My day started early enough. Thankfulyl I got most things sorted out the previous. A fairly mundane ride to Mallory. Once there I found Bones with his pupil. He was instructing on a 1 on 1 basis. He was keen to make sure that my bike was running ok as he had very kindly spent a few hours doing a full service for me. I was pleased to inform him everything was 100%. He pointed out Roadrace's caravan and off I went to join base camp.
The first session was fairly uneventful for me but I did notice how wide I was running on corners. I guessed this was due to me turning in too early but I didn't seem able to rectify it. Bones had given me some pointers about body position so I tried to put that into practice, especially on the long right hander known as Gerrards.
The second session was ok but I cut it short due to the rain. For Session 3 I asked for some instruction. We had a chat about where I thought i was going wrong and what I wanted from the session. I followed the chap around and it soon became clear that I was hammering it in some sections and dog slow in others. Sadly my time was cut short when I lost a contact lense going into Gerrards. It popped out, hit my visor, worked its way down the visor and then onto my cheek, where I employed my tongue to catch it and place it in my mouth until I got back to the paddock. The instructor found me and told me that I need to relax my arms. I took his advice and it did make a lot of difference.
The lense was about it for me in terms of events. The back was sliding coming out of the hairpin so Bones recommended I waited a bit longer before opening the throttle. One guy came inside me at the hairpin just as I was about to turn in, but he waved his hand that's good enough for me.
The morning went well. I wasn't the quickest in inters. Ket came past me after the hairpin and I stayed with him until Edwinas, at which point he disappeared. I didn't really see the others.
I parked up for lunch at the caravan, at which point the alarm started to do its own thing. In the week Bones had told me about the alarm playing up. It turns out that there's a short somewhere which is popping a fuse - that trips the alarm and immobilises the engine. Even with the key in the ignition and the alarm off, the bike wouldn't start. I was tempted to throw the bile into the lake but Bones sorted it out. I finally got the bike going (after jumping it off Ket's car) but rain stopped play.
Big up to Roadrace for his plush accomodation and fine hospitality.
It was a great turn out today. Some of us oldies got to recount tales of old plsu some new tales have been made.
Bones - massive thanks mate for everything you've done all week and today. You're a star.
Norry - sorry I didn't get much time to speak with you.
Everyone else - great to catch up. Thanks for the banter and the company. This might not be the biggest site but I wouldn't swap numbers for the camarardie
Triples are the future, baby!
