Snetterton in March was never going to be warm. But in the days leading up to the round, the weather guys were predicting an ice age! Never believing what you see on TV we packed the caravan, loaded Ben’s bike in the van and headed off to Snett Thursday evening. If any of you have been to Snett for a track day or race meeting you will understand how important it is to get a garage. As for some reason Jonathan Palmer has his hands well and truly glued in his pockets when it comes to putting electric hook ups in the paddock. Thankfully one of our fellow YPM racers had booked some garages for the guys racing and we had secured a spot in one.
Friday morning and the wind was arctic. Ben had spent most of the winter out in Vietnam riding a 50cc scooter around, so you can imagine how excited he was to be riding a motorcycle at over 100mph in sub zero temperatures. So much so he just booked in the morning session. All went to plan, he rode round, froze his nuts off and spent the rest of the day in the by now well heated caravan.
Saturday morning, race day. The predicted snow was yet to arrive, so qualifying started at 9am. About the same time the snow showers started. Being British everyone smiled and carried on. Mad when you think in America they don’t even race in the wet. YPM practice was the last to take to the track and it was very cold. Ben rode round carefully and was more worried about not falling off than setting a quick time. This turned out to be a good plan as he managed 4th.
The morning went well and the YPM’s were first out after the lunch break. By now the snow showers were getting worse; riders were coming in with snow on their visors. But still racing was going ahead and for most it was about staying on and finishing. Finally the YPM’s first race was called to the grid. We had used the classic proddie racing trick of gaffer taping Ben into his helmet, to try and stop the visor misting up and he was well up for racing. Then the snow came down. Looking more and more like a Xmas card scene then a race track, racing was suspended for the day and the YPM’s returned to the garages. Disappointed is one word I could use for Ben, relived might be a better one.
Weather forecast for Sunday was much better and everyone was told conditions would be looked at in the morning. Well it didn’t stop snowing all night. We awoke to the sounds of walking on crunchy snow outside our caravan. We didn’t even bother to get up and look. At 8.30am the meeting was cancelled and the circus packed up and headed out of town.
Result was three days sat in a caravan in freezing weather and not one race for the 2013 YPM championship. Not the best winter holiday I’ve ever had, but at least the bike was still working.
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