A Racing Weekend at Brands Hatch

British Motor Cycle Racing Club, Brands Hatch, 5/6 October 2013

At last, after an abstinence of some sixteen months I finally managed to get to a race meeting! It was not for want of trying either here in France or to the UK but things just kept conspiring against me. Even on the morning of my departure for England there was another unexpected obstacle when I got into our car to discover that the battery was completely dead. Thankfully a phone-call to a nearby friend resolved the problem with a new item, well, the dead unit was eight years old so it had lasted remarkably well.

The flight from Bergerac to Stansted with RyanAir was smooth and uneventful apart from the actual landing, the pilot must have been an Olympic competitor in the hop, skip and jump. My progress through the long arrivals passageways and UK Immigration was speeded with the very pleasant and helpful personal assistance facility. Having registered at the Hertz Rental desk with a very charming and helpful receptionist my assistant took me to the Hertz car park where I was given a brand new Ford Focus. That particular marque of car has never been a personal favourite but this had just fourteen miles on the clock, looked good, felt good, comfortable and drove well, guess that I was impressed. My only question is why does any car radio need twenty seven (yes, 27) to operate the thing. Confused? You bet ...

The idea of the Dartford Crossing at around 1900 hrs on a Friday evening did not appeal to me but, to my surprise traffic was very light, only three vehicles in front of me at the chosen barrier. Next stop was the M20 service area at Maidstone and home for the next few nights at the Days Inn Hotel, had stayed there previously, not expensive, comfortable, pleasant staff and surprisingly quiet despite the HGV lorry park on one side and the services car park the other.

Friday morning, a little light shopping was needed at Boots, thanks to ridiculous and draconian airport security jobsworths, then on to Sainsburys for some essential victuals. Next was one of my favourite treats when in England that is virtually unobtainable in France - real fish and chips. There is a superb fish and chippery in Lenham village just off the A20 with an excellent, comprehensive menu and very reasonable prices, highly recommended should you be near there at opening times. My choice was large haddock and chips, there is only one way to enjoy such a feast and that is from the paper which I did seated at a picnic table outside.

My next port of call was Lydden Hill circuit, a place which has a very special place in my heart, raced at the first ever bike meeting there and spent many happy weekends amongst great friends over the years as well as inevitably some sad times. Lydden is so special that It is my true spiritual home as some people know, whenever in the UK I always try to spend some time there. As a courtesy I dropped into the circuit office to ask if I might stay a while despite nothing happening that afternoon. I was made most welcome, offered a hot drink and explained my interest and invited to stay as long as I wished. The staff also made it very clear that they would love to have motorcycle racing back there in 2014.

Passed a very contented and contemplative couple of hours there and left feeling very much at peace with the world. Those who know and understand me will need no explanation ...

Saturday morning, snatched a quick bacon roll at McDonalds, must admit total surprise that they now do such things, a quick espresso at Costa's, twenty minutes later arrived at the Paddock Gate at Brands. To my surprise the first person I saw was Eve English (Mum E) and Poppy Dog, a quick welcome kiss and a brief natter during which the man on the gate walked up and said 'Bob Bird?'. 'Yes' I said and he handed me an envelope with my name on it. Mike Dommett, aka MDMD, had very kindly left passes for me to gain paddock access so that I did not have to walk excessively during the day.

The paddock was heaving, the fullest that I have ever seen for a club meeting, apparently there was a total entry of some four hundred competitors, not bad for 'just' a club meeting! Did a couple of laps in the car of the paddock trying to find somewhere to park with little success but suddenly spotted a vacant car sized space nest to an F2 team. I asked if I could park there and was made welcome to find that the team was Ian Conn and Julian Cole, Ian I knew of old from when he passengered Monkey Boy in his first ever race. Superb place to park as it was virtually outside Hailwood's Bar, excellent trackside access and more importantly to the toilets!

Just as I'd parked another car drove in next to me, looked quite full, then out tumbled some of the English clan, Eve, Ian, Michelle, Scott , Holly and Oscar who were soon joined by Eve's partner Tony. We all promptly adjourned to Hailwood's Bar for coffee, a good natter and to catch up with each other. Shortly we went to watch sidecar practice, very busy with a full grid. Over the recent few years I have not seen much modern racing and was surprised at just how fast contemporary machinery is, the sight of outfits hurtling down Paddock Hill never ceases to amaze me at their sheer speed and road holding as well as the seeming bravery of their crews. All too soon that session was over and the real racing began.

Quite a lot has changed in the individual race classes since my last Bemsee meeting a few years ago with the introduction of new ones. The first race of the day was the Thunderbike UK & Thunderbike Extreme event with a full grid of thirty eight machines which began with a thunderous roar as the lights went out. Suddenly Paddock Bend and Hill was completely full of a close packed bunch of very quick machinery all fighting for the same line and inch of tarmac, it seemed impossible yet true that there was not one incident there at the first lap. The race was very closely fought and one of the best that I have had the pleasure and excitement of seeing for many a long year!

There is no intention of boring you, dear reader, with a blow by blow account of each race. The race I was eagerly anticipating was the first sidecar event with a huge grid of twenty seven starters, it could have been more perhaps with the addition of one more but the 2013 Bemsee F1 champions Tony Brown and his stand-in for the injured Ryan Anderson were on BSB Eastern Airways duty at Silverstone. Lights out, away they went and the entire width of Paddock was covered with a very tight pack of screaming outfits, surely one of the most spectacular in any motorsport.

