Road Races
Our 2022 Season: road racing and more…
This post was originally written in November 2022. For lack of time I couldn’t prepare it and publish it before now. When I was writing it, I certainly couldn’t imagine that 3 months later we would be in that incredible situation on the Island of Ireland with all racing cancelled in the North and the same uncertainty in the South, because of crazy insurance premiums. Problems still to be solved.
I really hope from the bottom of my heart that we WILL have some racing in Ireland this year 2023. Fingers crossed and hoping to be able to go around the paddocks, have a chat with some riders and organisers, and watch the best racing in the world.
This year it is our 10th wedding anniversary, so also the anniversary of our honeymoon trip, which went through Armoy, our first road race, in 2013. Hope to be able to celebrate it there, watching the most thrilling racing in the world.
Our season started in March, when it was still cold and rainy, with the “Stephen Davison” show organised by the CMRVC in support of the Munster 100 Road Race. The show was brilliant as usual, with a great number of great riders including Peter Hickman, Jack Kennedy and Brian McCormack.
The following day was the “Cork Motorcycle Show“, which was a great success considering the circumstances. It was so good to be back into the Motorcycling world again and meet with other people sharing the same passion. We had great chats with Stephen Davison, Wallace and Gillian from RRI, Roger from FBOS, between others.
The racing season started for us in Tandragee. We had never been in Tandragee before, so this year we thought it was a good opportunity to discover it. And what better place than a road race to celebrate my birthday! As Emma was at school and Juan was working on the Friday, we left quite late and drove straight to county Armagh. We stayed at a B&B owned by a very friendly lady who made us feel at home straight away.
The Friday had been a nice sunny day, a good day for the Practice sessions after such a long winter. On the Saturday morning we woke up to the sound of the rain drops on the windows… not a good start. We had our breakfast and went to the track. We had a go around the paddock, it didn’t stop raining for a minute. We had our rain gear on, and the big umbrella. When they announced the first race, we went to the field just outside the paddock. The Classic bikes were starting. After some wait and several warmup laps, it finally got under way.
We realised that we had forgotten to take something to sit on, we used to have 2 folding chairs, but we didn’t think about it. So, Emma started to be tired, Juan took her on his shoulders, and then he got tired. After the race we went back to the paddock. We saw the first start of the second race, but after a while and some more wait, and a great chat with Andy Farrell, we decided to pack up and leave it for another day. Unfortunately for the organisers, rain did not stop in the whole day, and they had to cancel shortly after we left.
For us it was just good to be back in a road racing paddock, after such a long time, so we were happy despite the rain and all.
On the Sunday we had booked tickets for Armagh Observatory, not motorbikes related, but certainly a fantastic day out for the kids. We spent there a good few hours and only left because we were very hungry and needed some proper food. Emma loved it and we did too! Hopefully we will be able to go back to Tandragee in 2023, hopefully weather will be ok, and we will also go back to the Observatory! On our way down we stopped at Decathlon in Dublin and bought 3 folding chairs, so now we’re ready for the next race!
On the 10th of April, West Cork Motorcycle Club was holding their annual Drag race. At last Juan had been able to register and on the Saturday we all went down to Halfway for the scrutiny. All was good for his bike, unfortunately he had seen at the last minute that helmets must be max 5 years old, and despite having hardly used his, it was just over 5 years old. So that was it for his racing. On the Sunday we went to watch the racing for a short while (Emma was cold), only as spectators. We’ll try again next year!
Then it was a long wait until our next road race. On Saturday June 18th, we were leaving home not too early, dropped our suitcase at the B&B we had booked for the night; the same as last time we had been in Kells, years ago!, and we went to the track.
This time we were better prepared with our folding chairs. The practice was well under way when we arrived, we were at the same corner as the first time we went to Kells. The practice sessions finished quite soon after we had arrived, so we went to the paddock to have a walk around. Once again it was nice to see many familiar faces; we had a chat with Yvonne Montgomery, and after a while we went back to the B&B, had dinner, and went for a short walk to the lake shore, a beautiful place!
On Sunday morning we headed to the track early enough to be able to walk a little bit around the track looking for a good spot. But we finally went back to where we had been the previous day, and took a seat there, close to the village with possibility to buy food and drinks, and a safe place to watch.
The racing started early enough, it was a little bit chillier than the day before (and we were sitting in the shadow of a tree), but we could watch some good racing and take “a few pictures”.
Unfortunately racing came to an abrupt end after an incident further up the road. The rider, a very young man, Jack Oliver, unfortunately lost his life in the accident.
After a while, racing was cancelled, and everybody headed away. This was very sad, nothing was official yet, but we knew what had happened and the journey back home was a sad one. Rest in Peace Jack.
Over the summer, there was a full calendar of road races at sight. We tried to go to Skerries before leaving for our holidays but the prices of the hotels and B&Bs, if any room left, were just mental! So we had to forget about it for this year. For most of the summer we were visiting the family, so we missed the Irish road racing season.
On our way back to Ireland from France, we stopped in Le Mans, for an event called “The Big Car Show”. We booked one day visit on the Saturday and spent the whole day watching nice cars on display, walking around the different stands and what Emma liked most, the stunter Florian Bugs who was brilliant! Maybe she liked even more the Carrousel, as each session just never ended: 15 minutes going round and round and round (and we had bought 5 tickets!!!).
Then we were back home and back to the “routine”, so we didn’t want to miss West Cork MCC TwoHigs Hillclimb on the 18th of September. We left home not too late for a change, and we arrived in Clonakilty around 11am. We put our chairs not at the best spot, but not too far away from the start and watched bikes pass by. We were there for a couple of hours, had a chat with Stephen Davison, and finally headed back home after a while. This was brilliant as always.
