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!
🙂
MariCel with no bike
Holidays with no bike – Christmas 2017
It’s that time of the year when the Cribs are set,
the streets are enlightened with Christmas decorations and we can feel that festive atmosphere in the cold air of the streets, and here we go, the 3 of us, for the first time on a long trip.
Well, we had already taken a plane the 3 of us in September…
But this time, as we can’t get the side-car yet (Emma is too small), it is by car that we start our 2 weeks long road trip (first time are always big adventures!).
We start with a few hours by car up to Dublin, where we take a ferry. In the ferry Emma seems to enjoy the scenery, and then crawls around between the tables (mostly empty) of the ferry lounge (well then, the carpets were not very clean though… lol).
We disembark in Holyhead, it looks like we are in Wales, as the names seem absolutely impossible to pronounce… And here we start our crossing of the UK. We stop for the night in Stafford, a hotel we booked from the ferry, very nice and comfy and very cheap.
The next day we go on, to get to the Eurotunnel. We arrive there 2 hours before the booking time, so we have to pay a supplement if we want to take a train before the one we booked. As there is a delay in all trains, the sooner we get in the queue, the sooner we’ll be on the other side. So here we are in those giant wagons below the English Channel. If we think about it, it IS really a masterpiece of engineering. But Emma wasn’t too bothered about it lol .
Once in France, and as we lost one hour under the Channel, we try to go as far as possible, and we stop for the night in Reims, with nothing to declare.
The following day we have a very long road at sight, and it becomes even longer with a huge traffic jam close to Valence. We are stuck in traffic for 2h30 (1 hour announced on the signage).
We finally get to our destination around 10pm, where we will spend one week of rest and family time.
On the way back we make a few stops for friends and family.
We spend the New Year’s Eve in Beaune, town we chose randomly on airbnb, and that happens to be a lovely town where it would be worth spending some more days for tourism.
After 2 other stops to visit family and friends, here we are again in the Eurotunnel (on time), just after a big storm that went across France, UK and Ireland. We go through England and Wales at once. Traffic is quite heavy but funnily people drive quite well and there is hardly any traffic jam. We arrive to Holyhead around 9pm.
The day after we take the ferry, which rocks Emma to sleep, and makes me half seasick (only “half” thanks to the pills). We get to Dublin and after a few hours drive here we are back in our Home Sweet Home. And under the Sun, it’s important to say it! We were very lucky as the day before all ferries had been cancelled because of the storm!
Noteworthy:
*English people “stealing” our old carts 😉
*the Customs agents who congratulate Juan for the car boot being so well organised lol
*the restaurants and shopping centres in France absolutely unprepared to go with babies (no changing facilities, no highchairs). Which is quite strange as France is the European country with the highest birth rate…
*we now know by heart all the nursery rhymes in French and Spanish lol
*Emma has been through the 4200km in 2 weeks without any problem. Yeah !
Road Races
2018 Road Racing Calendar
Here is the 2018 Road Racing Calendar (update 03/02/2018).
Even if most dates are confirmed, ALWAYS check on the official site of the event before booking.
Always remember that it is important that the fans participate as much as possible in the funding effort, paying the entry fee and/or buying a programme, or using the carparks organised for the events. Also anybody can become a member of any club organising a road race.
IRELAND (NORTH and REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
*27-28 April 2018: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
*4-5 May 2018: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
*15-19 May 2018: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Porststewart- co. Antrim- Northern Irleand)
*26 May to 8 June 2018: Isle of Man TT (Ile de Man)
*23-24 June 2018: Kells Road Race (Crossakiel- co. Meath- Republic of Ireland)
*29-30 June 2018: Enniskillen road race (Enniskillen- co. Fermanagh- Northern Ireland)
*7-8 July 2018 (it will be Saturday/Sunday): Skerries 100 (Loughshinny- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
http://www.loughshinnymotorcycleclub.com/
*9-12 July 2018: Southern 100 – (Ile de Man- Billown Circuit)
*14-15 July 2018: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*21-22 July 2018: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
*27-28 July 2018: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
*5-11 August 2018: International Ulster GP, Dundrod (co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
http://www.ulstergrandprix.net/
*8-9 September 2018 (TBC): East Coast Motorcycle Festival, Killalane (co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland)
East Coast Motorcycling (Facebook page)
The Mid Antrim 150 Club has confirmed that unfortunately they will not be able to hold a road race in 2018. But they hope to be back in 2019.
