RealRoadRacingBlog.com - Real Road Racing Northern Ireland Irish RealRoadRacing

MCUI-UC President Dirty Harry - Do I feel lucky? Well do ya, Punk?

2012-02-07T12:42:00.000Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Dirty Harry delivered a powerful message to all Super Bowl fans across America as they watched the game on television. Perhaps he should run for President, perhaps we should invite him to our wee country - Dirty Harry - President of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland - Ulster Centre. Do I feel lucky? Well do ya, Punk? Vote Now! Clint Eastwood for MCUI-UC President.

Many thanks to the anonymous friend who kindly sent me the link. Very much appreciated - it made my day.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

RealRoadRacing & The Millisle Mafiosa Codfather Mystery

2012-02-02T13:53:00.025Z

Irish Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Warning! All readers of a nervous disposition should look away now - for whilst what follows is in fact a work of fictional fiction, everything you might read, in all probability, probably is not true, although other perceptive folk might realise that in their truthful estimation, in all probability they might be inclined to believe otherwise - for isn't it true that fiction is never as terrifyingly truthful as the truth.

Founded in January 1903, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) – now a Limited Company - is the governing body for Road Racing, Short Circuits and Trials within the 9 counties of Ulster, but who is actually in charge of this secretive Company - who makes any allegedly rumoured unchallenged decisions?

A browse through any official minutes of the MCUI-UC meetings will reveal there are a multitude of Committees allegedly overseeing and discussing virtually everything one would expect from such a meticulously efficient organisation – everything from tarmac racing and safety to more mundane issues - the extortionate price of biscuits for instance. But are those Committees and Committee Members really honestly making the all-important decisions that ultimately effects the well-being of competitors and fans alike?

And now for the real fictitious fiction - if one were to believe the alleged rumours, the answer to that difficult question becomes most simple for is it not allegedly so that the aforementioned MCUI-UC is allegedly rumoured to be under the alleged control of the all-powerful allegedly rumoured to probably allegedly exist Millisle Mafiosa - but probably it doesn't exist at all - or does it?

Are we now ready to learn more about the hierarchy of the allegedly rumoured to exist or not exist fictitious Millisle Mafiosa? Well as one would expect, it to is an alleged organization with a chequered past which goes back many, many years, so it should come as no huge surprise to hear that this allegedly equally secretive and rumoured to be much feared in obvious circles alleged organisation, has an alleged most definite hierarchical command structure.

Allegedly - it’s allegedly rumoured to be run from the top of a somewhat unstable stepladder by the Boss of all Bosses, the Don. Mostly though, in reality being something of an alleged simple man/fish of simple pleasures, sources are allegedly rumoured to have often claimed he/it prefers being referred to as the Codfather - Simples! Cod of all he surveys!

Meantime, patiently waiting in a somewhat rusty leaking bucket on the very bottom step - the assembled swarming Minnows – presumably of some use should the Codfather fancy a spot of fishing in the Blue Lagoon of Millisle. At other times the Minnows are of course allegedly rumoured to have other quite specific uses and duties, although moi isn’t really sure what those might be, unless one perchance had a pet penguin in need of feeding.

Most certainly though, one very much doubts that the purchasing of the biscuits or the brewing of the coffee would be amongst those duties – not when in all probability any disrespecting Codfather would have a compliant and subservient ‘er indoors - perhaps even an 'im - on hand for such lowly duties. Rumour also has it don't you know, that there is nothing easy about caring for the needs of a Codfather – with a mouth full of cotton wool - what might one feed to such a creature? The Minnows! Please Cod - not the Minnows!

Apart from the possibly already devoured Minnows, there are of course rumoured to be other Millisle Mafiosa ever so tiny bit part players to be dealt with by the Codfather - Committee Members from far and wide also allegedly otherwise referred to - as the shoal of submissive Plankton. Unfortunately though, moi hasn’t managed to gain access to a microscope with enough magnification to identify such lowly low life forms.

Armed therefore with the alleged foregoing knowledge of the Millisle Mafiosa Codafather at the helm with his/its netted subordinates in tow, one can now begin to visualise the alleged Codfather fully controlling the allegedly rumoured Millisle Mafiosa with a fin of iron. And of course we possibly now begin to realise why so many alleged life changing decisions - perhaps even life terminating decisions - are allegedly rumoured to be allegedly taken and rubber stamped in an alleged Millisle Codfather Underwater Institution by an allegedly rumoured Millisle Mafiosa Codfather and his/its assembled shoal of Minnows - and why those alleged decisions are allegedy never challenged – for is it not true that Plankton are spineless, simple and don't actaully have brains?

Importnat Disclaimer Notice: The foregoing little article is merely a fictitious fiction mystery - in all probability neither the Millisle Mafiosa, nor the Millisle Mafiosa Codfather actually exist. All dubiously fishy characters featured are completely fictional and any resemblance to any fish or person living or dead is purely coincidental. No similarity to any fish or person either living or dead is therefore intended or should be inferred by any living or dead fish or person.

Also note that the Irish Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland is in no way associated with the alleged non-existent fictitious fictional Millisle Codfather Underwater Institution. Neither were any minnows nor spineless plankton harmed or fed to any pet penguin during the making of this fictional blog posting - actually that little snippet might not be strictly true.

Safety Notice: Following consultations with several alleged Health and Safety Offishers - throughout the making of the foregoing work of fictionalised fiction - the terrifying injury defying stunts were performed by an assorted troupe of professional Trout with the aid of back protectors. Please do not attempt to replicate any of the herein witnessed stunts within the boundaries of your own mind and especially so - without the aid of a back protector.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

St. Patrick's Rock Night - 17th March 2012 - Ballynahinch Rugby Club

2012-02-01T16:16:00.001Z

Irish Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Ancestors MCC will be holding their annual Saint Patrick's Rock Night on Saturday 17th March. This year the ever popular event will be back at the usual venue the Ballynahinch Rugby Club.

Doors open @ 8pm - Admission is £5.00

The excellent classic rock band Sweet Leaf will be providing the entertainment.

Hot Food and Camping - Think positive thoughts, it won't be cold.
(Click on image to enlarge)

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Irish Real Road Racing 2012 + Irish Short Circuit 2012 Dates

2012-01-30T14:16:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A complete listing of all Irish Real Road Racing 2012 Dates plus all Irish Shorth Circuit 2012 Dates for your diary. Any changes will be updated when made available. Further information may or not be available by contacting the MCUI-UC although don't blame moi if your request is ignored. On the other hand, it's probably just information requests from moi that are being ignored. Can't really imagine why!

Date	Short Circuit Event
17th March	Nutts Corner
24th March	Bishopscourt
1st April	Mondello Park
6/7th April	Bishopscourt
9th April	Kirkistown
14th April	Nutts Corner
21/22nd April	Mondello Park
7th May	Bishopscourt
27th May	Mondello Park
2nd June	Kirkistown
9th June	Bishopscourt
23/24th June	Mondello Park
8th July	Mondello Park
13/14th July	Kirkistown
21st July	Bishopscourt
3/4th August	Bishopscourt
12th August	Mondello Park
18th August	Mondello Park
1st September	Kirkistown
1/2nd Sept	Mondello Park
22nd September	Bishopscourt
29th September	Nutts Corner
6/7th October	Mondello Park

Date	Real Road Race Event
28th April	Cookstown 100
5th May	Tandragee 100
15/17/19th May	North West 200
16th June	Mid Antrim 150
23rd June	Bush Road Race
1st July	Kells Road Race
7th July	Skerries 100
15th July	Walderstown Road Race
22nd July	Munster Road Race
28th July	Armoy Road Race
5th August	Athea Road Race
9th August	Dundrod 150
11th August	Ulster Grand Prix
26th August	East Cork Road Race
9th September	Killalane

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Will Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin Drink From The MCUI-UC Poisoned Chalice?

2012-01-29T22:17:00.000Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

WARNING: MOTORCYCLE RACING IS DANGEROUS. PERSONS ATTENDING THIS MEETING DO SO ENTIRELY AT THEIR OWN RISK. Now where have we seen such a notice previously? Ah yes, motorcycle road race events, programmes - we've all read it, shrugged the shoulders, filed the inconsequential information away in the corner of some black hole of our tiny brains under the heading - 'Meaningless Input' - because that's what it is - meaningless, something of no consequence, not worth the cheap paper it's printed on.

You think differently? Consider this grim revelation then, and think again my dear friends - several competitors, and bereaved families of deceased competitors, are allegedly currently being sued by spectators previously injured in motorcycle real road race events held in Northern Ireland. And what of those very people who are supposed to be the guardians of our well-being at each and every motorcycle road racing event held under the auspices of the MCUI-UC - to where have they now allegedy crawled? Perhaps if moi looks under this here stone - are those blood sucking parasitic slimy leeches I see down there?

HEALTH WARNING: MOTORCYCLE REAL ROAD RACING IS DANGEROUS. PERSONS ATTENDING MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR KILLED. Now this would be a more appropriate warning notice - a still meaningless declaration, even if it would be significantly more truthful than the current notices allegedly being used by the MCUI-UC and associated Clubs - but then again does it matter, do any of the Dinosaurs really care if you live or die anyway? Your demise would in all probability allegedly merely present another opportunity to spew forth a reworking of the infamous catch phrase: "It could only be described as a freak accident and a risk spectators accept in the pursuit of their chosen sport" But what if the demised was your husband, wife, partner, lover, or an innocent child - your innocent child? Would hearing those allegedly callous, self-exonerating words satisfy your lust for justice?

Should you ever have the misfortune of becoming involved in one of those so readily acceptable 'freak accidents', you'll very quickly discover your name is allegedly filed away in a dark dusty closet with the rest of the alleged skeletons under the alleged title - 'Unknown Acceptable Statistic'

When she took office last year, the in-tray that awaited the new Minister of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - Sinn Fein's Carál Ní Chuilín - just like the in-trays of other Stormont Departments, allegedly all contained numerous files marked - 'No Decision Until After Election' - even though most had allegedly been rumoured to have been idly sitting there since the last election, except of course for the file allegedly marked 'Motorcycle Real Road Racing - The Poisoned Chalice' which had allegedly been gathering dust since the beginning of the New Millennium, or was it the Old Millennium?

Obviously there has to be reasons for the continuing indecisiveness of the assorted brands of DCAL Ministers in relation to the thorny MCUI-UC safety problem - perhaps they've been convinced motorcycle real road racing is a guaranteed vote winner, something not to be tampered with - preferring to humour the motorcycle racing disinterested lobby with timely suitably sympathetic noises about unacceptable injuries and fatalities - stopping short of once and for all ridding the World of the Dinosaurs.

Then again, one should probably first consider asking why some Northern Ireland political parties are so fervently reluctant to reveal from where the financial donations regularly appear to swell their respective coffers.

What other sport relies so heavily on handouts of Taxpayers money on an event by event basis? In these austere times in which we find ourselves, DCAL Minister Caral Ni Chuilin needs to seize the opportunity - wave the red flag to bring the gravy train to a halt - park it - starve the Dinosaurs of funding. Motorcycle real road racing needs to be saved from evil; the safety of every single person attending an event must be the number one priority. If DCAL Minister Caral Ni Chuilin is being told the Dinosaurs are genuinely interested in safety issues, she should be asking this question of the MCUI-UC hierarchy: Which of the Dinosaurs for a whole year - allegedly blocked back protectors being made compulsory for all competitors? He the man, he say - No! If they care so little about the well being of competitors, just imagine how much less they care about you the ardent fan.

Motorcycle real road racing is a dangerous sport, a fact not accepted by those who would say that mountaineering, another extreme sport, is equally dangerous, moreso even, but how many fans are maimed or killed whilst spectating? And consider also the answers to these two simple questions: Is the sport of mountaineering blighted with an alleged out of control Dictatorship Governing Body, and benefactor of regular obscene amounts of funding from the bottomless pit of taxpayers money?

There is however some good news in this MCUI-UC blighted tale of woe - the forward thinking safety conscious owners of the Bishopscourt racetrack in County Down must be heartily congratulated. Bishopscourt really does deserve financial support from DCAL - by local standards, a first class motorcycle race venue. Will their efforts be enough though to stop our sport from being consigned to the horror history books of Hell by a bunch of alleged scheming inept incompetents?

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

When The Dream Becomes A Reality, And Betrayal Is Your Only Friend

2012-01-27T15:05:00.001Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

At 61 Degrees - A stunning novel from Mike S Martin that will have you gripped and on the edge of your seat until the very end. A must read for Motorsport and Motorcycle fans and Military Personnel alike. Immerse yourself into the world of Motorcycle Riding, Racing and the MotoGP World Championship as young Aaron’s dream becomes reality in this breathtaking, exhilarating and moving story that is only available from Amazon
The Official Synopsis: Seeing is believing, that is until we open our eyes. Aaron Rose is a modest young man whose skill at riding and racing motorcycles defies his lack of experience. His talent earns him a ride within the pinnacle of the sport, the MotoGP World Championship.

It is race day at his home Grand Prix in front of thousands of British fans and whilst Aaron and his team are preparing, they are visited in their garage by the Race Directors and the officials.

Aaron’s team look on in disbelief as the officials demand that he remove his race leathers to confirm if their suspicions are correct. If they are, there is only one outcome - he cannot race.

Not just that day - but ever again.

When life doesn’t give us what we hope for, we are forced to dream.

But what happens when the dream becomes a nightmare and betrayal is your only friend.

This fast paced, exhilarating but emotional story follows a modest young guy called Aaron Rose who gets persuaded by friends to take his motorcycle test. It is not long before his talent is recognised whilst riding on track days in Britain and Europe, in particular Monza, Italy where he meets Jon Locke. Together they experience triumph and tragedy whilst competing in the national championships and it is through Jon that Aaron gets given the chance to compete within the pinnacle of the sport, the Moto GP World Championship against the likes of Valentino Rossi.

To prepare for this huge challenge, Aaron being an unproven rider with a new team on a new bike, they both set out across Europe to test themselves on all the European circuits on the GP calendar. It is on this trip that their friendship becomes stronger and they resort to funny and desperate measures to be able to ride the famous and dangerous 20km Nurburgring circuit/toll road in Germany.

Aaron just about survives pre season testing before the GP season is upon them. In front of sceptics and doubters Aaron defies his experience by riding elbow to elbow with the best riders in the world, his race results gradually improving circuit by circuit.

Whilst Aaron and his team are preparing for his home grand prix in front of thousands of fans they are visited in the garage by the race directors and officials. His team look on in disbelief as the officials demand he remove his race leathers to confirm if their suspicions are correct.

If they are he cannot race. Not just that day but ever again.

When life doesn’t give us what we hope for we are forced to dream but it is when our minds try to protect us - that is when it can also betray us.

And not one single mention was made of our allegedy much maligned and loved MCUI-UC Dinosaurs.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Megalosaurus Claims Irish RealRoadRacing Is For Wimps

2012-01-26T21:52:00.001Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Breaking News! A mixed bag contingent of alleged dubiously parented Dinosaurs have allegedly quite recently been on a trip to sunny Spain. Seems they're allegedly of the opinion that motorcycle real road racing in Northern Ireland isn't quite dangerous enough for competitors and fans. 'Real road racing in Ireland is for wimps, it's gotten to be more akin to the sport of knitting.' allegedly quipped an unidentified Megalosaurus. Another unidentified source confirmed Portrush town centre was being seriously considered for the first round of an All Ireland Real Town Racing Championship. DCAL have already allegedly been confirmed as headline sponsors, or to put it another way - that's you and me. Enjoy!

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Price Of Lives In Real Road Racing - Who Decides?

2012-01-25T12:14:00.005Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

If you've never had to call upon a household as the bearer of the news every parent/spouse/partner dreads - you haven't witnessed the pain of those traumatized by the tragic avoidable death of a loved one.

If you've never experienced a middle of the night visit from a police officer bearing the news every parent/spouse/partner dreads - you have yet to experience the pain of those traumatized by the tragic avoidable death of a loved one.

Think of the paramedics at the scene of a fatal road traffic incident, how traumatic the experience is, perhaps a child has been killed, a life snuffed out by the thoughtless irresponsible action of another person. Imagine being one of those paramedics - the parent of a child yourself - having to deal with the broken lifeless body of that young child - or any broken lifeless body of a loved one. Imagine being one of the police officers, a member of an attending fire and rescue crew, the hospital staff - imagine being the person responsible for that fatality - any avoidable fatality.

Imagine now if you will - being the mother, or the father of that child - imagine if it was your husband who'd been killed, your wife, your partner, your soulmate, your ------.

Would you want justice for your child, wife, husband, partner - or would you simply be willing to forget and forgive the drunken driver, the car thief, the 'joyrider'?

What if the fatality was the result of an incident at a motorcycle real road race event? Would you expect all concerned to tell the truth, would you want justice, or for the good of the sport - would you be willing to forget and forgive?

During the recent inquest into the tragic death of the much loved and missed Martin Finnegan, it was revealed that experts had come to an agreed conclusion that if Martin did not suffer a severe 'tank slap' in all probability the cause of the failure was a loose banjo bolt. Whilst allegedly possibly not 100% in agreement, Senior Coroner Mr John Leckey nonetheless also concluded that "in all probability a loose banjo bolt was the cause of the failure of the front brake".

The problem with those foregoing conclusions is that not only do they leave us with unanswered questions - a loose banjo bolt did not end Martin's life - it was in fact the immovable extremely large banking which he was unable to avoid.

It has since been mentioned by several people that all precautions had been taken by the organisers and that no amount of air fencing would have saved Martin's life, but might it be pointed out that had the banking not been there, that would not have been the case. That simple fact alone would surely therefore suggest the organisers did not take all necessary precautions, and the MCUI-UC should therefore not have issued a Track Safety Certificate.

As Mr Michael Maxwell, barrister for the family of John Donnan, rightly said during that inquest: "Far from being a freak accident, this was an accident waiting to happen."

