club-moto at the Plop Enduro
Team club-moto at the “Plop Enduro”
Not being able to go to Europe for the early part of the year meant other fun events could be looked into …
We heard about this fun event and thought it would be an awesome thing to do.
S&D Armarda MCC organises the PLOP Enduro events as a “fun day on bikes that are not going to break the bank”.
“We aim the event at raising money for charity and good causes yet at the same time allowing access to top tracks for hours of fun filled riding”
They run the events a couple of times a year and we managed to secure a spot for the Mallory Park race on Saturday 24 April. The classic 8 hour endurance race on Honda C90s …
Two classes – C90, which is what you have to use. And “open” which allows up to 110cc.
Standard carb & tyre sizes.
We very quickly got a team of like-minded nutters together but one small problem – we didn’t actually have a C90! With 3 weeks to go until race day.
After Pete spent many hours/days frantically searching for a suitable bike we acquired one from Liverpool which was relayed down via Kettering to Hampshire for Pete to apply his skills transforming the bike into a race ready machine …
The bike had already done this event a couple of times so was already on it’s way to be the blistering machine we knew it could be. It actually had a “race tuned” engine which increased the standard 7HP to a staggering 9HP. Could we handle the extra power??
Pete spent many hours on the bike fitting rearsets, clip-ons, new pipe, steering damper, screen and a few other bits …
Meanwhile the rest of the team entered into a serious training regime of beer and watching YouTube videos of the event.
We were ready to take on all comers.
We were notified that we had been drawn P6 on the grid and there were 93 starters. No pressure then!
The “team” gathered at Mallory Park on the Friday night before, where tactics were discussed over BBQ and consuming more beers. The training continued.
We awoke from our tents to look out at the Mallory lake and stunning sunny day. Perfect.
The practice session was entertaining as 3 of us had never ridden the bike before heading off down pit lane. But after 3 laps each we were tuned and ready to rock.
The start went off in three waves (to minimise the carnage into Gerrards). We thought Pete should start as he’s the lightest and had spent all the time fettling the bike. Would seem a bit cruel if it blew up 3 laps in and he hadn’t raced it! Team spirt abounded.
Hilarious watching 93 C90s “scorch” past towards turn one.
And to be fair he did well with coming though at the end of lap 1 still in 6th place. We started to think about podiums. Somewhat prematurely, as the fast bikes in the second and third waves soon caught up… But the bike was still running! Things were looking hopeful.
We decided on stints of 35-45 minutes and Simon took over from Pete. The race settled into the usual endurance race rythym and Simon fared well on his first stint. I then took over and set out.
What a hoot! Brilliant fun with constant traffic and battles with similar speed bikes. Going into Gerrards flat out and staying flat out is weird…. 55 mph (ish!).
Andy then took over and appeared back in the pits after a couple of laps to inform us he’d lobbed it. Our first crash of the day! After knocking it back into shape he went out again with no issues.
Bizarrely, there was a one hour lunch stop at 1 o’clock! Bikes just stopped as they arrived at the grid. And we were on the front row! After a most relaxing lunch (very British), Simon headed off at the restart. And after 1 lap didn’t come back round. Mmm we thought, where could he be?
After about 10 minutes he appeared on foot (without bike) to inform us he’d run out of fuel. How did that happen??? – we had it all worked out, but didn’t allow for the spillage of fuel after Andy fell off. Oops.
After running to the bike with fuel off he went again.
All went well for the afternoon. Bike didn’t miss a beat. Although Pete managed to bin it (our second crash) but carried on and eventually we made it to the end. Hoorah!
Finished 23rd in class and 40th overall so not a bad first effort 😊
Great craic, met some great people and never stopped grinning. Cant wait for the next one!
Huge thanks to Jeremy for all his hard work and enthusiasm and of course to the organisers of a superb event.
We will be back!
The team ....
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