Howard is mightily relieved to be at The New Hampshire Speedway, and so are we. David googled 'New England Motorsports' a few weeks ago and was delighted to find that there was a round of the Loudon Road Race Series being held here when we would be, as he told Vicky, 'just up the road'. Well, it's about 80 miles up the road actually. But who's counting? We set out nice and early but the roads are already full of Bank Holiday traffic. Luckily, most is heading north for the mountains. Car and 'bikes. Well, Harleys. You can spot 'em a mile off. No helmets, big tashes, goatee beards, big bellies - and that's just the wimmin' (these are the jokes, folks). We are heading south-west-ish down the Route 16, the 25, the 3, then the 11A, and finally, the 106. Plenty of chances to go wrong then. There's a number of tricky junctions, but we only miss one turning. The signage is almost non-existent in places. It's enough to make us ponder whether we should turn back, but we press on and arrive at the circuit at about 11:30am. Even spectators have to sign on. Very strange. Mind you, we are a select few. NASCAR is the big sport here and the 'bike races only attract the competing riders and their friends. You can count the number of 'fans' who have ridden here on their sports 'bikes on the fingers of four hands. It'll be sold out for the Stock Car race later this month though, you'll see.
This is Phil Turkington. We got talking to him when David spotted the engine in his 125 Honda and asked him what it was. He explained that it was an 80cc engine from a MX 'bike. Ah, of course, says David. So what class are you racing it in today? I'm not, says Phil. I'm racing it at the Vintage/Classic 'bike meeting here tomorrow. What! Cries David in dismay. There was no mention of that on the website! We'd have come tomorrow if we'd known. David feels betrayed by the internet (he often does) whilst Phil hands him loads of info on the Classic 'bike racing scene in the States. Oh well, modern 'bike stuff it is then. Still, mustn't grumble, eh? We wish Phil all the best for tomorrow. He says we should come back. We'd like to Phil, but there's so much else to see.
Hi y'all, we're Ray Stew. I expect you've seen us before. We always race after Ray Swan (we told you, these are the jokes). Anyway, we are the cream of America's up-and-coming road racers and no way will we barrel into turn one like a bunch of mad things and send one another into the boonies like so many ten pins. No way!
Oh, gosh darn-it!
(NB: all riders made a full recovery and resurfaced later in the day as Ray Sate).
The wonderful thing about the New Hampshire Speedway is that there is a Shaker Village just down the road. So, something for everyone today. Here, Vicky is genning up on the Shakers. A funny bunch of so-and-so who were so fanatical about their religious beliefs that they were considered too puritan even for the Puritans. They got their name from the way they shook when worshipping the Lord, evidently.
Vicky continues our exploration of the Shaker Village. Several families lived here back in the day. Sex was banned, so all the children were adopted from local orphanages and the like.
Look at that sky, by the way.
Now, all we have to do is find our way back to North Conway before dusk and our Prius turns into a pumpkin.
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