Track Side

My last post was fast. So more on the track.

Club photographers took over 4000 pictures so images to follow when they reach me. I didn't get my knee down I'm afraid.

I was sitting in the stands with a couple I had just met, when Aki found me. I had been at the track an hour and a half courtesy of the early ferry. The couple have a cabin close by and the track povides regular entertainment for them. Motorc club track practise days are part of that. I moved Elsa and all of my gear over to the club prep area. Can't call it a paddock. That would be too grand. Aki and others are getting their bikes ready. Some of them are very serious with track bikes not road legal, tyre warmers on. Gaffer tape manufacturers make a fortune out of these guys. You have to imagine the smell of fuel, and hot rubber under a punishingly hot sun. Yes, it gets hot this far north.

The elites are out first. Aki has elected to ride with set two along side me. He will move up to the elites when he is satisfied that he has all the winter kinks ironed out. So we have half an hour to watch the grown ups showing us how it is done. These guys are good. The pace is picking up if not yet exactly blistering. knees go down in the corners. No overtaking on the corners. Personal lap times are what these guys are after today. My stomach is churning to be honest. 8 minutes to go to the chequered flag. Time to get ready.

Elsa looks weird without her panniers and all of my cross continental gear. She is as stripped as she can be. I said already that her mirrors are taped up to prevent me using them. She looks tall, broad and a bit of an ugly duckling without her clothes. Touring clothes are out of place amongst track leathers, but this is my day to do this. Thor let me NOT show myself up. Apparently I give a damn. We move up to the top of the ramp leading down onto the home straight. The flag drops and in single file accelerating towards the first bend, we are into the warm up lap. So far so good.

......A blackbird flies past me pursued by two hawks. Hayabusa eat blackbirds.......

I can't find the line with the rest swarming all over me, and I am a bit scared (human after all). Aki passes and falls in in front of me tapping the side of his bike. He gives me a lead onto the race line. I have it. Slow but sure under instruction. I stuck at it for 25 minutes coming in one lap ahead of the chequered flag. That was not great. Damn!

Aki move up to the top group and I watched from the stand joining the couple I met this morning, who said I did OK for a first time out and on an autobahn bike. I sat the next set out struggling with myself. I want to play but frankly I was crap. A little constructive criticism (learning points gratefully received and I am not so crest fallen. What happened next was inevitable. It's been a while since I rode horses, but when you fall off you get straight back on.

Sitting at the top of the ramp again, looking down at the first corner, which is going to be mine. Elsa is not quick but she has a LOT of torc. She will accelerate if I have the balls to do it. Yep. I do. Into corner one looking at the track from a more horizontal angle, Vatta licks his lips and I relinquish the controls to him. For half a minute Elsa danced sure footed, before my tiny alter ego popped back into his shell, leaving me to tough it out with grim determination. Hold the line. If the guy behind wants to pace, that is for him to do. Several laps and my performance has improved 100% ( lets not get carried away. Set one was poor indeed). Honour is served and I am tired and sensibly middle aged. My left hand goes up as I slip away to the pit lane. I need a drink, and coffee will have to do. With practise and money, I could do this well I think. I live close to a couple of world class circuits in England. A guy can dream.

Once again, heart felt thanks to the two Finnish motorcycle clubs involved, and of course Aki. I had a great day. One of those you remember for life.