Saturday 25th of July 2009 - South Reading Hair & Hounds 3 hour race at Ashdown Farm

After getting my butt kicked at the red Kite Enduro in Wales my spirits were really low, I’d never willingly pulled out of an event before. Hell in 2007 I completed a H&H with ribs that I broke on the second lap, and after the race I had to ask friends to load the bike on the trailer as I was in too much pain, but I finished. My depression wasn’t helped by the fact that the RSI that flares up now and again in my right arm had come back. I spent the whole week rubbing in ibuprofen gel, alternated by my own mix of aromatherapy oils hoping it would be ok for the weekend. The rain that kept on falling during the week leading up race day didn’t help much and I started to hope that I wouldn’t get an entry, so I could sulk off somewhere and do nothing. But life had other plans and I got a cheerful reply from South Reading MCC chairman that yes I did indeed have an entry - bollocks!

I hadn’t even cleaned the bike yet, so on Thursday I gave it a quick clean with the jetwash and eye’ed up the trendy ‘rust coloured’ chain that’s all the rage round our way at the moment! I told myself that I’d fit the new one tomorrow (Fri) but deep down I knew that one was a lie, as the other half’s folks were staying for the weekend and sure enough they were already at the house when I got back from work. Not sure if it was the home made spagbog, ginger beer or the packet of M&M’s I ate, but I was up and down half the night peeing like a girl!

Saturday morning came and the forecast had got it right for a change. The sun was out and the few clouds around didn’t look like they were going to drop any rain anytime soon. Feeling a lot better now (but slightly dehydrated) I set off for the track over at Ashdown Farm which just boarders the Downs. It’s a great bit of land and I really enjoyed the last race back in March 09. In that race I didn’t take it too seriously as I was getting passed by quite a few riders. When I stopped in the pits to refuel I took the time to replace the film in the camcorder that I was using to film via the helmet cam. It turned out that I got a half decent result in Clubman B so berated myself for not trying harder. This time I decided to not use the helmet cam as I like to dump it after a while, and seeing as I had no one in the pits with me, that wasn’t an option. So I had to either not use it, or wear it the whole race. It took it with me but it stayed in the boot of the car.

Ben checking out the track on his marshaling duties

Photos kindly supplied by Antoinette Ross

The road up to the venue as pretty water logged and in even worst condition than last time (if that is possible), I’m sure a little hardcore tipped into the holes could be arranged before the next meeting? Luckily I managed to avoid bottoming the car out as it sits quite high, however the trailer was another matter and received several hard knocks. Parking up in a gap in the top parking area I wondered over to the signing on queue, calling out hellos or acknowledging other peoples greetings on the way, the TBM forum clan was in full attendance.

Standing behind a fellow rider we chatted about the venue and as usual at these sorts of things he asked if I’d ridden here before. I confirmed that I’d done the event in March and that it was a good track but also that it was a tough day due to the bumps. He said that ‘some guy’ had posted race footage of a lap on youtube and that he’d been watching it to learn the track! I held up my hand in a shallow little wave and nodded as he was telling me this. “oh – are redbikejohn?” he asked “yes mate that’s me”. Like my mate Tony says - not famous but infamous! Pity they changed the rotation of the track around so all that watching couldn’t have helped much!

I chatted with Gavin, Rob and Facom for awhile and the later and I exchanged medical stories of our type 3 AC separations. Unfortunately while I have been able to get back on a bike Facom had to endure an operation to piece together his torn muscles and is still in a sling. He showed me the x-ray on his phone with the long pins holding his shoulder in place. Gavin asked about my collarbone and I told him it was ok now and wiggled it up and down for him in my new party trick – he quickly looked away! Ben a ridding buddy and also from the TBM forum was doing a spot of marshalling and we chatted about the condition of the track as well. Being on my own was a bit of a pain having to lug all the gear up to the pits so I think I’m going to invest in one of those little trolleys to make it easier.

A great picture of me climbing up the hill (described later in the text)

Photos kindly supplied by Antoinette Ross

Signing on and scrutineering was a painless affair and pretty soon we were all ready for the off. Doing things slightly different at the South Reading Club they don’t send you out in number order, you just push up to the start point, and clock out in small organised groups. The first time I experienced this I thought it was a bit haphazard, but since then I think it’s a great idea. You can ride with your mates (or not) and the level of talent of the starters is more or less evenly spread out so you don’t end up pushing like mad if all the top guys start together (unless you want too).

