Sandown Ride Day MK II

It feels like a mini-MotoGP when we get together for a ride day: exciting, anticipation of the unknown, the inevitable competitive factor and - the SPEEEED!

Sandown Racetrack was a new experience for most of us; it’s quite deceptive – from a distance it just looks like an oval racetrack, but once you’re on it, it’s a lot of hard-braking turns with two chances to speed like hell. Particularly crazy is the home straight – by cripes, I struggled with all my might to hang on to Misho (I stopped looking at the speedo when it hit 240km/h); my neck was aching from ‘wind-lash’ despite all efforts to try to tuck myself under, but the “hump” gets in the way. My legs were like jelly when I hopped off bur this didn’t stop me begging for more from the Honda Ride Day organisers who were most co-operative and willingly succumbed to my request… so good.

When I was not pillioning, I was most entertained watching our mighty MSR boys tearing around the racecourse – the monos were the best… Dennis, you’re living up to your Honda’s number plate – hard core! You sure know how to ride that bike to the max! Mark, you roar like a hungry lion and look like you’re going to eat some of those guys for dinner. Mirko, smooth and fast – your smile says it all. Misho, you’re absolutely uncontrollable on the race-track; you become possessed by the demon of speed…you thrill me to bits! Dave Ward, I love the way you kick arse so smoothly and with such precision; and that mighty mono gripped me with fear and awe – how you managed to keep the bike up for so long and at that speed along the home stretch, I’ll never know!

Dave Chisma, you did great justice to your Beemer on the track. And last, but not least, a very intrepid, first-time race-track rider, Craig, work friend of Dave Ward. He was trembling with excitement after each session, almost lost for words.

Hmmm, I think he went home floating on air; he was a changed man – he had experienced another dimension… the orgasmic sensation of speed. He was glowing and we all felt it. What a great day we all had. Thanks so much for organising it Dave; you’re a champion.

Pina Garasi