I think we might need a crashed bike thread ... a mate of mine went off BIG at Jerez which started between 7 & very much ended at T8. His R6 landed in the pond (Fucking seriously) haha - an unbelievably good effort. The only thing left was the dash !!
Racing at Pembrey in 1991....Going like stink on the wet circuit, hit a depression full of water at either Woodlands or Honda curve.....outfit aquaplaned seriously badly..... ......went off onto the grass and it sped up. Driver left the brakes alone, and carefully steered it back towards the track, but he didn't quite get the angle back to rejoin the tarmac which stood up by about 2 inches above the grass just where the front wheel hit it at a shallow angle. Whole outfit went onto its side and then flipped upside down onto the track. While sliding along the along the tarmac (which I think was Shellgrip) I held onto on of my grips as I could see the driver frantically trying to wriggle out from under the machine..... ....eventually he got out so I let go and the outfit slid away.....it took ages to stop. He ripped the back out of his Frank Thomas leathers while mine (original Swift) just had a scrape on the bum and one elbow. Annoyingly it put a small graze on my new Arai helmet. Got the outfit back to the paddock and took stock of the damage....broken gear lever mechanism, broken clip on and brake lever; massive crack / split in the freshly painted fairing; engine completely flooded with petrol....but luckily it was a 2 stroke engine; one badly dented expansion chamber. Driver had a grazed back / should and I had a painful bruised elbow. Spent the rest of the morning borrowing some spare bits and pieces; welding things back together and pop-riviting a large sheet of aluminium over the fairing split. Weather started to clear up in the afternoon, got the machine down to the scrutineers who passed it and our gear fit to race. Went out in the first afternoon race and took it easy to see how the bike performed, then got 3rd place in the second race. The next day we got a 3rd place in the morning and a 2nd place in the afternoon. Not bad, I thought, for racing on a piece of shite.
At the beginning of last year, a guy went down Almeria pit lane with his paddock stand attached. Didn't get far.......
Slowing for a red light and forgetting I had a sidecar attached, putting my left down only for it to get dragged and mangled under the framework. Rookie error!
Did exactly the same on a friends 350LC fitted with a sidewinder and got all tangled up with the frame. How I laughed. Same bike with the owner pulling wheelies, but the weight of the sidewinder pulled the bike sideways. Laughed at that as well.
I remember the name but not the face....I still have the meetings programmes from my racing era.....I will see if I raced at the same time as him. I found it easy...............to be daft. The only time I found it difficult was the Start at Snetterton.......the track has a slight uphill incline, but the F2 outfits had to be push start......even though a 2 stroke F2 is quite light, I found it knackering to push it with him on board and a TZ350 refusing to fire up straightaway. Once going I didn't get a chance to get my breath back until halfway along the Norwich Straight. I was rather pleased when we switched to a ZZR1100 Open Class outfit......Open Class were clutch start.
Probably the biggest buzz I had in the 6 years I raced was hanging out the side of an outfit at speed. Sadly only got to do it a couple of times as my only opportunity was the rare occasions that a call came over the paddock tannoy "We have a sidecar driver needing a passenger if anyone can help?" I was there straight away. First ever race was Donnington (pre Melbourne Loop), came 11th in the first race and 6th in the second race after being last away off the grid. If you ever get the chance do it.
Better than any drug.......I guess. Race on Saturday, still buzzing on Thursday. Race on Sunday, still buzzing on Friday......just in time for Saturday again.....
I was persuaded one saturday afternoon while on the bike street in Newcastle to buy a turbo kit for my cbx. Spent all Saturday night fitting it then took it for its first run on the sunday. No idea what we were doing do never bothered checking the wastegate which was jammed shut. My mate following in his car with a load of tools said one second he was right behind me , the next second I was a dot on the horizon. I stopped on the next lay by as I couldnt stop shaking from sheer terror. Later found it was putting out 15psi boost which wasnt recommended on a standard engine especially a crappy honda. Also the power used the pull the swingarm to one side which made it steer a bit strangely. With this turbo kit the pipe used to come out inside your left leg, and running hard at night it used to glow a dull red. Anyway I was sat at some traffic lights when a woman came past with a small child who then ran up and for some reason went to pat the nice shiny exhaust. Of course his hand stuck to it and it took a bit of tugging to get it off. Lots of screaming from him and his mother but just had to shrug my shoulders and ride away. Never did fully remove the hand print...
Also on the turbo I used to make progress up the local dual carriageway on a regular (too regular) basis. I work abroad and the day after I went back to work there was a heavy police presence on the flyover I used to pass under. Found out later from a friend in the know they were waiting for me. You could hear the bike from a couple of miles away as it had an open 3" pipe on it
Advikaz I know you said you wouldn't, but if you do get a chance have a go, what a buzz. On the straights they want to turn and on the turns they want to go straight, stupid things but what an absolute scream.
It only takes a few races for a new monkey to realise that he can turn the outfit probably quicker than driver can. Below: Holding the driving wheel down by keeping my weight on the right side; getting ready to lay right over the back for braking into the hairpin, driver keeps the revs up and feathers the clutch; once in the hairpin by about a quarter of the bend, driver fully re-engages the clutch and I lift up to release the tyre grip and the whole outfit slews to the right.....literally changing direction 90 degrees on the spot.
