The group met for the second ride-out of the winter months. The venue had been arranged for Tesco's car park, Corby, 8:30 a.m. After a couple of phone calls it became apparent that some of the group had convened at the Asda car park and had reported passing another group in the B & Q car park. The Tesco group travelled in Convoy to Asda and then on to B & Q. Unfortunately, the B & Q car park was empty except for one elderly gentleman who wanted to know if we were the Triumph owners club, who had arranged to meet there for their nine o'clock ride out. He joined us as we went back to Tesco's to see who else had turned up. After a short break for coffee and roll-ups, the group eventually departed Tesco's carpark at 9:15 heading north towards Rockingham. The old gentleman with the even older Triumph, Stan as we came to know him, accepted our invitation to ride part of the way with us hoping to meet up with the other Triumph riders.
The group was led by Mike, our chair, and comprised two senior observers, four group observers and eight associates, plus Stan. Normal group ride rules were observed by all riders, except Stan who had not been briefed. The route had been planned to take in some "technical" features, including a couple of five-way roundabouts, some NSL dual carriageway and a particularly "interesting" blind T-junction on a one-in-three gradient. In retrospect, this was perhaps too ambitious for the group, some of whom had not attended the training session the preceding Wednesday evening.
The trouble started on the five-way roundabout when, according to group ride rules Terry, the convoy leader, attempted to park at the second exit to direct the rest of the group along the indicated road. His manoeuvre proved to be a little too abrupt for Mike (group chair) behind him. A nose-to-tail collision ensued causing both riders to drop their bikes. Fortunately no lasting damage was done by the collision, although the resulting scuffle left Mike with a nasty gash on his chin. Thankfully our guest rider, Stan, was able to step in and prevent an ugly incident from developing. Mike has since had the fairing plastic re-welded and tells me he will have the stitches out of his chin in time for the next committee meeting. (It should be noted that Terry has given notice of his intention to leave the group to devote more time to his police career, we wish him well).
Leaving Mike and Terry to wait for the ambulance, the rest of the group pressed on. Leaving the 30 m.p.h speed limit and embarking on the ring road, the group spread out a little. Group A (let us call them) attempted to keep up with Stan with the intention of explaining our policy on speed limits. Group B were content to make safe progress to the next way-point. Group C apparently became confused over the directions and headed back into Corby.
Groups A and B met up at the East Carlton Country Park where it had been agreed with the park-keepers that a slow-ride of the Park lanes would be followed by a machine control session. Unfortunately, this had to be abandoned after three of the first five riders fell off on the wet leaves that were coating the paths. First aid was administered to machines and riders. Our new friend the Guest rider Stan, proved to be very resourceful in this respect with a plentiful supply of gaffer tape, steel wire and sterile dressings to hand. Once the patching up was completed, it was found that the wayward group C had arrived from one direction and PC Terry had caught us up from the other. The coincidental arrival was fortuitous as Terry was able to explain to Group C's police escort that despite the appearance, they were not attempting to block the road, nor was any un-licensed demonstration under way.
By now it was nearly noon and only twenty of the planned 150 miles were behind us. A breakfast break had been scheduled at the Little Chef so the group set off along the main westerly route towards the by-pass. Arriving without incident at the Little Chef, we were able to meet up with the Northampton group who had arrived a little earlier. The main conversation was around the injuries and damage suffered by each group in getting this far. The rumour that the county had implemented their major disaster plan was rife, although later found to be false.
After the traditional bacon bap and roll-up, both groups went their separate ways, and then re-rendezvoused back at the cafe so that the associates from Corby could re-join their group and the newbies from Northampton rejoin theirs.
It was at this point I became worried about old Stan. He appeared to have been drinking, his face was several shades redder than when he joined us that morning and he was giggling uncontrollably, sometimes bending double and clutching his stomach, as if about to vomit. In between these fits, I asked him if he was o.k.. He replied that everything was alright, and that he had just remembered an old joke. I let it lie at that point as I was called away to help untangle two bikes whose panniers had become interlocked while leaving the car park.
The trip back towards Corby passed without incident, that is until the first bend. Several plastic road cones had been dislodged from their position occupying the line around a right hand bend. In swerving and braking to avoid these cones the first senior observer high-sided his BMW and was catapulted into the air. Fortunately a thick hedge broke his fall and he was unscathed from this incident. His injuries were actually caused when the second senior observer, in attempting to avoid the prone BMW, mounted the pavement and ran him down. Our commiserations to them both and we wish them a speedy recovery from their injuries. Our thanks also to the Northampton air ambulance service for their speedy response. Our thanks also to the Royal Air Force who had to scramble a rescue helicopter to deal with two similar unfortunate incidents suffered that morning by our colleagues in the Northampton group.
It was only another hour or so before we were on our way once again, this time with a police escort of four handsome Pan-Europeans which drew much envy from most members of the group. Behind these was a BBC Northampton news team. "Top cover" was provided by the Northants Constabulary surveillance helicopter. (Incidentally, I have received news that copies of the police video can be made available at a nominal cost, apparently there is much demand for them). The trip back into Corby was made at a steady rate of progress, providing plenty of opportunity to admire the scenery and views. It was perhaps this degree of inattention that caused our two group observers leading the ride to collide with the machines of the police escort who had stopped at a major road junction. To be fair though, it had not been explained to us that even with two-tone sirens and flashing blue lights, police riders and drivers are still expected to comply with traffic signals.
It was getting dark and foggy when the convoy reached the Tesco car park. Some ice was apparent too so there was little resistance to the Deputy Chief Constable's suggestion that we secure our machines in the car park and accept his offer of a lift home in a bus which he was able to commandeer for this purpose.
Has anybody seen or heard of Stan, by the way? The last thing I remember him saying was that he hadn't had such a good laugh in ages and he'd love to come out with us again. He told me he never passed his test on a bike and I think he might benefit from one of our fixed-length courses.
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