Back in March I hadn’t know what to expect and the rough condition of the going had really caught me out. While the terrain isn’t difficult to negotiate, the bumps certainly take it out of you, and by the end of the day, you feel like a rambler that has been attacked by a heard of ‘wild cows’. The only part of the track that is free of these bumps is the MX track in the valley but here you have the huge G forces to deal with when you slam through the bottom of the valley.

Like I mentioned earlier, the track was set up in the opposite direction to the last meeting I did back in March. We set off across the Fair Mile byway and headed off down the (bumpy) track into the first section of woodland. From what I could gather the layout was almost exactly the same as before. I’d started fairly near the front of the group, so for a long while I seemed to be riding on my own. Two groups of very quick guys came past and the odd loan rider but for the first few laps I was on my own. I tried to settle down into some sort of easy but fast rhythm but as usual that is easier said than done for the first few laps and I once again got the ‘numb hands’ syndrome from holding on too tight.

Lap One Pt 1
Supplied by Lee Bartram (no:69 winner of Clubman B)

Once though the first set of woods the track once again followed the same route across the field and up the hill. A first timer might think these are a nice place to rest but believe me you have to hang on for dear life as the going is still incredibly bumpy. The step up jumps were fun and I was glad I’d adjusted my sag slightly the day before as the bike wasn’t bottoming out. However I was taking it easy on the jumps as I’m still a little shell-shocked from over jumping a section of the MX track at Canada heights and head butting the front mudguard when I landed!

Lee in the tree covered mx section of the track

Gavin at the top of the hill. you can see the mx valley in the background

Photos kindly supplied by Antoinette Ross

Going down the narrow track on the other side of the hill is the place where I binned it on the first lap back in March (see youtube) and from here we crossed the open going once more before climbing up an even bumpier hill. At the top we did a little loop through some crops before crossing the Fair Mile again and entering the main woodland area. Again we followed the same course once more and once we were clear of the farmyard we hit the MX track for the first time. Shooting up the hill on the track was great fun and I enjoyed using the berms but once again chickened out slightly on the one jump. From the jump we took a nicely bermed left hand bend that shot us down into the valley forcing your legs to buckle when you hit the up slope if they were not locked out. Flying up the other side into another berm the track headed back down to the right. Having gained loads of speed the track organisers threw in a curve ball by turning the track off to the left at the bottom of the hill so you had to really get on the brakes hard to make the turn. This was followed by an off camber bend to the right that could catch you out before heading up the hill once more. Accelerating up the hill from a slow speed bend was a sure fire way of pulling some big wheelies and I loved it!

At the top was another opportunity to jump but again I turned chicken most of the time and eased off. The landing spot was on a flat and this bit remained very slippery. A short squirt of the gas and we turned off to the left and once again flick flacked through the trees. There was one section somewhere that felt like my bike had triangular wheels, let alone square ones! It wasn’t long and we rejoined the MX track that ran through the woods. This bit was still very wet but I never felt like it was a problem (not after Wales) and to be honest I preferred it like that to last time when the surface was rock hard and you could see black lines on the dirt from the mx tyres. After a few laps I noticed Scott-rider on this section of track and he saw me as well. He had the kids with him and the next time round he gave me a good cheer on – he’s always so enthusiastic, I’m sure I could win the race if there were more people like that cheering me on around the course! I noticed Ben a few times, at the fair mile crossing and near the farm and also spotted Ann (another TBM forum member) taking all the photos used in this report.

Lap One Pt 2
Supplied by Lee Bartram (no:69 winner of Clubman B)

Somewhere along the way I caught up to a slower rider and he eased over to let me by. I think he’d slowed down a bit unintentionally as now he was sitting right behind me. Of course this meant I had to speed up to get away but fatigue was taking hold and I got a little ragged from time to time but eventually pulled away much to my relief, as I couldn’t keep that up for the rest of the race – yes, it’s a man thing.
I did have one tumble when I caught up to a slower rider at the loop just before the second fair mile crossing. I think he tried to make room for me but went to the right where I was going. He got into the soft stuff, had a wobble that distracted me and my front end washed out in the very same soft heaped up dirt. I jumped up and grabbed the bike and nailed it up to the woods but had to stop at a tree to straighten the front end as the forks/bars had twisted in the yokes.