It should also be remembered that during an earlier preliminary hearing ahead of Martin's recent inquest, Senior Coroner John Leckey heard Martin would have had a real chance of surviving his Tandragee 100 crash if the organisers had put a run-off area or slip-road on the dangerous Marlacoo Corner, instead he died of multiple injuries. Not only did this particular dangerous corner not have a run-off area it was also the only corner which allegedly didn’t have air cushioning either, and those omissions were allegedly said to be directly responsible for his death.

Senior Coroner John Leckey at that time also acknowledged motorcycle road races did not have the same safety measures in place as other motor sport venues here in Northern Ireland and allegedly then said - if it cannot be made safe to a requisite standard, then the question has to be asked - should motorcycle racing on public roads take place at all? This is the first issue that must now be addressed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

The second issue to be addressed is that of those who were responsible for allowing the event to proceed without ensuring all necessary safety precautions actually had been taken - those persons should now be held to account.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Price of Lives in the Failing State of Northern Ireland

2012-01-24T19:20:00.000Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

While it would be lovely to say it's great to be back home in this wee corner of the World, I'm honestly not so sure it is. Okay, one has to admit that South Africa is very much an untamed country, and there are areas where one simply shouldn’t visit - for any reason, but one could say the same applies to Northern Ireland. Hijackings, shootings, bombings - the similarities are endless, apart perhaps for the scale of poverty and deprivation, which is on an unimaginable grand scale in South Africa.

Not sure when I last saw a shantytown in Northern Ireland, especially one that was on a par with those of South Africa. We should all be really thankful for small mercies; any one of us could have been born in one of those South African slums with little chance of survival. Who amongst us could survive without our house, money, supermarket, electric, telephone, computer, health service, and sewage system, transport - what a culture shock?

If anything was learned from the prolonged volunteering trip, it's the disturbing fact that lives are cheap, especially so in other failed African states. People are dying at an alarming rate, and not only from natural causes - if starvation should ever be referred to as natural. Particularly distressing is the plight of the innocent children - the number of children dying every minute on the continent of Africa is quite simply staggering - not just failed states, a failed continent.

Back home here in Northern Ireland, to a certain degree it's easy to draw comparisons between our wee country and some of those failed African states. We're living in a failing state, the quango masquerading as an undemocratic government up on the hill. Huge amounts of money being flushed down the sewers, an unfit for purpose health service, likewise the Justice system, ever increasing numbers of jobless people which ultimately leads to poverty and who suffers the most? The children – as usual! An altogether unfit for purpose undemocratic government which this wee country simply cannot afford.

Another comparison one could make is the price of lives - a portion of the blame we can lay at the feet of the Justice system. Those people responsible for the death of another person should be facing more severe penalties. The murderers should be serving life, which should be exactly that - life. The penalty for the drunk driver, the boy/girl racer, the 'joyrider' who takes innocent lives should be from ten to twenty years.

And then we have those people indirectly responsible for numerous deaths including the inept incompetent event organiser who fails to take adequate safety precautions, the government official who instead of intervening to ensure the known serious safety concerns are addressed - financially supports such events with taxpayers money. Should these people be held to account? Most certainly, but more about the reasons in part deux.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Mid Antrim 150 Motorcycle Real Road Races v The Right to Exist

2011-08-08T20:21:00.003+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Contrary to the circulating rumours, she hasn't gone away you know, simply a summer break (shortened by at least two weeks) whilst the local usual suspects wreak their annual havoc upon our wee country. Probably similar to the menstrual period, except it mainly occurs when the schools take their summer holidays - any holiday - and of course there's the longer clear nights of our 'summer' - these things and more effect the habits of some of the already unsavoury Neanderthals in our midst - those who sleep by day, riot and cause mayhem by night. Criminals one and all, the low-lifes of our society. The scum that blights our daily lives.

And on the subject of the low-lifes within our midst - at least one such Neanderthal with a grudge against the running of the Mid Antrim 150, committed a crime which should not be condoned by anyone - even if the person/s had just reason to feel aggrieved.

Was this someone who has in past times felt the wrath of an arrogant MCUI-UC Dinosaur, an over zealous Mid Antrim 150 Motorcycle Club Official? Or perhaps this person was a farmer, a businessperson whose livelihood was being threatened by the running of the event, as indeed happens all too often.

Many farmers have had to diversify to exist, they have families to support, young children to clothe and feed, cattle to care for, expensive machinery to maintain, and who within the motorcycle real road racing community cares one way or the other? All they seem to care about is the running of a loss making real road race event, an event financially supported with ratepayer’s money - taxpayers money.

But what about the farmer whose business comes to a forced standstill - they and their families held captive in their own homes whilst public roads are closed for practice sessions and race days while uncaring Neanderthal eejits trample over their precious land - the farmers place of work and home. They have human rights, the right to exist, the right to use our public roads for which - like other law abiding decent people - they pay taxes, and they most certainly have the right to earn a living.

Whilst as mentioned, the actions taken at the weekend should not be condoned, perhaps like many, the opinion was that a precedent for acceptable law breaking had been set some years ago. We have criminals in our Government - people who've been convicted of terrorism, bombings, and murders - many in our midst voted them into power, and more than likely - some of those now bitterly complaining about the criminal events of the weekend were amongst those who voted to have criminlas in our Goverment.

Perhaps it's been decided by some that criminality does pay after all, that it does produce the results you want - it certainly works up at Stormont.

As are others, in this time of severe recession, the Mid Antrim 150 organising club are allegedly in some financial difficulty - so to are the rest of us, including the hard working cash strapped farmers on whom this country depends for many things - the farmers many would deprive of their livelihood, perhaps even their existence.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

PUMA - Ducati Master Technician Hannah Johnson

2011-06-03T18:11:00.000+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

PUMA recently debuted their new video series that celebrates the joy of riding motorcycles and PUMA's long term relationship with the legendary Italian Ducati. The first video launched last week, and now the second video in this seven part series has just gone live, and it explores how motorcycles fit into the life of Hannah Johnson. Hannah is a Ducati Master Technician living in Miami; in fact, she is the ONLY female Master Technician in the world. A self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, Hannah lives and breathes riding, and has a Ducati collection that includes a Hypermotard.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Yamaha Champions Riding School - Youth Racer Program

2011-05-26T23:21:00.000+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Yamaha Champions Riding School is often the first stop for a young person interested in roadracing a motorcycle.

After the completion of a two-day Yamaha Champions Riding School, any racer under the age of 18 can enter into a three-year obligation for continued support in the area of riding technique. The racer will have carte blanche to audit any school held during those three years. The racer can attend any school on his- or her-own bike; participate in the program to any degree they desire. Free of charge!

Kids get a lot of advice… most of it isn’t much good! The Yamaha Champions Riding School’s Youth Racer Program asks for young racers to make a monetary commitment to our program up front, but then offers three years of attendance for free. This program allows a young racer to make any of our schools that fit his/her schedule. They have to bring their own bike and they won’t be treated like a “student”, but more of a guest who can participate in the classroom and run laps and do drills with the gang. Think of it as a refresher course in how to win championships.

The young racers who have gone through a program taught by Nick Ienatsch and his team is a veritable list of who’s-who in 125 racing, the Red Bull Challenge and the AMA Supersport program. We don’t want to brag… but our graduates have won a lot.

There’s a whole bunch of things you can do on a motorcycle, and just a few of those things work as the pace comes up. We take young riders and get them thinking about why a bike does what it does, and how they can better affect that bike. Yes, we teach world-championship-winning techniques, but we also teach the how, the why… and the lifestyle of success on a motorcycle. The earlier a racer can learn this, the longer and richer his or her career will be.

And for 2012 don't anybody expect this program to be up and running in Northern Ireland, any attempts to do so, would more than likely be allegedly thwarted by guess who? That said, this wee country desperately needs a youth racer program - preferably at Bishopscourt.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

MCUI-UC Task Force 2000 Revisted - The Unfinished 2011 Sequel

2011-05-25T11:36:00.002+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

In the middle of the NW200 Festival Week an altogether most interesting press release came forth from the MCUI-UC regarding the infamous 2000 Task Force Report.

The report was allegedly approved back in 2001 at the governing body’s Intercentre conference and was allegedly compiled to improve safety, rider training, race/practice laps, marshalling, First Aid and operations at road race events with a total of 67 recommendations.

Ten years, and many more fatalities later, and this alleged ludicrous press release informs us that the final report is still not complete but the result of the review of those 67 recommendations is allegedly now available, although why they have failed to disclose those recommendations is somewhat strange, or is it that they're simply irrelevant anyway.

The MCUI-UC now claims that 60% of the aforementioned 67 recommendations have been fully implemented, 28% partially implemented and 12% found to be obsolete. Dare one take this opportunity to suggest that perhaps if they’d implemented the obsolete 12%, many lives may have been saved, as quite obviously the other implemented recommendations failed, spectacularly so - and were indeed as suggested - irrelevant and therefore presumably useless.

If nothing else though, this latest MCUI-UC press release allegedly clearly demonstrates what value the Dinosaurs places on the lives and wellbeing of spectators and competitors.

Be not afraid though, the MCUI-UC allegedly continually work to protect spectators and officials to the best of their ability with more spectator areas and general guidelines for them to follow while attending road races, and appeal to all spectators attending road race events to stay out of prohibited areas, keep back from the road edge, do not climb or hang over fences, do not sit with your legs near the road edge and report to the nearest marshal anything/person that could be in a dangerous place – and try and stay off the road between races.

One only had to be in attendance, or watched the television footage of the real road race events this year to see exactly how many spectators followed even one of those guidelines. It is not only the real road race competitors that flout with death on our public roads.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Exclusive Yoshimura Suzuki World Superbike Photographs - Miller Motorsports Park WSBK

2011-05-24T16:10:00.001+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Ahead of this weekends WSBK American round at the Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, exclusive to Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl photographs from inside the Yoshimura Suzuki hallowed workshops as they finalise machine preparations for their wild card entrant Josh Waters.

Hailing from Mildura, Victoria, 24-year-old Josh Waters has his sights set firmly on an international career in 2011. He will be a wild card entrant for the Yoshimura Racing team at the 2011 American World Superbike round at Miller Motorsport Park in Utah. Waters will continue as part of Team Suzuki competing in selected Australian Superbike rounds.

More photographs from the weekend shoot will be added shortly to the images section of the site.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Open Letter to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - DCAL - Northern Ireland

2011-05-13T17:46:00.000+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Open Letter as has been sent to, and received by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - DCAL - Northern Ireland - 12th May 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,
As a claimed direct result of serious concerns voiced by DCAL, the Department of the Environment, the Sports Council for NI (SCNI) and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) about the alarming number of fatalities that had occurred in motorcycle road racing prior to 2000, the governing body of motorcycling, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) in August 2000 established a Task Force to examine the safety issues within the sport of motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland.

When recently asked, what were the findings of that MCUI and/or MCUI-UC Task Force back in the first year of the new millennium - 2000, and what safety measures were put in place as a result of those MCUI / MCUI-UC Task Force findings - DCAL replied thus: 'DCAL may have received a MCUI Task Force report in December 2000 established to examine safety issues within the sport. However, no copy was held on our files.'

If the DCAL Minister of the day was so deeply concerned about the number of fatalities that had occurred in motorcycle road racing, where is that MCUI Task Force report?

When one now considers the unacceptable number of lives that have been lost since 2000, one can only describe the DCAL reply as utterly incredulous - and downright callous. Who - should it perhaps be asked, is less concerned about lives lost at motorcycle road races in Northern Ireland - DCAL or the MCUI-UC?

More than a decade on and we have another Task Force, or is it just another charade, another pointless exercise, another alleged means by which to fraudulently extract taxpayers money from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure?

Can DCAL now tell all concerned, what actual safety measures from the first Task Force Report of December 2000 were successfully implemented at our real road race circuits, and what Government funding the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, and associated Clubs - also Limited Companies, the majority of which appear to be operating while knowingly being insolvent - have received since that date - both directly and indirectly?

The number of real road racing fatalities since 2000 have been totally unacceptable, as has the huge number of those mostly forgotten seriously injured competitors, therefore one must assume that either the new safety measures were ineffective in the extreme, or that they have in fact never been implemented by the MCUI-UC, or the associated Clubs. Can DCAL therefore explain why there have been so many fatalities and seriously injured competitors within that period, and were any checks carried out by DCAL officials to determine whether or not the MCUI-UC and associated Clubs actually made any attempts to increase safety at the circuits?

The public at large have a right to be told the honest truth, rather than the truth according to the MCUI-UC Dinosaurs - innocent spectators have after all been killed and injured because of the lack of any real safety measures at these events. There have been reports for instance, of at least one OFFICIAL suffering from alcohol intoxication whilst on duty at the Cookstown 100 real road race event this year, so perhaps this alleged not entirely uncommon extremely serious breach of safety standards can also be satisfactorily explained by those ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety of competitors and spectators - the MCUI-UC?

As a further example, let’s consider the disgraceful ongoing Tandragee 100 debacle and in particular the ill-considered chicane which allegedly caused the death of Ardglass competitor John Donnan. At the traumatic inquest, Tony Harvey, incident officer for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster centre, who had allegedly conducted a review of the tragic incident, said "It could only be described as a freak accident and a risk competitors accept in the pursuit of their chosen sport". But Mr Michael Maxwell, barrister for the family of John Donnan, rightly said: "Far from being a freak accident, this was an accident waiting to happen."

Indeed, the inquest also heard claims that one of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited officials, allegedly in charge of safety at the Tandragee 100 event, had allegedly ignored warnings that the chicane, constructed of straw bales and sand bags, was unsafe and that more barriers might have saved his life. Richard Nesbitt, alleged convenor of the road inspection committee for looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster Centre, said he could not remember receiving any such warning. "I can't remember the man saying anything sensible other than nattering away in my ear. If someone is constantly coming at you it is easier just to ignore them," he said, then allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable than straw bales available in 2007 - which was anything but truthful, an absurd statement from the man allegedly purporting to be in charge of safety at the time John Donnan so tragically lost his life.

Can DCAL tell us which MCUI-UC officials were originally responsible for proposing and implementing the chicane at the Tandragee 100 public roads circuit, a chicane which caused a strike by competitors when it was first introduced, and can DCAL now confirm as to whether or not the chicane was one of the safety measures introduced as a direct result of the 2000 Task Force Report?

Can DCAL also tell us what relevant experience of racing 200BHP Superbike projectiles on narrow bumpy public country roads, each member of these two farcical Task Forces actually have, plus how many of the members, if any, possess relevant health and safety qualifications, and also state what criteria, if any, was actually used to choose the members of the two Task Forces, and was the subject of conflict of interests taken into account as would apply to officials of associated Clubs/Limited Companies responsible for also organising and promoting motorcycle real road race events?

Whilst the MCUI-UC were allegedly indulging themselves in other pastimes, including becoming embroiled in personality contests, power struggles, internal feuding, blatant bullying and petty legal actions - seriously unethical behaviour by any standards - innocent lives have been lost, and destroyed. Families have been ripped asunder, children left without fathers, wives without husbands, parents without sons – and who cares – from the available evidence, allegedly neither the MCUI-UC or DCAL it would seem.

People like the ubiquitous Harris Healey who with others, following the John Donnan fatality, allegedly resigned from the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited in order to allegedly escape possible legal action, but like the majority of the others still appear to be, not only is Harris Healey still allegedly an unelected official of this questionable organisation - he himself actually appears to be in control of the MCUI-UC as the alleged supremo - or should that be alleged dictator?

Were any of those officials involved in the John Donnan and Martin Finnegan tragedies serving as members of the 2000 Task Force, and are they also a part of the new Task Force - it is common knowledge that the already mentioned allegedly unelected Harris Healey was a member of the aforementioned 2000 Task Force, so why was he then permitted to be a member of the new Task Force, who voted him onto the Task Force and were DCAL made fully aware of these questionable appointments?

The highly dubious practices of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited must now be officially investigated, there are to many rumours and allegations of numerous skeletons being hidden away from prying eyes - also their accounts must be meticulously scrutinised, and any ongoing allegations of misappropriation of funds for the benefit of officials etc, should also now be examined so that the sport of motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland can be dragged back out of the sewers, and set free from those more interested in their own self importance, and alleged self gain than the sport of motorcycle road racing, so that our sport can finally flourish under an open, transparent, and most importantly - an honest Governing Body - that really does care about protecting the lives of competitors and spectators alike.

Just recently during a preliminary hearing ahead of an inquest for racer Martin Finnegan who also died - possibly due to a total lack of any satisfactory safety measures while competing at the Tandragee 100 - Senior Coroner John Leckey acknowledged that motorcycle road races did not have the same safety measures in place as other motor sport venues here in Northern Ireland and allegedly then said - if it cannot be made safe to a requisite standard, then the question has to be asked - should motorcycle racing on public roads take place at all? As a matter of urgency, this is a question that must now be answered by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Whilst the MCUI-UC have allegedly been attempting to absolve themselves of any responsibility - several riders, and bereaved families of riders, are allegedly currently being sued by spectators previously injured in these motorcycle real road race events, so how many more people have to be maimed and killed before our elected Government finally accepts it's share of the responsibility, and takes immediate decisive action against the seemingly despicable, ineptly incompetent Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited?

If Senior DCAL officials and its Ministers - past, present and future - are as concerned about safety at our real road races as has been claimed, they should now volunteer for a high speed Superbike trip around each of the public road circuits here in Northern Ireland – then unlike the majority of MCUI-UC officials, if not all – they can at least then speak from some experience and be in a position to take immediate positive action to resolve the serious ongoing safety issues that have blighted motorcycle real road racing in Northern Ireland for decades.

Yours faithfully,

Barbiegirl

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Isle of Man TT RealRoadRacing World Championship

2011-05-10T18:57:00.000+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

For those who’ve been leading a sheltered life, the whole of the UK, and Ireland, is in the iron grip of the worst recession for quite some time, Northern Ireland included with the rest of the civilised World - along with the Isle of Man - come to think of it, Ireland is actually also a trifle bankrupt.

Hence the Department of Economic Development of the aforementioned Isle of Man Government is now seeking out new revenue streams by any means possible, including reinventing their TT real road racing event which has been haemorrhaging visitors, and money, for some considerable time - and one does realise the blinkered souls in our midst will fervently dispute the foregoing facts.