There were many close and personal scraps happening all the way down the field when around half distance coming down Paddock Alison Lawrence and Ginny Bourne got it all horribly sideways bike first before the inevitable chair equivalent of a highside had them upside down in the middle of the track. Ginny tried to scarmble to the safety of the grass but was cannon-balled by Rob Biggs who was probably unsighted until the last moment spinning his bike and hitting the unlucky Ginny with the rear of the outfit before roofing it. Great attempt Rob but not to be. In the meantime a forest of hands shot into the air and almost everyone stopped before reaching the two upside down bikes. A minor casualty was Marianne Walford and Claire Duplock who ended up in the gravel as a result, thankfully without apparent harm nor damage.

The marshals, medics and support crews appeared almost instantly, at one point there were some twenty seven marshals alone dealing with the incident! It is only right to praise the work of all of these volunteers as being of the highest possible standard anywhere in the world without whom there would be no racing, huge respect and praise to every single one. Casualties were taken to the excellent circuit medical centre for assessment and treatment with only Ginny being hospitalised. Thankfully nothing major apart from much discomfort due to multiple cracked ribs she was discharged home on Monday.

Time for a mooch around the paddock again to introduce myself to people who had asked me to drop in. Several stops and cups of tea later I returned trackside to watch some solo practice, realising all too soon that I could no longer stand for long periods at a time. Mum E disappeared returning with a comfortable chair for me that the bar staff had generously allowed her to borrow for the duration. Who said that kindness is dead?

Returned to the paddock to share a magnificent picnic lunch generously provided by Mum E, complete with Oscar adopting a self-service approach to my packet of crisps! After lunch farewells were said to some of the English contingent as they departed for Silverstone to watch the Eastern Airways sidecar race.

Next was a slow postprandial stroll around the paddock to meet more of the sidecar brigade along with more generous offers of liquid refreshment before returning to my own personal and individual grandstand at trackside.

A superb afternoon's racing followed with the second sidecar race being as fiercely contested as ever. Shan't bore you with results as they may be found elsewhere! All too soon the afternoon was over, time to meet some more lovely folk in the paddock before returning to my hotel for a short while.

Had a quick coffee there followed by a short welcome snooze before meeting Team Triplebrew and friends for a curry evening in one of the best Indian restaurants that I have ever been to which is not far away in Maidstone for a very enjoyable evening. Eventually climbed into bed around midnight, sleeping solidly for eight hours – bliss!

Sunday morning, awoke to to blue skies and sunshine, what a welcome sight. A quick bacon roll and coffee followed by the drive to Brands, a really beautiful morning to be out and about! Parked next to Julian and Ian who were in the throes of packing up as their weekend was over due to a holed, unrepairable radiator the previous day. Continuuing my stroll around the paddock I had a chat with Phil 'Slow' Jones who for some odd reason wished to interview me later that day for his Sidecar Show radio programme …

Met up with Ian & Grant Tapsell and the lovely Laura and headed off trackside for the morning's action. Needless to say that the sidecar race was the best of the morning session but despite heroic efforts by many people to get Alison onto the start line it was not to be. An excellent morning's racing ensued before a return to the paddock for lunch and much welcomed bacon rolls as well as nattering with more folk and the odd experience of being interviewed in Phil's car.

Back out to the circuit again to watch some more fun on two wheels. Years back one of the nuttiest classes around was the 250/350cc production classes dominated by the Yamaha RD LCs, the riders of which had to be complete lunatics judging by the way they hurled themselves around the circuit, at each other and occasionally the scenery. It was said that particularly at the early part of the season when faced with a sea of novice jackets LC mounted the marshals quaked with fear and went to hide somewhere! The contemporary version of this seems to be the 600cc Supersport class, not only in Bemsee but any meeting whether novice or experienced riders, they all are absolutely barking but great fun to watch.

Then came the final sidecar race, as full of action, excitement and individual battles as were the previous three of the weekend, congratulations to every single team and their helpers and supporters for a wonderful weekend's racing, long may you all continue in the same way. Commiserations to Alison and Ginny, sure that we will see you both out again next season with even more determination.

Time to say farewell to the Triplebrew lads and head back to Maidstone. Driving towards the Paddock exit I suddenly noticed a black and white Breton flag fluttering in the breeze. My curiosity aroused meant that investigation was needed. Underneath the flag there was a sidecar team packing up for the homeward journey when I spotted a great French friend Fanch (François Beauchamps) busily helping the team of Didier and Helene Siro. I leapt out of the car, or what sadly passes for leaping these dyas, as he came towards me with a big smile greeting me with a huge bear hug. Sadly we did not have much time to talk as they were under pressure for time to catch their ferry back to la belle France. Must get to at least one French meeting next year to spend a weekend together along with Estelle leBlond and her papa Fanch.

So my weekend was virtually over apart from the tedium of the return journey and flight the following day. For me it was one of the most enjoyable weekends for many a year in the company of wonderful people, fantastic racing and camaraderie.

I know that I have mentioned few individuals during my ramblings but I must thank particularly MDMD for his kindness and generosity towards me without whom this weekend might not have been possible. I would also like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that I met and showed great kindness and hospitality, not in any particular order you understand: Matt MacLaurin & Adrian Hope; Paul Lumley and the delightful Anne Garnish; Sam Ryder; Julian Cole & Ian Conn; Martin Kirk; Alison Lawrence & Ginny Bourne; Lenny Boarer & Phil 'Slow' Jones, Françcois Beauchamps and his lovely wife, John 'Chick' Marsh and several other Steve's Forum members that I had not previously met face to face. Not forgetting the kind member of staff at Hailwood's Bar who kindly lent a chair for the weekend and of course all from Team Triplebrew and some of my longest standing friends from the English clan.

Please accept my sincerest apologies if there is anyone that I have neglected to mention but the weekend passed by in an absolute whirl!

Thank you everyone for a truly memorable welcome and weekend and hope to do it again in 2014.

Bob Bird – aka Bob Bee


The sidecar family - you may stop racing but you can never leave ...