But the season did not finish with the Hillclimb! We decided to give a go to the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship in Mondello. We had thought of going earlier in the year but could not make it. So finally on the 25th of September, we headed to Mondello and arrived around 11am. We went to the grandstand that overlooks the first corner and you can also see other parts of the track. We took seat there and started watching racing and more racing. We were thrilled. We are quite close to the action unlike bigger tracks we used to go in the past, and the atmosphere is very similar to road racing – well, many riders are the same ones, so similar paddock and teams!
It was also our first time watching sidecar racing (well, we did see some in Czech Republic but most sidecars were quite old, although not less impressive!), we were hooked! I just loved them, and Emma too!
After a few hours watching racing, we went for a walk around the paddock and before the last Supersport race, as it was already 4pm and we had to drive back home, we reluctantly decided leave. Emma wanted “to watch more racing”. We will definitely be back to Mondello, we had a great day there, great facilities and great racing with great atmosphere!
Our next and last outing of the season won’t be for racing, but we will hopefully be at the Annual CorkToy Run on December the 4th.
And fingers crossed for a full 2023 season!
Road Races
2023 Road Racing Calendar
UPDATE 21/04/2023: THE ONLY RACES CONFIRMED IN IRELAND ARE COOKSTOWN 100, NORTHWEST 200 AND ARMOY.
As usual, if you plan to travel to any race, we recommend to check for the latest updates on the Club official websites or Facebook pages.
IRELAND (NORTHERN and REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
*21-22 April 2023: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
CANCELLED *28-29 April 2023: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
*9-13 May 2023: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Portstewart- co. Antrim- Northern Ireland)
*29th May to June 10th 2023: Isle of Man TT (Isle of Man)
PENDING INSURANCE *24-25 June 2023: Kells Road Race (Crossakiel- co. Meath- Republic of Ireland)
PENDING INSURANCE *01-02 July 2023: Skerries 100 (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
http://www.loughshinnymotorcycleclub.com
PENDING INSURANCE *08-09 July 2023: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*10-13 July 2023: Southern 100 – (Isle of Man)
PENDING INSURANCE *15-16 July 2023: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
PENDING INSURANCE *22-23 July 2023: Munster 100 (Glanmire- co. Cork – Republic of Ireland)
https://cmrvc.ie/munster-100/munster-100-news
*28-29 July 2023: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
PENDING INSURANCE *05-06 August 2023: Athea Road Races (Athea – co. Limerick -Republic of Ireland)
South West Road Racing Athea Facebook
PENDING OF CONFIRMATION *18-19 August 2023: International Ulster GP, Dundrod (co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
Pending of confirmation (Dundrod Club)
*20-28 August 2023: Manx Grand Prix (Isle of Man)
https://www.manxgrandprix.org/
OLIVER’S MOUNT RACING – SCARBOROUGH – UK
*Spring Cup – 15-16 April 2023
*Cock O’ The North – 01-02 July 2023
*Barry Sheene Classic – 22-23 July 2023
*HillClimb – 19-20 August 2023
*Gold Cup – 23-24 September 2023
https://www.oliversmount.com/events
IRRC 2023
06-07 May: Hengelo (NL)
02-04 June: Schleiz (DE)
01-02 July: Imatra (FIN)
22-23 July: Chimay (BE)
12-13 August: Hořice (CZ)
16-17 September: Frohburg (DE)
CZECH REPUBLIC
*300 Curves of Gustav Havel: 20-21 May 2023
NEW ZEALAND
*BURT MUNRO CHALLENGE : 08-12 February 2023
Invercargill Street Race: 12 February 2023
*GREYMOUTH MOTORCYCLE STREET RACE: 2023 Date to be confirmed
https://www.greymouthstreetrace.co.nz
MACAU GRAND PRIX
Dates to be confirmed
https://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/en/
Road Racing Circuits Guide HERE
Road Races
Road Racing Calendar 2022
After 2 years of almost no road racing (Chapeau to Cookstown for holding both 2020 and 2021 meetings, and Armoy for holding 2021 meeting in such difficult circumstances!), here is the 2022 Road Racing Calendar. 🙂
If you are thinking in attending any, please always check first on the Clubs webpages or facebook before booking anything.
Update 19/05/2022
IRELAND (NORTH & REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
*22-23 April 2022: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
*29-30 April 2022: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
*10-14 May 2022: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Portstewart- co. Antrim- Northern Ireland)
*28 May to 11 June 2022: Isle of Man TT (Isle of Man)
*18-19 June 2022: Kells Road Race (Crossakiel- co. Meath- Republic of Ireland)
*02-03 July 2022: Skerries 100 (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
http://www.loughshinnymotorcycleclub.com
*09-10 July 2022: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*11-14 July 2022: Southern 100 – (Isle of Man)
*16-17 July 2022: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
*29-30 July 2022: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim –Northern Ireland)
*13-14 August 2022: Munster 100 (Glanmire- co. Cork – Republic of Ireland)
https://cmrvc.ie/munster-100/munster-100-news
CANCELLED 🙁 *16-20 August 2022: International Ulster GP, Dundrod (co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
http://www.ulstergrandprix.net/
*21-29 August 2022: Manx Grand Prix (Isle of Man)
https://www.manxgrandprix.org/
*9-10 September 2022: Mid-Antrim 150 (Clough – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
IRRC 2022
30 April – 01 May: Hengelo (NL)
01-03 July: Imatra (FI)
23-24 July: Chimay (BE)
13-14 August: Hořice (CZ)
17-18 September: Frohburg (DE)
Road Racing Circuits Guide HERE
Road Races
2021 Road Racing Calendar
Here is the 2021 Road Racing Calendar.