Old-timers though, and Manx friends, all sing of the same hymn sheet, the Isle of Man, and the TT according to them - as a visitor attraction has been in decline for many years – unlike our own UGP and NW200 - both of which have gone from strength to strength these past years, in fact with so many spectators attending the North West 200 in particular, the Island of Ireland is in danger of sinking come race day, and that is the truth and nothing but the truth according to - the organisers.

Nonetheless, jokes aside, many real road race fans have been getting somewhat over excited by recent news of an all new real road racing world championship series, but before anybody starts the process of booking those flights to far off exotic destinations, one should take note of several of the phrases being widely used in the press stories - ‘could become part of’ – ‘could be held internationally’ – ‘could help develop the event’ – ‘could be a six-round championship’ – ‘could open in the United States’ – and the MCUI-UC Dinosaurs could fly off into the wide blue yonder never to return – but first there is justice to be served.

The whole purpose of the consultation exercise by the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Economic Development is of course to rebrand the TT races and in doing so hopefully promote and reinvent the Isle of Man to a new breed of tourists from around the world. In a statement from the Government’s Department of Economic Development it said: “The Department funds the TT Races to drive economic development on the Isle of Man to generate tourism and commercial income and to provide a sports-based platform for Isle of Man-based companies to make business contacts, as well as profiling the benefits of businesses incorporating on the Isle of Man.”

Hardly surprising, there are no exact details available of how the proposed new real road racing world championship series would operate – if it ever does come to fruition – but it has been reported the series could feature around 20 regular competitors possibly supplemented by local wild cards at each of the rounds - and kick off in the USA with other rounds being held in Asia and the Far East – no mention of Ireland though – North or South – so presumably the reputation of the Dinosaurs has already reached those far off Manx shores.

Despite the reasons, one must congratulate the forward thinking Manx Government but one still has to raise a few trifling unmentioned issues, any of which might very well unravel the ambitious proposals. Was it not King Kenny Roberts who along with his fellow American GP competitors and assorted others, vehemently fought to rid themselves of real road race tracks some years past? Where then in the US of A will a real road race track be located, and who will take the risk of promoting such an event - in a country where the lawyers are allegedly already queuing up to file lawsuits. While it's been possible to sweep away one fatality after another on the Isle of Man, here in Ireland the tide is turning, and in America - could the promoters of such a series afford to take the high stakes gamble?

Also in these financially austere times, which of the cash strapped teams do the organisers envisage being in a position to go globe trotting, and where in an already crowded calendar will this championship find suitable slots. The North West 200 has this year suffered due to the uncooperative Spanish refusing to change the date of their round of the World Endurance Championship, neither will BSB change dates and these are just two of the championships from which any prospective teams and riders will be sought. One thing is for certain though - should it ever become a reality as opposed to the current pipe dream, participating in this proposed championship will cost rather more than Around A Pound, so one has to wonder how many of our local riders have the available finances to make it across to the United States, or any other far flung country.

And finally, since the MCUI-UC are allegedly strapped for cash on an ongoing basis - allegedly struggling even to meet their current insurance policy instalments - and our existing real road races unable to survive without taxpayer funded assistance, Northern Ireland is unlikely to feature on any envisaged real road racing World championship calendar any time soon.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Osama bin Laden to be Replaced by Harris Healey - Not True

2011-05-09T12:47:00.004+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Ahead of a questioning Open Letter to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - DCAL, a short pause for some light relief, and confirmation that the alleged rumours allegedly claiming Harris Healey has already been approached by Al-Qaeda as a possible replacement for Osama bin Laden - are not true.

Now, remember this important fact before your next flight - it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of us who fly.

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers, and by the way, UPS is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-feet-per-minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF is always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics..

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from the midget.

And finally, two somewhat hugely dubious jokes courtesy of a reprobate male colleague - for which, and for whom I apologise - the first of which deals with the perils of the English Language. Those of us who fall into the world of hi-tech should take note of the importance of correct grammar.

I have noticed that many who send text messages and emails, have forgotten the "art" of capitalization. Capitalization is the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse, and helping your uncle jack off a horse.

And secondly, the Lone Ranger was ambushed and captured by an enemy Indian War Party.

The Indian Chief proclaims, "So, YOU are the great Lone Ranger, in honour of the Harvest Festival, YOU will be executed in three days. Before I kill you, I grant you three requests. What is your FIRST request?'

The Lone Ranger responds, "I'd like to speak to my horse."

The Chief nods and Silver is brought before the Lone Ranger who whispers in Silver's ear, and the horse gallops away. Later that evening, Silver returns with a beautiful blonde woman on his back. As the Indian Chief watches, the blonde enters the Lone Ranger's tent and spends the night.

The next morning the Indian Chief admits he's impressed. "You have a very fine and loyal horse, but I will still kill you in two days. What is your SECOND request?"

The Lone Ranger again asks to speak to his horse. Silver is brought to him, and he again whispers in the horse's ear. As before, Silver takes off and disappears over the horizon. Later that evening, to the Chief's surprise, Silver again returns, this time with a voluptuous brunette, more attractive than the blonde. She enters the Lone Rangers tent and spends the night.

The following morning the Indian Chief is again impressed. "You are indeed a man of many talents but I will still kill you tomorrow. What is your LAST request?"

The Lone Ranger responds, "I'd like to speak to my horse alone."

The Chief is curious, but he agrees and Silver is brought to the Lone Ranger's tent. Once they're alone, the Lone Ranger grabs Silver by both ears, looks him square in the eye and says, "READ MY LIPS!!!! FOR... THE... LAST... TIME... BRING POSSE!!!!"

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Classic Racing Motorcycles - A Kind Of Passion by Squadra Sutge

2011-05-07T10:24:00.057+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Not only here in Ireland do we have a great many classic motorcycle racing aficionados, they can be found in every far flung corner of the World - each and every one of them share the same passion for these gems of yesteryear, perhaps even people such as alleged MCUI-UC supremo Harris Healey who it would appear also allegedly believes the modern day ultra powerful Superbikes are no faster than he and his Manx Norton mobile chicane of days long past, presumably from where the Tandragee 100 catastrophic killer chicane idea may have allegedly sprung forth.

Especially for all those sane dedicated fans of a bygone era - here is an excellent video of some truly gorgeous classic racing motorcycles as filmed during the Classic Moto 2011 event at the Jarama race circuit in Spain by Squadra Sutge - and what a wonderful soundtrack - I Hung My Head by Johnny Cash.

A KIND OF PASSION - A tribute to classic motorcycles and the people who love them from Squadra Sutge on Vimeo.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Real Road Racing Safety and Responsibility - Who is Responsible?

2011-05-06T23:46:00.002+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Safety is apparently the state of being safe - freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss - while responsibility places a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible - the responsibilities of authority. So who was responsible for the safety of competitors and spectators at the May 2008 Tandragee 100 motorcycle real road races when Martin Finnegan was tragically killed and three spectators were injured?

Senior Coroner John Leckey has heard Martin Finnegan would have had a real chance of surviving his Tandragee 100 crash if the organisers had put a run-off area or slip-road on a dangerous corner, instead he died of multiple injuries after the May 2008 Supersport 600 race. Not only did this particular dangerous corner not have a run-off area it was also the only corner which allegedly didn’t have air cushioning either, and those omissions were allegedly said to be directly responsible for his death.

Martin Finnegan had been an experienced rider according to the Senior Coroner, who was used to making split-second decisions, but it would have been impossible he'd continued, for organisers to line the track with hay bales or construct slip-roads in nearby fields, but this the court then heard - did not relieve the organisers of the responsibility to make the course as safe as possible.

The final point made by Senior Coroner John Leckey was allegedly that a country road circuit is a very different creature to an F1 circuit or a short circuit - and if it cannot be made safe to a requisite standard, then the question has to be asked - should the racing take place at all?

More to the point, due to the lack of the already mentioned non-existent safety features, should racing have taken place at the Tandragee 100 in May 2008? Many might probably claim the cost of providing run-off areas for particularly dangerous corners on a circuit which is only used once a year is financially unrealistic, but what price then do those same people put on a human life - the life of Martin Finnegan - and the injuries sustained by the three spectators?

It might be said the organising Club should be held responsible for proceeding with the race meeting, but is it not the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited that is ultimately responsible for declaring a course to be safe? It was only the previous year that the same course claimed the life of John Donnan at whose inquest, claims were heard that one of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland - Ulster Centre officials in charge of safety at the Tandragee 100 event had allegedly ignored warnings that a chicane, constructed of straw bales and sand bags, was unsafe and that more barriers might have saved his life. Richard Nesbitt, the then alleged convenor of the road inspection committee for looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, said he could not remember receiving any such warning. "I can't remember the man saying anything sensible other than nattering away in my ear. If someone is constantly coming at you it is easier just to ignore them," he'd said, then allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable than straw bales available in 2007 - which was anything but truthful, an absurd statement from the man allegedly purporting to be the convenor of the road inspection committee for looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the MCUI-UC.

Who then in May 2008 was the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited convenor of the road inspection committee for looking after competitors' and spectators' safety, and why did that person declare the Tandragee 100 public roads circuit to be safe for the purpose of high speed motorcycle real road racing? Had he been warned about the lack of safety measures, and had he simply ignored the warnings, as allegedly occurred in 2007 when another human life was lost? Was it the case that the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited considered the alternative to straw bales in 2007 an expense to far, that perhaps a human life did not warrant such an expense.

Perhaps the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited should now tell us what price they put on a human life - each and every life that has been lost on a real road racing public roads circuit in Northern Ireland.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Last Chance to WIN Two Relentless International NW200 Grandstand Tickets plus a Case of Relentless Energy Drink

2011-05-05T15:23:00.000+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Want to get your hands on a pair of NW200 grandstand tickets, and a case of Relentless Energy Drink? It's competition time with Relentless Energy Drink who are as we all know, or should know by now, sponsors of the International NW200.
ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 6th @ MIDNIGHT

Relentless Energy Drink are proud to sponsor this year’s Relentless International North West 200 Race bringing the very best in road racing to Northern Ireland on May 21st 2011. Guy Martin and Alastair Seeley, who ride for the Relentless Suzuki TAS team, are both competing in this landmark event on the racing calendar – find out more and follow their progress at - www.relentlessenergy.com.

We’ve got a pair of grandstand tickets to the event up for grabs plus a case of Relentless Energy Drink to keep you fuelled up this summer – it’ll give you the energy, stamina, focus and drive you need when you need it! To enter just simply Email your contact details - Name, Email and/or Telephone number to Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland along with the answer to the following simple question: "Who famously won the 250cc race at the NW200 in 2008?" Simples! It was him -I think.

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 6th @ MIDNIGHT

Send your entries in by the end of April using the Contact form and as usual, if you don't enter, you don't win - and before anybody asks - No! The Relentless TAS Suzuki pictured left - isn't included with the two grandstand tickets plus the case of Relentless Energy Drink.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Martin Finnegan + Tandragee 100 + MCUI-UC = Conspiracy Theories!!!

2011-05-04T10:42:00.001+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Following the nuclear proportions fallout that emanated from the John Donnan tragedy - including MCUI-UC Directors reportedly taking legal advice, resigning to avoid being sued and/or prosecuted - allegedly - more like the rats they are abandoning the sinking ship of alleged arrogant obnoxious self righteous bully boys - pity they hadn't all drowned like filthy sewer rats in their pathetic sick attempt to avoid responsibility, and possible prosecution - allegedly - we now have the also unresolved Martin Finnegan tragedy about which rumours and allegations also abound.

The adjourned inquest, has been adjourned again - until after the resurrected Tandragee 100 has been and gone, hopefully without any additional fatalities - but why, and at the behest of which scheming, sick individuals, one must ask?

Already we've had rumoured allegations of clandestine post event meetings to allegedly concoct yet more unbelievable real road racing fairy tales, reports of evidence tampering, even rumours of witness intimidation - all unsubstantiated don't you know, leastways for legal purposes. The unelected resigned alleged Gestapo Chief of the dubious governing body allegedly makes use of the aforementioned governing body legal team to threaten and take action against anyone who dares contradict him, including fellow members of the dreaded inner sanctum of equally inept incompetents.

And then there was the letter sent to the Senior Coroner John Leckey allegedly questioning amongst other things - the riding ability of the much respected and loved Martin Finnegan #45. What gives these morons the right to question the ability of any single dedicated motorcycle road racing competitor - as all of them are - they take part in real road racing because of their love for the sport - allegedly unlike the Dinosaurs.

What needs to be questioned is the sanity of the MCUI-UC Dinosaurs, especially of those involved in the 2000 Task Force, the current Task Force, those responsible for the Tandragee 100 killer chicane, plus the part being played by DCAL officials and Government Ministers - but take heed Dinosaurs - these questions and more are to be asked in a forthcoming open letter to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - DCAL

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

FREE!! - Relentless International NW200 Grandstand Tickets plus a Case of Relentless Energy Drink

2011-04-24T19:43:00.002+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Relentless Energy Drink are proud to sponsor this year’s Relentless International North West 200 Race bringing the very best in road racing to Northern Ireland on May 21st 2011. Guy Martin and Alastair Seeley, who ride for the Relentless Suzuki TAS team, are both competing in this landmark event on the racing calendar – find out more and follow their progress at - www.relentlessenergy.com.
We’ve got a pair of grandstand tickets to the event up for grabs plus a case of Relentless Energy Drink to keep you fuelled up this summer – it’ll give you the energy, stamina, focus and drive you need when you need it! To enter just simply Email your contact details - Name, Email and/or Telephone number to Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland along with the answer to the following simple question: "Who famously won the 250cc race at the NW200 in 2008?" Simples! It was him -I think.

Sunday 17th April 2011 - Quay Vipers MCC - 10th Anniversary Hospice Ride Out

2011-04-14T17:54:00.000+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

This Sunday 17th April 2011 sees Right To Ride's Club Supporters, the Quay Vipers MCC, 10th Anniversary Hospice Ride Out from Carrickfergus Harbour Car Park.

The ride out is all about raising funds for the NI Children’s Hospice and last year motorcyclists and the club raised over £10,000.

The run has been growing steadily over the years and hopefully this year will be no exception.

There will be an outside broadcast unit from the U105 road show U105 hosted by George Jones.

Everybody is welcome to arrive from 9am onwards as this year there will be more of a festival atmosphere associated with the event.

As usual the highlight of the day will be the arrival of the kids and their families on the Trikes from the Brothers of the Third Wheel with the added edition of none other than “Norn Iron’s” very own May McFetridge.

In addition there will be an appearance by the Star Wars characters from the Emerald Garrison.

Donation £5 per bike minimum and if you can’t make it on the day you can donate at Just Giving - http://www.justgiving.com/QVMCC-Hospice2011

The run will be leaving Carrickfergus Harbour Car Park at 1pm.

For further information or contacts visit the Quay Vipers MCC website - www.quayvipersmcc.com

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

FREE!! - Relentless International NW200 Grandstand Tickets

2011-04-11T22:35:00.008+01:00

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Relentless Energy Drink are proud to sponsor this year’s Relentless International North West 200 Race bringing the very best in road racing to Northern Ireland on May 21st 2011. Guy Martin and Alastair Seeley, who ride for the Relentless Suzuki TAS team, are both competing in this landmark event on the racing calendar – find out more and follow their progress at - www.relentlessenergy.com.
We’ve got a pair of grandstand tickets to the event up for grabs plus a case of Relentless Energy Drink to keep you fuelled up this summer – it’ll give you the energy, stamina, focus and drive you need when you need it! To enter just simply Email your Name, Address, Email and Telephone number to Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland along with the answer to the following question: "Who famously won the 250cc race at the NW200 in 2008?" Simples!

Save Our Sport From Evil

Wise Up Or Pay The Price - Don't Phone Maria and Drive

2011-03-21T19:37:00.010Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Ride It Right has launched – “See Us – Get It Right” – an advisory and warning leaflet for other vehicle drivers, and I will take this opportunity to add to the warnings. Too many motorists are still prepared to risk their own safety, the safety of their passengers, and other road users, by using a phone while driving, you are breaking the law, and four times more likely to be the cause of a serious collision. It is also an offence to use a phone when stopped at traffic lights, even when queuing in traffic, and you can be prosecuted for using a hands-free mobile phone if you are deemed not to be in proper control of your vehicle - be warned. Wise up or pay the price!

The leaflet asks other vehicle drivers to – Just Think! – See Us and Get It Right! – at: Junctions - When Turning Right - When Emerging Onto Main Roads - When Overtaking - When Changing Lanes.

The collision facts speak for themselves, as the top three causes for all KSI (Killed Seriously Injured) motorcycle collisions (irrespective of responsibility) were*:

Emerging from a minor road without care; excessive speed having regard to conditions; and turning right without care.

More than two-thirds (65%) of collisions happened ‘at or within 20 meters of a junction’.

Of those collisions occurring at T-junctions, more than 45% occurred at a T-junction with give way signs or markings, followed by 36% at ‘uncontrolled’ junctions, and almost 13% at junctions with a stop sign.

Half of all motorcyclist casualties are caused by other drivers.
Ride It Right’s message for other vehicle drivers is to, “Use your head – Not just your eyes!”, Ride It Right’s, Trevor Baird says, “With a little thought other vehicle drivers can get it right and see us, motorcyclists should be a first thought, not just a second thought!”

The Ride It Right leaflet and website also has some advice for other vehicle drivers: Please take time at junctions – whether turning out of or turning into a junction – or a petrol station – or your own driveway, the last thing a motorcyclist wants to hear is, I didn’t see him/her or, are you all right!

View the leaflet on the Ride It Right website

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Noriyuki Haga Message From Japan - Nitro Nori Samurai of Slide

2011-03-17T13:30:00.007Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Pata Aprilia Racing's WSBK rider Noriyuki Haga who is currently in Japan has sent the following message to his legions of fans around the world.

'After the first round of the World Superbike championship at Phillip Island, I went back to my hometown Nagoya in Japan to visit my relatives. Of course now I am trying to get back to Europe for Round 2 of World Superbike championship at Donington Park in the UK next weekend.

