Hmmmmm – what was it like for me? I guess it was spoilt a bit by suffering from what was nearly a migraine for the last few hours – it was only a determination to get my own back on Bluehills 2 after footing a few yards from the top and losing a Gold last year that kept me from turning tail for Newquay!
Left Exeter at 4pm for the ride down to Plusha on the TTR250 – a nice atmosphere down there and a very congenial Chief Official, Bob Slatter, which got everyone in the right mood for the trial ahead. Met a few old (and young!) friends and made a new one, Tony Mogford from Truro on his Yam XT350 who I was to bump into on various occasions during the event as we were only 4 numbers apart. Tony impressed a group of us by explaining the ¾ rule at Culbone Control in a way that we understood. However, I couldn’t explain it again now in the cold light of day! Also, thanks for the camera batteries Tony; I wish I had remembered to use it more.
It is odd to be troubled by dust at this time of year, but following three sidecars to Felons Oak wasn’t fun. Felon’s itself is a nice little warm up section just to get the concentration going. Despite being sure that I had my road book correctly marked with restart sections there was a great temptation to stop at the yellow restart boards just in case… Glad I didn’t, but I wasn’t alone in needing reassurance from other m/c competitors that the restart wasn’t for us.
I love Stoney Street, but don’t let your tyre pressures down beforehand unless you want a “snakebite” on your inner tubes. The run from there to Culbone in moonlight is almost magical and I am determined to see it in daylight one day. As a vertigo sufferer my next big challenge was Countisbury Hill, you will only know what I mean if you are a fellow sufferer, no trail riding in the Picas for me sadly.
It was good to get a friendly welcome from the officials at Beggars. Again, I wonder what it looks like around there in daylight? Riverton was a challenge last year, especially at the almost hairpin right, and I was expecting the worst this year but my Spring trail riding on dry ruts has helped my technique and I stayed clean. I really dislike the Torrington Holding Check, a long wait in the cold. The good burghers of the town could at least spare us a few pence of electricity to see what we are doing in the Gents.
Got the tyres muddy for the first time at Sutcombe. Daracott is beginning to wash out so to me it seemed a lot better than in 2002 when it seemed over improved. I know a couple of fellow competitors thought it was rougher last year but there you go. I missed my number being called at Widemouth Bay and had my control card put to the back of the marshal’s box and waited another half an hour to be called again. I was a bit chilled at that point and will certainly listen more carefully another time.
Crackington was great. Last year I struggled and had to really push my boots hard into the pegs to prevent involuntary footing. It looked relatively solid so decided that I would give it the beans this time and managed to accidentally get a bit too much air a couple of times, a very satisfying and enjoyable climb.
Treworld unnerved me. I hadn’t done it before and couldn’t really work out what was going on in between the trees, as each competitor’s engine note appeared to vary a great deal from its predecessor. I later learned that Tony Mogford (he got ahead of me by kneeling in front of the marshall at Widemouth so didn’t miss his number being called!) manage to loop his XT at the restart which explained one odd set of noises at least. Neil Browne’s BSA 951cc twin-engined monster (#81) sent shivers down my spine – no mistaking his exhaust note as he charged up the hill – luvverly. I stopped OK in the restart box and then slipped backwards with my front wheel locked (before the marshall put his flag up) but managed to stay in the box. Got away OK so was still on for a Gold – phew!
Warleggan was surprisingly easy but no Highwaymen! Mind you the Authorities in Bourn must have filled their coffers with the novel “congestion charge” at a quid a vehicle. I won’t mention my special tests as the times will be a joke but no way was I prepared at this stage to get too gung-ho and foot or fall off dicing with those cones, not with the lock on the TTR anyways. Hoskin was fun and the restart so much easier than last year when it was very heart in mouth. Bishops Wood is a lovely section. A slight queue that allowed me to warm up a bit in the sunshine and chat to the marshalls. I was in a very good frame of mind and couldn’t resist giving the TTR a bit of wellie over the suspiciously muddy-looking take-off ramp, surprised there wasn’t a photographer there; I bet there would have been some good pics especially with the cars.
Regrettably my slight headache started to thump shortly after Bishops Wood and the ride to Bluehills a real struggle. Instead of hanging around at Blue Hills, as I did last year when I think I let my nerves get the better of me, I rode straight to the start of Section 1 following Mike Robinson on his Serow. Mike entertained us by coming out of the loop a bit wide and having to use the opposite bank as a berm to get around the corner without footing and finishing of with an impressive little wheelie.
I was soon at Blue Hills 2, my Nemesis in 2002. This time I took a wide approach to the entrance of the top loop and it seemed to work. Last time I tweaked the fast button over much and had to foot to keep the TTR in line, this year I chugged the last bit willing the little TTR to keep going, which it did to my great relief. I had cleaned Blue Hills 2 – Wahoo!
I am sorry if I was a little curt to any riding friends at the top but all I wanted to do then was to get back to Newquay and sign off pdq. I have claimed a Gold and hope the marshalls’ scorecards agree my optimism.
Another great event and thanks to all the organisers but particularly to the marshals, who were all to a man (and woman) very friendly and non-officious – brilliant.
Thanks also to my fellow Devon TRF Group members Mike Holden (#512) and Roger Cantle (#511) for their company at the Bay after the event and giving the TTR and me a lift back home to Longdown.
Brian Sussex
#74 – Yamaha TTR250
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