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I usually end with some “thank-you’s” but this time I’ll start with
some.
Thank you Arai and Dainese!!
I’ll tell you why later!
Next on the list is the start! (if that makes sense?) I’d been
looking forward to Rendy again for quite a while. It was to be my
last Championship round of the year, and I was keeping an eye on the
weather, hoping to avoid a repeat of February’s dire conditions.
Couldn’t have been more opposite really could it? IT was the best
I’ve seen it there. If this is a result of global warming, then I’m
all for it!! Let’s go burn some more carbon!!!!!
As ever, Roy’s rider briefing could only be described as “unique”,
and contained the usual mix of humour and warnings of all things
deciduous and coniferous (trees to you and me!) I should have
listened harder, however we were treated to a start-line debate on
Blue tape and penalties. Well to be honest guys, the only ones you
really have to thank are the habitual abusers of the rules, several
of whom were notable by there absence ironically. Please feel free
to discuss this with them when you next see them ignoring the rules
as they weren’t there to enjoy the results of their actions.
This event also saw us repeat the invitation to the British Legion
to attend and collect for their annual Poppy appeal. Those of us
that hold this appeal close to our hearts will be pleased to learn
of the effort made by TBEC members and contributors.
The collection on the day raised £187.86 from riders and spectators,
and a further £40 was received from Smiths Caterers as a donation in
lieu of fees. The club is also making a donation of £72.14 to
round-up the total raised to a splendid £300. Well done to everyone
concerned and a massive “Thanks” from COC Roy Sadd who has asked me
to pass on the information via the race report.
I’d like to congratulate Roy and Jason and all the set-up crew on a
fantastic course. Of course the dry weather spell made the
conditions Ideal, but it was great to see some new sections in the
course, and some quicker bits back in the route. In many ways a lot
of the course felt new, despite it being used a number of times
previously. Nice trick Roy, how did you manage that one? It
certainly gave me a fair bit to think about, I spent most of the
second lap trying to re-calculate my times and penalties as I was
desperate to try and snatch an extra lap, although I couldn’t do it
without incurring penalties, I really thought I could push on and
get the few extra points that could make all the difference in the
championship. I knew I needed to stop after roughly two hours for a
splash and dash fuel stop, and all was going well until a couple of
miles into the third lap.
I’d just passed a couple of riders as we entered a tight woody
section, and as I got on the gas a bit hard in third, (I think) and
the back stepped sideways into another rut. Not usually a problem
but this time was different. The bike literally snapped sideways and
dead-stopped as the front wheel dug into the berm, I went pretty
much straight over the bars and slightly to the left. I hit the tree
full-on with no time at all to take any avoiding action, and took
the full impact on the back of my head and across my shoulders and
back. Just to make sure, my beloved 525 fell onto me and started
leaking petrol over me. I knew straight away that I was in trouble.
The impact had punched all the air out of me and I was struggling
for breath. Even worse was the fact that I couldn’t move my arms at
all and there was a burning sensation right in the middle of my
back. To be honest I scared myself. All I could think about was what
**** had I done to myself and how bad was it going to be? I’m a
qualified first aider and I knew straight away that I was in need of
help
I can say now that the TBEC safety system works a treat Right behind
me were 601 Roy Ridealgh and 497 Andrew Lilley. They both stopped
immediately and then one of them went off to advise the marshals.
The next rider through was also stopped and then sent on for
marshals. I thought that I had damaged my spine so despite being
able to move my toes I knew that I had to keep everything in line to
avoid anything worse happening.
Funny what you think of at times like this. You’ll have to forgive
the graphics of the next bit, but hope you’ll laugh with me or even
AT me! As I lay there I remembered from my judo coaching course
another sign of bad injury. Apparently if you damage you spinal cord
in an accident, us male chaps can have an involuntary action in the
trouser department, which in the black humour of the paramedic mates
of mine is called “Custer’s last stand” as it’s the last one you’ll
ever get, (if you get my drift). I was happy to diagnose that this
phenomenon was not present at this point!! I also remember seeing
mate Gray Yardley pass by, and thinking he was a lot closer behind
me than I thought he would be!
