The day started early, meeting at 6:30 am for a 7:00 am departure. Pete and Kate arrived at MacDonald’s at 6:30 to find Kevin about to leave - he thought he had missed everyone! Next arrived Andrew, followed by Stuart and Jackie with Nog and John close behind - we waited until 7:00 to see if any more brave souls would take the challenge (considering the weather forecast).

We set off at 7:00 with bright sunshine and rumbling tummies (MacDonald’s didn’t open until 7:30 - so no breakfast for any of us). John and his SatNav led the way, along some good roads with a stop for a drink and much needed nourishment. Then we pressed on and arrived at Jennies early (around 9:30) - but the kettle was soon boiling and tea for everyone arrived.

John reprogrammed his SatNav with our destination and we were soon on our way. Jennie was riding pillion to Kevin (the fact that she managed to get on the back of his bike with the injuries that she had received from her crash less than a week before is testament to her courage and determination). We arrived at our destination (according to John’s SatNav) which turned out to be a housing estate. Jennie said that she could get us to Podington, and as she was riding with Kevin, much to his horror he took the lead.

We arrived at the track with the sun still shining; the campers proceeded to pitch their tents, while Jennie, Kevin, John and Nog went to see the action on the track. (Stuart suggested that we might have a go - two up with all the camping gear, but no-one had brought their license - what a shame!). Just as the tents were up and everything unpacked, the rain started - which meant the racing had to stop. The weather looked like it was set for the day, so some quick thinking and a change of plan was called for - “let’s go bowling”.

We headed back to Jennies (Nog had to leave us to get back home). One bike (the CBF1000) was running on fumes, so had to stop for fuel (and was left behind by the rest of the group) - the leader had apparently not heard that petrol was needed desperately before we left Santa Pod and proceeded to ride past 3 petrol stations! Thankfully, Kevin came to the rescue and led the stricken rider back to Jennies. Jennie summoned the help of a couple of friends (Alan and Nicola) who ferried us to the bowling alley, and joined in the fun. After a couple of games, and a trip to Tesco for supplies for the evening, we set off back to Jennies where Stuart and Jackie, Andrew and Pete and Kate got back on the bike’s and headed back to Santa Pod, Kevin and John (already half inebriated were staying with Jennie for the night).

Night time at Jennies: John and Keven were forced some more alcohol and food by our limping hostess, who’d invited a few of her friends around for an evening of merriment and music. True to form, because J&K were not used to such copious amounts of booze, finished the night in a compete drunken stupor and because they were not used to this, may well have embarrassed themselves, who will ever know… The next morning Stuart phoned to say there had been snow overnight, but by the time our two men of steel arose from there pits all evidence of snow had gone.

The campers arrived back at Santa Pod (around 8:00 pm) and could hear that there was action on the track, so we headed for the grandstand and watched a half hour of racing before the rain started again and marked an end to the action on the track for the evening.

We then got out the cooking gear and the wine and started to cook our gourmet meal. The rain stopped and we gathered on a couple of picnic tables and ate, drunk and were very merry. A great evening was had, and we all forgot about the bar and the pole dancers. Tired and weary (and out of alcohol) we retired to the warmth of our sleeping bags and bedded down for the night.

Early morning arrived, and so had the snow!!! A couple of inches of the white stuff covered the tents and the bikes, they were already trying to dry the track, but the snow showers kept coming. Breakfast was a few bacon sandwiches and beans, cooked expertly by Stuart and Andrew, and fully nourished and refreshed we sought out news of what was happening to the track. It looked at first as though snow was set in for the day, but Stuart spotted a glimmer of blue sky on the horizon that seemed to be heading our way. We spoke to a few of the runners - a very friendly bunch - and were told that they were expecting to race.

So we waited patiently, and at around 11:00 the racing started. We watched a multitude of runs, the pace was fast and furious, the atmosphere charged. There were such a variety of runners, from customised bikes, to sports cars, to basic road cars, to twist and go scooters, everyone was having fun. The fasted run we saw was 141mph - run by a bike, 120mph run by a Subaru, and a twist and go scooter (180cc) broke a world record with 119mph!!

Regrettably we had to leave to meet Kevin and John for the ride home before the snow was forecasted to come again.

We headed back the fastest way - a few A roads, then the M1. There were a few snow flurries on the M1, but we all managed to get home before the worst of the weather hit. All in all it was a great trip, if not what was originally planned or intended.

Next time (and there will be a next time), we will do it in the summer (can’t guarantee that it will be dry, but at least there won’t be snow!)