After a very poor year in road races (and other entertainments…) here is the provisional 2021 Road Racing Calendar.
Unfortunately, the Isle of Man TT is cancelled for another year 🙁 .
Some races, as the Cookstown 100 (the only one on the Island of Ireland in 2020) will be run with limited number of spectators with pre-booking. So this year more than ever it is very important to follow the updates on each Club website or Facebook page.
UPDATE 05/02/2021 (changes and cancellations)
IRELAND (NORTH & REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
CANCELLED- *30th April – 1st May 2021: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
CANCELLED- *11th-15th May 2021: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Porststewart- co. Antrim- Northern Ireland)
CANCELLED- *19th-20th June 2021: Kells Road Race (Crossakiel- co. Meath- Republic of Ireland)
CANCELLED- *26th-27th June 2021: Munster 100 Road Race (Glanmire – co. Cork – Republic of Ireland)
https://cmrvc.ie/munster-100/munster-100-news
*03rd-04th July 2021: Skerries 100 (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
https://www.skerriesroadraces.com/
CANCELLED- *10th-11th July 2021: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*12th-15th July 2021: Southern 100 – (Isle of Man)
CANCELLED- *17th-18th July 2021: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
*30th-31st July 2021: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
CANCELLED- *07th-08th August 2021: East Coast Racing Festival (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland)
*21st August – 03rd September 2021: Manx Grand Prix (Isle of Man)
https://www.manxgrandprix.org/
*10th-11th September 2021: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
At the moment there are no official dates for the Ulster GP for 2021. https://ulstergrandprix.net/
SCARBOROUGH 2021- Oliver’s Mount (UK)
08th-09th May: Spring Cup
19th-20th June: Barry Sheene Classic Festival
31st July – 01st August: Oliver’s Mount Festival
11th-12th September: Gold Cup
IRRC 2021- Provisional
02nd-04th July: Imatra (FI)
23rd-25th July: Chimay (BE)
14th-15th August: Hořice (CZ)
04th-05th September: Hengelo (NL)
18th-19th September: Frohburg (DE)
CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA
MMČR/PČR Calendar
15/16 May 2021 – Staré město (MMČR, PČR, side)
22/23 May 2021 – Hořice CZ (300 curves of Gustav Havel) (MMČR)
12/13 June 2021 – Jičín (MMČR, JPHZM, side, Jawa 50)
18/20 June 2021 – Hričov SK (MMČR, PČR, side)
09/11 July 2021 – Slovakia Ring SK (circuit) (MMČR, PČR)
31 July/01 August 2021 – Nepomuk (JPHZM)
14/15 August 2021 – Hořice (IRRC, PČR, side)
27/29 August 2021 – Trenčín (MMČR, PČR, side)
11/12 September 2021 – Branná (JPHZM)
08/10 October 2021 – Most – Gerhard Itnner Memorial (circuit) (MMČR, PČR)
CAMS Calendar
http://www.motocams.cz/prirodni-okruhy/kalendar-zavodu/
09-11 April 2021 – Jarní cena Brna (circuit)
05/06 June 2021 – Kopčany (Kopčanský Motookruh)
18/21 June 2021 – Trenčín
04/05 September 2021 – Dymokury
NEW ZEALAND
North: New Zealand’s Largest Motorcycle Series
https://cemeterycircuit.co.nz/
*26th December 2020: Cemetery Circuit, Wanganui (road race)
South:
*14th February 2021: Burt Munro Challenge: Honda Invercargill Street Race
https://www.burtmunrochallenge.co.nz/home
MACAU
Pending: Macau Grand Prix (Macau, China)
https://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/en/
Road Racing Circuits Guide HERE
Road Races
2020 Road Racing Calendar
Here is the 2020 Road Racing Calendar 🙂
If you are thinking in attending any, please always check first on the Clubs webpages or facebook before booking anything.
IRELAND (NORTH & REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
*24-25 April 2020: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
*1-2 May 2020: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
*12-16 May 2020: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Porststewart- co. Antrim- Northern Ireland)
*30 May to 12 June 2020: Isle of Man TT (Isle of Man)
*20-21 June 2020: Kells Road Race (Crossakiel- co. Meath- Republic of Ireland)
*27-28 June 2020: Munster 100 Road Race (Glanmire – co. Cork – Republic of Ireland)
https://cmrvc.ie/munster-100/munster-100-news
*04-05 July 2020: Skerries 100 (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
https://www.skerriesroadraces.com/
*6-9 July 2020: Southern 100 – (Isle of Man)
*11-12 July 2020: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*18-19 July 2020: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
*24-25 July 2020: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
*8-9 August 2020: East Coast Racing Festival (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland)
*22 August- 04 September 2020: Manx Grand Prix (Isle of Man)
https://www.manxgrandprix.org/
Unfortunately, there has been no date confirmed by the Club organising the Ulster GP, due to financial issues on the 2019 event. https://ulstergrandprix.net/ This is a huge loss on the 2020 calendar, and we hope they will bounce back and be there again next year.
