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Call Sign September 2011
What's the connection between Dial-a-Cab,
Nope, this isn't an ad for Stars in their Eyes but nevertheless...
Brands Hatch and Barry Sheene? The
TODAY MATTHEW, I AM BARRY SHEENE!
answer? Me... Jon Robinson (E88)! Apart
from my family and DaC, my other passion is
motorcycles. Ever since I was a teenager I
have been a petrol head, it even helped with
my GSE Physics exam (explain how a 2stroke
petrol engine works).Within 2 weeks of leav-
ing school, I had a 50cc sports moped and
don't laugh, they're worth £1000's these days!
Then one week after my 17th birthday I had a
brand new Suzuki GT250 X7. When
launched in the autumn of 1978, it was hailed
as the first 250 to top the ton! The first 250 to
do 100 mph with L plates on! It cost £850 new
and with L plates tied on, I was off down the
road like Barry Sheene.
Thirty years later, I still have the same bike.
I've seen a few bikes come and go including
my old Honda step-thru Knowledge bike, but
for some reason I've only hung on to this one.
Now a member of The Vintage Japanese
Motorcycle Club, I meet with the Kent section
who were invited by The
British
Motorcycle
Racing Club to set up a
club stand in the pad-
dock of Brands Hatch
Jon at Brands Hatch. Inset Jon gets ready to overtake
race circuit along with
several other clubs and
world at Paddock Hill bend, a double apex so
tunnel,
then
the
Brooklands
you remember not to turn too early otherwise
behind the pits
Museum.
you run way out to the left pushing you to the
and along the pit
In addition there
edge of the track. Lap done, you go again
road with specta-
was a lunch time
passing some older bikes trying to keep up
tors and racers
parade taking place
with ex-racers in the corners. A very loud
having a break by
for older race and
racer goes thundering past catching me by
watching
us.
road bikes, this was
surprise.
Luckily we were
my chance to be
The day was just fantastic and when it was
first there, the
Barry Sheene proper and my oldest son
all over I just couldn't wait for Sunday to do it
biggest bike being
David to be Valentino Rossi for the week-
all over again! I'm just hoping that I don't fall
a 900CC Honda, some 500cc and 250
end. It was also a chance to promote Dial-a-
off in front of that grandstand full of specta-
machines, right down to a 100cc Yamaha.
Cab courtesy of Call Sign.
tors. Paddock Hill is great, but falling over in
Soon there were nearly 50 bikes and riders
We entered as Team Dial-a-Cab complete
front of people? Don't fancy that! I'm a DaC
waiting behind us, including some famous old
with pit crew wearing DaC polo shirts and a
driver!!!
English names like Triumph, BSA, Norton,
logoed team van. Van I hear you say? Well we
Jon Robinson (E88)
Rudge and Velocette, the oldest being a
needed something to put the picnic chairs in -
1930's Scott. A red flag went up, the clutch
and somewhere to change!
went into first gear and the brief wait that
PC running
Saturday 30 July was an early start as we
seemed to last for ever before we were then
entered Brands Hatch paddock and I won-
waved out onto the track.
slowly?
dered how many famous names had gone
Just a few yards before the end of the
before us. After unloading the bikes and help-
straight, the steep downhill right turn Paddock
ing with the club display, I put the kettle on
Hill bend, my bike accelerating so quickly that
Internet or email not working?
and waited for the team cook to serve the
the suspension and my stomach compressed
at the bottom! We charged up the hill for
bacon rolls. At 10am it was down to scruti-
Affordable home
Druids hairpin bend, around that at 55mph
neering in full race kit to have our bikes and
& business solutions
and down the hill for the left hand Graham
leathers, crash helmets and even gloves and
Hill bend. I find this the hardest bend to get
boots checked. Told we needed dog tags,
· Wired/wireless networks
right, then along the back straight with some
these quickly made a race card stamped. We
· PC setups · iPods
of the bigger and faster bikes beginning to
could sign in and then go on to see the chief
· Digital photos
pass me, changing up gears before changing
Marshall for a rider's briefing. A bit much you
down again, flick left and then lean over to
· Video · Music · Upgrades ·
might think for a parade? Well these parades
the right around Clearways bend. At first the
are run under full race conditions, which
Buying advice · Training
camber makes you feel like going faster, then
means a full flat out blast for 15 minutes.
Call in Bob Crabtree
at the exit the camber falls away or off camber
Just before 1pm, club members taking part
making the front wheel feel a little light. Then
in the parade lined up for a photo. I couldn't
Wanstead-based
change up to fourth gear; at the start of the
resist putting my DaC umbrella up for some
World-renowned expert (really!)
straight there's a big bump that makes race
shade from the sun, my wife - sorry team cook
bikes weave and move around under their rid-
T: 020 8989 8196 M: 07516 157012
Tracey kindly volunteered to be my brolly
ers, but no problem for me, I'm just not going
dolly. Funny thing is that other wives were
Email: enquiries@bobcrabtree.co.uk
fast enough. Then fifth and sixth gear and
soon using my DaC umbrella as a prop for
about 90mph when you hit a crest in the road
pictures. Then the final call for all paraders to
For all Windows/Mac problems
at the end of the straight that makes you want
go to the waiting area and the nerves started
Viruses or Trojans?
to lift off and brake early before leaning right
as the seven of us, including my son David on
and falling off what feels like the end of the
his Yamaha TZR 125 set off through the track
