Once again we have to thank Matt for penning a report for the website. This time Matt has also included an open letter to Doug and Andy.
Dear Andy and Doug + the untold heroes of the “crew”
As in previous years the unstinting work and effort of the few provided a fantastic weekend for the masses.
I have had several conversations with people that attended the event exhibiting on the Ariel Forum Club, BTSC and EACC together with paying visitors many of whom I hadn’t seen for several years - all these individuals were waxing lyrical about the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed themselves and are already making plans for 2016.
Whilst there are will always those that will find something to have a gripe about, and they also always seem to make the most noise they can of course normally be counted with just two fingers and as such deserve a similar gesture in return. The absence of the Grass Track was of a course a disappointment to many but not more so than to yourselves who were simply let down at the last minute.
Please be assured that those that attend the event do so for one reason only……………………………BECAUSE IT’S A GREAT EVENT! The effort put in by you all is greatly appreciated as without you we would be at a complete loose end and be very miserable all weekend.
Thanks again I certainly had a great weekend as I am sure did everyone attending with our club – even my wife had a great time because I was away for the weekend so she sends her thanks as well!
Matt.
Donnington Park Classic.report.
Just getting back to normal after another fantastic weekend at Donnington Park attending the annual Donnigton Classic Bike Event organised by our great friends Doug and Andy.
This year saw our biggest Club turn out with a total of 18 bikes booked in by the Club however three of those were snaffled up and placed on other club stands the Two Gold Stars entered as friends of Pete Butterworth who in fact arrived early on the Friday and didn’t know where to site and being GSOC members were told to put their machines on that stand and Keith Philpot who arrived on his Simson but ended up I believe on the BTSC stand despite it being a German machine.
The event was as always a great affair with lots to see and do and plenty of action on the track. The Club parade turned out to be somewhat of a crazy affair and as it was held during the lunch hour the vast majority of bikes were wheeled out of the main exhibition and were ready for the off at the designated time, and with engines and heart rates pumping waited, and waited, and waited and as both bikes and riders started to overheat we learnt that the last of the morning races had been red flagged and there would be a delay. This turned out to be a somewhat lengthy delay as after the track was cleared they rerun the race.
Eventually the “parade” got underway but it was far from a parade as I believe that many thought the idea was to go flat out and hope you were good enough to make the hairpin turns amongst the throng of riders – I also believe the safety cars were travelling a lot faster than previous years but after the first couple of laps everything settled down and we completed 10 miles and were directed back to the exhibition hall……………………don’t get me wrong the track event was great even if some of the participants forgot the basic principles of what was effectively a mass ride out of machines from 90cc to 1400cc.
This year I was unable to arrange a free three course meal for everyone so ten of us walked up to the Harvester at Donnington Services, where two of our group were accosted by an irate lady motorist for “Jaywalking on the Motorway” - now there is a story for someone else to relate.
Unfortunately I was unable to take any photo’s this year but I did notice others with their cameras so hopefully they can place some on the site.
Matt.
After a plea by Matt we now have some photos of Donnington supplied by Keith.
See them on gallery 2.
More photos from other members would be welcome.
Dear Andy and Doug + the untold heroes of the “crew”
As in previous years the unstinting work and effort of the few provided a fantastic weekend for the masses.
I have had several conversations with people that attended the event exhibiting on the Ariel Forum Club, BTSC and EACC together with paying visitors many of whom I hadn’t seen for several years - all these individuals were waxing lyrical about the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed themselves and are already making plans for 2016.
Whilst there are will always those that will find something to have a gripe about, and they also always seem to make the most noise they can of course normally be counted with just two fingers and as such deserve a similar gesture in return. The absence of the Grass Track was of a course a disappointment to many but not more so than to yourselves who were simply let down at the last minute.
Please be assured that those that attend the event do so for one reason only……………………………BECAUSE IT’S A GREAT EVENT! The effort put in by you all is greatly appreciated as without you we would be at a complete loose end and be very miserable all weekend.
Thanks again I certainly had a great weekend as I am sure did everyone attending with our club – even my wife had a great time because I was away for the weekend so she sends her thanks as well!
Matt.
Donnington Park Classic.report.
Just getting back to normal after another fantastic weekend at Donnington Park attending the annual Donnigton Classic Bike Event organised by our great friends Doug and Andy.
This year saw our biggest Club turn out with a total of 18 bikes booked in by the Club however three of those were snaffled up and placed on other club stands the Two Gold Stars entered as friends of Pete Butterworth who in fact arrived early on the Friday and didn’t know where to site and being GSOC members were told to put their machines on that stand and Keith Philpot who arrived on his Simson but ended up I believe on the BTSC stand despite it being a German machine.
The event was as always a great affair with lots to see and do and plenty of action on the track. The Club parade turned out to be somewhat of a crazy affair and as it was held during the lunch hour the vast majority of bikes were wheeled out of the main exhibition and were ready for the off at the designated time, and with engines and heart rates pumping waited, and waited, and waited and as both bikes and riders started to overheat we learnt that the last of the morning races had been red flagged and there would be a delay. This turned out to be a somewhat lengthy delay as after the track was cleared they rerun the race.
Eventually the “parade” got underway but it was far from a parade as I believe that many thought the idea was to go flat out and hope you were good enough to make the hairpin turns amongst the throng of riders – I also believe the safety cars were travelling a lot faster than previous years but after the first couple of laps everything settled down and we completed 10 miles and were directed back to the exhibition hall……………………don’t get me wrong the track event was great even if some of the participants forgot the basic principles of what was effectively a mass ride out of machines from 90cc to 1400cc.
This year I was unable to arrange a free three course meal for everyone so ten of us walked up to the Harvester at Donnington Services, where two of our group were accosted by an irate lady motorist for “Jaywalking on the Motorway” - now there is a story for someone else to relate.
Unfortunately I was unable to take any photo’s this year but I did notice others with their cameras so hopefully they can place some on the site.
Matt.
After a plea by Matt we now have some photos of Donnington supplied by Keith.
See them on gallery 2.
More photos from other members would be welcome.
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