Crash Demons
Laying the crash scene ghost
John Newman
During the recent TT races, ITV4 showed a remarkable documentary. It was about Ian Hutchinson's recovery from a horrendous crash at the Silverstone in Septemeber 2010. This followed his five wins at the TT earlier in the year.
Surgeons wanted to amputate his leg, but he resisted and insisted it was re-constructed. Experienced riders thought 'Hutchy' would never race again, some that he'd never ride again. The documentary, which is sadly no longer available to watch, showed the skill and care of the medics who attended him. It also portrayed the courage and tenacity needed to recover from such a serious crash.
Hutchinson won three TT races this year.
We see this ability to overcome both physical and mental barriers across all kinds of speed sport. Watch any top real road or track race. Racers appear to shrug off the effects of hitting and bouncing along the Tarmac at high speed. It's phenomenal.
But other motorcycle racers and riders crash too...
More years ago than I often care to remember, I owned a bright yellow Suzuki SV650. A great little mid-range sports bike. But it didn't produce much power and if I pushed it along the handling was stodgy.
My answer to these 'problems' was to convert the engine to 750cc, fit an Akrapovic pipe, and install WP suspension units that they set up for my weight and riding style.
I called it my 'Ducati Botherer'. My partner called it the 'Yellow Peril'.
The engine set up was flexible enough to ride the roads. Still, I'd spent money and gained power. I had the notion that the best performance results would be on the track. I borrowed a set of leathers from a good mate.
I signed up for a Mallory Park track day and set off early one morning to ride the long journey to the circuit. I arrived late and tired but was keen not to lose too much track time. So with signing-on formalities complete, I was ready to join a session that had just exited the pit lane.
At 1.41 miles, Mallory Park is one of the shorter circuits in the UK. You have to work hard through the two chicanes and the hairpin. And the start/finish Kirby Straight leads into Gerard's Bend, a long right-hander.
The bike was running well. I'd completed just a handful of laps. As I came onto Kirby I saw a couple of riders I was sure I could catch by the entrance to Gerard's.
I was going too fast for my reactions. I wouldn't make the bend. I locked up the rear wheel and became target fixated on the tyre wall in my view.
That's how I remember it. Before sliding across the grass and finishing in a big heap with the bike resting on my right leg. The ambulance was soon there.
I was in the medical centre where the paramedics prepared to wield the scissors:
'You can't do that, they're my mate's leathers'
'It'll be painful if I pull them off'
'I'll just have to put up with it'
It was painful. Before too long we were on the road to a hospital, with blue lights and sirens announcing our presence. The A&E, X-ray and plaster cast procedures were a bit of blur.
It was a bad break and would need surgical attention. In the meantime, I was immobile.
The following day I had a visitation from the Consultant. She was trailing medical students and wasn't impressed. She proceeded to dictate her notes with 'it appears the Mallory Park season has started'. The rest of the bedside visit consisted of stern commentary to her timid followers. I was the invisible man, a leg harnessed object in bed.
The surgeon worked on my leg, inserting a couple of titanium supports and screws. I had weeks of physiotherapy and a period of time away from work. I told myself there would be no more track days...
A couple of years ago at a rain-soaked event, I kept admiring a little FZR Yamaha import that was for sale. It turned out to be a 250cc of around 1988, a bit tatty round the edges, but a bike that had possibilities. I got the engine sorted and new paintwork, plus new Bridgestone rubber. I was ready to go, but where?
The across the frame four cylinder engine had no power below 6,000 revs. It only really pulled from 8,000, peaking out around 14,000. I gave it a few uncomfortable outings on the road. I entered a couple of hill climbs. My motorcycle instincts were urging me to break my no more track days pledge.
I signed up for one at Snetterton in April. It's a circuit I knew with plenty of space to keep out of the way of other bikes that would be leaving the little Yam behind. I needed to develop a different approach and philosophy. I was there to enjoy the performance of the bike in a relatively safe environment. I was not there to be racing myself or anyone else; just a day's bike sport.
All went well and the enjoyment was enough for me to seek out another date. The next time I had free coincided with a track day date for Mallory Park. Should I return to the place where I'd come to grief before? How would I respond to the fast approach to Gerard's Bend? Ease right back on the speed, or treat it like any other bend: focus, concentrate, look through the bend?
I'd transported the bike by van and was there in good time. The track was damp but the clouds were moving higher. I'd signed up for the novice group, as the FZR250 is slow in comparison to the other bikes. We lined up in pit lane. I repeated my no racing mantra: relax, enjoy the ride, keep out of the way of the faster bikes and riders.
It all seemed to work. The bike screamed along. I found the right gears for the different parts of the circuit but didn't always get them right, and after a couple of sessions, even got my head together enough to identify consistent braking markers.
Gerard's? During one session a rider finished in a heap in almost exactly the same place as my crash all those years ago. He was okay, but we were brought in so the bike could be removed. I was comfortable and I think I was able to enter the bend faster as the sessions progressed, but that was of minor consequence.
The old adage tells you to get straight back on the horse. In my case, the nag had gone missing for a good few years but it was good to be back on track. Oh, and I have my own leathers now.
On 30th and 31st of July Mallory Park hosts a Bike Bonanza, as part of the 60th Anniversary year for the circuit. They're advertising lots of track parades for road and race bikes, a trial organised by Old MCC, displays, trade stands and live music. More info at www.malloryparkcircuit.com
Have you ever been in a motorcycle crash? How was your experience of riding again, and particularly riding at the scene of your crash? Share your stories with
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Comments
- 30/06/16 - I had the exact same model, it says a terrific little bike..... great read
- 01/07/16 - Had a mega day there last Friday. Glad you got back on it. Great little bike too. I`m on an 86 FZ600. You get more out of Mallory on a smaller bike
- 01/07/16 - Hutchy
- 04/07/16 - Crashed in August last year with multiple fractures, left shoulder replaced, left femur and knee reconstruction plus bone graft, both forearms and right shoulder reconstruction, still having intense physio and ptsd to boot, will be getting back in saddle in about two weeks
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