| I've spent the last three decades competing in a sport called motorcycle
trials riding, it's all about fine control and balance, but nonetheless, injuries happen
and unless you're a teenager, it always took a week or two to heal. So, having grown weary
of the pain, and having a pretty strong interest in classic cars, hopefully I've got it
right in getting hold of a 1964 MGB roadster in which to "have a go" at some
clubsport events. Having witnessed some track racing at Pukekohe and Taupo, which looked awesome, but way beyond my comfort zone, the advertised autocross at Grant Kerns farm sounded bang on. A couple of e-mails to 'mgmad' guy confirmed I could get amongst it, thanks Andrew, just bring a car and a bit of sporting spirit and the club could lend me some overalls. Well, what a great day, perfect weather to cruise up from Cambridge, good directions from Google and I'm pulling up next to a bunch of MGB's and a small handful of Midgets. Sign on is easy, thanks to Jennie, a quick briefing of 'rules' which really amounted to…don't clout the timing gear…grab some overalls and line up for a follow the leader to check out the course. It all seemed simple enough in that it was a figure of eight but with some cunningly placed markers to get us all crossed up even down the straight bits. From Paul's demonstration, the key element was to never go straight ahead, ie, try and get the thing sideways. This is the exact opposite of trials riding where exactness and perfection rules. With a bike, body language is king, as transferring body weight on a machine that weighs the same as the rider makes a huge difference. But it looked like fun and I'm thinking and how hard can it be. Actually, really tricky. Launching from the start line on grass with road tyres is insane, there appears to be little in the way of traction and no matter how hard I lean back…no difference. Then all of a sudden I'm going too fast into a corner (so there is traction) and I'm struggling with a front end that really just wants to carry on. So I lean forwards, still no change and at one point, my trajectory path was perfect for taking out the timing light. Anyway, with a seriously busy steering wheel and probably too much pressure on any one of the pedals, you can get around at what seems like a pretty fair clip, braking for me was always the tricky bit and caused some very out of shape approaches to the corners, but somehow you get around and like it or not your foot goes down on the noise pedal for more madness. This was my first foray into four wheel fun in a field. It was great fun, and I enjoyed meeting a few of the guys and girls who are there for the same reason…"have a go". Thank you Grant for letting us tear up your paddock, thanks to the organisers, the flag marshal, timing team and friendliness of all the competitors, I don't think I'm going to miss the bike one bit. Jon Turney |