UNITED KINGDOM
SCARBOROUGH- OLIVER’S MOUNT CIRCUIT (North Yorkshire – England)
*Spring Cup: 21-22 April 2018
*Cock O’ the North: 23-24 June 2018
*Barry Sheene Festival: 28-29 July 2018
*International Gold Cup Road Races: 22-23 September 2018
http://oliversmountracing.com/
CANCELLED 🙁 (03/02/18) WELSH ROAD RACE – Mynydd Eppynt Circuit – (Wales) – The organisers are working hard for 2019: welshroadrace.com
IRRC 2018
5-6 May 2018: Hengelo (NL)
16-17 June 2018: Terlicko (CZ)
6-8 July 2018: Imatra (FI)
27 -29 July 2018: Chimay (BE)
18-19 August 2018: Hořice (CZ)
22-23 September 2018: Frohburg (DE)
CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA- Provisional
There are other road races in Czech Republic, apart from Horiçe and Terlicko where there will be IRRC races in 2018 (see above IRRC section).
Thanks to Eva Koňáková from https://silnicnimotorky.cz/sport/road-racing for all the information, and for allowing me to use her calendar and the circuits maps for my Road Racing Circuits Guide.
Thanks to http://www.czechroadracing.cz/ for their help also.
Motorclub CAMS is running 4 races in 2018 (CZ & SK):
http://www.motocams.cz/prirodni-okruhy/aktuality/1370
*6-8 April 2018: Jarní cena Brna, Automotodrom Brno (not road) CZ
*2-3 June 2018: Kopčanský motookruh, Kopčany, SK
https://silnicnimotorky.cz/sport/road-racing/kopcany-2017-preview-harmonogram/
*6-8 July 2018: Velká cena Piešťan, letiště Piešťany, SK
https://silnicnimotorky.cz/sport/road-racing/velka-cena-piestan-2017-preview-harmonogram/
*1- 2 September 2018: Dymokurský okruh, Dymokury, CZ
https://silnicnimotorky.cz/sport/road-racing/dymokury-2017-preview-harmonogram/
Motorclub AUTOCLUB CZ is running the others (all CZ):
*19-20 May 2018: 300 zatáček Gustava Havla, Hořice (300 curves of Gustav Havel)
http://www.amkhorice.cz/en/races/300-curves/
*TBC: Hradec Králové (airport)
*16-17 June 2018: Těrlicko (IRRC) www.irrc.eu
*14-15 July 2018: Radvanice https://silnicnimotorky.cz/sport/road-racing/radvanice-2017-preview-harmonogram/
*18-19 August 2018: Česká TT + IRRC Hořice http://www.amkhorice.cz/en/races/czech-tt / www.irrc.eu
NEW ZEALAND
26 December 2018: Cemetery Circuit, Wanganui
Reminder: List of the Circuits HERE
Road Races
Armoy 2017
This past year I haven’t been very active with the blog as I have been many months without taking the bike. The cause of it was of a little human being who was growing during 8 months and then landed in our lives mid February. Emma, a gorgeous little girl (of course! 🙂 ).
So the bike stuff was temporarily put apart, and between nights without sleeping and another nights without sleeping, we didn’t find any energy to go to the first road races of the season. Apart from the fact that we thought that she was a little bit small to take her on walks across the fields under the rain (which happens pretty much in road racing in Ireland…).
But finally we decided to give it a go when the stars finally got aligned, probably because of the luck of the Irish. We had thought to go to Armoy, or well, we had thought that it would be very nice if the road race which was our first one could also be our daughter’s first road race. While we were thinking about how to go to watch a road race with a 5 months old baby, 2 things happened: they reopened the Pub that had been closed for about 2 years in Armoy’s village, and this pub “The Armada Inn” was now also offering bedrooms as “Bed and Breakfast”. I contacted them but they were full. A couple of months after, for whatever reason, they had some rooms available again. We didn’t think it twice, it was our opportunity! I called and booked a room for our short holidays. A room with some space for a travel cot, and with a view to the circuit! Better than a 5 stars VIP Pass!!!
