Our unexceptional exceptional (depending on who you listen to) summer continues and we have another long day ahead of us.
We're up at 7, out at 10, and arrive at the circuit at 11:20.
We park up and walk inside, buy a programme and then stroll to Luffield for a tea and a wee.
Distance walked so far: 0.5 miles (roughly).
11:40am at Brooklands: Superstock 600 Qualifying has begun and it's all happening.
But where's his 'bike?
Ah, there it is!
It's a Kawasaki and the rider was Dan Stamper for those of you taking notes.
Distance walked so far: 0.75 miles.
12:00. Mason Law (and somebody else) prove that Superstock 'bikes can be ridden through Brooklands without crashing.
12:10. Vicky is adamant. When (not if) we win The Lottery we are buying a Triumph Sprint which we will put in our big garage next to the Ferrari 458 Spider (in black). Unlike the Spider, which we will actually take out on the roads and drive, we will simply stand and admire the Triumph (and occasionally polish it).
Distance walked so far: 1 mile.
12:30. On the paddock-side of the Wellington Straight now and the Superstock 1000's are doing their Qualifying. This is Jonathan Railton on his Kawasaki.
Hmm, that reminds me, I must put a touch of lubricant on the cogs of our slot cars at some point.
Distance walked so far: 1.25 miles.
12:50. In the outer reaches of the paddock now and slowly making our way to the Paddock Cafe for a spot of lunch. Plenty to see along the way yet tho'. This is young Supersport 600 rider John Ingram being advised to gas it down the straights (or something equally technical).
Distance walked so far: 1.5 miles.
Limbering up: Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood about to go out to qualify.
1:20. We've bolted down our lunch and had a swift cuppa tea in the Paddock Cafe and are now exploring the paddock once more.
Here we suffer a member of the public spoiling a nice shot of Tristan and Tim Reeves who have won the Sidecar World Championship five times and are about to win the British Championship for the 5th time. Luckily, we've just taken a shot of them on their own so all is not lost.
Distance walked so far: 1.75 miles.
1:40. The Motostar riders will be qualifying at 2.00 so teams are getting prepared to go out on track. Some of the riders are unfeasibly young and obviously enjoy making olde people feel even older. Cheers for that! This one is Asher Durham.
1:55. Yet another unsuspecting, friendly, genious-motorcyle racer is corralled into having his photo taken with an olde-fella by Vicky. This one is Michael Laverty (on a busman's holiday).
2:05. The loneliness of the long distance amateur photographer.
We're by the National Pit Straight now at the point the riders begin to tip it into Copse.
Distance walked so far: 2.0 miles.
2:10. The Motostar class is now an intriguing battle between the older and cheaper 125 2-strokes (like these two being ridden by Milo Ward and Joseph Thomas) and.................
..............(2:25) the state-of-the-art and more expensive 250 4-stroke Moto3 'bikes like this one of South African Jordan Weaving (at Copse). I think I know which ones my money will be on in the long term (and it isn't the two strokes).
Distance walked so far: 2.25 miles.
2:30. You sure it isn't going to rain, says Vic, as she takes a shot of the circuits new College building nearing completion. Er, no, says Dave.
It didn't actually rain but it was close!
2:45. Back to the Wellington Straight (paddock side) and the BSB boys (and one girl) are out qualifying. These two riders indulging in a formation fly past are Jakub Smrz and Nori Haga.
Distance walked so far: 2.5 miles.
3:29. Sam Lowes has stuck it on Pole and he simply can't resist!
Distance walked so far: 2.75 miles.
3:41. We're at Village now.
Supersport 600 race leader, Stuart Easton, binned his Yamaha at Farm on lap one. He slid all the way to Village on his arse. Good stuff mate. Here the marshals shift his 'bike out of the way while a shamefaced (we presume) Mr Easton is given a ride back to the paddock.
Distance walked so far: 3.00 miles.
3:55. After a brilliant race the Supersport victory goes to Alastair Seeley and his Kawasaki. Nice one.
4:05. Time for another cuppa tea at the Trade Stands area.
Distance walked so far: 3.25 miles.
4:30. Back at Brooklands for the Triumph Triple Challenge race. This is race winner Chrissy Rouse.
Distance walked so far: 3.5 miles.
5.05. A sit down at last (and another cuppa tea)! We're in the Luffield Grandstand and are absolutely shattered. Never mind, it's the very last meeting of the year so we are not going to miss the last two races of the day. Gotta make the most of it.
This is the early stages of the Ducati 848 Challenge Race which was won by Dennis Hobbs (no 25). Our money was on Mike Edwards (121) so what do we know? That's right, nowt.
Distance walked so far: 3.75 miles.
5:50. The sun's still shining as the Sidecar Race enters it's final stages. Nice mid-pack battle developing here. Already long gone are the Reeves boys who duly clinched the British Championship.
Distance walked so far: still 3.75 miles thanks very much.
6.00. Time to walk back to the car park now and have some cobs and juice that we've brought with us in a cool-box-thingy. We are totally cream-crackered. Thankfully, Vicky is young and can drive home. We leave Silverstone at 6:40.
Total distance walked: 4.0 miles or so. Good exercise tho', eh? Keeps you young and all that.
Got all day tomorrow to rest (apart from having to do the weekly shop in Droitwich that is).
I reckon by Wednesday we should have recovered. Good job we enjoy it.
NB Sunday's weather is even better and it should be noted that although we have the coldest living room in the known universe (what with it's plethora of single-glazed windows, five (count 'em) external walls, and it facing east and what-not) we are able to sit in there in short sleeves with three windows open until gone 7 in the evening. It's a record!
No comments:
Post a Comment