First of all I would like to say thank you so much to everyone that has texted me and called me, concerned about my family and friends in Japan. I just wanted everyone to know how much it meant to me and I appreciate it very much! Thank you so much for all the kindness you show me. All my family (Yurie, Akito, Ryota and Kanon) are OK and our relatives who live in the suffering area are safe too.

We are very shocked about what is happening in Japan. Earthquake, tsunami and now trouble for Nuclear power plant. It's just like a nightmare! It is very bad and ugly, especially the Sendai area. I used to race there and I have good memories of it too but now it's unbelievable... sad! sad! sad!

My home is OK, it just has small damage and the aftershocks are still continuing but at the moment they are not as bad as the others.

I am very sad for all those who have lost friends and family in the tragedy and I am going to try my best at Donington Park to show you the spirit of "Don't give up Japan, Don't give up Tohoku!

I also have the good news that our friends Yukio Kagayama and family, Katsuaki Fujiwara and family are all OK!

Ciao and see you soon!
Nitro-Nori'

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Happy Saint Patrick's Day - Have a Good One

2011-03-17T11:04:00.007Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Saint Patrick, the first real certified eejit, banishing all those poor snakes from Ireland when he could've rid us of the Dinosaurs instead.

Two Irish mothers, Kate and Lorna were talking about their sons.
Kate says, 'My Patrick is such a saint. He works hard, doesn't smoke, and he hasn't so much as looked at a woman in over two years.'

Lorna responds, 'Well, my Francis is a saint himself. Not only hasn't he not looked at a woman in over three years, but he hasn't touched a drop of liquor in all that time.'

'My word,' says Kate, 'You must be so proud.'

'I am,' announces Lorna, 'And when he's paroled next month, I'm going to throw him a big party.'
*******************
1st Irish Farmer: My cow fell down a hole and I had to shoot it.
2nd Irish Farmer: Did you shoot it in the hole?

First Irish Farmer: No, in the head.
*******************
Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.. Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!'

Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.'
*******************
An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut . The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.

He says, 'Sir, have you been drinking?'

'Just water,' says the priest.

The trooper says, 'Then why do I smell wine?'

The priest looks at the bottle and says, 'Good Lord! He's done it again!'
*******************
Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, 'Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman.'

'Oh yeah?' said Charlie, 'And how did this one end?'

'When it was over,' Mike replied, 'She came to me on her hands and knees.'

'Really,' said Charles, 'Now that's a switch! What did she say?'

She said, 'Come out from under the bed, you little chicken shit coward.'
*******************
The rest of the world can enjoy trouble free Saint Patrick's Days, let's just this one time try it here. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

MCUI-UC Directors Responsibilities Under Companies Act 2006

2011-03-15T14:19:00.007Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Patrick Rice in his alleged capacity of MCUI-UC auditor, may or may not have quite recently allegedly furnished the Management Committee Members / Directors of the aforementioned Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited with the alleged following information and advice.

Apparently, as allegedly explained by Patrick Rice - a Director is defined as any person occupying the position of director by whatever name called, whilst a Shadow Director is a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of a company are accustomed to act.

The definition of shadow director will certainly apply in any case where a board of directors recognise communications given to them by a particular person as being effectively directions or instructions on any routine basis.

One can only assume those Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited Directors actually present - leastways bodily - were paying attention, but as the Chairman may have allegedly already proclaimed the alleged breaching of the Companies Act 2006 was something of a trivial issue, or perhaps allegedly not?!?!

The Duties of Directors Up to 2006 - Fiduciary Duty — Directors are obliged to act in good faith in the best interests of the company and then there is the Duty of Skill and Care.

Moi would request the Directors of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited to act in good faith in the best interests of the sport of motorcycle racing which they are obliged to do so - leastways as the Governing Body one would have imagined so.

Statutory Duties - brought about by various statutes etc. Companies Act 2006. Duty of directors to act within their powers (set by Memorandum and Articles of the company and Constitution of the company), Duty to promote the success of the company, Duty to exercise independent judgement with regard to the likely consequences of any decision in the long term. The need to foster the company's business relationships with suppliers, customers and others. The impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. The desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business contact. The need to act fairly as between members of the company. Duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence. Duty to avoid conflicts of interest. Duty not to accept benefits from third parties. Duty to declare interest in proposed transactions or arrangements

Personal Liability - Wrongful trading can lead to personal liability. Directors should be careful not to finance their company's continuing operations by unpaid debts to creditors. Another scenario could be continuing to trade with a company who is in known financial difficulties without taking appropriate steps to secure payment. Decided by court.

Derived from the Insolvency Act 1986 - Director who makes careless mistakes or is reckless could also become personally liable for loss of company. The Court will consider the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by the directors being considered and the general knowledge, skill and experience that that director has.

Patrick Rice then allegedly drew the following conclusions - (1) No defence to plead ‘ignorance’ - (2) If you do not have the expertise in a particular area then you should seek appropriate advice - (3) If you do not agree with a particular decision then make sure that your objections are clearly recorded in the minutes.

Whilst it is most tempting to comment further on some of the foregoing points, particuarly those referring to - duty to avoid conflicts of interest, duty not to accept benefits from third parties, duty to declare interest in proposed transactions or arrangements, and duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence - one will just for now, due to time restraints, reluctantly refrain from doing so.

It would appear, understabably so, that Patrick Rice did not offer any advice pertaining to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which, considering the existence of several alleged pending legal actions, may or may not have been a more relevant topic for discussion with the Directors of Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

MCUI - UC Management Committee Members & Directors Responsibilities

2011-03-14T14:59:00.016Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Just recently an MCUI-UC meeting was allegedly convened for the purpose of receiving alleged advice from MCUI-UC auditor Patrick Rice regarding Management Committee members and Directors responsibilities and to possibly allegedly consider what actions needed be taken to ensure self preservation.

Hardly surprising when one considers that amongst other forthcoming legal proceedings, is the pending action by the John Donnan family, and the Martin Finnegan inquest which has been adjourned whilst further investigations are carried out, and further evidence sought out, so if you have any information which may be of use to either family please read this blog posting. After all, if you're the real road race fan you claim to be, who should you be supporting - the dedicated riders - your heroes - without whom there would be no real road racing - or the Dinosaurs - without whom real road racing would surely prosper for years to come. Please think carefully for a moment, then do the right and decent thing - support the loved ones left behind - don't allow the Dinosaurs to walk away from any alleged responsibilities - even though some allegedly barely can - walk.

The meeting allegedly commenced with Patrick Rice allegedly outlining Directors Responsibilities under the Companies Act 2006, then allegedly moved on to Directors Insurance Cover and Event Insurance cover and the requirement for the Ulster Centre to avail itself of Directors insurance cover, and event cancellation insurance - something one just can’t believe the MCUI-UC didn’t already have in place - actually having considered the matter for a mere millisecond - it is totally believable.

Mark Sanlon allegedly then asked if event cancellation insurance covers all the bills - to which Patrick Rice allegedly replied that it would be dependent on the type of cover taken out - or to perhaps put it another way - how much can you afford?

The baseline Road Race Insurance costs were allegedly summarised as follows: International Road Races – circa £21000 + sundries £5000 approximately. National Road Races - circa £11000 + sundries £5000 approximately.

Referring to Club events being grant-aided, Patrick Rice allegedly stated that it was often the case that grants are only paid out provided the money is spent on particular items such as advertising.

At this point the conversation allegedly turned to the amount of time and effort that had been spent on the issues which Jan Simms had reported about Steven Davison at the Skerries Road Races in 2010 - an issue for a future posting perhaps. Harris Healey allegedly stated that it was agreed at the last Ulster Centre Council meeting that a small team should be identified to consider the circumstances which led to the withdrawal of Steven Davison’s Photographers Pass. Mark Sanlon allegedly stated that the decision, which was allegedly minuted, should be re-issued and this should reveal once again that it was a unanimous decision made by the Ulster Centre Council. Really! How wonderful!

Ken Turner allegedly stated that three relevant people could be asked to take a fresh look at the situation and provide a summary of their findings – Ken Turner allegedly suggested Tony Harvey, John Savage and one other to be decided. Keith Carson allegedly suggested that John Atcheson and Mark Sanlon should look into this issue (possibly to include a representative from SNI). This was allegedly seconded by Richard Nesbitt. Yes, that Richard Nesbitt – the alleged convenor of the road inspection committee for allegedly looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, who in court allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable available in 2007. Who said Richard Nesbitt had allegedly resigned? He just hasn't gone away you know!

At this point a number of persons then allegedly voiced their dissatisfaction that Articles of Association did not support the working of the Council - not as many persons though that have voiced their dissatisfaction with the MCUI-UC and/or the Dinosaurs. Patrick Rice allegedly stated that the issues, if not universally understood, must be agreed and recommended that further legal opinion may be necessary to resolve the situation. At this point the Ulster Centre Secretary asked to be excused and left the meeting – a wise person – allegedly - or perhaps not.

Patrick Rice allegedly stated that the Management Committee had Council powers and from time to time it would be necessary to exercise that duty. Patrick Rice allegedly stated they are bound by the Companies Act 2006. The Chairman stated that we are not here to make decisions about trivial matters. Moi would have thought that the alleged breaching of the Companies Act 2006 was no trivial matter.

Keith Carson allegedly stated he felt the rules which govern the Ulster Centre are okay. Harris Healey allegedly advised that where changes may be necessary these should be made with great care and never with haste – presumably as opposed to the bull in china shop method – comedians one and all, allegedly!

Maurice Little allegedly asked what liability Directors had if it was clear that negligence was on the part of a Club. Patrick Rice allegedly replied (without prejudice) that Management Committee members (Directors) would not be directly responsible but Stewards may be liable as they are present and hold responsibility at the event - who'd want to be an alleged fall guy Steward for any alleged callous eejit.

The Chairman allegedly stated that persons doing jobs such as acting on the Roads Inspection or Safety committees must have training and must act independently - and presumably be aware of the alleged fact that there was nothing more stable available in 2007 - than straw bales.

Harris Healey was allegedly asked to enquire if SNI had secured any information about the most recent recommendations for deployment of Recticel Bales. Presumably referring to an 'incident' which had occurred at the 2010 UGP, Harris Healey allegedly replied that it was clear that it was necessary to protect the inside and outside of corners.

Would you as a responsible person allow any of these people to organise and oversee a Teddy Bear's Picnic? Come to think of it, would any responsible parent allow their precious innocent child anywhere near any event organised, or overseen, by any one of these people?

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Daytona International Superbike Results

2011-03-12T22:37:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Daytona International Speedway - Race One Results

1 - Blake Young Suzuki, 2 - Tommy Hayden Suzuki, 3 - Josh Hayes Yamaha, 4 - Ben Bostrom Suzuki, 5 - Roger Hayden Suzuki, 6 - Martin Cardenas Suzuki, 7 - Larry Pegram BMW, 8 - Jeremy Toye BMW, 9 - Chris Ulrich Suzuki, 10 - David Anthony Suzuki

AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Daytona International Speedway - Race Two Results

1 - Blake Young Suzuki, 2 - Josh Hayes Yamaha, 3. Tommy Hayden Suzuki, 4- Martin Cardenas Suzuki, 5 - Ben Bostrom Suzuki, 6 - Larry Pegram BMW, 7 - Chris Clark Yamaha, 8 - Eric Bostrom Kawasaki, 9 - David Anthony Suzuki, 10 - Chris Peris BMW

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

All New Belfast Bikers Forum - Local Belfast Bike Forum

2011-03-12T10:21:00.007Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Probably the second most important thing for a motorcyclist these days after their bike is, their computer!

One does realise it's somewhat easier to carry your iPhone or Blackberry whilst biking, as opposed to the PC or Mac - but apart from that one small problem.

For those who disagree, form an disorderly queue and start typing on your keyboard in response, For those that agree and cannot do with a daily fixed of motorcycling internet surfing, head over to www.belfastbikers.co.uk, register and introduce yourself to the recently launched local “Belfast Bikers” forum dedicated to local bikers in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Already with a core of dedicated posters, Belfast Bikers aim is to provide a platform for bike enthusiasts to talk about bikes, share advice on buying, selling or fixing bikes.

Belfast Bikers has also teamed up with a number of sponsors allowing you to get special discounts on a range of bike products as well as all the latest news about upcoming bike events.

The original concept behind the site was to create a central point in order to produce a simple yet effective link between all bikers and bike services in the area.

The "bolted on" forum is the backbone of the site enabling the area’s two-wheeled community to share experiences and make friends with people who share the same passion.

The forum has a dedicated section aptly named "Biker Watchdog" which Belfast Bikers says, “Is there to identify just who is giving great service and of course, who isn't!”

Apart from General Bike Talk and Chit Chat topics there are, real write ups by Belfast’s own riders, tips on servicing and repairs, Ride Outs, Events, Meets dates and information and a whole lot more.

Belfast Bikers are always looking for new members, so hopefully this point in their direction will see the forum grow and we wish Belfast Bikers all the success for the future.

Right To Ride

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Mystery of Task Force 2000 - An MCUI Production

2011-03-10T21:28:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Back in February we learned as a direct result of serious concerns being voiced by DCAL, the Department of the Environment, the Sports Council for NI (SCNI) and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) about the number of fatalities that had occurred in motorcycle road racing in recent years, the governing body of motorcycling, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) in August 2000 established a Task Force to examine the safety issues within the sport of motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland.

Moi asked, what were the findings of the MCUI and/or MCUI-UC Task Force back in the first year of the new millennium - 2000, and what safety measures - which obviously had no effect on safety issues anyway - were put in place as a result of those MCUI / MCUI-UC Task Force findings?

DCAL have replied thus: 'DCAL may have received a MCUI Task Force report in December 2000 established to examine safety issues within the sport. However, no copy was held on our files.'

If the DCAL Minister of the day was so deeply concerned about the number of fatalities that had occurred in motorcycle road racing, where is the MCUI Task Force report? When one considers the number of lives that have been lost since 2000, one can only describe the DCAL reply as utterly incredulous - and downright callous. Who should it perhaps be asked, is less concerned about lives lost at motorcycle road races in Northern Ireland - Minister McCausland or the MCUI-UC?

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

MV Augusta F3 Sculptured Art Supersport

2011-03-09T19:48:00.010Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A new work of art on wheels is arriving that will upset the balance of power. As with all MV’s this new model is synonymous with excellence, style and technology. The new F3 will apply these principles to a new market segment, the middle weight supersport category.

If the F4, considered the most beautiful motorcycle in the world, set the styling and performance standards by which all others are judged, the F3 has completely exceeded all previous conceptions of what a supersport motorcycle should be, redefining an entirely new category. Light weight, power & electronics working in total harmony on a new motorcycle that pushes the supersport concept to the extreme.

Powerful, hyper-light and more compact than any other motorcycle in existence. The F3 sets the new standard by which all other supersport motorcycles will be judged and compared. A completely new project that was created by CRC, the research center that has continually designed and developed the motorcycles of dreams.

The styling is pure MV Agusta, as with its big sister the F4, but the F3 is even more unique. The new “middle weight” by MV follows the philosophy of all the MV Agusta works of art while pushing the limits of the supersport category with a maniacal attention to detail. The exhaust system has a triple pipe side exit muffler and is the perfect example of how design and function coincide perfectly. There is no doubt, the new F3 is a true MV Agusta - and I want one!

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

RealRoadRacing Pearls of Wisdom From The Darkside

2011-03-08T19:26:00.015Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Time is it not, to embark once more on a journey to the darkside for yet another foray into the wondrous magically mystical world of the MCUI-UC, and the pearls of wisdom which doth emanate from within the confines of the inner sanctum of power to seek out - alleged statements to the press - this one for instance, allegedly from Tony Harvey.

'I write with reference to the resignation of Steve Freeburn as honorary secretary of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Ltd.

As an Honorary Life Member, and having previously been entrusted with the role of Incident Officer of the Centre for many years, having owned race bikes and being a present day rider, I have vast experience of motor cycling, both from an administrative perspective and from my involvement at the 'sharp end' of the sport.

Recent years have been difficult for motor cycle racing, particularly for road racing, and there are many, who should know better, who continue to adopt a 'head in the sand' attitude towards the regulation of road racing, peddling the misapprehension that all is 'rosy in the garden'. It is not and difficult times lie ahead.

The resignation of Steve Freeburn, after he was persuaded not to stand down from his post at the annual general meeting of the Centre, robs the administrative side of the sport of a most capable, dedicated, knowledgeable and hard working official. Thankfully, there are, of course, equally efficient individuals who will be able to step into Steve's shoes. Nevertheless, they will be difficult shoes to fill, and one ponders whether, given the 'witch hunt' that was conducted against Steve, any other volunteer will be prepared to put themselves into the same 'firing line'.

It should be borne in mind by those so quick to criticise that all officials and members of the MCUI (Ulster Centre) are unpaid volunteers who devote copious amounts of their personal time, at not inconsiderable personal expense, in the interests of the sport of motor cycling, while others are quite happy to benefit financially from the sport.

Certain individuals within the media must bear much of the brunt of responsibility which resulted in Steve resigning from a position in which he acquitted himself admirably. The treatment of such an upstanding official verges on derogatory. I trust that those so-called and self-styled journalists and photo-journalists who contributed to Steve's decision to step aside are at peace with their consciences, in the knowledge that the sport will be poorer without his steady hand and intelligent advice and counsel.

I have nothing but contempt for those who are prepared to anonymously and pathetically promote their personal agendas and opinions on worthless Internet forum discussion sites. Anyone secure and confident in their own convictions and opinions must be prepared to put their name to their comments. To do otherwise is worthy only of disdain, dismissal, disgust and derision. Therefore, for those with the courage of their convictions, I will enter into correspondence only at my published address.'

What many might find tantalisingly interesting within the eloquent foregoing alleged statement, is the resignation of Steve Freeburn as secretary – not another resigned MCUI-UC 'official' one might declare - until it is discovered not only has David McAllister been confirmed as acting secretary - Steve Freeburn has been confirmed as his Assistant Secretary – allegedly – yet another resigned MCUI-UC 'official' who hasn’t gone away you know!