There will be no road race in Enniskillen either unfortunately. https://enniskillenroadraces.co.uk/
SCARBOROUGH 2020- Oliver’s Mount (UK)
18-19 April: Spring Cup
20-21 June: Northern Festival
25-26 July: Barry Sheen Classics
12-13 September: Gold Cup
IRRC 2020
9-10 May: Hengelo (NL)
03-05 July: Imatra (FI)
24-26 July: Chimay (BE)
15-16 August: Hořice (CZ)
19-20 September: Frohburg (DE)
CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA
MMČR/PČR Calendar
23/24 May 2020 – Hořice CZ (125 SP, 125 GP/Moto3, 250 Open, Supertwin, Supermono, Supersport 600 cc, Superbike, +Supersport 300)
13/14 June 2020 – Jičín CZ (125SP / JPHZM, SIDE, JAWA 50)
19/21 June 2020 – Trenčín SK (125 SP, 125 GP/Moto3, 250 Open, Supertwin, Supermono, Supersport 600 cc, Superbike, +Supersport 300, Klasik A/B, SIDE, JPHZM)
04/05 July 2020 – Radvanice CZ (125 SP, 125 GP/Moto3, 250 Open, Supertwin, Supermono, Supersport 600 cc, +Supersport 300, Klasik A/B, SIDE)
18/19 July 2020 -Staré město CZ (125 SP, 125 GP/Moto3, 250 Open, Supertwin, Supermono, Supersport 600 cc, Superbike, +Supersport 300, Klasik A/B, SIDE)
25/286 July 2020 – Nepomuk CZ (JPHZM)
17/18 August 2020 – Hořice CZ (IRRC, Klasik A/B, SIDE)
12/13 September 2020 – Branná CZ (JPHZM)
13/15 September 2020 – Slovakiaring SK (125 SP, 125 GP/Moto3, 250 Open, Supertwin, Supermono, Supersport 600 cc, Superbike, +Supersport 300, Klasik A/B)
Klasik A are races for Classic bikes from 1945 to 1972
Klasik B are races for Classic bikes from 1973 to 1978
JPHZM = jízda pravidelnosti historických závodních motocyklů = regularity racing of classic motorcycles.
More information on Eva-moto’s website
CAMS Calendar
http://www.motocams.cz/prirodni-okruhy/kalendar-zavodu/
10/12 April 2020 – Jarní cena Brna (circuit)
06/07 June 2020 – Kopčany (Kopčanský Motookruh)
19/21 June 2020 – Trenčín
05/06 September 2020 – Dymokury
Thanks to Eva Koňáková of http://eva-moto.com for all the information about the racing on the Czech calendar.
NEW ZEALAND
North: New Zealand’s Largest Motorcycle Series
https://cemeterycircuit.co.nz/
*26 December 2020: Cemetery Circuit, Wanganui (road race)
South:
*9th February 2020: Burt Munro Challenge: Honda Invercargill Street Race
https://www.burtmunrochallenge.co.nz/home
*25th October 2020: Greymouth Street Race
http://www.greymouthstreetrace.com/
MACAU
19-22 November 2020: Macau Grand Prix (Macau, China)
https://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/en/
Road Racing circuits guide HERE
Ride outs, Trips
150.000 km
In January 2010, my SV and myself celebrated 100.000km together, we had covered them in less tan 5 years.
Life is like a twisty and bumpy road, and the following year, we were leaving Barcelona to go (together) to live in Paris. Although Paris is “glamour” for most people, it’s not the best place to enjoy motorbikes as it’s ALL FLAT, you have to ride for 400km before you find some twisties. So that while living there, the yearly kilometres average went down quite a bit.
In spite of not using it every day, it was when living in Paris that we went furthest away with our bikes until now:
Ireland for our Honeymoon trip –which would change our lives- (click on the pics to access to the corresponding posts)
and the following year to Czech Republic,
and Austria..
We also had some opportunities to discover a little bit of France, mainly the East part:
Reims
and Les Vosges:
area that I didn’t know at all.
In 2015 we moved again, this time to Ireland. During the first year or so, we had good opportunities to keep knowing this beautiful country, with areas we didn’t know yet, including the one where we now live:
East Cork,
West Cork,
Gougane Barra,
Beara,
The Vee,
North Cork,
And also some longer holidays to visit co. Antrim
and Donegal.
From mid-2016, the kilometres then became almost nothing, with the birth of our daughter Emma. In 2015-2016 we did about 5000km, and since then, I’d say about 500 lol .
Anyway, what’s important is not quantity but quality, and even if we didn’t take the bike as much since the 100.000km, we have discovered more distant places with very different people.
So finally, on the first Saturday of September, coming back from having breakfast in Ballyhoura Mountains,
my SV and myself celebrated our 150.000km together.
Since 2010, apart from usual servicing and tyres changing, this is what we did:
-Before leaving Barcelona, we changed the clutch. It was not giving any problem, but it was “just in case” as we didn’t know when we would find a trustful mechanic again.
-On our way to Paris, I changed for the first time the battery. We changed it again in 2017, for lack of use of the bike and probably excess of humidity around.
-For our honeymoon trip we bought a Givi topbox and Givi rigid saddle bags with SV-MOTECH frame, very handy for long trips.
-I changed the rider seat as the padding had been damaged during the ferry trip. I also changed the screen as it had been scratched in 2005, during my stay in sweet Marseille…
-When we arrived in Ireland, I had to change the exhaust seal, as it had completely fallen apart.
-The only recurrent problem I had with the bike in 150.000km was that when it rained A LOT and for a long time, some water would get into the front cylinder sparkplug cavity, and after a while the bike would run on one cylinder and stop. When we arrived in Ireland we changed the sparkplug cap. In the following long trip we did to the North, we had some rain on the way back and I had no problem. Last month on our way back from the Munster 100, Juan rode my bike for 40km under heavy rain and the bike showed no issue.
So given that I don’t use the bike too often, and that when I use it I now try to avoid rainy days, I guess we won’t have the problems for many years now. Lol
-During our Holidays 2016, the bike was refusing to start every now and then. In Ballymoney they diagnosed a fault of the starter motor and told us how to start the bike when that happened as they didn’t have the spares for repairing. When we came back Juan bought the little parts inside the starter motor and repaired it. Working perfect since.
