Ulster GP... Insane Motorcycle racing!

[Norm]

10 years since Joey died

An acquaintance called Lea Gourlay had a big one at the Ulster and he's not in a good way. He was kept in a coma for over a week because of brain swelling, and I think he had a couple of plates put into his neck. He's still pretty much unable to move, he has some feeling in his hands but can't sit up and has difficulty with his speech.

He is a fantastic racer. I hope to see him in action again.

 

[Hilldodger]

An acquaintance called Lea Gourlay had a big one at the Ulster and he's not in a good way. He was kept in a coma for over a week because of brain swelling, and I think he had a couple of plates put into his neck. He's still pretty much unable to move, he has some feeling in his hands but can't sit up and has difficulty with his speech.

He is a fantastic racer. I hope to see him in action again.

Sorry to hear that, I remember him from a few years ago when I went to meetings most weekends.

You'll probably remember Colin Breeze, too - he was a mate of mine

 

[darkstar]

I don't appreciate a sport where artificial constraints have had to be introduced to enforce pit stops to create interest and artificial competition. Give me the cut and thrust of lawn mower racing for a far more lively and interesting spectacle with shortened grass as the only predictable outcome.

I don't appreciate a sport where a large majority of people have doped throughout it's history, in fact I think competitive road cycling is a joke. Thats my opinion, everyone has their own thankfully.

Lawn mower racing would be great fun to compete in, however watching would not be my preference.

 

[vernon]

I don't appreciate a sport where a large majority of people have doped throughout it's history, in fact I think competitive road cycling is a joke. Thats my opinion, everyone has their own thankfully.

Lawn mower racing would be great fun to compete in, however watching would not be my preference.

A bit of a non sequitur darkstar.

You would have benefitted from a thorough read and digest of the postings about road racing. They referred to motor cycle road racing an adrenaline charged sport demanding skills and fearlessness that F1 drivers can only aspire to. Yes you are entitled to your opinions but at least target them at the sports being discussed in the thread.

It doesn't pay to shoot from the hip.

 

[darkstar]

A bit of a non sequitur darkstar.

You would have benefitted from a thorough read and digest of the postings about road racing. They referred to motor cycle road racing an adrenaline charged sport demanding skills and fearlessness that F1 drivers can only aspire to. Yes you are entitled to your opinions but at least target them at the sports being discussed in the thread.

It doesn't pay to shoot from the hip.

Sigh, I feel you are taking this subject too seriously. I used road cycling as an example due to this forum being full of people who enjoy that particular sport, may just be a coincidence... However I don't think cycle racing is any more removed from the original topic than 'Lawn Mower racing.I love F1, and have traveled over the world watching races. The level of engineering, the precision and the quality of the drivers. comparing the skills required for motorbike racing and F1 racing is completely obscured, as they are so utterly different. The number of people who progress through the lower ranks of racing driving, aspiring to make it to F1 is overwhelming, when you consider that so few make it, I think you will understand how skilled they are... As for fearlessness, did you see Webber's crash earlier in the year, where he flipped his car? Or Massa getting hit by a metal rod, causing him major damage to his head? Both returned to the sport at the earliest opportunity.

 

[vernon]

Bringing the argument back on track....

In my opinion, irrespective of the underlying engineering, F1 racing is far from an engaging event with lots of action. By all means feel free to revere the drivers and teams who engage in the smoke and mirrors activity that masquerades as a competitive sport that's your prerogative. It does not alter my opinion of it being the least openly competitive motorised sport. As for aspirations to the upper echelons - I reckon soccer, in terms of numbers at the lower levels, has it beaten into a cocked hat and doesn't need lots of money to progress up through the ranks. I was involved at national and international level as a mechanic in one of the feeder sports of F1 - kart racing and witnessed the profligacy of parents hoping to see their offspring move up a level and usually succeeding at the expense of the progress of the genuinely talented but impecunious participants. It's not a meritocratic sport but at least there was genuine racing on the kart tracks.

Fearlessness takes on a different dimension when there no safety cage/cocoon offering protection to the rider of a motorcycle engaged in road racing as opposed to track racing. It's not unusual to find motorcycle racers engaged in the sport with broken bones and damaged bodies. Barry Sheene was a prime example of such a rider.

