Tuesday 29 October 2013

British Racing History

Launching from the pit lane at Snetterton into the race and into the history books.

A little bit of history.

The journey to my first race in June 2012 wasn't as straightforward as I had hoped. In early 2010 I had contacted the ACU, made my intentions known to them, informed them what I planned to do, asked them what they needed from me and then set about achieving the requirements. I had planned to improve my riding by attending the California Superbike School, as well as getting instruction and gaining circuit knowledge by riding on track days around the country. For the ACU, I was to attend the CTC (theory test) and the medical assessment with Mick Bodice up at Darley Moor. All went accordingly and I was assured that I was considered‘…in business to race’. However, a week before my proposed first race at Castle Combe, I received a letter saying the ACU was not going to grant me a Road Race licence. To say I was frustrated and let down would be an understatement. I appealed and finally got a restricted licence for Hill-Climbs, Sprints and Twisty Sprints. This licence would allow me to compete against able-bodied racers, but in competitions where you went against the clock rather than against other riders. My first event was the Curborough Twisty Sprint. It was an exciting day for me, full of new sights and sounds. The sun shone down, all went well, I didn’t make a fool of myself, and somehow didn’t come last! For the rest of the 2011 season, in agreement with NHCA I attended five events in all three disciplines, of which the hardest was the Wiscombe hill-climb, as the hairpins were difficult to get around in the damp and slippery conditions. After chatting with various riders, instructors, racers, I was advised to get in contact with Dave Stewart from Club Thundersport. We chatted, agreed on how it could be possible for me to compete in the Minitwin class, I re-wrote my appeal letter and sent it off. Dave stood up for me, fought my corner and won. I will be eternally grateful for his support and belief. So, in June 2012, at a rather cold and damp Snetterton, I launched out of the pit lane exit into my very first Road Race and made history as the first paraplegic in the world to compete with an ACU Road Race licence against able-bodied motorcycle racers. When I crossed the line with the chequered flag waving I simply broke down in tears. The marshals came to the edge of the track and waved their flags, it was as though I had become MotoGP World Champion. All the hard work, the continuous battling to make it happen became worthwhile in an instant. The following day got even better, I was allowed to start on the actual grid. If I thought the previous two races had been brilliant, the start from the back of the grid took things to a whole new level of ‘awesomeness’. If you have never experienced starting a motorcycle race, it will be difficult to understand the full range of feelings you get when the lights go out and 30odd bikes roar off to the first corner. You are alive, you are living more in that instant than many will live in a lifetime. Since that wonderful weekend, I have continued to compete with Club Thundersport and the Minitwin class, finishing 12th (from 37 ) in the 2012 season, and 8th (from 30) in the 2013 season. These results have been achieved with only three race weekends in 2012 and four race weekends in 2013. So the aim is to take part in at least six race weekends for the 2014 season and see how well I can do. I will continue to start at the back of the grid, so winning is not an option, but beating my previous best laptime is.

Friday 25 October 2013

The next chapter begins.

The last blog entry from myself was the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Paralympics. I realised that the journey was complete and therefore the blog should stop. I now have a new goal, racing motorcycles against able-bodied racers. There has already been a great deal of progress, so we're starting from a different beginning....or are we? In 2003 I began the blog from hospital after being paralysed. I was a broken man and there was much ahead of me. I start this blog again as a broken man, again it's the result of a motorcycle accident, but this time I was racing at Assen and shattered both legs (right femur and left fib/tib), broke the bones in my left foot, my pelvis and left knee plateau. It was a miracle I survived, just like last time. The recovery time is expected to be between 9mths and a year, which I can understand due to the severity of the the breaks. So, looking ahead. I am aiming to recover, get back to racing and return to Assen to finish the race that nearly took my life. We have lots to do, much to catch up on and adventures to have. I hope you enjoy the journey, I know there will be ups and downs and we will learn from all experiences. Thank you. Talan