-We removed the heating grips that stopped working a while back, and we put back the original grips. If I’m going to use the bike to do max 500km per year, I don’t think I’ll take her out when it’s too cold outside anyway LOL.
After 150.000km I’ve still no intention of letting her go, I’m still very happy with her and no recent motorbike really attracts me. So even if I only use her for 500km per year, when I do go for a spin I really enjoy every single kilometre.
So now I suppose it will take us a few year to get to celebrate 200.000km, but the objective is just enjoying with her every single kilometre, on nice twisty roads, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and with the best company!
V’s
Road Races
MUNSTER 100 2019
6 years ago we went to our first road race, in Armoy, during our Honeymoon travel. There we bought the “Road Racing Ireland” for the first time. There was a short article on a road race in Cork being cancelled on the day due to heavy rain and track unsuitable for racing.
Who would have told us then that 2 years later we would be living in Cork, and that 5 years later a small group of people would pull together to revive the Munster 100 on the same Glanmire track.
We actually came on board of the organisation late, when a big part of the job of fundraising and looking for sponsors was well advanced, but tried to help as much as possible over the last few months.
This was a lovely experience to become part of this group of passionate and hardworking men, who put a lot of effort and time to get the Munster 100 back on track.
So the racing week-end of our first road race in Cork was lived in a completely different way. From inside and mostly in the paddock. And with very few pictures. But seeing how much time and work has to be put in to get everything needed, the track put together, signage around and close to the track, protections all around, paddock organised, work on entries, passes, lists of stuffs to be done, finding people to do a million of small or big tasks before, during and after the event…
Comes Friday before racing. Paddock is still very quiet, podium is being finished with all sponsors.
Many people working around the track from early morning until late that night. It’s early evening now, paddock is now filling up. I’m there but only baby sitting while Juan is doing his little bit with signage.
For the night we had booked a “VIP” place to stay on the track, very handy with a little girl.
Saturday morning I started “working” while Juan is baby-sitting. I’ve been given a task in the scrutiny tent handing over to the riders or their assistant/mechanics/helper/friend the document that will be signed by the scrutineers. A couple of “moments of panic” lol. Hope I didn’t do too bad.
When I’m finished with my task I get back to my baby-sitting role and Juan is helping at one of the gates.
Practice starts with a slight delay. It’s raining most of the day, practice is untimed.
We are under a tent most of the day, where the merchandising is being sold.
Emma was so nice all day. She had a few “laps” on the carrousel just in front of us, a lovely man taking care of it. And when the rain gave us a break we walked a little around the paddock. One of the riders is selling very nice tracks maps carved in wood to help financing his racing: 108 Art . Giving us ideas for home decoration. 🙂
Practice ended, and they could run the first 2 races, “non championship.” When I heard through the speakers that the first race of the Munster 100 was on, I felt a little emotional to be honest…
After the racing was over, we regrouped for preparing the big day, then Juan, myself and Emma went for some food in Glanmire and we headed back to the B&B for the night.
An early wake on race day for me, back to the scrutiny tent, this time a little more prepared, but also with a slight moment of panic. Lol.
A particular mention there to marshals and other people who came to help over the week-end from other Clubs from different points of Ireland. This IS what makes us so proud of the road racing community, and gets it to move forward. A big “family” in which people always pull together in difficult moments and help each other when needed.
After the job was done, the races order was announced.
and given the forecast, the idea was to get as much racing as possible between 10am and 2pm, as by 3pm there was a huge storm announced…
So I went back to my baby-sitting tasks while Juan was going on duty at one gate.
I tried to get Emma to see some racing as she had enjoyed it so much in Faugheen 2 weeks earlier. It was the Open race, and we went to the gate next to the start/finish. They are very fast there.
So we saw them pass by twice, but she got upset 🙁 . So we had to turn back and to the paddock again.
So for us the rest of the day was spent between the merchandising tent (there were a few showers), the carousel, walking around the paddock, playing with other kids, chatting with the neighbours (the West Cork MCC, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and Road Racing Ireland).
I couldn’t see any racing, just listening to the comments (which were great by the way!). But racing went smoothly all day. The Grand Final was advanced from programme and after a first start was stopped because of rain (typical!). It was restarted a little later and went perfect!
Just around 2.30pm the racing was over!!!
The podium ceremony started shortly after as weather conditions were starting to deteriorate. I was able to stay at the podium taking pics for the first time of the week-end, while Juan had to pack up with a wrecked Emma.
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- Anthony Lillis- Junior Support non championship 3rd
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- Vinny Brennan-Junior Support non championship 2nd
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- John Ella-Junior Support non championship Winner
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- Dermot Cleary, Tommy Henry, John Ella – Senior Support Non Championship
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- Thomas Maxwell- 3rd Open
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- Micko Sweeney- 2nd Open
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- Open- Micko, Derek Sheils, Thomas Maxwell
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- Open- Micko, Derek Sheils, Thomas Maxwell
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- Micko Sweeney & Derek Sheils- Open
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- John O’Donovan- 3rd Senior Support Championship
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- Tommy Henry- 2nd Senior Support Championship
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- Dermot Cleary- Winner Senior Support Championship
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- Philip Shaw- 3rd Classics 250
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- Richard Ford- 2nd Classics 250
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- Brian Mateer- Winner Classics 250
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- Classics 250
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- Sean Leonard – 125
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- Brian Loughlin- 3rd Junior Support Champ.