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Castrol Honda Star Jonathan Rea Fighting Fit For Donington WSBK

2011-03-07T19:18:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Official news from World Superbike is that Castrol Honda star Jonathan Rea was examined by his specialist doctor today, to ascertain how badly he had been injured in his multiple get-offs at Phillip Island. The good news is that Jonathan has not suffered any further fractures or other significant injury, and he will be able to ride at Donington close to full fitness.

Said Jonathan shortly after his extensive examination, "I have just been to see my specialist in Manchester and he has given me the all clear and confirmed that there is no further damage to my repaired ligament in my left wrist. I only have some soft tissue damage to the right wrist. That's really good news and all I have to do now is work hard in rehab to regain full function."

Rea was physically and mentally exhausted by his Phillip Island experiences, as he himself stated at the time, and it has taken him a few days to get back to normal . "It was really hard in Australia; it drained me of everything. When I got home it hit me two or three days later. Travelling home was a big effort and I also got sick at the end of last week, which knocked me out for a day. I think it was a mix of jet-lag and illness, but now I have got a spring in my step again. I should be close to full fitness in time for Donington, so I should have no pain like before. My dislocated left ring finger still does not have a full range of motion, but that is a minor detail."

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Martin Finnegan #45 Tandragee 100 Investigation

2011-03-06T21:38:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Although he had multiple Irish road racing championships to his credit, Martin Finnegan wasn’t just a hugely successful Irish motorcycle road racer, he was at the time of his tragic death one of the most popular Irish motorcycle road race competitors of his time. Martin was a man of the people - the People’s Champion – a much loved hero to countless motorcycle real road racing fans from all corners of the world, to them, he races on in a much better place, still winning.

Martin tragically lost his life in an ‘accident’ whilst competing in the Supersport 600 race at the notorious Tandragee 100 real road races in May 2008 – one year after the infamous circuit had also claimed the life of John Donnan - three spectators were also injured in the 2008 ‘accident’ including a woman who allegedly suffered head injuries.

Those fans attending the Tandragee 100 on that sorrowful day will no doubt fondly recall that earlier on during that tragic day, Martin who had been racing since 1997 had scored a spectacular victory over Ryan Farquhar - a highly significant point, about which, in light of rumoured allegations emanating from within Irish motorcycle real road racing circles, questions must now be asked of the MCUI-UC Dinosaurs. Still ongoing behind the Irish real road racing scenes, is an investigation into the Martin Finnegan 2008 Tandragee 100 fatal 'accident' about which 'what if scenario questions' are now tabled as follows.

First of all though, might it be said that independent, honest witnesses - not blighted by memory loss - are still being sought, as is any photographic and/or video evidence. Therefore if you can assist please contact the Belfast Coroners Office directly at coronersoffice@courtsni.gov.uk Telephone 028 9044 6800 with any information you might have, no matter how seemingly trivial you imagine it might be.

What if after the 'accident' the #45 machine of the much loved Martin, had been tampered with for reasons that would therefore thus far be unknown? Presumably due to efficient marshalling, it would have been impossible for any member of the public at large to have gained such access, therefore one would have to consider other options.

Would any of the scrutinisers have had legitimate access to the #45 machine, and if so for what exact purpose would access have been required? Would this have ever been a plausible scenario, and if so, who in their right state of mind - in this imaginary scenario - would have permitted any person such access, but if they had, would there have been witnesses present? Perhaps members of a technical committee - would they - following the event, perhaps have had a legal requirement to examine the #45 machine - for legal purposes, for insurance purposes, for reasons which thus far, nothing is known?

Another after the event imaginary scenario would be a gathering of the clan - a meeting - to allegedly agree a plausible official version of the 'accident' - prepare statements perhaps - a hymn sheet from which all would sing as one voice, allegedly.

None of the foregoing actually took place, it's just moi considering possible scenarios that only mentally unstable individuals would ever consider, which they didn't. Besides, where for instance would such an alleged meeting have taken place? Tandragee? Doubtful - but there is nearby - Armagh, Markethill, Lurgan, even the great sprawling metropolis of Portadown. Personally speaking - and this is after all the imaginary scenario of moi - Portadown would be the perfect preferred destination, perhaps business premises, a motorcycle dealership might be worth considering, then again what reasonably sane business person would consider permitting such a meeting to be held in the confines of their business?

All of the foregoing imaginary scenarios are of course irrelevant, hasn't it been rumoured that the MCUI-UC have lodged documents with the coroner in which it is allegedly alleged that it was the way Martin was riding the #45 machine, but one must ask how many previous serious accidents Martin had suffered during the course of his long and illustrious career? It must also be asked of he who allegedly wrote of the way Martin was riding his machine that day – what is the purpose of a real road race, any race? Heroes compete in races to win, fans attend races to see their heroes win – so it should stand to reason that like all of his fellow competitors that fateful day – Martin Finnegan was as he always had done – was racing to win - so how dare the discredited MCUI-UC Dinosaurs allegedly now question how Martin was riding the machine bearing the legendary #45.

Warning - It is strongly recommended that you never hand over photographic/video evidence, or give evidence, to any race 'Official' and that includes MCUI-UC 'Officials', always present it personally to the PSNI or the Coroners Office.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Saint Patrick's Rock Night

2011-03-03T19:17:00.008Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Right To Ride Club supporters the Ancestors MCC have reported that due to a hiccup with the original venue of their “St Paddy’s Rock Night they have had to change to a new venue but the date remains the same.

The new venue is the Rowallane Inn, Saintfield, Co. Down on Saturday 19th March 2011.

Unfortunately the club will no longer be able to offer any camping facilities.

And just in case you missed what is on for a cracking evening here it is again:

Live bands: Brownstone and Rocking Blues - 8pm Till Late - Hot Food - Only £5 entry.

The Ancestors say, “We hope that you all can still make it!”

(Click on image to enlarge)

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Josh Waters Australian Superbike Champion - Yoshimura Suzuki

2011-03-03T14:37:00.005Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Tipped as the next superstar from down under, Josh Waters' Superbike World Championship debut at Phillip Island in Australia was good enough to earn the 24-year-old Australian the chance for further rides later on in the season.

The 2009 Australian Superbike Champion, riding for the Yoshimura Suzuki team as a wild-card last weekend, struggled with a deflating front tyre in race 1 and could only finish 18th. But a sterling ride to 13th in the second encounter earned Waters the praise of Yoshimura team boss Fujio Yoshimura and the prospect of further rides later this season for the talented Aussie.

"Josh showed he has the potential," declared Yoshimura. "I have told him we'd like him to ride again in America at Miller Motorsports Park. It's a good start for the team and Josh and we will both get better," he added.

Confirmed races so far for the Japanese outfit will now include Miller, the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance race in Japan, and possibly another couple of WSBK rounds in the second half of the season.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Irish Real Road Racing Dinosaurs Between the Hedges

2011-03-02T17:25:00.005Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Asking direct pertinent questions of the MCUI-UC - it's been tried by many more knowledgeable people than moi - such tactics will get you nowhere, therefore why bother, let's just forget about the questions and instead draw our own obvious conclusions.

In Part Two of the Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing posting we learned footage shown of the John Donnan Tandragee 100 fatal 'accident' clearly illustrated that many non-competitors, race officials, and spectators, including children, were at a very serious risk of injury or death, a worrying issue acknowledged by the MCUI-UC for several years now but rest assured - the implementation of improvement measures has after all, been under continuous review.

Presumably the Dinosaurs had been experiencing sleepless nights since the forming of the Task Force in 2000 to examine the safety issues within the sport of motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland. The fact that there have been so many more tragic deaths since the establishment of the aforementioned Task Force in the year 2000 speaks volumes.

The MCUI-UC has allegedly paid particular attention to a couple of most important elements - Track dimensions, run-off and the design of chicanes; and the position of officials and members of the public in the immediate vicinity of the track. The original 65mph chicane design allegedly returned in 2008, and the nothing more stable available than straw bales of the previous year - leastways according to Richard Nesbitt - have gone, but Richard Nesbitt hasn't gone away you know. The foregoing decisions might it be pointed out had nought to do with the mysterious Task Force and allegedly everything to do with further alleged pending legal action.

No-Go Zones - for some a reminiscent throwback to the Northern Ireland of the 70s - have allegedly been implemented at all circuits post 2007, and will allegedly be pursued further, along with a No Track-Side Personnel policy both of which have allegedly been written into Official Track Certificates.

Only in an emergency will any officials allegedly be allowed onto the track to perform their duties, and always under the protection of a waved yellow flag - except when some spoilt prima donna assoluta riders are participating - in which case you're under the protection of your God, or the Devil.

The paying public - yes, you will be paying - can only be present in areas at an acceptable distance from the racing surface and where additionally protected (as appropriate) by walls, fences or other barriers, and speaking of these walls, fences, other barriers presumably including, trees, large wooden poles, concrete and/or wooden posts, and houses - what is to be used to protect the riders - not more exploding straw bales - who'd have thought it?.

The question must be asked whether it is acceptable in the 21st century to have motor cycle races on public roads bearing in mind, the speed potential of modern racing motor cycles, the nature of public roads, the unpredictable consequences of mechanical failure or a competitor losing control of his machine or a crash involving a number of competitors, and the difficulty of ensuring spectator safety particularly where spectators are allowed to be positioned close to the racing, but haven't we just read in Part Two of the Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing that No-Go Zones have allegedly been written into Official Track Certificates?

The question must indeed be asked, but the question answers itself, and that answer is an obviously emphatic: No, it is not acceptable, and nor is it acceptable or sufficient for spectators, including innocent children, to be warned that attending motor cycle road races can be dangerous - not until drastic steps are taken to reduce the speeds of machines in real road races, and all Personnel and Spectators are actually removed from within range of motorcycle real road racing circuit accidents. Talk is cheap though, so to it would seem are lives, leastways so it would seem after reading Parts One and Two of the Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing

The days of watching “from behind the hedge” or “from below and through the hedge” are clearly gone - eejit spectators must be saved from their own stupidity - and the children, just like the riders - must be saved from the alleged irresponsible actions of the Dinosaurs.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Should Sexual Predators Be Castrated?

2011-03-01T13:59:00.009Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

It's been allegedly estimated that at least 90% of all convicted sexual predators go on to commit even more sex crimes, some allegedly even graduate to murder. In the American Supreme Court a federal law allowing federal prisoners deemed "sexually dangerous" to be held even after they have served out their original sentences is constitutional.

On this side of the Atlantic, in this country, the court treats many of these sexual predators with kid gloves, while some Government Departments have allegedly also mislaid several serious predators, even released them back into the community that they'd been terrorising for countless years.

Many sexual predators go undetected for years, their victims so traumatised by the experience they never speak out. Others blame themselves; perhaps they've been abused by a family member, a religious figure, all of whom are adept in the art of manipulation of their innocent victims, many of whom have chosen to end their own lives as a means of ending the horrendous abuse.

All convicted sexual predators should be castrated without exception, no matter how old, or how young, we all need be to protected against such evil, all victims, and potential victims need to be reassured that no convicted sexual predator will ever be capable of re-offending.

And now for a totally unrelated little news story from the ranks of our dear friends - the MCUI-UC. Mr. Steve Freeburn is rumoured to have resigned from his MCUI-UC post and has thus far allegedly been replaced as secretary - by Mr. David McAllister! And while some in our midst are more than a little surprised by this appointment, many of us are not - this is after all the MCUI-UC we discuss.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Donate your Scrap Car to Charity! Giveacar.co.uk

2011-02-28T19:02:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A greener, brighter future for our kids: how to make a difference, even when it comes to junking your car - if you have one, as opposed to having a bike - otherwise donate your unwanted car to Giveacar.co.uk

Car ownership in the UK is on the rise, and it doesn’t look like things are going to change any time soon. Many of us genuinely need cars - not that I personally have any kids, nor do I want yours either - but how else are we going to take the kids to and from school or activities, pick up the shopping and run errands all within a few short hours?

But that’s not to say we can’t all do our bit. With growing concerns for the planet, and our children’s future, we should take every decision we make when it comes to cars seriously. Do I need to take the car? Do I need a new car? Do we need two cars? Even this one – what should I do with my old car?

The choices are yours and yours alone, but if you are considering getting rid of an old car, take a second to have a think about what will happen to it once it’s gone.

Of the two million or so cars that come off our roads every year, up to half are abandoned. End-of-life vehicles are classed as ‘hazardous waste’; leaving them to rot and rust does a great deal of harm to our soil and water systems, as it’s easy for them to leach pollutants into the ground. One million cars a year: that’s a lot of waste, and a lot of pollution.

Get rid of your car through a regulated scrap yard rather than through a quick-cash-deal scrapper and it will be dealt with to the highest environmental standards, with 85% of the vehicle’s weight being recovered, reused and recycled.

And what’s more, if you decide to donate your old or scrap car to charity through an organisation like Giveacar, you can also do your bit for giving back, just by getting rid of something you don’t need.

Giveacar offers its customers a free service, and operates throughout the UK. Working with their salvage partners, they arrange the pick-up your end-of-life motor, have it taken for safe disposal and scrapping at an ATF, and donate the proceeds to charity, after minor administrative costs. At the end of it all, you’ll get a receipt for your donation from the charity of your choice.

Since it started in January last year, they’ve managed to raise over £250,000 for over 300 charities, including child-centric ones such as The Children’s Trust and Action for Brazil’s Children.

So, if you’re thinking of getting rid of a car, make a right turn. Help your kids by looking after the environment, and maybe even help out some less fortunate kids in the process. Going green and giving back, even when it comes to old bangers, can be easy.

Giveacar.co.uk is a social enterprise that raises money for charities by accepting donations of unwanted cars.

Dinosaurs will not be accepted!

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Manx Nortons, Relentless TAS Suzukis and Dinosaurs

2011-02-26T13:00:00.012Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Having now had time to carefully study Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing part one, obvious questions immediately spring to mind, and all relate to the alleged mindset of the MCUI-UC Dinosaurs.

The concerns about the unacceptable safety record of real road racing as voiced by Senior Coroner Mr John Leckey are the exact same as those that have been raised by every sane motorcycle racing enthusiast for countless years. Problem was of course, probably still is, the Dinosaurs just did not listen; Richard Nesbitt for instance, he who declared during the John Donnan inquest: "I can't remember the man saying anything sensible other than nattering away in my ear. If someone is constantly coming at you it is easier just to ignore them" and Ivan Davidson who during the Norman Gordon -v- Louth Motorcycle Racing Club case in the High Court, also allegedly suffered from acute memory loss - and these people are allegedly on the road racing safety and rules committee.

What do any of the Dinosaurs really know about motorcycle racing in the 21st Century? Unlike those with the power to call time on the sport of motorcycle real road racing who have declared they find the speed of the modern day racing motorcycle almost incredible, the actions of the Dinosaurs would have one believe these incredible speeds aren't a safety issue worth a second thought. What for instance would an alleged past Manx Norton bicyclist operator know about modern motorcycle racing projectiles? Compared to a Relentless TAS Suzuki Superbike, the Manx Norton was more on a par with the legendary Penny-Farthing , or alternatively as far removed from a modern motorcycle race machine as Dinosaurs are from the human race. Perhaps what the Governing body of the Northern Ireland motorcycle racing fraternity now needs is a top calibre leader such as the clown psychopathic dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Really!!!

Senior Coroner Mr John Leckey and DCAL officials were also allegedly surprised that key groups such as the RIC and Safety Committees can change en masse after each AGM, and whilst conspiracy theorists in our midst might well believe this was merely a simple method of ensuring a fair distribution of benefits – it most certainly was not the case, nor is it – allegedly. It was however, also said that every effort must be made to ensure that persons acting on these committees should be completely detached from any gain, a point which Tony Harvey allegedly took pains to reiterate during his briefing - a damning revelation in itself, and further high octane fuel for the aforementioned conspiracy theorists who more than likely believe that rumours of alleged past misappropriations are quite possibly allegations worthy of further speculation - and exploration.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

TXTING KILLS - X the TXT or ELSE!!!!

2011-02-26T10:33:00.009Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Ride It Right the motorcycle safety initiative reports that it is supporting Allstate Northern Irelands “X the TXT” campaign, and we should all be supporting this campaign to save lives.

There are far to many irresponsible morons attempting to drive on our already dangerous roads whilst texting their friends - it's not cool, it's not clever, it's absolute insanity. Daivid Ford needs to waken up and change the law as a matter of urgency, first offenders should face instant disqualification, and have their vehicle seized and destroyed, plus any further offences should result in a prison term complete with daily floggings. Rant over - next is the press release as received from Trevor Baird @ Right To Ride - Pay Attention - Take Heed!

The campaign which is fully supported by the DOE Road Safety branch and the PSNI, encourages people not to text and drive, by concentrating on young drivers at Colleges to pledge not to text & drive and to take the message home to friends and family that it’s not OK to text and drive – X the TXT.

As motorcyclists we know the importance of reading the road ahead, the need to concentrate on riding and to ride without distraction, however other vehicle drivers while sitting in their vehicles can easily become distracted while driving and no more so from the use of mobile phones.

Even with the legal implications of, Driving without proper control or driving using a handheld mobile phone, which can bring drivers a fixed penalty of £60, three penalty points; with a fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses and coaches) and possible disqualification if taken to court, drivers still appear to be using their mobile phones to talk and to text whilst driving.

“X the TXT”
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving as well as the legal implications and the human cost of texting and driving.

This campaign was started in the US by Allstate Northern Ireland’s parent company, one of the largest car insurers in America because of the increasing numbers of collisions due to people texting while driving. This is also becoming a wider issue in Northern Ireland so it was decided to launch the campaign in schools locally as part of Allstate’s Community Responsibility programme.

Students taking part in the event are asked to support the campaign by stamping their thumbprint on a banner which will remain at the school as a constant reminder of not to text and drive, they also receive a pair of thumb bands that read "TXTING KLLS" to wear as a daily reminder when texting.