We arrived on Thursday afternoon, on time for the classic bikes show. We also had some time to spend in the Club shop to buy some merchandising, as the one we had from our first year were quite worn out… We also bought the programme. And we had a nice chat with 2 of the Club ladies who minded the shop.
A little bit later we had our first “Irish Stew” in the village coffee room, very good and at a good price too.
After that we went to the room to watch the parade lap of the classic bikes. Emma seemed to like it.
On Friday morning, after the typical “Ulster Fry”,
we went for a walk to the paddock. It was a little bit muddy because of the showers, but it would get worse later. We went twice around the paddock but couldn’t find Andy Farrell’s team.
But we did meet with Yvonne Montgomery who was recovering from her accident in Skerries at the beginning of the month, she was walking with crutches but was talking about racing at the UlsterGP 15 days later (!!!) .
We saw a few racers like Davy Morgan and Michael Dunlop, but I had forgotten my camera in the B&B and with the phone the result wasn’t too good.
After the second round we went back to the village where we met with a very nice couple from Barcelona, Spain, Montse and Randy, who had contacted me and who were coming to Ireland on holidays on their bikes, and were also taking the opportunity to watch their first road race. We had a coffee and a nice chat until they left to find a place to spectate before the road closure.
And the practice started. What a privilege to be able to follow all the practice sessions from the bedroom window, without having to worry if the baby needed eating, changing, sleeping, or whatever… She took her nap as usual (even with the classic bikes practice going on…), she had her lunch watching the bikes by the window… I think that without this option we wouldn’t have enjoyed much. We had bought ear protectors for babies and they didn’t seem to bother her at all…
The practice sessions went on, starting with the Newcomers. This year Patricia Fernandez from the United States was a newcomer in Armoy.
The female racers weren’t many this time as Yvonne was injured, and Veronika couldn’t go on with the Irish season after Cookstown. But Melissa Kennedy was there with her Moto3.
The practice sessions were stopped at time because of the rain,
and also there was a red flag because of spectators in prohibited area.
Forest Dunn & Andy Farrell
Adam McLean
Forest Dunn
Michael Dunlop
After the practice sessions, they started with the races, the first being the Senior Support won by Adam Lyon *29, second Joe Loughlin *150 and third David Howard *4.
Then there was the first Supersport one, which was stopped a first time because of an incident (without consequences) involving Paul Jordan and Adam McLean.
Then it was restarted, but stopped again after a few laps because Michael Dunlop’s engine blew up.
As it was late and the road had to be checked and so, the race wasn’t restarted. The final result was given later, won by Derek McGee 86, second Davey Todd *174 and third Christian Elkin *8.
On Saturday race day we had an early breakfast and also a nice chat with the amateur photographer John Condie. Then we waited for the road closure.
The races started and followed as this:
Junior Support: 1- Joe Loughlin *27, 2- Marc Ironside *151, 3- Glenn Walker *44
Moto3/125: Christian Elkin *8, Adam Mc Lean *56
Supersport 2: 1 Michael Dunlop, 2 Derek McGee, 3 James Cowtown *52
Classics: 1- Ed Manly*66, 2- Wattie Brown *10, 3- Barry Davidson *40
Open 201-1010cc: 1-Michael Dunlop, 2- Derek McGee, 3-William Dunlop
Lightweight: 250cc Neil Kernohan *109 and Brian Harding *59
400cc: Darryl Tweed, Callum Laidlaw, Seamus Elliott
Poor Paul Gartland *28 got several times black flag over the week-end because of his exhaust pipe…
Supertwin: 1-McGee, 2-Adam McLean 3- James Cowtown
Senior Support: 1-Joe Loughlin 2-Adam Lyon 3-David Howard
Race of Legends: 1-Michael Dunlop (seven times in a raw), 2-William Dunlop 3-Micko Sweeney
Adam Mc Lean
Derek Mc Gee saving his back tyre
James Cowton
McGee, William Dunlop, Micko Sweeney
Melissa Kennedy 
Michael Dunlop
William Dunlop
There were also a few showers during the day, which always make it difficult for the organisers. Even though, they were able to complete the full programme and end the races around 5pm.