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- Brian Loughlin, David Howard, RJ Woolsey- Junior Support Championship
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- Brian Loughlin, David Howard, RJ Woolsey- Junior Support Championship
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- Paul Fallon- 3rd 600cc
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- Stephen Casey- 2nd 600cc
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- Micko Sweeney- Winner 600cc
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- Ian Thompson- 3rd Classics 350
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- Ed Manly- Winner Classics 350
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- Barry Davidson, Ed Manly – Classics 350
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- Anthony Lillys- 3rd Junior Support Championship
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- John Ella -2nd Junior Support Championship
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- Vinny Brennan- Winner Junior Support Champ.
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- Vinny Brennan- 3rd Supertwin
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- Darryl Tweed- 2nd Supertwin
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- Darryl Tweed, Micko Sweeney- Supertwin
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- Micko Sweeney- Winner Supertwin
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- Supertwin
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- Billy Lyle- 3rd Classics 500
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- Andy Kildea- 2nd Classics 500
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- Barry Davidson- Winner Classics 500
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- Classics 500
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- Classics 1000- Richard Ford, Ian Thompson, Philip Shaw
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- Classics 1000- Richard Ford, Ian Thompson, Philip Shaw
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- Main Sponsor: Keohane City Mix
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- Stephen Casey- Best Southern rider
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- Stephen Casey- Best Southern rider
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- Micko Sweeney- Man of the Meeting
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- Fastest Lap – Derek Sheils
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- Derek Sheils & Micko Sweeney
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- Micko Sweeney- 2nd Carole Nash GRAND FINAL
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- Derek Sheils- Winner Carole Nash Grand Final
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- Ray Casey- 3rd Carole Nash Grand Final
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- Derek Sheils
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- Carole Nash Grand Final
I joined them back to the B&B to load the car shortly after, and after a while we were on the way back home under pouring rain. Juan on my bike in front got soaked, mainly his waterproof jacket…
But we were SO HAPPY that the rain had waited until racing was over.
This was such a great reward for the people who put so much effort and time in getting the MUNSTER 100 back on the calendar.
I have very few pictures of what I feel I can now call “my local road race”, but I really don’t mind as it was such a lovely experience to live it from inside, and give something back to the sport we love, even if it was not much.
Hope we’ll be able to help a little more next year.
ROLL ON MUNSTER 100 2020!!!
Results of the Munster 100 here.
Many more pics (not mine!) HERE.
And don’t forget to keep updated through the MUNSTER 100 Facebook PAGE or GROUP !
Enjoy!
Road Races
2019 Road Racing Calendar
Here is the 2019 Road Racing Calendar (confirmed dates). 🙂 – Update 01/04/2019 with Scarborough
If you are thinking in attending any, please always check first on the Clubs webpages or facebook before booking anything.
IRELAND (NORTH & REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
*26-27 April 2019: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
*3-4 May 2019: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
*14-18 May 2019: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Porststewart- co. Antrim- Northern Ireland)
*25 May to 7 June 2019: Isle of Man TT (Isle of Man)
*15-16 June 2019: Kells Road Race (Crossakiel- co. Meath- Republic of Ireland)
*28-29 June 2019: Enniskillen Road Race (Enniskillen- co. Fermanagh – Northern Ireland)
https://enniskillenroadraces.co.uk/
*06-07 July 2019: Skerries 100 (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
https://www.skerriesroadraces.com/
*8-11 July 2019: Southern 100 – (Ile de Man)
*13-14 July 2019: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*20-21 July 2019: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
*26-27 July 2019: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
*3-4 August 2019: Munster 100 Road Race (Glanmire – co. Cork – Republic of Ireland)
Munster 100 Motorcycle Road Racing Cork
*8-10 August 2019: International Ulster GP, Dundrod (co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
http://www.ulstergrandprix.net/
*16-30 August 2019: Manx Grand Prix (Isle of Man)
https://www.manxgrandprix.org/
*7-8 September 2019: East Coast Racing Festival (Skerries- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland)
OLIVERS MOUNT RACING- SCARBOROUGH – ENGLAND
27-28 July: Barry Sheene Classic
28-29 September: Gold Cup
IRRC 2019
11-12 May: Hengelo (NL)
14-16 June: Imatra (FI)
13-14 July: Terlicko (CZ)
26-28 July: Chimay (BE)
17-18 August: Hořice (CZ)
21-22 September: Frohburg (DE)
CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA
MMCR Calendar- Upgraded to International championship for 2019
04/05 May 2019 -Staré město (Klasik, PO, SIDE)
18/19 May 2019 – Hořice (PO)
08/09 June 2019 – Jičín (JPHZM, PO – only 125 SP, 50 ccm)
29/30 June 2019 – Radvanice (PO, Klasik, SIDE)
13/14 July 2019 – Těrlicko (IRRC, PO)
27/28 July 2019 – Nepomuk (JPHZM)
17/18 August 2019 – Hořice (IRRC, Klasik, SIDE)
07/08 September 2019 – Branná (JPHZM)
13/15 September 2019 – Hradec Králové (PO, Klasik)
PO = přírodní okruhy = “natural circuits” = races for modern classes like 125 SP, 125 GP + Moto3 + 250 Open, Supertwin, Supermono, 600 cc and +600 cc
PO is also for “speed classic” – normal races for classic bikes.
JPHZM = jízda pravidelnosti historických závodních motocyklů = regularity racing of historical motorcycles.
CAMS Calendar
http://www.motocams.cz/prirodni-okruhy/
12/14 April 2019 – Jarní cena Brna (circuit)
01/02 June 2019 – Kopčany (Kopčanský Motookruh)
05/07 July 2019 – Piešťany (Piešťanský motocyklový klub)
31 August/01st September 2019 – Dymokury
Thanks to Eva Koňáková from http://eva-moto.com for all the information about the road races on the Czech calendar.
