| Let's
get to the Races. First there's some phone calls going on in order to
agree up on a leaving time, this is a couple of days before the Race on
the weekend and most likely end up with we'll call before we leave. Since
Bert lives a good 25min. drive South of me and needs to go through our
town anyway it's no extra hassle for them. We (my wife insists on taking
me to the main road) get up at about 5.30 A.M. and that's on a
Sunday morning, Hey where's the fun ??!! I hear you think. Well it's not
that tuff during summer time and it's already light outside and birds are
whistling already..or something like that %-\ |
On any Sunday 7:10 A.M. Chris and me , yeah yeah
it's still early :-P
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Bert owns a nice van
so all bikes and supplies are easy to haul. There's a few Races close by,
that's a good hour drive the others are all up North and a takes a couple
of hours to get there. OK we're talking a bout the Netherlands here and
we're not used to drive half an hour or more to get to the next shopping
mall, here most things are right next door. There's a few exceptions, Race
tracks and parts suppliers and that's just what we wanted to have around
the corner, oh well, can't have it all I guess. |
One thing tho there's not much traffic going on this
early
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So after a couple of
hours we get to the Race track, now Race track is a big word as it's
mostly a Industrial Zone some just a "square", see drawing, some with some nice curves.
First thing find a spot in the pit or riders quarters what you prefer, sometimes one of the other
Aermacchi Riders already took care of that since we are have the longest
distance to travel and they are there early.
Next step unload the
bikes from the van, of course after saying Hi to the others. OK think it's
time to introduce the bikes now so we know what we're talking about. In
the 250cc Class it's Chris and his MZ 2 stroker, he rides at
CRT
races, then there's Bert with his Aermacchi Ala D' Oro 350cc, rides at
CRT
races with #95 and at HMV
races with #41, that's his main bike and the MV-Augusta 350cc 4cyl. which
is used if allowed since it's not an original (Hey who can afford one of
those originals) but home made by Bert with some help from a couple of
friends. |
unloading the bikes, OK my job I know but I need to
operate the camera too ya know :-) |
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| After
the bikes are out of the van we set up the shelter to protect for sun
and/or rain , on rainy days it's more to protect the bikes but still nice
to find a dry spot for riders too. |
Shelter for sun .....
.....or rain
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| Any way
time to get the bikes ready to go through inspection and register. Check
tire pressure and fuel level that's where I get in the picture and allow
the others to relax a bit. It took sometime to get adapted to the routine
as I didn't know what was expected of me at first, but I learned quickly
an all runs almost like a pro team now. Hell yeah
that's me, got me a pair of black coveralls, one wants to look smart..
right ....! |
 me
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With registration
one get the time schedule for the day , first practice, all classes go
through, that's 50cc ,125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, side cars and the
historic bikes which mostly are pre 1960.Then there's lunch time and then
each class get 2 heats. Time will be measured and the one who comes out
with the best average time per lap wins. That's the set up for these
races, so it's not that the one that passed the checkered flag first is
also the winner. In this way is not an actual race and are able to get an
insurance.
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Inspection......
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| So all
set and done for now wait till practice starts, it's time for me to walk
around a bit and take pictures and/or watch some of the other classes . I
drag the digital camera along all the time coz I like to take
pictures lots of 'm. Don't worry I won't put all of them on here don't
think there's enough space on my server anyway =:-O |
sure one of the nicest shots .. Spa Francorchamps race
track
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| OK time
to get them bikes rollin' for practice. At first we push started the
bikes, I guess Bert must have watched the MOTO GP a bit too much and he
came up with a starter "device". How convenient for me no more running
behind them bikes. Hey I ain't 18 anymore ya know and the MV is a bit
harder to start then the single cylinder Aermacchi and MZ. |
 
The last but not the least team member
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| After
the engine is warmed up it's time to go to the pre start grid and I'll try
to stick with Chris or Bert in case there's some last minute issues.