We met a couple of times over the day with Montse and Randy, one of them it was during a race, and I got so nervous for not being able to take pictures that they might have thought I was completely mad…
After the last race, we had an early dinner and then said goodbye.
We left the next day after breakfast, while outside they were working hard to take away all bales and protections and give back to the village its face of 360 days a year.
Of course we first took a lap around the circuit, Emma’s first lap ever around Armoy circuit! 🙂
It was so great to be able to watch the races from the room, with such a small baby I don’t think we would have enjoyed the races from the usual spectating places, even with the car close by.
Next year she will be bigger and even if we will have to change some things in our way of spectating, I think we will be able to watch races not from a “Mega VIP” place.
In any case we were very happy to be able to watch Armoy road races this year, and that Armoy was also Emma’s first road race was very special.
It’s also funny that now I have a baby, I can see that there are many people who go watch road racing with their children, even quite small. There is a future for road racing spectators for sure! 🙂
See you in 2018!
Road Races
Road Races for “Newcomers”
Following the cancellation of Kells Road Race last year, I thought that it might be good to explain some things about road racing, for people who come to spectate for the first time. The information is based on my short experience of road racing in Ireland (North & South).
*They are organised by clubs, not to make money but by passionate people to allow the fans to watch the best racing by passionate riders. Clubs are happy if they can cover the huge costs. If there is some money left, it is kept for the following year.
*Except for the 2 International races and Armoy, they don’t receive public funds.
*They are mostly financed by sponsoring, the entry fee from the riders and the price of the ticket (if any) and/or programme sale. Some also with some merchandising. Please always pay the ticket (if any) and/or BUY A PROGRAMME! There is the information on the racers and most of the times some great articles to get some entertainment when no racing is on.
*The insurance cost to cover the event is huge. And has to be paid even if one day is cancelled.
*Some clubs have to stop organising during 1 or 2 years due to financial reasons if one year funds are not enough (cancellation or too few people, mainly due to bad weather).
*In case of the event is cancelled, there is no “money back”. The price of the entry is very CHEAP for 2 days watching the best racing; real fans have to understand that some costs are fix costs, with or without the event running. If you don’t want to “take the risk” to “pay for nothing”, then better to stay at home if they plan a rainy day.
*The national road races are very cheap, they are about 10€/10£ per day, with programme at 5-10€/£. Sometimes you may have to pay for carpark (not all), for 5€/£. In some you have optional access to grandstand for about 5€/£. Knowing that you are going to be watching the best racing in the world, it is VERY CHEAP. And the money you spend will be used to run the event and allow this great sport to keep going.
*The organisation is done by VOLUNTEERS, who give their personal time to prepare the races during several months for the administrative part (getting authorisations, finding sponsors, attracting riders…), and weeks to prepare the track (hedges cutting, mark prohibited areas, put on the grandstands, prepare the paddock, put the protection bales around the circuit, etc.).
*There is a great lot of PEOPLE (professionals and prepared personnel) involved, volunteers as the traveling marshals, the flag marshals around the circuits, the Medical team (including traveling doctor), etc. And not to forget the emergency teams: ambulances, firemen, helicopter, and the police.
Traveling Marshals (Kells 2016)
Flag Marshal (Cookstown 2016)
Traveling Doctor (Doctor Fred McSorley- Armoy 2015)
Helicopter (Kells 2015)
*Some practical advice (Irish people can skip the first 2 advice as for what we saw around he circuits, they seem to be quite “badweatherproof” 😉 )
-Take some warm clothes, hat and/or baseball cap, some suncream (sometimes it’s sunny!), and an umbrella (big and strong). In Ireland the weather is very changeable, and personally we like to be ready for any eventuality… I don’t like to be wet 😉 .
(Walderstown 2016)
–Waterproof boots. Many times we have to cross fields to get around the circuit when the roads are closed, and they might become quite muddy in case of rain. Better to keep the feet dry.