OTHERS
14-17 November 2019: Macau Grand Prix (Macau, China)
https://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/en/
NEW ZEALAND
North: New Zealand’s Largest Motorcycle Series
https://cemeterycircuit.co.nz/
*7-8 December 2019: Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park Lake Taupo (circuit)
*14-15 December 2019: Manfeild, Manawatu (circuit)
*26 December 2019: Cemetery Circuit, Wanganui (road race)
South:
*27th October 2019: Greymouth Street Race
http://www.greymouthstreetrace.com/
*9th February 2020: Burt Munro Challenge: Honda Invercargill Street Race
https://www.burtmunrochallenge.co.nz/home
Road Racing circuits guide HERE
Road Races
Our 2018 Road Racing season
2018 road racing season has been a tough one. We lost a few lovely guys, and just couldn’t believe it. It makes everybody wonder about the sport, the security, the guys who risk their lives for their passion. When I get through my pics, only since 2013, there are a few guys missing now, it makes me so sad I’m not able to share them anymore, for now.
It made me also realise that I have mostly pics of road racers on the bikes, very few from the paddock, the human side of road racing. Just because I don’t’ like to bother when I’m around. But then I don’t have the smiley faces part, the nice and friendly side of road racing.
As road racing is not only about lads and lassies who race on the roads, it’s also the friendliest atmosphere in racing. That’s why we first loved it, and why we come back.
So our road racing season 2018 started in Cookstown in April, with Emma being 14 months old, crawling everywhere and starting to try to walk. And mostly wanting to see and touch EVERYTHING. But anyway, we wanted to give it a go.
So we left on a Friday morning from Cork, with the idea to arrive to Cookstown early afternoon, and at least get around the paddock at some point before going to the hotel.
BUT, it didn’t quite go to plan.
We had to stop a first time between Cork and Dublin, and it took us more time than planned.
Then we had to stop in Dublin to pick up a document, which wasn’t too bad as we needed the document anyway and it was on our way, but still it took more time as we had to get into Dublin instead of around.
From the border to the hotel, it was quite easy road as it was all National road. Though our GPS kept sending us through backroads and we got lost. I had to take the map out and was about to throw the GPS away…
So we finally arrived to the hotel around 5.30pm, VERY tired, so we decided it was better to get some rest and didn’t go to the paddock.
On Saturday, the breakfast was at 8am, which is quite late on a race day, if one wants to arrive early to the circuit and park as close as possible.
So we arrived too late as roads were closed, and it was packed with cars. We finally found a place to park, but far away from the circuit, and absolutely not ideal in case of “urgent need” from a little girl. So we had to take everything with us, which for some reason we were not prepared for (it was not our first road race though!), and we ended up with our arms full of shopping bags… which is not quite practical when you want to run between fields between races!
We finally walked to the circuit, and settled on the grandstand in front of the pub. But it was full already, so we couldn’t stand as we wouldn’t allow the people behind to see. So we sat during the first race, with Juan very nervous because he was afraid of Emma falling over, and we didn’t see a thing (a few helmets passing by the hedge…).
For the second race, we left the grandstand and wanted to go to another one where we had been the previous time. Even though we wouldn’t be close to the pub in case of any need (changing nappy, bottle warming…). But we arrived to the gate and the second race was about to start so we had to stay in the field, waiting for the end of the race.
So we put on the floor our waterproof cover with all our stuffs, Emma wanted to crawl on the wet lawn, and I spent the whole race trying her not to do it and get soaked. So I missed the second race too.
Then it started to rain. We sat on the cover under our big umbrella, and waited to see if it would stop. There was no racing because of the rain then.
After a good while, before the 3rd race, we decided that it would probably be a good idea to abandon the idea of seeing any racing, and to go back to the hotel…
It was quite difficult to get the car out of the road where it was parked, some cars were still coming in, and it was so packed on both sides! Which was great for the Club. Unfortunately they had many showers all along the day, and racing was called off before all the programme could be ran, after a few red flags and with worsening weather conditions.
So we went back to the village and the hotel, had some tea and coffee with nice pieces of cake, and gave something to eat to Emma. Then we wandered about in the village, had a nap, had an early dinner in the hotel, and tried to sleep, though it was quite difficult as there was a big party in the pub and our bedroom was just above the party thing… We finally got another quieter room around 11.30pm and could get some sleep.
So basically, we didn’t see any racing but learnt a lot of what not to do when going to a road race with a little girl. The pre-walking stage is probably not the best. We will be more prepared next time, with the old good backpack to put everything, not shopping bags… We will try to make it earlier, and if not possible, we’ll check where to park so we can come and go without being stuck inside the circuit. Next time we will get a B&B, not a pub with rooms, it’s not the first time it happens to us, and it seems that we don’t learn lol.
The months of May and June went by with the NW200 and the TT and we had a thought of going to Skerries but finally couldn’t make it. Between the TT, Skerries and the Southern 100 we lost some of the best road racers and all lovely men. It was a tough series of months for the road racing community.
We couldn’t make it to Walderstown either as it was too far and we were still not prepared, but we did venture to Faugheen on the week-end of 21-22 July. This was the closest race to our home.
We only left home on the Sunday morning, it was quite warm as had been all the month of July. Emma only fell asleep half an hour before arriving.
When we arrived the road was closed but we could still walk around the circuit. The best thing with a 16 months old at Faugheen was that we could get access from the carpark to several viewpoints and to the paddock without having to get on the road, but through back fields, which is VERY handy when you are with a buggy and a sleepy little girl. A huge thanks to the Club and the fields owners for giving that option.