Research conducted on Facebook by the RAC Foundation in 2008, polled 3000 drivers and found that 48% of 18-24 year olds admitted to texting while driving. Early research by the Transport Research Laboratory for the RAC Foundation found average reaction times slowed by 35% when 17-24 years olds drove in a simulator while writing or reading texts. The texters were found to drift out of lanes more, had poorer steering control and were less able to maintain a constant distance behind a lead vehicle.

Despite legislation introduced in Northern Ireland to address the use of mobile phones was introduced in Northern Ireland on 27 June 2007 and the PSNI have reported that they issued 17,857 endorsable Fixed Penalty Notices from 31 July 2007 to 31st December 2008.

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is still obviously an ongoing problem on our roads and it is hoped this new campaign will raise awareness amongst young people as well as the wider Northern Ireland community.

You can show your support for the X the TXT – Don’t Text and Drive campaign by becoming a fan on the X the TXT Facebook site – www.facebook.com/XtheTXTNI

Full article can be viewed at Ride It Right at http://www.rideitright.org/?p=1568

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Relentless TAS Suzuki Gear Up for the NW200

2011-02-25T09:34:00.004Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Relentless Energy drink is backing the International North West 200 for a further two years with the announcement of a renewed brand partnership helping to cement the North West’s position as Ireland’s top outdoor sporting event.
(Click on images to enlarge)

The high profile energy drink was launched in Northern Ireland during the build up to last May’s North West 200 and developed a very successful partnership with the global event and its organisers Coleraine & District Motor Club Ltd as well as the highly successful TAS Suzuki Road Racing team.

This year’s North West 200 is set to take place on Saturday 21st May with Race Week Festival kicking off on 15th May and race technical director Mervyn Whyte MBE was ecstatic as he welcomed Relentless Energy back on board as title sponsor. “The dynamic spirit and sheer tenacity of Relentless encapsulates everything that the North West 200 stands for and I’m delighted that the Relentless Energy team will support our event until 2012. It’s been an excellent partnership to date and we look forward to working alongside the team over the next two years creating improved race programmes and drawing high calibre competitors from all over the world as well as here on the island of Ireland.”

Attending the high glamour launch at Belfast’s Merchant Hotel was Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team members Carrick’s Alastair Seeley and Guy Martin from Lincolnshire. Everyone is really looking forward to see what Guy can do with his new team and machinery, and I'm sure the fans will be right behind him getting that elusive first NW200 win under his belt.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

BARB – Wire Rope Barriers & Roads Minister Conor Murphy

2011-02-24T12:07:00.009Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

And now for a little scary safety story involving another Government body allegedly manned by eejits from another planet. In July last year BARB reported that it appeared that Northern Ireland was getting wired up with the fitting of Wirerope/Cable barriers (Vehicle Restraint Systems).

We first noticed these barriers in Belfast, situated at the junction of Tesco’s at Newtownbreda, however stretches of wirerope barriers have been and are now being fitted on the A1 Dual Carriageway between Belfast and Newry.

We also reported that A1 Beech Hill to Cloghogue dual carriageway (Newry By-pass), a 12km stretch at a cost of just over £150million which was part funded by the European Union, TEN-T (Trans-European Network Transport) Programme, seemed to have ignored the exposure to risk of motorcyclists by installing a wire rope barrier system.

On Wednesday 23rd February the Roads Minister Conor Murphy, officially opened the £45million A2 Maydown to City of Derry Airport dualling scheme.

At the launch the Minister said: "The completion of this £45million project is an important step forward for the people of the northwest. The new dual carriageway will help ease congestion, resulting in improved safety and journey times for traffic travelling on this route.”

However what is clear at Right To Right is that when the Minister says that the “project” will result in improved safety for traffic travelling on this route, he has again forgotten about one mode of transport and that is the motorcycle and their riders.

At Right To Ride our position on wire rope barriers is clear and what is considered by riders’ organisations around the world, which is that these road restraint systems are seen as the most dangerous type of crash barriers because of the exposure to the lethal upright posts.

A2 Bikers against Rope Barriers - (BARB)

Local members of the motorcycle fraternity have now been spurred into public action and they have formed into an organized group called, A2 Bikers against Rope Barriers - (BARB)

The group has unanimously agreed that a wrong and lethal decision has now been made by Roads Service, supposedly on our behalf, resulting in a 100% rejection by bikers, of this type of Vehicle Restraint System chosen for this stretch of road.

BARB continues by saying, “Either by a mistake or design, this decision has resulted in exposing a fundamental safety flaw. It is our view as lay people that instead of decreasing a greater daily risk to us motorcyclists, it has multiplied the daily risk who have to use this stretch of road in the future. This is compared to other types of safety barrier choices that were available to the engineers at the time.

Right To Ride along with the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) in Northern Ireland, are 100% behind BARB and are supporting BARB’s mission, "to stop DRD Roads Division from updating/upgrading our roads infrastructure with any more anti motorcycling safety rope barriers until an alternative suitable barrier has been agreed by all parties for this road and past and future development."

For further information BARB can be contacted on barba2@btinternet.com

And also via the Facebook page A2 Bikers against rope barriers (BARB)

Details of the scheme at Roads Service – Click Here

Read the BARB full press release and information at RightToRide

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing - Part Two

2011-02-24T10:41:00.005Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

In Part Two of Tony Harvey allegedly briefing the MCUI-UC after his discussions with the Senior Coroner, Mr John Leckey and representatives from DCAL, including Colin Watson and Ciaran Mee regarding the video and photographic evidence from the 2007 Tandragee 100, we now move on to what could possibly be referred to as the proposed response debate. And do please read most carefully and digest, for despite the risk of stomach ulcers, probing questions will be asked.

1. The footage shown on the two DVDs illustrates that many non-competitors, including race officials and spectators, were at a very serious risk of injury or death.

This situation has been acknowledged for several years now and the implementation of improvement measures has been under continuous review.

Particular attention has been paid to two important elements:
(i) Track dimensions, run-off and the design of chicanes; and (ii) The position of officials and members of the public in the immediate vicinity of the track.

The first of these is dealt with under Point 4 below:
As to the second, a policy of wider and deeper “no-go” zones has been implemented at all circuits in 2008 & 2009 and will be pursued further. The basic principle of “no track-side personnel” has been adopted and written into Official Track Certificates.

This applies basically to Marshals, first aiders and other officials who enter these areas only in emergency to perform their duties, and always under the protection of a waved yellow flag.

In addition, considerable work has been carried out on the analysis of distances traveled by machines which have been “downed” at various speeds, and “line of fire” prohibited areas identified and enforced according to machine speeds at the particular points.

The public especially can only be present in areas at an acceptable distance from the racing surface and where additionally protected (as appropriate) by walls, fences or other barriers. The crucial point here is that they be kept at a safe distance from the action.

2. Is it sufficient for spectators to be warned that attending motor cycle road races can be dangerous? What about children who attend?

The standard system of warning of danger is by boards carrying an appropriate wording with others equally clearly positioned to identify prohibited areas.

It is acknowledged by the MCUI(UC) that whilst motorcycle racing is a very popular sport with competitors and the general public alike, it carries an element of risk which must be managed.

“Reducing Risk, Protecting People”
2008 & 2009 has seen a return to the original chicane design, with detailed plans noting layout and dimensions, and a through-speed of approximately 65mph, together with a type of construction which does not lend itself to the detachment of components even when struck by a machine.

Certainly no free-standing straw bales are used, and it is the intention that this current type of construction will be standardised in future.

5. The question must be asked whether it is acceptable in the 21st century to have motor cycle races on public roads bearing in mind: (a) the speed potential of modern racing motor cycles-, (b) the nature of public roads; (c) the unpredictable consequences of mechanical failure or a competitor losing control of his machine or a crash involving a number of competitors; and (d) the difficulty of ensuring spectator safety particularly where spectators are allowed to be positioned close to the racing.

This larger question needs to be broken down into several parts:

5(a) Speed Potential:
Undeniably, the speed of all motor sport tends to creep upward year on year and this is a concern for all racing officials. It is perhaps appropriate here to quote from the Roads Inspection Committee’s Annual Report to the MCUI (Ulster Centre) AGM in November 2009:

“Speaking on behalf of the three Committee Members who have declined to let their names go forward for re-election for 2010, I have to say that we are all agreed that unless drastic steps are taken to (1) Reduce the speeds of machines in road races especially and (2) Remove all Personnel and Spectators from within range of circuit accidents, the time will very soon come when road racing will be a thing of the past.” At the same time a lot of practical work has been carried out on all course setups to improve the safety for Competitors, Officials and Spectators, particularly since 2007, but clearly there are limits to the extent this can reach."

DRAFT COPY FOR REVIEW
Much evidence of the use of safety chicanes, removable fences, and permanent removal of obstacles such as telegraph poles, trees, etc in addition to improved runoff areas on the outside of corners etc. However, to date, no speed inhibiting mechanisms have been deployed on racing motorcycles. This is a subject which needs further consideration – while it may not be achievable in practice, then the alternative of not running the higher-powered “Superbikes” might be a consideration.

5(b) The nature of public roads:
In conjunction with the Risk Assessment, the Roads Inspection Committee (in cooperation with all governing bodies) ensures that the road condition is in a suitable condition for racing. Account is taken of the width and length of the track as well as the class speed for that particular race. An approved formula is then used to determine the number of permitted starters. The risk assessments also take account of the trackside and spectator areas and appropriate mitigation stems from this.

5(c) Unpredictable consequences of mechanical failure:
Flag Marshals are positioned appropriately to provide warning of any hazard emanating from mechanical failure.

A simple reply at this point could be – if both speed of machines (5a) and the number of simultaneous starters in a group (5b) were to be reduced then the consequences of high risk from mechanical failure would arguably be less and this is what we want to achieve.

We have in place a set of simulations of the trajectories of machined becoming airborne, bouncing or sliding as a result of an accident. This is now available to the Roads Inspection Committee so that it can instruct Organising Clubs to place

Officials and Spectators at safe distances.
5(d) Spectator safety particularly where spectators are allowed to be positioned close to the racing: The Track Certificates, which are essential to the running of Road Races, clearly specify the location and dimensions of all areas, entry to which is Prohibited to the Public. Each circuit is re-assessed on an annual basis. For each Circuit, these must be reconsidered with Prohibited Areas greatly increased and enlarged – the days of watching “from behind the hedge” or, worse, “from below and through the hedge” are clearly gone.

This requires a robust policy – from the governing body and delivered by the Organising Club. Failure to meet the minimum requirements should result in stiff penalties - a bit like a football club having to pay a large fine if its supporters behave badly on the way to the match.

As mentioned recently, a renewed effort needs to go into achieving all these points otherwise we are quite certain that our days of enjoying road racing will come to an end.

So endeth 'Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing - Part One & Part Two' Next will be the questions.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Tony Harvey MCUI-UC DCAL Briefing - Part One

2011-02-23T17:03:00.006Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Interesting bedtime reading can sometimes be found in the most unlikeliest of places, MCUI-UC documents for instance where we discover that at one particular MCUI-UC meeting, Tony Harvey allegedly provided a short summary of his discussions with the Senior Coroner, Mr John Leckey and representatives from DCAL, including Colin Watson and Ciaran Mee regarding the video and photographic evidence from the 2007 Tandragee 100.

They made the following points:

Generally they wish to express their concern about the close proximity of many people to Racing Motorcycles.

They do not understand how it could have been logical to allow the speed of a safety chicane to increase from approximately 60MPH to around 100MPH.

Interested to learn that all chicanes will be built to standard format in future.

Concerned that key groups such as the RIC and Safety Committees can change en masse after each AGM.

Voiced their opinion that every effort must be made to ensure that persons acting on these committees should be completely detached from any gain.

They find the speed of the modern day Racing Motorcycle almost incredible.

After replaying the footage of the John Donnan accident in 2007, Tony asked the meeting how it would be possible to make road racing safer and suggested that this could be helped by placing spectators in safe areas and reducing the HP of the machines.

Billy Rodgers suggested that it would be impossible to reduce the HP on machines and to impose that level of control on all the spectators. Tony replied that this would be difficult but we must start now and be seen to be improving safety. Tony went on to say that DCAL are most keen to see that steps are being taken to provide an external assessor and it is likely that they (DCAL) will use him to assist them with the information they require.

Tony Harvey reminded all present that DCAL had expressed their opinion to him that persons acting on the RIC should not be perceived as having anything to gain from their position.

Part two of the aforementioned document is even more interesting although it has to be admitted most interesting, and damning, is Tony Harvey repeating the point regarding 'gain' in the foregoing paragraph which reads: 'Tony Harvey reminded all present that DCAL had expressed their opinion to him that persons acting on the RIC should not be perceived as having anything to gain from their position.' Surely it is not being inferred by DCAL that MCUI-UC officials have in the past somehow made gains from their privileged positions of trust!

Obviously Barbiegirl should not have access to such lurid documents therefore moi may not have in her possession the mentioned document, and none of the foregoing is actually true, but as indicated, a most interesting Part Two will follow tomorrow.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

TAS Racing Relentless Suzuki Spanish Away Days

2011-02-23T10:19:00.006Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing will head to Spain for the opening test of the year at Cartagena on March 3/4/5/6, with riders flying in from Northern Ireland, England and Australia.

Alastair Seeley, now in his third full season with the team, is no stranger to Relentless Suzuki’s pre-season testing programme and Guy Martin is well settled after a pre-Christmas test on the team’s GSX-R1000 Superbike. One man who has been ploughing his own furrow ‘down under’ is 27-year-old Aussie Josh Brookes, the team’s sole representative in this season’s British Superbike Championship.

Brookes has been riding a ‘tricked up’ GSX-R1000 in Australia, sent out to him by the team in November – letting him learn the characteristics of the Suzuki before he makes the long journey to Europe next week, and he can’t wait to get started.
(Click on image to enlarge)

Josh Brookes: “After riding different machinery for so long, I’m surprised just how quick the Suzuki felt so natural to me; I did feel at home on it straight away. Yes it is technically a street bike, but it gave me the chance to set up things like footrest and handlebar positioning before Spain. I’m more driven than I have ever been for a season, after a spending time at home doing different activities every day to keep myself focussed, and I’ve never been so fit.

“I’m now looking forward to meeting all the guys in my new team and getting to know them before the season starts. I hear quite a few of them are into Mountain Biking and Motocross so that should be fun – we can have a laugh and hang out together.

“I’m in the Fox Sport studio this weekend in Sydney: I’m on the panel for the World Superbike races at Phillip Island. It gives me a chance to tell everyone what I’m doing this season and give them some information on the team before I leave for Spain on Monday.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager: “I think everyone in the team is looking forward to getting stuck in this season and it will be nice to have all the guys out in Spain together. Josh is pleased with what he’s achieved at home in Australia on the GSX-R1000. He had suspension and different bits and pieces also sent out, so it’s given him a base setting and a head start before he jumps on the Superbike proper.”

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Another Day, Another Real Road Race, Another Inquest

2011-02-22T20:38:00.006Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A series of recommendations to increase safety at motorcycle races were adopted by a jury at an inquest in Navan last week into the death of a 32-year-old rider in an event at the 2009 Kells Motorcycle Road Races.

Padraig Campbell, an Athlone native living in Moate, Co Westmeath, died of multiple injuries after crashing during a practice lap for the 400cc support event at the Adelaide International Kells Road Races that year.

The jury said that, among the recommendations, a qualified safety officer be appointed for all such high-risk events to ensure that a proper risk assessment has been carried out and that proper safety measures be put in place.

Pathologist Dr Muna Sabah, who carried out a post-mortem on the body of Mr Campbell, concluded that he had died from hypovolemic shock (blood loss) due to severe musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries following a motorcycle accident.

The inquest, which was attended by Mr Campbell’s family members (who were represented by solicitor Peter Higgins of Regan McEntee & Partners, Trim), and a large number of motorcyclists and club officials, was told that files on the incident had twice been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but he had recommended that there should be no prosecution.

It was also stated that Gardai had no jurisdiction in the investigation of a road accident held on a stretch of road that had been closed by the local authority under a permit issued by the relevent local authority. Their jurisdiction extends to whether a crime has been committed, the inquest heard.

At the outset, Meath County Coroner John Lacy said that the inquest was not a trial. “Nobody is on trial here. For somebody to be put on trial, that is a matter for the DPP,” he said.

He said that the deceased’s stepmother, Betty Campbell, had submitted a list of recommendations to the inquest “in an effort to ensure that this will not happen again”. He said the recommendations were “very helpful”.

Sergeant Brian Morrissey told the inquest that, at about 5.45pm on 18th July 2009, he had learned that one of the riders involved in the races had sustained injuries. He said that on a straight stretch of road, he found a large crowd gathered, and ambulance and paramedic personnel were present. A man was lying on a stretcher. He notified his superiors, Superintendents Michael Devine and Pat Collins. He spoke to two members of the organising committee and told them he was closing part of the road to take measurements.

He took possession of two motorbikes, that of Padraig Campbell and another rider. He said that a file had been sent to the DPP but that he had decided there should be no prosecution.

In reply to Mr Higgins, he said that when a permit was granted by the local authority to close a stretch of road, that stretch was not considered a public place under the terms of the Road Traffic Act.

He said that his only concern, having taken directions from his superiors, was to see that no “malpractice” had taken place, such as any possible interference with any motorbike. ]]

Lester Ferguson, secretary of Kells and District Motor Racing Club, said that, up to 2009, there had been no fatality at the races. He said a road safety committee made sure the track was safe. On the day, there had been a riders’ briefing before a practice lap.

Within minutes of the practice starting, a red flag was called due to the accident. He said that he had gone to the scene of the accident with Sean Bissett. The medical personnel had done everything they could for Padraig Campbell but “unfortunately he had died”. He told the inquest he had not witnessed the accident itself.

Asked by Mr Higgins whether any safety plans were lodged with the local authority when applying for a road closure, he replied that the health and safety statement was renewed every year. It did not really change, it just had to be updated.

He said he regarded the track as “second to none” and the club had been given a grant for the circuit by Meath Partnership in 2009. The only injury at the races prior to 2009 was a broken collarbone.

The participants had been invited to inspect the track but he did not know whether Padraig Campbell had inspected it. The riders were expected to carry out the inspection before mounting their bikes, he said.

