told us that on average they have a medivac extraction every 'one and a half' track days
We were there for two days so you can see that nerves played a part. I dont think we had anyone airlifted or seriously hurt but there were all the usual tumbles and expensive breakages.
Brilliant atmosphere that you dont get from random trackdays with commercial suppliers' because essentially everyone knows each other.
Several failed the noise test, several had electronic problems, a few with other issues but everyone pitched in to sort it all out. Again not even remotely like a commercial trackday where everyone looks the other way.
Only minor problem i had was i killed the van battery when i went to leave:??
Did the full circuit with the steeply banked hairpin (that is some corner), had professional BBQ on one evening, full professional marshalling / tyre services and all the bits and pieces and all subsidised by club funds.
Brilliant club, brilliant organisation, superb environment to enjoy yourself in.
Clay hill, deer leap and the corner at the end of the start finish straight have to be seen to be believed. Serious butt clenching stuff.
The club as a whole have a zero tolerance for people messing about so you know you are as safe as you can reasonably be.
They constantly monitor everything going on and readily move people between groups by request or by assessment which ensures no one is 'out of step' with the group.
Thought i took a load of video, turns out it was a load of stills!
Was the only aircooled bike (actually as usual one of perhaps three / four bikes over about ten years old) in Novice / Inters, and as usual no one batted an eyelid.
Sheltering in the van between sessions. Sun / UV was relentless and i got proper frazzled.
Might be a few pics from the facebookers when they get uploaded!
AL