 

[The Jogger]

I used to go to the Ulster GP every year when I was a kid. We'd lie in a ditch most of the day, with a packed lunch and the wheels whizzing past our heads. The smell and sounds of the bikes were unforgetable.
My brother in law, use to read the news on UTV and he got me a press pass for the pits, which I walked about with the pass and my kodak instamatic. Ray McCullough was the man to beat then. He used to ride a Yamsel. Probably the first hybrid lol happy days.

 

[Norm]

I used to go to the Ulster GP every year when I was a kid. We'd lie in a ditch most of the day, with a packed lunch and the wheels whizzing past our heads.

Only 2 years ago, so I can't claim to being a kid at the time, but I have the "in a ditch most of the day" t shirt...

 

[darkstar]

Bringing the argument back on track....

In my opinion, irrespective of the underlying engineering, F1 racing is far from an engaging event with lots of action. By all means feel free to revere the drivers and teams who engage in the smoke and mirrors activity that masquerades as a competitive sport that's your prerogative. It does not alter my opinion of it being the least openly competitive motorised sport. As for aspirations to the upper echelons - I reckon soccer, in terms of numbers at the lower levels, has it beaten into a cocked hat and doesn't need lots of money to progress up through the ranks. I was involved at national and international level as a mechanic in one of the feeder sports of F1 - kart racing and witnessed the profligacy of parents hoping to see their offspring move up a level and usually succeeding at the expense of the progress of the genuinely talented but impecunious participants. It's not a meritocratic sport but at least there was genuine racing on the kart tracks.

Fearlessness takes on a different dimension when there no safety cage/cocoon offering protection to the rider of a motorcycle engaged in road racing as opposed to track racing. It's not unusual to find motorcycle racers engaged in the sport with broken bones and damaged bodies. Barry Sheene was a prime example of such a rider.

This is completely ridiculous, we are arguing about our individual preferences. I like my steak rare, how do you like yours? Lets try to argue about which is best!

 

[vernon]

This is completely ridiculous, we are arguing about our individual preferences. I like my steak rare, how do you like yours? Lets try to argue about which is better!

Fixed that for you.

Clearly my grammar is superior to yours.

As for which is better - if it really concerns you, construct a poll and find if subset of humanity that frequents this forum is in step with your view.

Me? I care not a jot about the outcome.

Oh, yes, the steak question.

I prefer horse - well done.

 

[darkstar]

The funny thing is, you care about the grammatical merits of a post on a cycling forum, posted at 1:02am on a Saturday mourning! People tend to go out and drink on friday nights, unless you are too old to remember? Have fun rejoicing, you must have nothing better to do. Off to bed now, as F1 qualifying starts at midday.

 

[vernon]

The funny thing is, you care about the grammatical merits of a post on a cycling forum, posted at 1:02am on a Saturday mourning! People tend to go out and drink on friday nights, unless you are too old to remember? Have fun rejoicing, you must have nothing better to do. Off to bed now, as F1 qualifying starts at midday.

You cared enough to respond. Aw bless.

 

[Fab Foodie]

All I said was that that piece of fish was good enough for Jehova....

F1 is a perfectly good form of motor-sport and yes it's different to Motorcycle racing and cycle racing. But in terms of the nip 'n tuck closeness and not knowing until the finish line which out of several competitors will win, there's not much to beat events like the racing in Ulster GP.
I don't thinlk there is any point in doubting the skill, courage and fitness of F1 drivers, but it's a shame where the sport has eveolved to a point where the spectacle has become nothing more than a skilled procession after the first few laps. I'm certain the racing is intense, but the viewer hasn't much to see and the commentators have to work hard to find something interesting to say about the racing itself. The Ulster GP commentators can't descibe the action and position changes quick enough at times.
The Ulster footage as edge-of -the-seat racing, whereas unfortunately F1 is a good lazy afternoon on the sofa.


I'm off to watch banger racing on Monday... now that's really raw!

 

[Proto]

Only 2 years ago, so I can't claim to being a kid at the time, but I have the "in a ditch most of the day" t shirt...

I'm not a kid either, but I've served my 'ditch' apprenticeship too. Took this pic at the NW200 a few years back

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm not a kid either, but I've served my 'ditch' apprenticeship too. Took this pic at the NW200 a few years back

Great photo Proto... shame that bloody motorcyclist got in the way!