Motorbike racer Andrew O’Brien gave evidence that he had taken part in the warm-up lap.

He said the warm-up was controlled by a 'travelling marshall’ mounted on a motorcycle. The only person allowed to overtake during a warm-up was the marshall. The purpose of a warm-up was to check if the tyres were up to temperature and the condition of the track, including whether there was any oil or substances on the road.

Northern Ireland rider Wayne Hamilton, who took part in the race, said that at a place called O’Hanlon’s Leap, he felt his back wheel locking and he assumed he had had a mechanical failure. He turned around and saw another motorcycle in the air. He said he did not see the rider. He saw two race marshalls waving flags in front of him and he pulled in to a safe part of the road 300-400 yards further along.

Joe Connolly, Clonee, said he regularly attended the Kells event. He was acting as a photographer on the day. He did not see the collision between the two bikes but had seen them joined together. He saw the “blue bike” pulling away twice and hitting a sign.

Dr John Dermot Hynes gave evidence that, following the accident, three doctors and six paramedics worked to try to resuscitate Mr Campbell but at no stage did his condition improve.

He told Mr Higgins that he could not think of any recommendation he could make to improve the course. “It is an extremely safe circuit,” he said.

The coroner said that what caused the motorcycles of Mr Campbell and Mr Hamilton to come together would never be known.

Mr Higgins said that Mrs Campbell had put it to him that, because part of the road was closed, the Gardai were not able to investigate the accident. “That is a matter of concern to her,” he said.

He said that, in fairness to the Campbell family, they were not expressing dissatisfaction with the coroner’s holding of the inquest, or with the Gardai, but with the wider matter of an investigation.

Mr Lacy said he would agree that a sporting accident of this kind seemed to fall between two stools - the Health and Safety Authority could not investigate because it was not a workplace accident, and the Gardai could not intervene because the road was not a public place. Perhaps this was something that required new legislation, he said.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

RealRoadRacing Norman Gordon -v- Louth Motorcycle Racing Club

2011-02-22T12:29:00.005Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Bearing in mind the unacceptable appalling safety record of the MCUI-UC and the as yet not located findings of the 2000 Task Force, what follows is an official document from the Southern Ireland High Court, published here as a reminder to the Dinosaurs of what is still to come. Unlike those riders involved in fatal incidents whilst competing at Tandragee etc, the plaintiff Norman Gordon in the case against Louth Motorcycle Racing Club suffered a serious knee injury, which resulted in him receiving a quite considerable financial award.

It would also appear that Richard Nesbitt isn't the only MCUI-UC official with memory loss problems. During the John Donnan inquest it was Richard Nesbitt who allegedly told the court: "I can't remember the man saying anything sensible other than nattering away in my ear. If someone is constantly coming at you it is easier just to ignore them" In this High Court document at 19 we find another MCUI-UC Dinosaur allegedly suffering from acute memory loss - must be an age thing: 'He expressed these concerns to Ivan Davidson just before the race began. Ivan Davidson who is on the road racing safety and rules committee of the sport had no recollection of this comment'

JUDGMENT as delivered by Ms. Justice Clark
1. This action involves a claim for damages for personal injury sustained by the plaintiff Norman Gordon while a competitor in a motorcycle road race which took place on the 27th June, 1999. The race was one of a series of races which together make up the Motor Cycling Road Race Championship of Ireland. It was organised by the defendants who are experienced road racing organisers and took place on a closed off section of the main Dublin to Belfast road just outside Dundalk in County Louth. The plaintiff suffered injury when his bike lost control and mounted the Ballymascanlan roundabout where he was thrown from the bike hitting his leg against an unguarded kerb on the opposite side of the roundabout.

2. Norman Gordon alleges that his injuries were sustained because of the negligence of the promoters who, in breach of their own rules permitted a support rider confined to riding a 750cc motorcycle to compete on a 1000cc motorcycle. He alleges that this novice road racer did not have the experience to control such a powerful motorcycle and that his lack of experience contributed to his cutting across the plaintiff’s path thus causing the plaintiff to crash. He also alleges that the organisers of the course failed to insulate or otherwise protect the kerb of the left side of the roundabout thus creating an unnecessary risk to competitors in the race at a known and anticipated danger point.

3. All matters were in dispute and the case ran over seven days during which time little was agreed between the parties. It was apparent that all witnesses were deeply and passionately involved in the sport of motorcycle road racing. This passion sometimes coloured the evidence creating confusion and discord where none was necessary. At the end of the day, the evidence of some witnesses was more credible than that of others and was more consistent with the evidence of the plaintiff than with the evidence given by some of the defence witnesses.

4. There was no issue of volenti or of the plaintiff’s entitlement to bring these proceedings and the case was presented as a simple negligence action. An enormous amount of evidence dealt with issues which ultimately were not relevant to the cause of the plaintiff’s injury which was the failure to protect an area of kerbing but dealt rather with whether a support rider should have been permitted to ride a 1000cc bike in an open road race.

The Evidence
5. Norman Gordon is a motorcycle enthusiast and has been involved in road racing motorcycles for many years. He comes from outside Ballymena and is now approaching his forty fifth birthday. He is a self employed plasterer running a successful business. He was thirty six years old on the day of the accident which occurred on the 27th June, 1999, and was a holder of a Super A licence which is the highest category of road race licence permitting the holder to compete in all international motor cycle road racing events apart from the Isle of Man TT Race.

6. Up to the date of the accident he had been involved in national road racing as a competitor and had won or been well placed in a number of races. Since his injury he has been unable to compete but has maintained his keen interest in the sport by attending road races and has been a clerk of the course in mid Antrim since 2001. It was apparent in hearing the plaintiff that he is knowledgeable and experienced in how road races are organised, how records are kept and how safety is maintained.

7. The plaintiff accepts that motorcycle road racing is a dangerous sport and accepts that in the year 2000 there were several fatalities among competitors at motorcycle racing events. Joey Dunlop the Irish hero of motor biking and Gary Dynes, both of whom competed in the race in which the plaintiff was injured, died in road races that year. It was accepted that there have been no fatalities on the Ballymascanlan course in the twelve years of its life. The plaintiff’s evidence was that as bikers take enormous risks in organised races it is up to the organisers to engage in safety measures and to identify areas where accidents are likely to occur and to minimise those risks

8. The rules of motor cycle road racing are governed by the Motorcycle Union of Ireland which covers both parts of Ireland. There is an Ulster Centre and a Southern Centre, but the rules and requirements regarding racing are uniform throughout Ireland. It was apparent that there has been a determined effort in recent years to work towards greater safety in the sport of motor bike racing on roads.

9. The plaintiff gave evidence of a joint meeting of both branches held in the Ballymascanlon Hotel in January, 1999 and convened by Ivan Davidson who gave evidence. There were four representatives from the Ulster branch and four from the Southern branch at the meeting where the Road Race Championship for 1999 was discussed. It was agreed and confirmed by minutes kept by Ivan Davidson and produced at the trial, that the limit to the size of bike to be ridden by a class of novice road racers described as “support riders” would be 750cc. This restriction was introduced in an attempt to minimise an alarming number of serious injuries and fatalities sustained by novice road race riders in the previous year. Ivan Davidson and the plaintiff who were present at the meeting believed that the newly introduced rule as to limiting support riders to 750cc applied immediately.

10. Damien Mulleady, the competitor who the plaintiff blamed for causing his accident was discussed at the meeting. He was one of a significant number of riders who were upgraded through the various levels of grades of riders. Specifically he was upgraded to the 750cc class in the clubman short circuit grade.

11. Most motor bike riders begin their competitive riding on closed tarmac circuits on courses which are purpose built and designed for racing and are not open to ordinary traffic. This racing is known as short circuit racing. A clubman is a level of rider in short circuit racing and it was clear from the minutes presented that in the clubman short circuit grade, there were several classes starting with under 200cc and working up to the 750cc class.

12. The next level of racing is on public roads which are closed off for the duration of the road race. Local committees of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland assess and upgrade short circuit riders to road race riders. To be eligible for road racing the first requirement is a grade A licence. The first class of upgraded riders in road racing is a support class rider. There are many categories of road race confined to specific engine capacity limitations and experience of rider. There are open races where very powerful motor bikes with experienced riders compete and there are support class races. Although the defendant’s case was that Damien Mulleady was a very experienced open road racer, Mr. Mulleady himself did not make the same case and it became clear that although he owned several very powerful bikes, he had very recently commenced road racing as opposed to short circuit racing. He was therefore not an experienced road racer.

13. Much of the case was taken up with conflicting evidence as to whether the ruling at the Ballymascanlon Hotel in relation to support riders was of binding effect before its ratification at the annual congress and what exactly was meant by the term support rider. Mr. Gordon’s interpretation of a support rider is a novice rider in road races. His evidence was that experienced riders are not permitted to ride in support races and support riders are not permitted to ride in open races with bikes bigger than 750cc. In order for a support rider to compete in an open race he has first to be accepted as competent and the holder of an A certificate but because of his limited experience he is confined to the lower cc. motorbike which is still a very powerful bike. A support rider is upgraded to a full open class rider when he has successfully competed in a number of races as support rider and when assessed by the safety committee as competent. This interpretation was disputed.

14. On the day in question, the plaintiff applied to enter the fifth race where the late Gary Dynes and the late Joey Dunlop were the big names in the race. He paid the entrance fee and on the day before the race he and the other entrants engaged in a practice run. Each competitor is given a map of the course which has been prepared and approved by the safety committee before they actually compete. The competitors usually engage in a trial run on the evening or early morning before the race where they observe the straights and turns and observe danger points and also their chosen braking positions.

15. The course outside Dundalk was a long triangular circuit of over 3 miles containing a very large roundabout. On the practice run, the plaintiff observed that the kerbs along the left side of the northern left quadrant of the roundabout were not protected by sandbags or bales. He explained that the roundabout is at the end of a very long straight where the bikes achieve speeds well in excess of 150mph. All motor cycle racers who approach the very sharp bend on entering the roundabout slow down in anticipation and then take up what is known as the racing line in order to round the corner in the shortest distance while maintaining speed and balance. A rider would normally approach the bend from the right of the approaching wide straight banking/cranking or leaning heavily to the left to take the right hand curve and then bank to the right to follow the curve. As riders run close to the apex of the roundabout before taking the racing line, this area is the most dangerous part of the course where accidents are likely to occur.

16. The plaintiff’s evidence was that following the practice run, he with others including the late Gary Dynes, had a discussion with Ray Douglas, one of the clerks of the course charged with safety issues, complaining of the unprotected high kerb on the left side of the roundabout which they believed should be protected. The evidence was that it is normal practice for riders to express any concerns regarding the circuit to officials after the practice runs and that concerns expressed by riders are normally attended to.

17. It was disputed that either the plaintiff or Gary Dynes had made any comment or complaint to the course officers about the kerb. The plaintiff recalled a sharp retort to the effect that they were only complaining because the course was in the South. Mr. Douglas denied any conversation of any kind with the plaintiff before the race although he recalled a conversation with Gary Dynes regarding relocating sand bags at the apex of the roundabout.

18. One of the marshals/ crew chiefs expressed strong views as to whether it would have been appropriate to place sand bags at this kerb and believed that a decision had been taken not to do so as sandbags placed on the kerb would serve as a ramp propelling the rider into the adjacent block wall. It was accepted however that she had no authority to determine the placement of any protective measures on the course. In any event, on the day of the race, the entire left front of the roundabout was protected by sand bags and straw bales but there was no protection added to the left hand kerb.

19. On the day of the Dundalk Road Races, the plaintiff had been watching earlier races and observed Damien Mulleady competing in a support race. Being aware of the motion relating to support riders which had been passed at the meeting held at the Ballymascanlan Hotel in January, he was surprised to see that he was entered for the open race riding a 1000cc motor bike. He expressed these concerns to Ivan Davidson just before the race began. Ivan Davidson who is on the road racing safety and rules committee of the sport had no recollection of this comment although he was of the view that the rule relating to support riders should have applied.

20. The plaintiff’s evidence of the race itself is that he started on the front row of the second group and had completed approximately two thirds of the first lap of the circuit. He had been travelling at high speeds and had slowed down as he was approaching the roundabout. He was about to take up the racing line when a motor bike driven by the support rider Mulleady came up on his left going very fast and overtook him, taking his line. Mulleady was travelling too fast to control the corner and headed towards the roundabout across the plaintiff’s path causing the bikes to touch. The plaintiff was caused to “sit up” and lose his balance. Both bikes struck the kerb of the roundabout where they were thrown off their bikes onto the grass. Mr. Mulleady escaped serious injury but Norman Gordon continued moving at considerable speed across the road hitting his foot against the unprotected kerb on the opposite side, sustaining a very nasty fracture to his knee. He had braked hard to avoid the accident but could do nothing else to prevent it.

21. It was his view that if Mr. Mulleady had been driving a 750cc he might have been better at handling it as a heavy bike is more difficult to control when braking into a corner as gravity will force the bike out on a curve. He also believed that had the kerb been protected the likelihood is that the sandbags would have cushioned his injury.

22. On cross examination it was put to the plaintiff that he was the cause of his own accident as he approached the roundabout at too high a speed and lost control and crashed. His injury in being propelled across the road into the left hand kerb was simply a freak accident. It was further put to him that Damian Mulleady had nothing whatever to do with his accident; that two separate and unrelated accidents had occurred with Mulleady crashing well before the plaintiff; that Mulleady had never overtaken him and was ahead of the plaintiff at all times. It was also put to him that at no time had he made any complaint before this race about Mr. Mulleady or about sand bags although it was admitted that Gary Dynes had made a request relating to the sand bags at the front of the roundabout which were subsequently relocated closer to the racing line.

23. Mr. Michael Molloy B.E. examined the scene of the accident on the 20th November, 2000 when he took measurements and photographs. His understanding of the accident when preparing his report was that the support rider had created the emergency, but the insulation of the kerb would have protected the plaintiff from injury. He measured the height of the kerb in question at around 5 inches. He referred to a document prepared by the Health and safety Authority in the UK first published in 1999 and dealing with safety at motor sports events for employers and organisations. This document seems to apply to what in Ireland are referred to as closed circuit events and may not have had road races in mind when being prepared. Apparently no motor cycling events on the mainland UK take place on a public highway. The North of Ireland and the Isle of Man are the exceptions. The recommendations therefore had limited application to road races although Mr. Molloy’s evidence was that the same principles of safety apply and that it was foreseeable that a competitor whose bike glanced off the roundabout kerb would be thrown against the left hand kerb. Had the kerb been protected by baling or sandbags at the 7 to 10 o’clock position, then the speed of a bike or rider striking that kerb would have been minimised by the cushioning effect of the sandbags.

24. His evidence was that on this particular course with a 300 degree acute bend at the roundabout it was foreseeable that a biker could lose traction and would be drawn by centrifugal force towards the left kerb of the roundabout. He believed that had a proper risk assessment been made, that sandbags would have been placed on the left hand side of the road opposite the roundabout and he personally saw no reason why the kerb would not be protected as the area of highest risk to competitors was at the bends. The sandbagging would have reduced the risk of injury although he allowed that sandbags can have a ramping effect. No engineer was called by the defence to gainsay Mr. Molloy’s testimony.

25. There was much conflicting evidence as to how the accident occurred, where exactly and when it occurred. Photographs taken on the day of the accident show the plaintiff and Mr. Mulleady in the two places where they came to rest but do not assist as to where each party struck the roundabout. They do however place both the plaintiff and Mulleady on the roundabout at the same time.

26. Some witnesses were observers and some were competitors. I believe that competitors travelling at high speeds have their minds on their immediate space and the road in front and with the best intentions can be quite misled as to their impressions of the location of other riders. The uncontroverted evidence was that Mr. Mulleady was travelling too fast to take the corner when he crashed. Mr. Mulleady confirmed this in evidence although he denied causing Mr. Gordon’s crash.

27. I preferred the evidence of the bystander Darren Crawford to that of Nuala McLoughlin or Fergus Guerin. Darren Crawford who was standing at the roundabout observed that Norman Gordon was on the racing line when the race was in its first lap. He was leaned over to take the left hand turn when another motorbike came up on his inside causing Mr. Gordon to sit up and lose control of his bike. His impression was that the other driver was going faster than Mr. Gordon and was overtaking to get the advantage on the racing line which is the quickest way through a corner. His evidence was that there was a five second gap between the two crashes.

28. I reject the evidence of the competitor Fergus Guerin that the plaintiff crashed minutes after Mulleady when he was completing his second lap or that Mulleady was in front of the plaintiff at all times. The photographs taken seconds after the collision show Mr. Mulleady still on the ground being attended to while at the same time the plaintiff is lying on the opposite side of the road holding his leg while his bike is being moved from adjacent shrubbery.

29. I accept the evidence of the marshal/crew chief that the plaintiff was looking over his shoulder and that this caused him to crash. I find that it is very probable that the reason the plaintiff looked over his shoulder was because Mulleady was coming perilously close to him and that this contributed to the crash. I therefore reject the case made by the defence that Mr. Mulleady had nothing to do with the plaintiff’s accident or that Mulleady himself crashed first or that he was always in front of Mr. Gordon. I find that both motor bikes crashed within seconds of each other arising out of Mr. Mulleady’s miscalculations as to the safe speed to enter the roundabout.

30. The next material witnesses were Ivan Davidson and Ray Douglas. Their evidence on the meaning of a support rider and whether a motion passed a committee meeting was of binding effect differed tremendously. Mr. Davidson gave evidence that Damien Mulleady had not yet been upgraded to compete in an open race and he was therefore bound by the new rule. He was aware of Mr. Mulleady’s record from files kept in the Championship Register. It was not recorded that he had ever ridden a 1000cc bike in a road race before. He stressed that he was unaware that Mr. Mulleady was riding a 1000cc bike as he was a late entry.