-If you have room for it, camping seats for resting. (If no room, a big strong plastic bag may do!).
-We usually bring some water and dry fruits in case there is no catering where we chose to watch. We usually start the day with a full Irish breakfast, which helps to hold most of the day if there is no food available around.
-If you come with smallies, it’s highly recommended to use ear protectors adapted to their small ears.
And most important:
–Always respect what the marshals say, respect the prohibited areas, it is a dangerous sport and a sliding bike can cover several hundreds of metres before stopping.
–Do not cross the road in places where there are no marshals to inform when it is safe to cross. NEVER cross the road when racing/practice has started.
–Always respect the fields and fences: they are all private properties the landowners accept to put at the public disposal for a week-end. Pick up your wastes and put them in the bins.
(Skerries 2016 – it was not very warm as you can see 😀 )
-If possible, avoid red clothes to avoid confusion with red flags (yeah, I know, I have to change my jacket… lol).
-If you take pictures, don’t use the flash (which will be useless anyway) as it may blind the riders. If you use a selfie stick, use it with common sense so that it won’t be dangerous for the riders.
-Drones are prohibited around the circuit for obvious security reasons (apart from the legal ones).
-With a little bit of common sense and good mood, you will have a great time for sure, whatever the weather conditions…
If you think about any additional advice or information, feel free to tell me in the comments!
V’s
Road Races
2017 Road Racing Calendar
Here is the 2017 season Road Racing Calendar.
In Ireland (North and South) this year the clubs have to face very high increase in insurance prices to cover the events.
When publishing this post, it has been confirmed that Killalane Road Race won’t be held in September for this reason.
Update 06/02/2017: The Club just confirmed that they won’t be able to organise the races in 2017 for not being able to finance the high insurance cost. 🙁
Update 12/04/2017: there will be a race on Killalane circuit at the same date as previous one, organised by a new club. A very good news for road racing.
It is very important for the fans who want to keep going to those fabulous events to participate as much as they can to the financial effort of the clubs, paying the entry fee (when there is) and/or buying a program. Also using the car parks can help.
We can also contribute by becoming a member of one of the Clubs organising those events.
IRELAND (NORTH & REPUBLIC) & ISLE OF MAN (chronological order)
*21-22 April 2017: Tandragee 100 (Tandragee- co. Armagh- Northern Ireland)
*28-29 April 2017: Cookstown 100 (Cookstown- co. Tyrone- Northern Ireland)
*10-14 May 2017: Northwest 200 (Coleraine-Portrush-Porststewart- co. Antrim- Northern Irleand)
*27 May to 9 June 2017: Isle of Man TT (Ile de Man)
*30 June/1 July 2017: Skerries 100 (Loughshinny- co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland):
http://www.loughshinnymotorcycleclub.com/
*8-9 July 2017: Walderstown “Race of the South” (co. Westmeath – Republic of Ireland)
*10-13 July 2017: Southern 100 – (Ile de Man)
*22-23 July 2017: Faugheen 50 Road Race (co. Tipperary – Republic of Ireland)
*28-29 July 2017: Armoy Road Races (Armoy – co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
*8-12 August 2017: International Ulster GP, Dundrod (co. Antrim – Northern Ireland)
http://www.ulstergrandprix.net/
*10-11 September 2017: Milverton road races, Killalane (co. Dublin – Republic of Ireland)
East Coast Motorcycling (Facebook page)
ENGLAND
SCARBOROUGH- OLIVER’S MOUNT CIRCUIT (North Yorkshire – England)
*Spring Cup: 22-23 April 2017
*Cock O’ the North: 24-25 June 2017
*Barry Sheene Race & Rally Festival: 22-23 July 2017
*International Gold Cup Road Races: 23-24 September 2017
http://oliversmountracing.com/
IRRC 2017
6-7 May: Hengelo (NL)
7-9 July: Imatra (FI)
21-23 July: Chimay (BE)
19-20 August: Schleiz (DE)
26-27 August: Hořice (CZ)
23-24 September: Frohburg (DE)
Reminder: Circuits guide here
Road Races
Ulster GP 2016
Last Saturday was our first time at the Ulster GP. The Ulster GP starts on Wednesday with Practice, follows on Thursday with the so-called “Dundrod 150”, and finally on Saturday are the “big races” as Ulster GP. As we couldn’t take any day off, we left on Friday after work and arrived in Belfast around 9pm.