Sometimes it takes a while before the gates open and they can take off so
the engine is shut off then. Specially on hot days! well you guess they
need a little push then and there, my action again! Sometimes it's
possible to get close to the start grid too and I'll stick around
for them to get going. There's bin a few occasion where I needed to jump
in to get a last push if the engine stalled. I watch a few laps and take
pictures. |
Pre start grid , here at the Spa Franchorchamps race
track, Summer 2004
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| Time to
return to the pit and see how's the other one's doing and get him going.
If things are cool, time for a bite and something to drink. On a few
occasion there's a swarm of Aermacchi at the races and they all hang out
together in a friendly manner. Then after they get back from the track I
help the others as well to get off they're bikes or get them going with
the starter, which is appreciated ..of course! |
Aermacchi' ....
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| Then
it's Lunch time and time to socialize and grab some food or get yelled at
while taking pictures of Chris hehehehe. Meanwhile more and more
spectators are finding their way to the track. It's a local motorcycle
club that's in charge of the organization or a group of other
enthusiastic people who are very happy to have their local TT race. |
 Lunch
time ..
I know Chris will hate me for putting this up here:)
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| Sure if
it's nice weather and we're not too far from home some family or friends
drop by to visit the races and have a good time there too. |
Here's my friend James admiring a 50cc
"motorcycle"
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| About
time to get ready for the first heat. Riders fully concentrated, although
one might disappear for a minute or 10 to shake of some nerves. Meanwhile
I checked if the bikes are fueled up properly, just for that peace of
mind. Squeezed in their leathers and ready to go we start up the engine
and take of for the pre start grid a second time to have the bike warmed
up and ready to go. Actually not much else then practice pre start grid ..
start grid .. take off .. OK he's on his way watch a couple of laps to see
how's he's doing and take a couple of action shots then get back to the
pit to be there in time before the heat is over. Sometimes there's some
"minor" miscommunication about who has or who hasn't the key to the van
and one stands there waiting to get in or get off his bike in a proper
way, oh well sh!t happens. |
 
Here both Riders ready to go and get 'm
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| Ok I
said before this is about an average Race day, with the next pictures we
leave the normal path for a little while. This isn't average but will
happen every now and then and keeps me or the others busy and actually
that's why I'm there too. Problems may vary from a no power in the damn
engine as to mmhh there's a drop of oil that I don't like. Or like on the
occasion where the MV came out first ( see picture with # W88 on it )
where it could run with open pipes...ouch what a noise .. that drew a
crowd :-). I see there's more picture material then things to tell so I
let the pictures speak for them self.......... OK some need a bit of
comment ......
What no silencers needed ..so you want to hear the bike
roar .. good! The guy in the yellow jacket (and
gray hair )is Mat who helped building the MV. we
like to call him the head engineer of the team.
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| Back to the races again I'll go
over the usual drill a bit quicker as it's the same as with the first heat
. . . . . . . . so start grid go. Here it's Chris out on the track. |
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| After both have bin out for the
last heat it's time to pack up again and wait for the results. Meanwhile
we can either get a meal offered Wim and his wife Wilhelmien,
I definitely had to cut a piece off of this picture so it doesn't show the
plate Chris is holding >;-) . Or either get us
some French fries or something like that down the road or at the track. |
Hungry..?? ya bett
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| And then there's the moment
..did we ride good or bad. Time for the results and although it's not an
official race one like to take home a Trophy. Like usual there's Trophies
for the top 3 riders. Bert really had a good season this year and
was able to take home a few of them and Chris wasn't too fortunate to get
a #1 so maybe next season he'll be able to grab the #1 Trophy |
Bert is the one on the left with the flowers
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| On this occasion there was an
opportunity to enjoy the view before leaving sunset at the North sea |
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| Or like this one a Team Crew
Photo session :-) Bert, Mat, me and Chris
Aermacchi Ala D' Oro, MV-Augusta, Chris #2 & the MZ
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| On some Races I couldn't get to
the Track as early as Bert and Chris did (read a day earlier) then my wife
joined me to drive up there and this time called for a photo shoot :-) |
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| Ok time to hit the road as the
sun is already setting, a good
stretch to drive before we get home and then it's .."we'll call .. good
night.." |
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