Red Marley 2009

[Radar]

I went to this highly enjoyable event with my family on Bank Holiday Monday and enjoyed some great classic off road action as 192 Pre 1970 dirt bikes attacked a 440 yard hill that rose to 1:1 at its peak.

Open exhausts, metanol fuel and the heady aroma of Castrol R wafting across the stunning Worcestershire vistas this unique event enjoys.

The stark contrast to the rarified atmosphere of MotoGP at night in far off Qatar struck me, the event taking place on the same day...where Valantino battles for glory with Sete on exotic machines from Yamaha and Ducati. Here we are greeted to the sight of people with proper names like Eric, Arthur and Walter on proper bikes like AJ's, BSAs and Triumphs. In the pits laptops are replaced with A/F sockets and King Dick spanners. As I wondered around the pits I half expected a Spitfire to flypast, V12 Merlin snarling and blasting away the past 40 years with a burst of .303"!

Anyway, I had a fabulous day swimming in nostalgia and here are a few of my pictures...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture042.jpg
The event is very popular locally, and on a perfect day, many rolled up on bikes to watch the action...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture043.jpg
The Hill, lined either side by an expectant crowd

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture044.jpg
In the pits, the preparation continues..."Eric pass me the 3/8" AF will you?"..."Certainly Walter"

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture052.jpg
Old boy soaks up the atmosphere from the back of a horsebox...as you do...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture055.jpg
On the start line, the action gets underway...blokes called Eric, Arthur and Walter on the start line (really)

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture060.jpg
Any vantage point will do...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture062.jpg
The Pre-1950 class bikes, make it to the top...just about

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture073.jpg
Eric out leaps Walter, while Arthur clears off altogether...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture078.jpg
Classic British Iron in perfect Wheelie formation

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture088.jpg
There were a couple of bad accidents, amusingly the modern 4x4 couldn't get as far up the hill as the classic bikes. The rider who fell was out cold for a while and had to be wipped of to the local Hospital. Get well soon bud!

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture091.jpg
The action gets back underway...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture090.jpg
More dust clouds than a 50's western directed by John Ford...check out the guy in lead who is well airborne!

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture095.jpg
Well balanced and airborne, this shot sums up the atmosphere of the event for me...

In addition to the action on the hill there was a a dispaly of a few classic bikes...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture117.jpg
AJS

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture137.jpg
Not your average Bantam

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/Red%20Marley%202009/Picture148.jpg
Exquisite continental interlopers amongst the wall to wall of British Iron...Montessa and Ossa

A superb event, thanks to all who organised, raced and attended.

[colin1]

nice pics

check out the thread by virus in show and tell

also, join the midlands section, and read the thread about red marley, including a guy on here called ariel who nearly competed, but got hurt in practise, and pics of his bike

this thread is best for action pics though i think
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[Radar]

Cheers for the tips, I will do