Str8 Jacket
19th August 2007, 16:09
I got up at 4.30am on Fri and caught the train to Porirua where I met Clive (Clivoris). Not sure what time we got to manfeild, (Clive had to keep stopping for pies and coke) but it was earliesh. AJ and Luke were already there so I helped Clive set up next to them. There was some crazy Scotsman swearing and carrying on next to us so I introduced myself. Turned out to be Sracha and Toast, first time I had met them. I spent the morning helping out where I could but mostly spent most of it sitting around being verbally abused, lol....
After they opened up the long track I went out to help marshal, of course the weather turned to absolute pooh's and we were given these HUGE orange wets which earned us the nickname oompaloompa's (thanks Clive!) Luckily no one came off by me and I really enjoyed watching everyone get better each round. Everytime they took us out to the points after the cars had gone back in, the track had starting drying nicely but as soon as the bikes went out the rain would start again!...
That night I stayed at Clives mates place and had the nicest homekill roast Beef with all the trimmings for dinner!
Got a sleep in on Sat and got to the track about 8. I had really only planned on watching on Sat but was conned into going out and retrieving bikes and riders. I was a bit nervous cause I am hardly the biggest, strongest person but they said that they were desperate and I wouldnt be on my own.... Picked up an few bikes, most people were sweet. Alot of mud and grass on most bikes though! I actually got to stand at Higgins corner for alot of theracing and had an AWESOME view and it was (kinda) free, woohoo! Unfortunately someone had a nasty crash right in front of me and it threw me quite a bit at the time, luckily the person was most likely going to be OK so that helped. I went straight back out and watched two guy's crash into each other! Didnt see to many crashes though, just the aftermath! The worse bit was seeing the state of the bike and realising that you knew the person who had been riding the bike, but there was no one too badly hurt.
Think that, that was the best weekend Ive had in ages! It was really great to watch everyone from different points during the day. I never realised how much work goes in "behind the scenes" but man those guy's work hard! It was also cool to meet alot more KBers, that doesnt include you Sracha and to catch up with others I hadnt seen for ages :)
Not sure how many bikes we retrieved but I was buggered by the end of the day. I dont think I even said much on the way home!
After they opened up the long track I went out to help marshal, of course the weather turned to absolute pooh's and we were given these HUGE orange wets which earned us the nickname oompaloompa's (thanks Clive!) Luckily no one came off by me and I really enjoyed watching everyone get better each round. Everytime they took us out to the points after the cars had gone back in, the track had starting drying nicely but as soon as the bikes went out the rain would start again!...
That night I stayed at Clives mates place and had the nicest homekill roast Beef with all the trimmings for dinner!
Got a sleep in on Sat and got to the track about 8. I had really only planned on watching on Sat but was conned into going out and retrieving bikes and riders. I was a bit nervous cause I am hardly the biggest, strongest person but they said that they were desperate and I wouldnt be on my own.... Picked up an few bikes, most people were sweet. Alot of mud and grass on most bikes though! I actually got to stand at Higgins corner for alot of theracing and had an AWESOME view and it was (kinda) free, woohoo! Unfortunately someone had a nasty crash right in front of me and it threw me quite a bit at the time, luckily the person was most likely going to be OK so that helped. I went straight back out and watched two guy's crash into each other! Didnt see to many crashes though, just the aftermath! The worse bit was seeing the state of the bike and realising that you knew the person who had been riding the bike, but there was no one too badly hurt.
Think that, that was the best weekend Ive had in ages! It was really great to watch everyone from different points during the day. I never realised how much work goes in "behind the scenes" but man those guy's work hard! It was also cool to meet alot more KBers, that doesnt include you Sracha and to catch up with others I hadnt seen for ages :)
Not sure how many bikes we retrieved but I was buggered by the end of the day. I dont think I even said much on the way home!