The Saturday of the 21st of March included a couple of firsts for me. It was the first time I’ve ever raced with the South Reading MCC and also the first time I’ve ever ridden the Ashdown Farm MX/Enduro track. I didn’t know what to expect really, so I made sure I was there nice and early to get a feel for the place, and to make sure I got some decent parking. Pete had joined me, having picked up a replacement for the stolen KTM. Unfortunately he couldn’t get a race entry so opted for the role of traveling marshal instead. However looking at the helmet cam footage now and the lack of people on the track I’m sure they could have easily extended the entry as there always seemed to be so few riders about. The club had laid out a six mile loop that included the top woods and mx track then headed off into the distance to take in another two woods. I met a few of the TBM forum lads on the day and chatted to Crash and Scriberman, as well as Rob and Nick. I didn’t see Gavin until he passed me later on in the day. Ben, one my riding buddies also pitched up to take some photos, he couldn’t race as he had a previous appointment later in the day.

Getting under way - pushing through in a dead engine start

Once the race got under way I was surprised that we were allowed to start in any order and that your time (3hrs) started ticking as soon as you clocked out for the first time. I’m sure the guy that flipped his bike 50 yards from the start was even more surprised to find out he’d broken his leg! A classic case of ‘enthusiasm over ability’ was the comment from the guy sitting next to me on the grid. There were a few oh’s and ah’s as he pulled away and not much sympathy at all when he came crashing down.

Once it was my time to start (we had to push through the clock point in a dead engine start) I set off through the short wood section where we came across small log obstacle fairly soon. A few more bends and one more log and we were into the mx part of the track that had some nice jumps and bends but I took all of these slightly steadily as I had no idea what awaited on the other side of a jump or bend. Once these few jumps were out the way it was back to the tight stuff again. These wood tracks were very tight and twisty with hardly any places to overtake, so getting stuck behind another rider was a bit of a chore. Some gaps in the trees were so tight you had to waggle the bars to get through. Eventually we came out onto the track again (briefly) before tuning right and clearing (hopefully) another log. Now we were out into the sunshine and followed the mx track proper down into the valley, slamming through the suspension in the dip and up the other side before turning left on a banked corner and doing it all again. Once at the top of the hill the track banked right and there was another jump (great air) and back down the valley at an angle.

Me getting some airtime

those logs can be tricky!

For a novice it might be seen as a bit intimidating but I found it great fun – I just wish my suspension could handle the jumps better so I could give it more stick! Once in the bottom of the valley we joined the farmers track to take us past the farm building and along a field. Here we doubled back through a small stand of trees on an off camber slope with exposed roots. This was where we met the first ‘log jam’. In an effort to get past a stuck rider I tried an alternate line that didn’t work, so the bike reared up and fell on its side. I caught it in time and without stalling it I managed to get on my way, but the guy I was trying to past had gone for now. A quick dash up the farmer’s concrete road and we turned into another incredibly tight woods section that was already getting fairly cut up by braking and acceleration bumps.

yep - still a problem!

Eventually we come out the woods into the open where we crossed the ‘fair mile’ lane and across a field. A high speed dash, a 90’deg bend to the left, then right, took us down a extremely bumpy hill and into a patch of open countryside that looked smooth but was also bumpy as hell. The route curved to the left and up another hill that had two rutted paths up its face. A few guys were struggling here and I also took a tumble on my second lap. Half way up I managed to knock the bike into neutral somehow and losing all drive - the bike went down on the left. The two guys I’d just overtaken came past while I was trying to get going and thankfully didn’t laugh out loud! Once at the top of the hill a left turn was followed by a long run down to the third large wood. This run was also as bumpy as can be and had several drop-offs that again caused the suspension to flatten (yes I am on a diet). Near the bottom of the field it was so rough that it was almost impossible to keep on the gas, even with the steering damper working overtime. Having said that there were a few guys that flew over it, as if on air?!

Someone nearly getting it all wrong!

The last woods section was a long run without much let up in the bumps or tight turns. There were one or two short straights for overtaking but most were also exceptionally bumpy so there was no time for a rest. At the end of the second lap the race was stopped to allow the air ambulance to take away the injured rider from the start line incident. It was then announced that the morning session would be scrapped and the re-started race would be cut to two and a half hours (since changed - the first lap was counted)

you chariot awaits

Waiting for the re-start....the follicly challenged bikers sit patiently

I was a little pissed off about that as some of us had done two laps while others had only managed one. Not knowing when we were going to restart I was reluctant to walk away to refuel or change the tape in the camera. This must have been on my mind when I pulled away at the restart as I forgot to start my stopwatch! I realised that after a while but struggled to press the button due to the condition of the track and the constant turns. Eventually I got it going but was now was I bit fed up as I could only guess at how much time I’d used up but not recorded. I was also feeling the conditions taking their toll and was struggling with tired arms from the constant pounding.

couple of me in the woods

Eventually I decided not to take it too seriously and to just enjoy the ride. Time passed and after a while the bike was due for a re-fuel. So instead of a fast in/out dash for petrol I filled up then replaced the camcorder tape with a fresh one and also swapped over the battery. After downing a can of redbull and chomping on half an energy bar I once again set off. The last few laps went by without any hiccups other than me catching my foot on something just as I come out onto the last straight just before the pits. My foot was pulled back hard and my knee was twisted round as well. For a second or two I thought I’d sustained some damage but it cleared with a few flexes on my leg.

And that was that, an interesting course and while it wasn’t technically difficult, it did tire you out just by the shear amount of turns and bumps, both natural and those that developed in the track from everyone using an mx/enduro tyre. Strangely for March the heat also played a part, as it actually got quite hot during the day. Not only that but the going was terribly hard under the tyres, the mx track was like concrete. Everyone appeared to have enjoyed the day but I missed Rob at the end but word has it he had a coming together with a tree and did not finish. Gavin was going well when he passed me in the woods so I expect him to finish near the top of his class. Even Pete the traveling marshal enjoyed his day as he got a ride in and got a free burger! Many thanks to all the guys at the South Reading MCC – see you at the next one.

Lap Two - part one

(sorry but youtube knocked the hell out of the quality - i'll look into using someone else next time)

Lap Two - part two

I think I’ll need to do some suspension work/set-up before the next event at Ashdown as I’d like to be able to fly off the jumps without knocking my fillings out! Well results are out and I got 8th in the Clubman B group which is better than I thought I’d get to be honest. NOW I wish I’d not messed about with the helmet cam so much during the break and taken it all a bit more seriously. Congratulation to all the TBM forum guys – especially to those that beat me – bastards!

Many thanks to Blather and Topbanana both from the TBM forum who supplied the still photos for this report.

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