After one hour forty odd minutes I pulled in for a fuel stop and topped up the tank, camelpack as well as downing a milkshake. No messing about now this time. As I was doing the top of the camelpack up a young rider asked, “Are you redbikejohn?” Ah - today the South East – tomorrow, the world!

The afternoon session went smoother and by now there were more and more slower riders to overtake. Almost all made room when they could and I myself continually kept an ear open for faster riders coming through. Getting near the end of the afternoon I passed a rider that had stalled his bike on some tree roots. There was something familiar about the bike/helmet set up but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I’d forgot to ask what the other guys race numbers were. Coming into the last MX part of the track this same rider came past, and the penny dropped, it was Rob. Ok race on, I sat on his back wheel for what was left of the lap and when we clocked in he turn to say hello. Oh yes the race was on all right!

Rob in the tree covered mx section of the track

and me as well on the same corner

Photos kindly supplied by Antoinette Ross

I sat on his tail as we hammered across the bumpy going, I’m sure both of us ridding faster than we had now that we had some healthy competition. We weaved back and forth through the trees and several times I made a few mistakes but managed to pull back the gap each time. After a bit I cocked up big style and went rambling through the trees for a bit, tensed up for an impact that never came. Pissed off now I concentrated hard on staying smooth and Rob got held up behind a slower rider. We both got by and once again the race was on. Going down the hill shortly before the open going the track splits into two. Several times I used this spot to allow fast riders past. Rob went to the right and I hit the gas hard and took the left. We arrived at the meeting point together out of the corner of my eye I saw his front end dip as he touched the breaks. I kept the power on and took the lead!

Shit, now I had to keep it nailed as I had Rob breathing down my neck. The track split up into two distinct tracks again at the bottom of the hill and I fully expected Rob to come past in the right hand lane. However this bit is very rough so I made it to the next up hill bit in the lead and kept it upright until I got to the open going. I hit the gas hard but had to easy off slightly as I slower rider was on the best line through the rough stuff at the bottom. Once past I gave it my all and held on for dear life as the 450 bounced over the field and hit the small ramp. I kept it open as I hit the next (bigger) ramp and the bike took off rather frighteningly with arms and legs everywhere and I just kept it all together. Down the other side and once again I road as fast as I could. Across the fields into the trees and suddenly I couldn’t hear the ring ding ding of Rob’s two stroke anymore. I relaxed slightly but kept up a good pace not wanting to get caught out by a hard charging Rob. Looking down at my bikes clock I realised that this was the last lap and all I had to do was keep it going for a short while. Knowing it was the last lap my energy suddenly seemed all gone and just as suddenly my left shoulder muscle started burning like mad from the last lap exertion. I relaxed for a bit then but kept my ears open just in case that pesky 2T was creeping up on me!

After the race I went over to Rob and Gavin and we swapped stories of the race and we had a good laugh about our last lap shenanigans. Apparently Rob had a spill trying to overtake a slower rider and dropped the bike. I walked around catching up with everyone and then sat down on a straw bale to munch on a cheese roll and cold coke.

The results came out pretty fast and for all that effort (and subsequent finger pointing and laughing) Rob still beat me! In fact I road harder and better this time to finish lower down the ranks. How does that work? Well check out the size of clubman A and you’ll see that the trophy hunters have all moved down to clubman B to score a win. In fact if I had been in the A class I’d have finished higher up the ladder, work that one out. Well done to all the TBM Forum crew. Gavin for second in clubman A while Lee got a great result by winning the B class (his first win ever so not ‘pot hunting’).

All in all a great days racing so well done to the South Reading MCC for laying on another cracking day. The only downside was coming back to my car to find the bike on its side, the side stand had dug into the mud and toppled over. Petrol had been leaking out for a while and there were loads of guys around but not one had thought about picking it up while I was away?! Special thanks to Antoinette Ross for supplying the photos and also to Lee Barthram for the Helmet cam footage.

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