Blue's Blogger Blog: Another Mallory 'Off'

Friday, May 20, 2005

Another Mallory 'Off'

17 May 2005

Looks like my favourite circuit, Mallory Park, is going to be something of a mixed bag for me: that's where I crashed heavily back in 1991. And yes, I did it again at the Folly trackday this week.

I'd been asked to help out taking the Novices round in their first session of the day as we were down an instructor. I saw someone who I felt appeared to be riding significantly quicker than everyone else in the Novices (and overtaking too closely), but the session ended just as I decided to go after them to check.

So I went out in the next Novice session straight after doing an Intermediate one and waited for them to come around, by which time there was a little gaggle of riders with us. I waited to get past some and then went off after the quicker rider and almost got onto their back wheel by the time we reached the hairpin at which point they braked ... and then braked really hard.

I probably only had an extra 1 or 2mph to scrub off but that was all it took - I had the choice of either running into them or go for broke, at which point the front end tucked under and down I went.

So I'm sliding along, looking at all the smoke and realising some of it was me but thinking that I was pleased not to be rolling ... at which point I started rolling. Next thought was to try to stop rolling, but I couldn't.

Blue Rex has got a partially mashed up fairing, cracked screen, broken indicator, shaved Powerbronze crash bung - that did its job really well - and some scratches to the Akrapovic end can and OEM headers. I'm trying to find replacement parts on eBay.

As for me, I've got some cracking bruises on my legs and a puffy and bruised left hand where, presumably, the thumb joint took a hammering but that's it. My riding kit took the punishment:

Used Arai Quantum F
I think Sir needs new gloves (as the Kevlar bits are missing or shaved)
Tough as old boots
I think you've got a catch in that stitching...
Not all those marks on the kneesliders were intended

Fortunately, it seems that the replacement riding kit - c.£1,200 worth - is covered on my household insurance policy less the small excess so I'm waiting on the go-ahead for me to get the stuff ordered up.