« back
WHEELS MCC SKILLS and SAFETY CAMPAIGN - From a SQUARROWS' respective
[Pics by Marvy and Wolf, words by ...Garrett]
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!! When Cape Town delivers a sunny day, mother nature really means to! A perfect day to tan those legs that haven't seen sun in ages. Not a better day could be chosen for the Advanced Safety skills as prepared by the guys and ladies of Wheels MCC. FIRST OF ALL ... VERY WELL DONE to all the peeps at WHEELS MCC.
From about 12h15 (that's when I got there) on Sunday, 26th October 2008, bikers rocked up in drips and drabs at the Killarney race track to participate in the 8th annual Wheels Safety campaign. Not sure on the head count, but I'd estimate around 60 eager boyz and girlz ready to learn and have some fun! I tell you ... there were all shapes and sizes ... of bikes that is! From a bright yellow Vuka scooter to a half-motocross Loncin, to a monsterously looking black ZX-14. As per norm, David Frost had he's very encouraging words after James (Wheels) welcomed everyone. After being introduced to the riding instructors (sorry guys ... forgot your names), we were briefed on the do's and don'ts while on and off track, before getting the go ahead to proceed to the race track.
The entire bunch of participants anxiously awaited for that green light in the pit lane to go on before doing two laps of Killarney ... while following the instructors. WHAT A SIGHT!!!! Scooters, tourers, superbikes, the whole bang lot, cruising around Killarney before the beginning of the skills exercise.
The first exercise entailed all the riders counter steering between a straight line of cones down the back straight of Killarney, doing the first run at 40km/h, then at 60km/h, and finally at 80km/h. A really good learning experience for all. Once completed, the instructor proved to us, with a demo, the effectiveness of using your front brakes, compared to rear braking and dual braking (applying front and rear simultaneously). A shortish break was enjoyed in the pit lane while ice water, juices, samoosa, pies and that chinese-pastry thingy flowed amongst all the competitors.
With the group now split into "under 400cc and less confident" and "over 400cc and confident", we proceeded back to the track to do the braking and evasive swerving tests. I went with the "over 400cc and confident" group to the start-finish straight to start our little exercise.
One of the instructions was "DO NOT GRAP A HANDLE FULL OF FRONT BRAKES!!!". Some dude on his awesome looking RED VFR 800 Honda missed that instruction. Left the starting cones, grabbed a handle and ... ka-plonks. Minor damages to bike and ego - he continued with the rest of us in the braking and swerving tests. Wirh another break (smoke, toilet and non-alcoholic refreshments break) on the cards, we proceed around the race circuit and entered the pit lane to park off before the track opened for the two groups to go do some open "no car in the way" riding. As we got back to the pit lane, we got the unfortunate news that the oke on the RED VFR came off again! ... at the beginning of the back straight!!!! Shame buddy ... just wasn't your day.
Once the break was completed, the track marshalls explained all the flags ... and too when they would use it to moer us if we caught on k@k. The smaller cc bikes went out first and probably did about 10-ish laps, which meant that we were next. With all the nerves, butterflies, and adrenalin, I proceed down the pit lane, and onto Killarney race track. BOY oh BOY ... what an experience!!!! You just can't help yourself when you get any of the straights to open that throttle as far as possible and have some really good fun with your bike. Once done, the first group went out again for 5-ish laps, and then there we were again ... moering it without a worry of any speed cameras. Ooooh ... can't wait to attend the track day again on the 16th November 2008, depending on the amount of people available and keen. UNFORTUNATELY ... this session wasn't incident free. Two okes came off in separte incidences (a ZX-10 and ... some other bike)
Once back at the boma, we were treated to some lunch and a very well organized prize giving, with all participant receiving a certificate and a trophy.
Once again ... a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGG THANK YOU for putting together a really awesome skills day!!!!
[Another big THANK YOU to the support from family and friends ...]
« back