Benington Event Report - September 2005
Well it’s that time of year again. It’s September, the sun is shining, and there’s a full grid of nutters waiting to get baked and blasted by one of the most popular tracks on the TBEC tour!
We all know what awaits us at Benington, so the biggest challenge facing the course designers is how to keep us on our toes with something new?
I have to say that personally I wasn’t expecting the test to start before we’d even got into the venue. The organisers had set a cunning special test by closing the usual entrance to the site, which left many people scratching their heads as the main entrance was sought. Many new friends were made as we passed, and then re-passed other bike hauling trailers and vans around the local lanes.
The winner of the “where the **** is it”? Trophy was actually won in spectacular fashion by the paramedic team. Despite trying to spoil the fun by using their on-board GPS system, they were actually heading for Benington in NORFOLK! before discovering the error of their ways!
One marshal who shall remain nameless, (OK it was Andy Cossey), resorted to turning his new golf into a full off-roader to get to the paddock. Risky really as he was only marshalling because he was getting married the following Saturday, and his fiancée had warned him, “If you get hurt, don’t bother getting better”. Those of us who know Andy’s fiancée knew she wasn’t joking!
Never mind, the ensuing delay gave us all the opportunity to reach…erm..full racing temperature, in the paddock before the resultant delayed start!
Our little meeting was blessed with the presence of the TBM crew, which was nice!
Apparently we had featured in this fine magazine before but sadly not in the brightest of lights. I look forward to seeing how we fared on this occasion. Certainly it was nice to have the crew along, and Si, Mel and James made an interesting addition to the day, if not necessarily for the same reasons! I believe that they were on a bike test, but that certainly didn’t appear to affect the pace set by Si and James as they were to finish near the top of the results sheets. A few riders have also commented on Mel slowing them up, not that she was going slow, it's just that the view from behind was worth holding back!
This year’s race certainly threw up a couple of surprises, literally on at least one occasion.
Whilst it is quite normal to expect a hail of stones and debris as you are over taken here, I was quite surprised to see a rusty horseshoe flying up at me from the rear tyre of the bike in front!! What's supposed to be lucky about those then????? I guess the fact that it missed me as it boomeranged to my left could be considered fairly fortunate!!
As usual the pace was red hot at Benington. It was lovely to actually be able to give my old 525 some real throttle action for a change, not something that I’m able to do often at Butts Quarry and the like. A couple of times I sneaked a look at the speedo to see the speed in the seventies. Unfortunately on one occasion it took a little too long to focus and I had to really throw the anchors out to get it stopped before the trees!
Another surprise was to see a couple of helmet less paddock bike riders Criss-crossing the track and whizzing around. Where the hell did they come from?? Seriously guys, if these lads were with your crew, ‘ave a word! You know there is a no win, no fee solicitor under every stone. Can you imagine the repercussions if there had been a collision? I have heard since that they were from the local “caravan park”
The quarry’s did their usual best to separate man (and ladies) from machinery. Indeed I see that Ian Clarke, (272) has managed to get himself featured on the home page. Nice leg work Ian! He went on to manage 9 laps despite watering eyes.
Much midnight oil had been burned by Lee Harding, (185) prior to the race, rebuilding his Kawasaki’s engine. Sadly lap 5 saw the engine eat itself again, but Lee has promised that all will be well in time for Whaddon.
Despite the speed of the course and the addition of the other hazards, the only reported injury on the day was to Liz Squires, who sprained her ankle stopping traffic on the byway crossing. I say “reported injury” because another marshal, (yup it’s Mr Cossey again!) DID manage to get himself bitten by a bike whilst marshalling in the small quarry. The damage was only minor and the wedding went ahead anyway!
The footpath was also patrolled by TBEC’s newest fan, Chubby the blue tape policeman. Chubby cut his teeth at the Newfields Farm event and is now dead keen to help out wherever possible. Sadly his limited tyre options prevent him from getting a lap in on his own wheels, but we are looking for a big trail bike or quad and a willing volunteer to give him a lap of a suitable course. Any serious offers to the committee please. Liz and Chubby were ably assisted by Sonia Roberts in facing the wrath of the footpath users during the event.
Ray and Ali Carver were kept busy too. Ray was in constant demand to replace tape to keep riders heading in the right direction (well that was his excuse for only doing 7 laps), and Ali was press-ganged into action, yellow vest and all, on the road crossing in the afternoon as the early casualties headed home for an early bath.
I’m not going to list the winners of each class as you can all read them for yourselves, but a couple of mentions are needed.
John Wraight 545, and Mike Larkin 465, for hauling their classic dirt irons around as fast over 12 laps as much more modern machinery.
Chris Liddington 384 for pushing on to do 11 laps despite being as ill as I’ve seen the short fella in a long time, and all the regular fast boys and girls who frankly amaze me with their speed.
Special thank you’s to Annie Ward for excellent photos yet again, and to Jill Childs who’s futuristic burger van is a work of art. Pity it didn’t contain enough bacon, they could’ve retired to Spain on the takings!
And a final Thanks to all those that contributed the anecdotes and information for this article. It’s hard to race AND gather all the information to write the report, so if you have anything to add to future race reports, please use the link below to pass on any funny or interesting stuff. Scribbled pencil notes on muddy paper stuffed into my helmet stand little chance of accurate interpretation days after the race.
See you all soon
Big Danny B.