I think it was Roy that stayed with me until help arrived, but the
bash on my head, (Lucky it was my head many have said subsequently!)
meant that not everything was clear for a few days. Roy helped me as
some feeling came back to my arms, and slowly and carefully helped
me get first onto my knees, and then up on my feet as I became more
confident of being able to move safely. Someone moved my bike back a
few yards to a clearing where I was able to kneel down next to it
and rest. It may have looked like I was praying, I probably should
have been as I now realise exactly how bloody lucky I had been.
Two travelling marshals arrived as well as a couple of lads that had
been spectating and had come down to help.
I’d already realised that it was going to be difficult to get out of
this section any other way than on foot or by riding my bike, so the
two marshals escorted me as I rode out, (Very carefully and Very
painfully) to a nearby access road where we were able to short cut
back to the paddock to see the Medics.
By the time I got to the ambulance there was a small queue building
up, mostly to do with injuries involving trees! I believe that there
were about seven or so incidents on the day that need seeing to by
the medics.
The Medics were great, giving me a thorough check over and
administering some ice packs to reduce the swelling. They confirmed
that they did not suspect any bone or spine damage and after 40
minutes were happy to let me get on with getting home and packing
up, the prognosis being muscular damage and possible bruised lung,
which turned out to be spot-on actually as that’s exactly what the
hospital diagnosed the following day when I went to get it all
checked out. The hospital also queried a broken rib but that turned
out to be ok.
Many many thanks to all those who helped, particularly Roy and
Andrew and the Medics, and to the other guys, who I’m sorry but I
didn’t get your names at the time.
Of course all the jokes kicked in, especially when all my so-called
friends found out that it hurt when I laughed!
In a nice variation on a theme I have been christened, not a tree
hugger but a tree MUGGER!, and the guys at work have had a field
day. I have already had an e-mail from our legal department saying
that they had received a claim from a Mr Douglas Fir, of Rendlesham
Forest, Suffolk, claiming compensation for injuries received after
being assaulted by me, and an invoice from the Suffolk air ambulance
for fuel costs towards a Chinook helicopter as it was the only thing
big enough to get me out of there. Thanks a bunch guys!!
On the other side of the coin I’ve had loads of phone calls and
messages of good will from a lot of the guys at TBEC, and a visit
from Ray Carver who took great delight in blasting my back with the
ice-spray I’ve been using to keep the swelling down. Two weeks later
the numbness is now diminishing, but the problem with that I can now
feel how bloody uncomfortable it all is, and I’m still on the pain
killers and ice-packs and ice-sprays. I know I’m lucky that that is
the extent of the damage so I’m certainly not going to sit and
complain about it. I think someone up there must have been smiling
on me! I’ve managed to forget a few things like conversations with
people, and where I parked the car when I went to the hospital, but
that’s about all from the bash on the head.
So back to the beginning then. Thank you Arai and Dainese, for the
fact that I can sit here and write this! The only visible marks to
my gear are a slight scuff on my Arai that wouldn’t even fail
scruitineering, and there’s not a single mark to the back protector
on my Dainese safety Jacket. My Scott hydration pack took a good
wallop too, but with no visible signs of damage. What better
recommendation can you get for buying good quality gear? The Dirt
Bike Show at Stoneleigh is coming up in a couple of weeks and
there’s bound to be many bargains for sale. Just remember, how much
of a bargain is it really ??? If it’s really cheap, it’s cheap for a
reason!! I know what I’ll be buying when it comes time to replace my
stuff!
In terms of the championship, then I won’t have achieved what I
wanted to this year as that’s two DNF’s on the trot now. I’ve never
fancied the Chatteris event before, but the problem with leaving the
marshalling to the last round is that I can’t drop one of the low
scores and get more points at Chatteris. Pity really, but that’s not
the only one. If you look at the championship tables, you will see a
disappointingly low number of qualifiers. OK there’s bound to be a
lot of people marshalling at Chatteris, including me, but when you
realise that we have over 500 active members racing regularly,
there’s only going to be about 20% of those racing in the
championship events. Is that why we only see the same old faces
always setting up and course clearing at the end of the event??
Anyway, glad to say that I’ll see you all at Chatteris, and it’ll be
great to see you all.
Please just don’t slap me on the back when you say hi! However
pleased you are to see me!
Take care
Dan #15
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