Off to Brands Hatch this weekend

[feejer222]

Although the weather forecast says snow this weekend !!! We have the hotel booked and the weekend planned to watch the British Superbikes first round at Brands. We travel down on Saturday, hopefully arriving early enough to catch some of the qualifying, and back Monday. It's one of our favourite circuits, and although by American standards it's only round the corner, it's a 430 mile round trip, which is quite a biggy for us. We had plans for a long ride out at Easter which the weather ruined so we are going regardless of conditions this week. The bike is washed and polished, tyres checked and tank full sat waiting for us.

We are going to watch the main races obviously, but also have our own interest in the Superstock championship with Howie Mainwaring and Bryan Campbell, both of whom we have helped out over the last few years. It will be good to see friends again and renew aquaintances, report to follow on this thread.

 

[wfooshee]

[Ignerunt 'murrican mode] You can travel 215 miles and stay on the island??!?!??! [/Ignerunt 'murrican mode]

Hope the weather stays good and you get a good time out of it! Um, gee, I s'pose you'll be reporting?

 

[feejer222]

Weather: LINK

I will take the camera and get some good snow shots!

Link to live timing of practice and races for those interested...CLICKY

 

[feejer222]

First free practice Howie was 9th out of 41 and came in half way through as he was on old tyres as the new ones had not arrived. He was using the tyres that we watched him do 40 laps on at Oulton last week.

First qualifying he was 11th. Another qual. to come on Saturday morning by which time we will be on the way.

Quite a few shocks in the other classes especially the superbikes.

C'ya after the event folks.

 

[Niehart]

Just a little jealous :glare:

 

[feejer222]

Sunday night and back home. What a disaster! Rode down on Saturday, 230 or so miles in hail, sleet and rain most of the way. Woke up this morning to 2 inches of snow and still Falling. The racing was abandoned due to heavy snow.

The ride home was torture. We rode through several blizzards and sleet storms. It took us almost 6 hours in sub zero temeratures to do the 230 miles back. I can honestly say I have never been happier to see my own front door. I gave the FJR a pat as I parked her up. Never missed a beat all weekend. She's covered in salt and crap, First job tomorrow is give her a good wash down.

We had a great night at the circuit last night, we attended a charity chat show held at the circuit hotel. It was organised by the 2 guys who do the circuit commentary and featured about 15 or so of the riders. All sorts of anecdotes came out. The funniest being a story from earlier in the day. Leon Haslam (son of Ron), rode for the Airwaves Ducati team for the last 3 years and has always been a title contender. He switched to HM Plant Honda this year, and twice during practice yesterday rode his works Honda into the Ducati garage! When confronted about it on stage he answered that he only actually got off the bike once!! The place was in uproar.

The guy nearest to the camera with the scabby swolen elbow, is Steve Plater a double Macau GP winner, known for scraping his helmet along the armco barriers.

The unasuming looking guy with the cap leaning forward is John McGuinness, the fastest ever man around the TT course with a 130mph lap last year.

The guy between them is Shane Byrne, ex WSBK & GP. He was a second clear on pole for today's superbike race on one of the new 1200cc Ducati's.

The whole meeting is being re-run at some later date in the season.

Don't know this sister, seen outside the hotel last night...do you?

This morning outside the hotel.

We skipped breakfast and went straight to the circuit. The falling snow let up on the way (20 minute ride), but the circuit had more than us during the night.

A lot of folks were packing up when we arrived at about 9am. It was pretty obvious that there would be no racing, but the organisers didn't announce it until 11.45.

These characters stayed until the announcement.......got me beat :lol: