THE LAST HURRAH
The Last Hurrah of 2013
How quickly does the trackday season go?? Terry Dunn tells of a day out at the end of the season on a trackday with a difference…
By Terry “The Poisoner” Dunn
I
had the thought of getting one last trackday in before the onset of the winter weather so hunted around and found a midweek one at Silverstone on the 4th of October. I also thought this one might be a bit interesting as the normal regime of novice, intermediate and fast had been changed to novice, intermediate and a ladies only session. This was the brainchild of Maria Costello MBE, she of the female lap record of the TT. With no fast group available, myself and good friend Ray (A North Gloucester Club racer on a CBR600RR) booked into the intermediates. Then, less than a week before the event, Jo Ilkin the Silverstone events organizer phoned and said that the novice and intermediates were being grouped together as the third session had been bought up by the BBC who were there to film with no less a hero than world champion hopeful Scott Redding! Jo was very apologetic
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and said that if riding with novices was unacceptable, we could reschedule at no extra cost. Actually, we thought it might be fun and if nothing else we could at least practice our overtakes! The day duly arrived. The Met office promised heavy rain and high winds. As usual they were spot on and it was a warm, dry morning. Sign on also supplied everyone with a free £10 voucher for lunch in the second floor café of the new ‘wing’ building. Sorry, did I forget to mention we were in the spanking new pit complex? Fresh and shiny new garages with clean floors, attached toilets, excellent lighting and plenty of power sockets for the tyre warmers. Free bangers and mash and a bottle of pop at lunch and all for £129. Bargain! In due course Scott Redding thundered around the International circuit on his sessions and was interviewed by
December-January 2014 • South East Biker Magazine