The Royal Air Force Motorsports Association experience day at Blyton Park

With the cars out the motorcycle riders tinker, chat and hassle Billy to make brews.

Intro

It has been a while since all of the various RAFMSA road racing motorsports disciplines last got together but we were finally all convened at a dry and sunny Blyton park.
If you haven't been yet; Blyton park is one of those little secret circuits that most havent heard of, yet has loads to offer.
In an unusual "left hand" circuit configuration it has a varied layout ranging from the tight wiggler to fast esses of port froid. It somehow feels a lot smaller than it actually is at 1.5 miles showing that you are shifting a lot more than you might think. If nothing else the left hand circuit will make better use of the largely unuses left shoulder of your tyres!
From the motorcycle corner of the RAF road racing teams we had boys from Thundersport, Rob Atkins was there with his formula side car, Chris Robinson with his hill climb CBR929 Fireblade as well as our classic racing team riders John Brown, Gavin Heggs, Ian Ridley and Mick Rudd. 

The Experience Day

Motorcycles on show
The day was set out so the bikes could go out for 15 minutes with an ACU instructor on the hour every hour with a break for lunch. In between that; the various car drivers would go out with passengers joining them to get a feel for road racing.
John Browns Yamaha XJ600
The day started at 0800 with a riders and passengers brief all while the medical staff were enjoying plates piled high with fry up which seemed very unfair. The car drivers had some restrictions on overtaking due to the nature of having passengers onboard but as we were riding solo we were just politelty asked not to kill each other and have fun.
Gavin Heggs' Honda VFR750 RC24
Throughout the day we chatted to other riders, drivers and passengers alike about what classic motorcycle racing entales, how to get an ACU licence, how much it all costs and why do the Yamaha FZ and XJ smoke so much?
 Out on circuit we had a 3 lap practice parade followed by our hourly 15 minute sessions. Once everyone had got used to the clouds of fertiliser dust (sometimes whiped into little dust devils in the middle of the track!) and the more road than race surface, we all got stuck in and things began to speed up.
Mick Rudds Yamaha XJ600
Whilst the thundersports guys faffed with their tyre warmers we were generally out on circuit first giving some fresh air before the faster of the thundersports guys would scream past on one of the straights. There was some decent tallent on the circuit and a big power deficiency for all of the classic machines which gave us a challenge to show that we were no slouches. After every session discussions of lines, braking points and such were thrown about with the ever enthusiastic John Brown hoovering up information and trying things out on the track. Mick Rudd found himself getting more and more comfortable with the abilities of his FZ600 and an unfamiliar circuit along with the said circuits limits on more than one occasion! Heggs meanwhile contined to remove parts of his fairing as he gained more and more confidence with what the surprisingly nimble VFR. A new rear shock is needed for next year we think! Ian Ridley even got out on his road ZX6R for the first time on circuit since he broke his collar bone. He was enjoying himself but due to another commitment wasn't able to stay for the full day.

Closing

We hope those guests who attended the event got a bit of a taste for motorsports and maybe a hankering to race a classic motorcycle. 
We certainly enjoyed ourselves and are very thankful towards the event organisers. We now look forward to Snetterton the weekend after next and the next experience day 2020!
The RAF Motorsports Facebook page will be the place to see footage from the event over the next week or so. We will try to share some of it on our own social media too and slip some images into this blog so do check back. 


 You can keep catch up with our ups and downs with these race reviews which closely follow each race on our Blogger account. You can also Stay up to date with our goings on as they happen on Facebook and Twitter.
The Classic Racing Motorcycle Club (CRMC) offer live timing and have race results going back years so if you can’t make it to come watch the action you can still stay up to date with the help of 
We race under the banner of the Royal Air Force Motorsports Association (RAFMSA). If you are serving and wish to get involved with motorsports you can find all the contact details you will need on the RAFMSA website.


Finally special thanks go to the companies who continue to support us:
and individual sponsors:
Symon Woodward: Mick Abbey tuning.
Andy Green: New Era Restorations
Location: Old Blyton Airfield, Kirton Rd, Blyton, Gainsborough DN21, United Kingdom

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