We arrived early enough to get a space in one of those truck trailers in the field next to the paddock. While we were waiting for the racing to start we had to take Emma by turns for getting some walk around the field and keeping her busy reading the programme (she loves bikes magazines). We also had time to have an early lunch.
The racing started with some delay, we learnt afterwards that a man had a heart attack in the paddock and luckily was attended by the medical team.
Then finally racing started. And the first race was a really nice one, we enjoyed one at last after such a long break! So we watched the race and I took loads of pics, so many that I hardly saw the race itself, and Derek McGee won (as so many times this season), and we had nice wheelies from him and Brian McCormack.
Brian Mc Cormack
Davey Todd
Micko Sweeney
Thomas Maxwell
Paul Jordan
Kevin Fitzpatrick
Forest Dunn
Paul Fallon & Damian Horan
Dave Murphy
Noel Carroll
Derek Mc Gee
Davey Todd
Kevin Fitzpatrick
Dave Murphy
Derek Mc Gee
Brian Mc Cormack
Thomas Maxwell
Kevin Fitzpatrick
Thomas Maxwell
Thomas Maxwell & Paul Jordan
Micko Sweeney
Brian Mc Cormack
Derek Mc Gee
Think Emma liked it also, though it was starting to get very warm, with the sun getting in our faces now and there was no airflow inside the trailer.
After the first race as it was too warm in there, we decided to go for a walk around the paddock and see if Emma would get some sleep in the buggy.
While the 125cc race was on its way we went to the paddock, bought the new “Support Faugheen 50” tee-shirts, went around the racers outfits and watched a little bit of the next race from a gate where we couldn’t see much but oh my are they fast there!!!
We didn’t remember how fast they go, as since 2016 we haven’t been at any fast viewing point.
As it was starting to be very warm and Emma was getting grumpy and needed some sleep, we went back to the car through the back fields and after a short walk to have a look at the spectators bikes (and a sidecar…), we finally left.
It was a very short racing day but we were happy to have made it again, and we had been bettering off our performance compared to Cookstown! 😉
For next year we still have to figure out how to organise ourselves to go to more than one race, and actually watch some racing lol.
But Emma will be bigger by then, probably will need no more bottle, hopefully no more nappies, and will eat mostly like us, so it should get a little easier on the logistics part!
This year we couldn’t meet any rider either, we hope next year we’ll be able to have more time around the paddocks, and get back to have some chats with them.
2018 road racing season has been a tough one on racers and organisers, it’s just over now with the East Coast Motorbike Festival in Killalane that closed the season incident free.
Roll on 2019! Hopefully see you around a few paddocks!
Ride outs
Back in the saddle
After 1 year and 8 months without riding my bike because of pregnancy and then because of lack of sleep and its corresponding lack of energy, here we are with the motorbike prepared by Juan. We had planned that, if weather was good on Saturday, I would go for a spin with my bike.
On Saturday, after a full night sleep (which was brand new in the last one year and something), we woke up with a sunny morning and nice temperature, and with no wind.
After having our breakfast, Juan went for a short spin to make sure that my bike’s brakes were working fine, and then when he came back and said it was all ok, I went to put on my “biker clothes”, for the first time since July 2016!
The difference between “before Emma”, is that now, while I was dressing up, I could hear the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star…”
The big question was if I would still know how to ride a bike…
As it was the first time in a long while without riding the bike, the idea was that I would go with the bike, and Juan would follow with the car and Emma. Emma loves to go in the car.
Once we were all ready to go, I put on my helmet, and Emma found that funny, she put on her funny face and started laughing.
At last we went. Apart from a small incident in the first crossroad, when I forgot to put on first gear and went in neutral (road is going down), wondering why the bike wouldn’t work properly, then everything went back to normal and I could ride “automatically”, without having to think about it.
After a few kilometres on lovely backroads going nowhere really, we arrived in Mallow and followed the road to “Ballyhoura Mountains”.
After the snow and rain of the past few weeks, some roads had many potholes, and could be quite dirty on the tractors path. We always have to be careful.
That road is very nice, between forest and mountains covered in brownish and yellow velvet at that time of the year. The green velvet will come back later in the year.
After leaving the forest road, we stopped to take pictures of the mountains on the other side of the valley, with some remaining snow at the top. I had THAT SMILE back on my face. Emma had fallen asleep. And Juan, who was the camera keeper, also had THAT SMILE on his face.
We followed suit that road which then goes down. Until Ardpatrick, where there is a nice coffee shop where they serve a lovely Irish Breakfast until noon, and then lovely soup and sandwiches menus. It was later than noon, but they still had some food to make breakfast so Juan went for an Irish Breakfast, and I had soup and ham and cheese toasted sandwich. Emma had some of my soup and a big part of my sandwich…
Once batteries recharged, we went back, through another road which I don’t have a clue where it goes through, as we got lost on backroads and Juan finally had to turn on the GPS to avoid ending up in Tipperary lol. As most GPS in Ireland, the GPS was taking us to a main road, and at the first backroad turn, it would indicate to take the backroad instead of staying on the main road… backroads which were in quite bad conditions at that time of the year. But lovely sights though… 😉
After a few more kilometres we arrived home. It was still early as we didn’t do many kilometres, but they were enough to get that big motorbiking smile on our faces.
The next day it was Juan’s turn to go with the bike, while Emma and myself would take some rest.
So that’s the plan for now on the sunny days… To take the bike by turn. We’d just like Emma not to hate motorbikes for feeling abandoned when we go with the bikes. We’ll see if it works out! 😉
After a 20 months break, MariCel is back on her bike!
🙂