As we didn’t know the circuit nor knew how it worked to pay an so, and we didn’t have anything booked, we woke up early on Saturday. We shouldn’t have worried because it is organised much like the national Road Races. I mean that you can pay your ticket where they close the road, and BUY A PROGRAM. It costed 25£ per person (includes Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday) and the program 5£. We arrived around 8h am, found a car park close to the paddock, not quite cheap but very well situated.
Our friend Mark from Skerries had sent us a map of the circuit with several good view points to watch the races.
After parking the car we went tot the paddock. There were so many teams that it was difficult to find the “small” ones. We tried to find Yvonne Montgomery, without success.
We had a look around the big teams also, and met with the nice couple we had known in Armoy during the NorthWest 200, and also got across Baylon, the photographer of Irish race photography. The truth is that the world of Road Races is a small one, and as a big family. We have only been to a dozen of races and every time we meet with known persons (who remember us also). I love it.
When we were leaving the paddock we also went across Mark from Skerries, and then went to The Quarries, one of the points he had recommended. We were lucky enough to find a spot just behind the fence. It is better to arrive early enough if you want to get a good spot, mainly if you want to take pictures.
It was sunny that day but the temperature was quite low for being August… well, something quite usual in Ireland in general.
After a short while they closed the road and the day started with the races: Superstock, Supersport, Ultralightweight/Lightweight (125/Moto3, 250GP, 400 & 450cc). There was also a Superpole and a parade lap with Bruce Anstey with the la YZR 500 (there is no graphic proof of that, he was too fast lol).
For the first 2 races the big screen in front of us didn’t work. Then it got fixed.
Then the day proceeded with Superbike, Supersport, Supertwin and Superbike final races.
Michael Dunlop
Derek Sheils
Dan Kneen
Hutchy & Dan Kneen
Rob Barber
Hutchy, Dan Kneen, Michael Dunlop
Conor Cummins
Xavier Denis
Bruce Anstey & Michael Dunlop
Bruce Anstey
Dani Cooper & Bruce Anstey
Davy Morgan
Fabrice Miguet – MIG
Most of the races were quite close racing, with many overtakings. It was quite amazing to see them on the Quarries bend. The day went by without any major incident and with a new circuit record by Ian Hutchinson who did a 134.089mph lap (the previous record was by Bruce Anstey who did 133.977mph in 2010).
It was definitely Hutchy’s day as he won 4 races: the 2 Superbike races, 1 Supersport race and the Superstock race.
There was another record broken by Patricia Fernández (from USA) for the fastest woman rider at UlsterGP, with an average speed of 118.264mph in Supersport.
The previous record was held by Maria Costello, who was racing in Superstock and Supertwin.
There were other women: Veronika Hancocyova (Czech Republic) in Lightweight and Supertwin, Melissa Kennedy in Moto3, Yvonne Montgomery in Lightweight, and Sarah Boyes in Ultralightweight (I have no picture of her)
Yvonne Montgomery
Veronika Hancocyova
Melissa Kennedy
We stayed at the same fence all day. The truth is that it was a good point to see some good race action, take pictures and follow the race on the big screen (when it started working).
It was over around 5.00pm (actually with a red flag), the truth is that the races were quite intense and thrilling, and even with some breaks between races, the day went by very fast.
We had a great experience at the Ulster GP, as it is the same family atmosphere and organisation as the National ones, adding the best racers together, on a longer and faster track (the fastest).
The truth is that next year it will be difficult to chose between Armoy and the UlsterGP! There are only 15 days between the 2 and it is difficult to go to both… we’ll see!
This year unfortunately the UlsterGP was the last road race of the year in Ireland, as the Loughshinny Club announced they cancelled Killalane Road Race which used to close the season mid-September.
It’s a pity, we hope they will solve the problems and will come back stronger next year, with Skerries and Killalane.
This is it for our 2016 road racing season, See you in 2017 and beyond!
