Sunday, 4 October 2015

British Superbikes, Silverstone, Saturday, 3rd October, 2015.

11:30-ish. Distance walked: 0.25 miles.
The idea today is to take it easy. Y'know, pace ourselves. So we don't leave home 'til 10 but, after a good journey, we are inside the circuit a good half-hour before our estimations. So we've got time to look around the 'trade stands' which is where we find Vicky eyeing up another Marco Simoncelli purchase (as you do). 
She resisted.
11:45-ish.
Now this is what I call 'pacing yerself':
a nice sausage and bacon bap with brown sauce.
That should keep me going for a bit.
11:50-ish.
Vicky with her favourite 'bike.
I don't know why she just doesn't go out and buy one. 
I mean, it's not for the want of encouragement.
12:00-ish.
We haven't come here today to watch unfeasibly young folk doing extremely clever things on a BMX 'bike as if their only ambition is to make us feel olde.
And yes, we blame society an' all.
12:03-ish.
Slightly older fella who looks a bit like Fernando Alonso performs even cleverer tricks on a BMX 'bike that he can't even be bothered to fit a chain to.
Git.
12:05-ish.
Yay! Dogs For The Disabled are here.
Get yer small change out Vic.
12:20-ish. Distance walked: 0.5 miles.
The Superstock 600's are out on the track and hurtling down the Wellington Straight in their Qualifying Session. 
These two are Matthew Wigley and Kurt Wigley: brothers (twins?), team mates and virtually joined at the hip.
12:40-ish. Distance walked: 0.75 miles.
Give him a fast straight and some cars or 'bikes going like the clappers to photograph and he's happy.
12:45-ish. Same spot as above.
Dunno what's going on here.
Is it a wheelie? Is he about to do a stoppie?
Is he merely…ahem…easing his tackle?
Wayne Ryan does some mystery multi-tasking on his Kawasaki.
13:10-ish.
Superstock 1000's are on track now.
They are pretty quick but, 'cos they are proddie-based, they are not as spectacular as outright superbikes. Still quick tho'.
This is Jesse Trayler on his Kawasaki.
Did I mention that they are quick?
13:12-ish.
As the Superstock's complete their Qualifying session, Andy Peach demonstrates the fine-art of 
the 32 point turn in his F1 Sidecar outfit.
Do they still call 'em 'outfits'? 
We do.
13:25-ish. Distance walked: 1.0 miles.
In the paddock now.
Vicky takes a shot of an olde-fella taking a photo of Dave Molyneux getting ready to go out on track for the Sidecar Race.
13:30-ish.
Most solo-racers are little chaps but that rule doesn't apply in the sidecars.
This bloke is 7' 3" inches if he's a centimetre.
And he wasn't the only one either.
(Extra points for those who can spot the Vicster).
14:00-ish. Distance walked: 1.25 miles.
Peter Hickman is ready for his close up.
14:15-ish.
One-handed shot (bit wobbly, sorry) of these blokes who are having a good time all of the time.
Don't worry, Cameron and Osborne are working flat out to put an end to this sort of behaviour.
Ooooh, political satire alert!
14:20-ish.
We have found the KTM Junior Cup bit of the paddock.
Note tiny youngster sat in the corner. He'll be out on track in a few minutes on one of these 'bikes.
I think there's a theme emerging here: people are out to make us feel as olde as we are!
14:50-ish. Distance walked: 1.5 miles.
We are at the entry to Copse now.
The KTM Junior Cup race has started and it's a bit like a Red Bull Rookies race but with added lunacy.
This is about halfway through the race and this is the leading group keeling over into Copse. 
There are several other groups of like-minded reprobates, sadly, just out of shot.
Let's hope they all emerge at the exit in one piece. 
It's a vain hope, but a heart-felt one.
15:20-ish. Distance walked: 1.75 miles.
The KTM race was won by the smallest-fella in the paddock: Shaun Dylan (according to the Programme - Kelly according to BikeSport News - so take yer pick) from Mexico/USA.
What will become of him as his career continues (whoever he is)?
15:45-ish. Distance walked: 2 miles.
In the National Pits Grandstand now. First chance to sit down for a while.
Maybe not as frantic as the KTM race, the Motostar race featured a close battle for the lead between Scott Deroue (Neth) and Taz Taylor on their KTM 250 Moto 3 'bikes.
15:46-ish.
Told you it was close.
16:59-ish.
Superbike Qualifying finishes with Josh Brookes sticking his Yamaha on pole.
17:20-ish. Distance walked 2.5 miles.
Luffield corner and the battle for the win in the Supersport 600 race is in full swing. 
Luke Stapleford, James Rispoli, and Glenn Irwin are the riders and they finished in that order.
17:30-ish. 
It's time to leave our final meeting of 2015. 
So what better way to end with a traditional 'selfie' - it's wot the internet's for!
It hasn't rained once at any of the meetings we've been to this year. Nor did it rain last year. In fact it hasn't rained on us at a meeting since the WEC here in April 2013 when it rained so hard, and the wind blew like b*gg*ry, that it destroyed our top-quality umbrella.
We must be doing summat right. If only we knew what it was.
Total distance walked: 2.75 miles (that's about a mile less than usual).
Any road up, off now to meet up with Sue and Billy for our annual catch-up and meal (which was all very nice) before driving back home to see if Emlyn has learnt to use his mechanical feeder (of course he hasn't - he did find his biscuits tho').




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