The kids are alright - The Sunday Bunch, Docklands Riders
Here is number three in our series about youth motorcycle projects from John Newman
John Newman
What do you do on Sunday? Take some time out with the papers? Catch up on domestic chores? Drive out to a lunch spot? Fettle the bike? Help out the retail economy?
In London's Docklands, on acres that have not been targeted by voracious development, a group of parents have chosen to help and guide their kids through the first stages of motorcycling at the Dockland Riders off road track. Profiling this inner city project is the third in our series about involving young people in motorcycling.
Salt of the earth
Chris Salt is the organising and riding energy behind Dockland Riders. If you follow extreme and adventure enduro events you will know his name and his tough, tough riding exploits. He has, and continues to compete in the hardest races across the world and in the UK. Events such as the Roof of Africa rally; Red Bull Romaniacs; and the Eddy's Extreme Enduro series.
But when he's not attempting the near impossible on a bike. He's Chris, the bloke who is organising, cajoling, coaching and generally running around on behalf of the young people who turn up at his track named KG5 after the old King George Fifth docks; located in the London Borough of Newham, at the end of the London City Airport runway.
Sunday here again
I turned up on a chilly late spring Sunday when activities were well under way and Chris called the parents together so that I could explain who I was before I started taking notes and pictures. They bring their kids down with their own bikes to the fortnightly Sunday sessions, and involve themselves as marshals around the various track configurations that Chris sets out, helping any of the youngsters who might take a tumble. It's a good cooperative effort, and the fee for a 10.00am until 4.00pm day is just fifteen quid.
There's an oval where the very small ones and their mini bikes can circulate to gain confidence and control, before graduating to the bigger riding areas. This is where the kids who ride there really gain from Chris's experience and the flexibility from the different track layouts he devises. He will assess the riding experience and ability of the days participants, put them into groups and change the track so that they can improve but are not struggling, or having to share space with the more experienced and faster kids and bikes.
Full-on concentration
It's a relatively small area, with narrow trails so technical ability and bike control is paramount. Full-on concentration is needed, and it was good to see young riders focusing hard on the next tight corner. Throughout each session Chris would be around the track observing riding styles, and would offer advice on technique and correct position on the bike etc to individuals when the groups were called in.
There were three girls riding, which has to be positive. One of them being Jemima, Chris's daughter, who has been on a motorcycle since she was five. Now thirteen, she's competing in enduros on her 85cc KTM, and looked smooth and neat as she circulated with the faster group.
Chris suggested I speak to one of the parents, Ben, who was there with his two boys, Jay and Jesse.
Ben has been involved with Dockland Riders since he was thirteen years old, when he was referred to the project by a youth worker to try and prevent him riding illegally along the canal paths in Hackney where he lived with his mum.
Ben is now thirty one and jokes that Chris will never get rid of him. The project was very new when he was first directed there, and Chris had only just become involved himself. He took part in the workshop sessions, and benefited from the riding trips; which is a well tried method of operation that youth motor projects use. A work and reward system.
Ben is now a qualified ACU Moto Cross coach, and naturally is able to apply that experience and advice to his own sons who race in junior moto cross events: and they are very sharp riders. He spoke about the discipline, physicality and enjoyment of being involved with this type of riding. A theme that several of the parents alluded to. It's not a cheap hobby for your kids to be involved with, but the parents I spoke to were pleased that their youngsters were participating in a physical activity that also provided them with an appreciation of mechanics, balance, speed and control.
A triple row of sausages
Sunday lunch was a triple row of sausages cooked over a barbeque and slapped between sauce covered bread rolls by the hungry crowd. Chris reminded the youngsters that they should make sure they were drinking too, after expending so much energy. The lunch break with all the youngsters and parents gathered, made for a club like atmosphere. Then it was time to ride off those calories and eat dust.
Keeping the show on the road
Dockland Riders is unusual for a youth motorcycle project in that it's run by Chris as an independent company without any support from local authority or charitable funding. The fees from running the Sunday sessions and from other groups using the track; the enduro events he organises for clubs and off road groups, and the charges for those young people who are referred to his workshop and training programme from youth and social services sources: help to keep the show on the road. Plus of course his dedication, enthusiasm and the satisfaction of seeing young people participate in motorcycling.
It's unusual and unique for kids and others to have access to a track in the middle of a city, and the people, who come from all over the metropolis and beyond, commented on how they appreciated being able to take advantage of the facility.
It should be compulsory for those responsible for promoting participation in sport and health and fitness to turn up and watch how strenuous, rewarding and enjoyable off road riding can be for young people. All the positive attributes they are promoting are wrapped around this branch of our sport.
If your group or club might be interested in using the track. Or if you'd like to find out more about Dockland Riders go to
Docklands Riders
John Newman
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