I checked the Hottrax website and darn, they only had spaces in the fast group. Hmmm. All the same, no harm in riding over in time to register and hoping for a cancellation in the Novice group. "The Novice group?". Yes, well. Riding 100 miles to get there, doing 100 miles+ on track then riding 100 miles back was going to be tiring, so the Novice group will do me fine. Thank you!
5am on the 20th October I set out. Weather forecast was for a dry day. Promising! Wrapped up warm against five degree temperatures, best M&S thermals and winter gloves and I'll be fine. A brisk ride to Kings Lynn, then the A17 to ... well, until the two degrees of freezing fog determined I stopped for a cuppa and a defrost. All very well but i'd passed Farm Lodge and it was still only 6.35am with no chance of anywhere being open. Except the Moorings Cafe at Fosdyke Bridge - opens at 6.30am. Lovely. Here I was warmly greeted and a cup of coffee purchased. Tempted by the smell of freshly cooked breakfasts I very nearly succumbed to just sitting and eating while the outside temperature was so low. But I was risking being late and I didn't want to have to press on with the roads being a bit cold and slippery.
A17 to the A16 to Kirton, head for Coningsby, Horncastle then towards Louth. Boring roads until Scambelsby but then you're at Cadwell, where the track beckons.
In to registration and, "Have you any places spare in the Novice group?" to the woman with the lists. "Only Intermediates", she replied.
A silent "Damn!" and I hear my voice asking if they take credit cards.
Of course they do!
A quick dash up to get the bike noise tested, back to the paddock and on to the cafe, grab a bacon sandwich and sit down and listen to the briefing. A couple of minor differences to previous times at Cadwell. "Wet track at Hall Bends / Hairpin / Barn ... take it easy ... watch for Coppice ... may be a little slippery ... Novice and Inters, three sighting laps then you're on your own ... no dangerous overtaking ... etc.".
I stopped behind with H. to listen to the Novice's briefing. Thorough, but too much information for a complete newbie. A Martin Hopp type first session would be really useful first on such a complex track.
Fast group already out ... it's a bit of a dash to get ready and into the paddock ready for my first session. I arrive towards the back of the assembled throng. My teeth chattering: may be the cold - or maybe the realisation that I could see only three other standard road bikes (with hindsight, maybe more, but at that moment ...).
"(censored)" was my first thought. My second thought was exactly the same. Oh boy, had I screwed up. Two other guys on road bikes also slinking at the back ... a quick word ... yup, they thought the same as me.
No time to get worried. Engines started, the procession moving off in sub-groups of about ten riders, and i'm almost last onto the track. Gingerly, so, three sighting laps. Good - let the tyres warm, a vague drying line through Hall Bends after the fast group and .. whoa!
I thought this was a sighting lap. Where did the bike in front of me go between the Hairpin and Coppice? I'm not that slow around Barn! Luckily the engine's still warm from the ride up, so open that throttle and let's see if I can close the gap. Roll off a little for Coppice, see the track's dry and take a big sweeping approach up to Charlies, let the hill ease the speed off and into Charlies 1, let the bike drift out ready for the second apex and ease it in.
Still sighting lap, but this pace is pretty quick on cold tyres.
Did I say cold tyres? I'm on cold tyres .. most of the other bike's tyres have been moddle-coddled in tyre warmers.
Nail the throttle again along Park straight, drift out to the right and feel the compression in the dip. Up to the blind brow. This isn't my favourite bend. So roll off the throttle early to get a good view of braking and turn in points, a little counter-steer and the bike rolls into the bend nice and easily - one gear too high so lift the bike on the short straight bit and snick it down ready for Chris curve - and turn. Now, progressive with the throttle, the bike fater and faster while leant over - look for the patch of pink (ish) tarmac and just to the left still on the throttle, lift the bike, roll off the throttle and set up for Gooseneck "easy" right then flip the bike to the left into the downhill to Mansfield.
Brake. Progressively, settle the suspension and let it lift and take an easy turn into Mansfield judging my line through the apex and looking for the chicane. Gently walking the bike through the chicane and hard up to the Mountain, brake, turn in to the left of the track, leave my turn in late for the right and accelerate. The bike goes light, the front lifts the front flaps in the air and I do a wheely on the Mountain for only the second time (this is still the sighting lap, isn't it?). A dry line through Hall Bends, Right, left, right... almost straight, over the rise and brake for the hairpin where it's still looking a bit slippery.
And so onto the second sighting lap.. Red flag. Oh boy! We managed five or six laps that session, but it gave me chance to remember the track and understand where I was going to be overtaken. And I was going to be overtaken that day. Lots!
There was a photographer there so some pics from him.
Copyright www.BritishSportPhotography.com
Enjoy.
This the righthander entry to Hall Bends. On the first session - I know that because my mirrors are out. I folded them in for subsequent session. Offline on Hall bends was wet so caution and an accurate line was needed.
I need more clues to be certain where this is on the track. I think it's Barn ...
Definitely Barn ... looking through the late apex ready to wind on the throttle
Mansfield. I like this bend.
I like this close-up of me on the bike - i'm pretty sure it's mid-bend at Mansfield. I'm not sure if that look is concentration, fear or wind.
The Mountain. No wheely - I wheelied perhaps 30% of the time. Typically, the photographer didn't get those ... :-)