Ride outs
The Vee
That June Sunday morning we were to meet with Finbarr and Jim for a bike spin. Juan & myself got prepared and went for an Irish breakfast in a place we discovered in town. At 11’am we were at the filling station with Finbarr, waiting for Jim who was waiting for his bike key, which was in the washing machine… 😀
Finally we left through Midleton, then up to Lismore where we had a first stop for a Coke/tarts/tea/coffee. Then we stopped down the village on the bridge with nice views over the castle.
It’s a very nice place, beautiful castle, the gardens are opened to the public. After a short pics break we headed to the left after the bridge, direction “The Vee”.
The road to get there is beautiful, not too large but the tarmac is good. Unfortunately we ended up behind a fuel truck with no room to overtake for a while. The road was nice anyway, under the trees along a river for the first part. Then you get to the “mountain” part with nice views of the mountains on each side.
We stopped at a first car park. From there there is a walk down to a nice lake and another walk up the mountain (not with bike gear…).
Then we went on to another car park with views to the lake. It was a rather cloudy day but even with not much light Ireland is so beautiful with her 40 shades of Green.
Then we went on for another stop before a big hairpin, already on our way down. As it was quite overcast the view didn’t go far, but it was very nice anyway.
We went down the mountains and started to head back, but Finbarr’s GPS wouldn’t stop taking us through back roads lol … and at one point it was too bad for me, with mud and small stones and I wouldn’t go further. Finbarr & Jim wanted to go to a pub nearby to watch the second half of Ireland-France as Ireland was leading 1-0, so we turned back through the main road and finally found a pub to watch the rest of the match.
Then we headed back home through Youghal & Midleton.
Such a nice spin on nice roads.
So nice that the following Sunday, back from Skerries road race, we had a late waking up, went for breakfast and headed back to Lismore & The Vee through the same roads. We didn’t stop as much to take pics but had a very nice spin. The weather was beautiful, bathed in beautiful sunshine and warm. The view at the lake was still a little bit cloudy on the mountain part,
but then at the hairpin we stopped for a good while as the view was very clear all around.
Also a group of bikes coming up informed us very nicely that there was a speed trap down the road in the village… which probably avoided a fine to us and the 2 other bikes who came behind us…
On our way home we stopped in Ardfinnan for an ice cream and refreshment in the lovely gardens.
And then we followed with another stop in the Harbour of Dungarvan
where there is a castle
and also a memorial to all Waterford Men fallen in the Continent during WWI
So sad to see so many lives lost 🙁 .
It was a beautiful spin, with nice roads and not much traffic…
For sure we will head back from time to time!
Thanks to our nice guide showing us beautiful roads and places around!
V’s
Road Races
Skerries 100 – 2016
Saturday was our first time at the Skerries 100 road races.
It was the only race in the South that is run on Friday for practice and Saturday for the races, as in the North. All other Southern road races are on Saturday-Sunday.
This year the Skerries 100 celebrated their 70th birthday- without interruption. The club organising now is Loughshinny Motorcycle Club since 1987, but from 1946 to 1986 it was organised by the Dublin & District Motorcycle Club. In 1987 the Loughshinny MCC who had been helping the D&DMCC in the setting of the circuit for the previous 8 years, bravely took over the organisation of the Skerries 100 in spite of already organising Killalane Road Race held in September on a close-by circuit.
Running a road race is quite costly, this year organising the Skerries 100 costed 120000EUR, a big part of it being the insurance. Road races have some good sponsoring, but if you really enjoy road racing and want it to go on, it is important to participate with the costs paying the entry fee and buying the programme.
This year price was 20EUR per person including a very nice programme with very nice articles about the Event history (including the information above), memories of ex competitors, photographer, etc… a very entertaining piece of writing.
But let’s come back to our experience. As we can’t take all the racing Fridays off, we missed practice day and left on Friday after work, and arrived late to the hotel close to Dublin. Early morning we left to arrive before road closure (9.00am). The GPS brought us easily to the circuit where we paid the entry and had 2 nice programmes (that way, everyday of the following week we both have entertaining reading for breakfast without any fighting 🙂 ).
We found a place to park and walked to the paddock for some breakfast, buy Skerries tee-shirts and say hello to Andy Farrell.
Then we headed to Sam’s Leap from where we would start the day. While waiting for the start we came across Mark, whom we had met in Armoy last year and who had introduced us to Andy Farrell. We were happy to see him again and he came back later and took Juan with him to show him other nice viewing spots.
The races started in the planned order, we were on the straight line after the tunnel, with a small leap, before a corner and the chicane before the finish. They were quite fast at that point but we could take some good pics.
William Dunlop
Derek Sheils
Steven Tobin
Michael & William Dunlop
Neil Kernohan
Davy Morgan
Seamus Elliott
Before the 600 Irish Championship race we moved back to the start/finish from where we watched the Start. Impressive.
I did a short video with the phone, from my husband’s shoulders (thanking him again from here for his cooperation 😉 as it might not have been the best race watching for him at that moment LOL ).
Skerries 2016 – Supersport Start
Still have to improve my video skills, but I’ll get there some day 😉 .
After the start we kept moving to the next barrier, from where we watched the race from a different view. It was nice to see a happy face there.
The Marshalls lead and/or follow the riders during practice, warm-up laps and first lap, and then stop at some points of the circuits ready to go in case of incident. They are doing a great job and are quite fast too! They are also checking the circuit conditions, which were quite changing over all the day, mainly in the afternoon. We could see the next shower coming, and had almost a shower between each race.
So between races we moved to a field after Finnegan’s Corner (named after Martin Finnegan, local road racer who raced and won many races before being tragically killed in Tandragee due to a brake failure).
The field had not been harvested yet, and the owners were kind enough to let people along. A pity that there are always a few who don’t care about others’ property (and business) and didn’t respect the “keep out of the crops” signs.
It was a strange place to watch as we were behind thick hedges but lower than the road. The view was amazing, and so close!
Parade Lap – Baylon Mc Caughey with Derek Sheils bike.
Baylon manages the Facebook group irishracephotography with all hot news about road racing, the racers, the teams and with many pics. Highly recommended for road racing lovers.
Parade Lap – a Rudge
Then we moved further along that same field, we had to wait for a shower to pass and watched the 600 B race,
Andy Farrell
and then moved to a field in front, at Joey’s Sweep, where there was a grandstand and also a food truck (at last! It was almost 3.00pm I think…).
Another shower while the 125 race was starting, but they ran it anyway, and rain and wet road didn’t seem to bother them too much. Nice race and impressive riders on those small machines, with those conditions!
Derek Mc Gee
Melissa Kennedy
Gary Dunlop
Sam Dunlop
After the race we moved further down the road to Dukes Bends (called after Geoff Duke although he only rode once at Skerries in 1949 and crashed on that bend…).
We were also in a field but this time above the road, and very close to the riders as they came out of the first bend. This was impressive. We watched the next races from there.
Here is a short video of the Supertwin Race
Derek Sheils & Paul Jordan
Jason Cash
Paul O Rourke
Derek Sheils
Paul Jordan
Andy Farrell
Michal Dokoupil
Veronika Hancocyova
With again showers. During a last heavy shower, the Superbike (Grand Final) riders went around the circuit for 2 laps with the marshall leading. But they decided that the conditions were too bad for the big bikes. One part of the circuit was drying fast, but the road from Finnegan’s Corner to where we were took some time for drying, with some very damp patches. Not talking about the tunnel under the tree which was probably the worst.
So the Grand Final was cancelled, but fair play to the riders who decided to go around for a few Parade laps.
Michael Dunlop did his own parade laps as if he was racing, or at least it looked like it as he didn’t go too slow… maybe he doesn’t know what slow means 😉 .
Well, that was very nice from all of them to go out anyway, us spectators really appreciated it.
When it was over we went back to the paddock to say goodbye to Andy’s team and then headed back home.
Once again a great day of races, very well organised in spite of the difficult changing weather conditions. No race incident, just one red flag during the last Classics race, but nothing to do with racing, a fight broke out in a potato field… A pity.
A huge thank you to organisers, riders and all people involved in giving us such a great event.
We will defo be back next year! 🙂