31. Mr. Ray Douglas is the assistant secretary of the Southern Branch Safety Committee and was Clerk of the course on the days in question. In his view, Mr. Mulleady was perfectly entitled to race on a 1000cc motorbike as the support class rules were not adopted until 26th February, 2000. He explained that an A licence entitles a rider to ride in any race. The word “ novice” is not a term used in motorcycle racing but support rider is the usual term. In his view the concept of a support class was to allow bikers of limited means to compete on less powerful bikes. He said that some people retire as support riders and never move up to the bigger bikes. His testimony on support riders was contradictory on this point. While he agreed that the minutes of the meeting of the 9th January 1999 stated that support competitors were not permitted to enter into any open race on bikes more powerful than 750cc, he disagreed that the rule applied from that date. His view was that support riders continued to be permitted to ride in open road races between January 1999 and February 2001 when the inter centre conference approved the proposal. Other witnesses confirmed his belief that the rule did not apply to competitions unless approved at the annual conference.

32. Mr. Mulleady struck me as an honest witness and pleasant young person who although passionate about motor cycle racing was less defensive than some other witnesses. His evidence confirmed his lack of experience on big bikes and that this was his first open road race on the 1000cc bike. I have little doubt that his lack of experience contributed to his miscalculation of speed made that day. I am satisfied that the incident at the roundabout was caused or contributed by his inexperienced driving. However I was unable to conclude or infer that the fact that he was riding the 1000cc bike was the cause of the accident as his lack of experience coupled with his youth at the time could have caused him to make the very same mistakes as to speed and braking on the slightly less powerful 750cc bike he owned. In the circumstances, I cannot attribute blame to the race organisers for permitting him to enter a race with a bike which was too powerful for a support rider.

33. I was unable to come to any view on the effect of the motion passed at the Ballymascanlon Hotel meeting as there was such conflicting evidence on this point. It would be difficult to accept that an obligation to apply a recognised safety measure passed by the joint road racing committee could be ignored until formally approved in compliance with the organisation’s rules. However, I make no finding on this point.

34. I do not find that the failure to implement the limitation of support riders to 750cc motor bikes in open class races was the reason the plaintiff suffered such serious injury to his left leg. While I accept that motor bike racing is dangerous and accidents occur when even the most experienced of competitors make mistakes, I find that there are certain minimal safety measures which must be taken to protect riders at known danger points. If the high kerb on the left of the roundabout had been sand bagged or insulated in some way, the plaintiff would in all probability have suffered a far less serious injury.

35. I accept the evidence of the engineer Mr. Michael Molloy on this point and find that the kerb opposite the northern right quadrant should have been protected by sandbags or other shock absorbing material. I do not believe that safety measures on a course should be dictated or determined by observations or indeed lack of comment made by entrants following a trial run but rather by conducting a proper risk assessment of hazards and points of danger in an effort to minimise risk of serious injury at those points. I therefore find for the plaintiff.
Injury

36. Norman Gordon suffered a very painful knee injury which required several major operations and reconstruction. Mr. Richard M Nicholas consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast described the injury as “a comminuted intra-articular fracture of the left knee as well as a dislocation of the left knee joint and fracture of both posterior tibial condyles”. He had an open reduction and internal fixation of both sides of the tibia with arthroscopic fixation of the anterior cruciate ligament. He remained in hospital until the 9.7.99 when he returned home in a cast brace which remained on his leg for three months. He has had several further arthroscopic procedures on his knee joint and has attended 88 sessions of intensive physiotherapy over the years. He currently has chondrial degeneration of the lateral and medial tibial plateaux with degeneration of the patello-femoral joint and can expect further degeneration.

37. He was out of work for nine months but was able to continue his plastering business with the help of his brother while he himself took on the role of administrator and manager. His knee remained very swollen for a lengthy period and he had a great deal of pain, instability and lack of movement being mobile only on crutches. With physiotherapy he has regained strength and movement and reduced the swelling but he continues to have restriction of movement and he can no longer work as a plasterer. Considering the severity of his initial injury he has made a fair recovery in that he only has pain on an occasional basis with swelling occasionally. He has greatly reduced the amount of analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication as his symptoms have improved and to minimise side affects to his stomach.

38. He still cannot confidently climb ladders or walk on scaffolding. He cannot squat or walk on uneven ground which are all necessary attributes of a plasterer. His biggest life change is that he cannot engage as a participant in water skiing or mountain biking and most of all he has been unable to continue motorcycle racing. He cannot walk any long distances and he has a more or less constant limp. The knee is frequently stiff and he feels a catching and clicking sensation in the joint. He is susceptible to developing early arthritis in the knee joint. Although his injuries prevent him from working as plasterer, his management skills have ensured that he had no loss of income as he has been able to source jobs and employ a team of plasterers.

39. He struck me as being an extremely motivated person who has done his best to minimise his loss and to make the most of his changed circumstances. He will never be able to return to significant plastering or to sport. He maintains his interest in motorcycle racing and is a member of the All Ireland Road Race organisation and is actively involved in a number of committees relating to the sport.

40. During the hearing it became obvious that there was a serious down turn in the building trade both here and in Northern Ireland. To date he had seen no loss of income although he fears such a loss should the building industry enter a recession and he is forced to seek alternative employment. He maintains a general claim of loss of job opportunity in such a situation.

41. I assess his pain and suffering in the past at €70,000 and €40,000 into the future. There is an agreed sum for special damages in the sum of £7,107.50 sterling. Assessing his loss of job opportunity is more problematic. Had he been a self employed plasterer operating on a solo basis, his damages for loss of wages may well have been large indeed. The reality is that he has been able to manage by employing a large team of plasterers in spite of his disability and has maintained his earnings. He comes from a family with connections in the plastering trade having an uncle and two brothers in the trade. It seems to me that these connections will contribute to his capacity to weather a down turn in the business better than others. He is without doubt unlikely to actually earn a living as a plasterer but his know how and skills in pricing jobs remain intact. In the circumstances, I can do no more than assess his loss of job opportunity at 2 years of earnings as a plasterer balanced against a future life time of work as a taxi driver or a motor cycle factor as suggested by the occupational therapist Ms. Susan Tolan. The evidence was that he paid his plasterers up to £85 a day which comes to just over £22,000 per annum. I will allow the sum of £100 per day which with overtime opportunities amounts to a rounded sum of £30,000 a year before deductions. I have little doubt that the plaintiff’s personality and determination will permit him to succeed at any new career should the need arise and therefore can do no more than award the sum of €50,000 as a fair sum to represent his loss of employment opportunity.

42. The award therefore will be for €160,000 together with the euro equivalent of the sterling sum of £7107.50 together with the costs of this action.

Real Road Racing MCUI-UC Task Force Dinosaurs

2011-02-20T16:12:00.005Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

During the first year of the new millennium - 2000 - as a direct result of serious concerns being voiced by DCAL, the Department of the Environment, the Sports Council for NI (SCNI) and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) about the number of fatalities that had occurred in motorcycle road racing in recent years, the governing body of motorcycling, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) in August 2000 established a Task Force to examine the safety issues within the sport of motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland.

It can only currently thus far be surmised the driving force behind those serious concerns was the DCAL Minister Michael McGimpsey and/or DOE Minister Sam Foster, both of whom were members of the Ulster Unionist Party. Apart from examining the safety issues within the sport, what exactly did this MCUI Task Force actually do, if anything at all, and who were the members of the MCUI Task Force because they most certainly have serious questions to answer.

Luckily for the MCUI and presumably the MCUI-UC, on or about the 14 October 2002, the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended for quite some time, so providing the Dinosaurs with the obligatory 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. In the meantime, the death toll spiralled out of control, and continued to do so even with a new, now DUP majority Government back on the hill. It wasn't until early 2010 though when Chief Coroner John Leckey raised serious concerns, that the DUP DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland decided he'd better allegedly feign shock and instruct his civil servants to discuss safety issues with the Dinosaurs. Hardly surprising, little has happened since then, so just maybe, the long running rumours and allegations of a special Dinosaurs/DUP relationship might not be so far fetched after all, allegedly.

Questions for the MCUI-UC alleged saviour DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland are of course - What were the findings of the MCUI and/or MCUI-UC Task Force back in the first year of the new millennium - 2000, and what safety measures - which obviously had no effect on safety issues anyway - were put in place as a result of those MCUI / MCUI-UC Task Force findings?

It was allegedly, Richard Nesbitt, alleged convenor of the road inspection committee for allegedly looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, who in court during the John Donnan inquest, allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable available in 2007 - than straw bales that is, so can it at least be assumed the MCUI / MCUI-UC Task Force came to the same conclusion in the first year of the new millennium - 2000 - that there was nothing more stable available than straw bales, otherwise many riders would most likely still be with us, including John Donnan.

North West 200 & MCUI-UC - NW200 Safety Record

2011-02-18T20:06:00.006Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The following statistics are taken directly from a recently procured 2 & 4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Limited document titled - North West 200 - Fatalities 1929 - 2009 - which details the safety record of the NW200 real road races, presumably to demonstrate to DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland and Senior Coroner John Leckey how ongoing MCUI-UC instigated safety measures are saving lives at the flagship North West 200 bottomless money pit, our alleged safest real road race event.

'1939 Norman Wainright (England), 1949 Paul Phillips (England), 1951 William Bennison (England), 1956 Lawrance ‘Bill’ Aislabie (New Zealand), 1970 Andrew Manship (England), 1973 Graham Fish (England), 1979 Brian Hamilton (Scotland), 1979 Tom Herron (Ireland), 1979 Frank Kennedy (Ireland), 1980 Mervyn Robinson (Ireland), 1982 John Newbold (England), 1986 Pat McLaughlin (Ireland), 1987 Steve Bull (England), 1999 Donny Robinson (Ireland), 2008 Robert Dunlop (Ireland), 2009 Mark Young (Ireland)

Alan Drysdale - Chair, 2 & 4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group 6th November 2009'

What there is no mention of though, is the names of the numerous riders who have been injured, many seriously injured, many of whom have never ever recovered - nor indeed has the families been mentioned, those families that have been torn apart by the loss of a loved one, the loved one who has been so very seriously injured, a loved one who has to be cared for as they spend the rest of their lives enduring the most dreadful pains imaginable.

Since the purpose of the document is to allegedly influence DCAL officials, and allegedly persuade DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland to part with several million pounds sterling in the name of safety, it shouldn't be a surprise that such human tragedies are kept locked away in the closet with the other alleged nasty smelling skeletons of the MCUI-UC and their alleged cohorts.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Motorcycle Union of Ireland - Ulster Centre - Safety Statistics

2011-02-16T21:49:00.008Z

Real Road Racing Motorcycle Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Temporary reassignments aren't all bad, it's a chance to meet new people, not all of them friendly, sometimes you unexpectedly find what you've been unsuccessfully searching for in other places, the wrong places. Official documentation is crucial in any investigation, particularly so when the dates and the contents relate directly to what has gone before, and is currently being repeated. For those who are currently confused, the truth will out in forthcoming postings, explanations will follow, and as usual the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited - MCUI-UC takes centre stage, along with the Dinosaurs, 2&4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Limited, DCAL, the Department of the Environment, the Sports Council for NI (SCNI), the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the North West 200 to name but a few.

One such official document that has been recently procured contains the following damning real road racing information which begs the questions: Who else is responsible for the numerous fatalities and serious injuries since the year 2000? Who else should now face manslaughter charges?

'There are two distinct disciplines within motorcycle racing in Northern Ireland, i.e. “motorcycle circuit racing” and “motorcycle road racing”. Motorcycle circuit racing is organised on purpose built circuits on private and local authority land. At short circuits purpose built barriers and safety installations can be provided, including typical large run-off areas on the outside of curves and bends.

Motorcycle road racing is run over sections of public highway closed to other traffic users for the duration of the meeting inherently a road course is a temporary facility and its very nature prevents the provision of many safety features found on race circuits. Permission to close roads for the purposes of road racing is granted under the Road Races (Northern Ireland) Order I986 as administered by DRD.

In August 2000 the governing body of motorcycling, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) established a Task Force to examine the safety issues within the sport of motorcycle road racing. This was in response to serious concerns expressed by DCAL, the Department of the Environment, the Sports Council for NI (SCNI) and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) about the number of fatalities that had occurred in motorcycle road racing in recent years. A total of 77 deaths have occurred between 1922 and 2000 making motorcycle road racing the most dangerous sport in Ireland.

The vast majority of deaths have occurred at Ulster Centre events.'

Many Dinosaurs, many officials have many questions to answer, many should have difficulty sleeping in their beds, many are those who are guilty of causing many deaths, and the simply unbelievable abject suffering of those left behind.

There is quite obviously a disgusting bunch of very sick EVIL people in our midst, in the midst of motorcycle real road racing in Northern Ireland, sick EVIL people all of whom must be held to account.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

RealRoadRacing Photographic/Video Evidence Wanted

2011-01-17T19:08:00.009Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Were you witness to the John Donnan incident at Tandragee, the Martin Finnegan incident also at Tandragee, or indeed any other of the fatal real road racing incidents since January 2000? If so, do you have photographic evidence in your possession, and/or video footage evidence of any of these tragic incidents?

Whilst it is understandable there may be legitimate reasons for having not yet made available your evidence - pressure to remain quiet perhaps, from other alleged sources within motorcycle road racing circles for instance - please remember you have a moral duty to do so, especially so if you really are the fan of the sport you claim to be, and want it to continue. Also if you have been approached by any alleged officials from any organisation, club, or Limited Company with a view to securing any evidentiary materials - photographs, video footage, documents, and/or verbal evidence - politely refuse and instead make your evidence known to the proper authorities.

Here are details of where to send your evidentiary materials - photographs, video footage, or documents: Coroners Office, May’s Chambers, 73 May Street, Belfast, BT1 3JL. Telephone: 028 9044 6800 Fax: 028 9044 6801
Email: coronersoffice@courtsni.gov.uk
Police Service Northern Ireland - Contact PSNI
Solicitors acting for the bereaved families - Contact me here for details. Materials can of course be sent anonymously.

Should you be visited by personage from any organisation, club, or Limited Company, other than the aforementioned, requesting and/or even demanding access to your evidentiary materials, and/or testimony - contact the PSNI.
Remember - Your Sport Needs You!

Important Notice Any sightings of a reincarnated evil jackbooted Heinrich Himmler and/or any of his evil Gestapo thugs should be reported immediately to your nearest availableReincarnation Extermination Officer.

Real Road Racing and the Nazi Police State

2011-01-15T10:55:00.022Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Germany and it's people, back in the darkest days of the Adolph Hitler regime, had the Nazi Police State thrust upon them, a means to ensure each and every citizen of the State did as they were told - or else. Concentration camps, and/or executions were the order of the day. Ordinary law abiding decent people lived in fear of the dreaded 'late night knock on the door' - the arrival of the detested evil jackbooted Heinrich Himmler and his feared secret police - otherwise more commonly known as the Gestapo. In Nazi controlled Germany, Heinrich Himmler and his Gestapo thugs were free to do as they pleased; the good people of Germany were ruled by fear.

Telling jokes about the Nazi leadership, levelling criticism towards the Nazi leadership, speaking the truth of the Nazi leadership - all acts that would bring down upon moi with ruthless efficiency, the unadulterated raging wrath of the allegedly detested evil bellowing jackbooted Heinrich Himmler and his allegedly equally well heeled Gestapo henchmen.

Nothing, but nothing was beyond these jackbooted overly oppressive and authoritarian thugs - all manner of incriminating evidence was seized from the good citizens of Nazi controlled Germany. Alternatively, in the absence of any desired evidence, the deviously evil Heinrich Himmler and of course his also deviously evil Gestapo associates were allegedly rumoured to have been somewhat adept in the art of producing, and presenting reams of fraudulent documents of fabricated false evidence.

*Photographic evidence even, was also allegedly rumoured to be much sought after - for many of the jackbooted thugs it is allegedly rumoured, had an alleged rumoured penchant for all things photography didn't you know - hence the alleged rumours of oft seized photographic evidence. What a jolly bunch of fellows they all were, particularly leader of the pack - the allegedly much hated charismatic evil jackbooted Heinrich Himmler.

Today, amidst the Real Road Racing State of Northern Ireland, there are alleged rumours of ordinary law abiding decent people - all allegedly rumoured to now allegedly believe in the existence of reincarnation.

*Footnote: In this the 21st century - the digital age - questions would obviously be asked regarding the mentality, and intelligence of even the most amateurish photographer who would claim to have surrendered anything other than copies of his/her legally acquired masterpieces - to any personage, for any reason. One should realise perjury and/or perverting the course of justice, are of course serious criminal offences.
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One does of course apologise most sincerely for the foregoing ramblings; sadly, one does have a curious perhaps even morbid interest in world history, particularly evil oppressive dictatorships. Without fail, normal services will now be resumed - one will return to questioning the actions of the MCUI-UC, and all things motorcycle real road racing.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A Sport Without Shame, Morals, or Credibility

2011-01-13T21:08:00.012Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Many have asked the reason for moi, a year on, again resurrecting the John Donnan inquest revelations, and the alleged still pending high profile court case allegedly being brought by the family. A callous action some might think, let sleeping dogs lie some might suggest, leave the past where it belongs - in the past - say others. Why? Does the past haunt you? Would you prefer to be left alone to live your life free of the past? Allegedly there are those in our midst who would indeed prefer to leave the past behind, live the remainder of their alleged sordid lives free of the memories of those who have died as a result of alleged unbelievable levels of arrogance and incompetence - at best.

Remember Richard Nesbitt? Of course you do, how could anyone ever forget Richard Nesbitt, alleged convenor of the road inspection committee for looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster Centre, who allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable available in 2007 - than straw bales that is.

And this, his equally infamous alleged statement to the court: "I can't remember the man saying anything sensible other than nattering away in my ear. If someone is constantly coming at you it is easier just to ignore them"

Earlier last year - 2010 - moi posted the following: 'Allegedly, Richard Nesbitt, and Ian Forsythe had 'resigned' - stepped temporarily aside until the little inconvenient difficulties had passed as ships in the night would do - allegedly to be reassigned to their rightful place of authority when those other allegedly awful people saw sense, and went away - after all, did they not know it could only have been described as a freak accident and a risk competitors accept in the pursuit of their chosen sport?

Keeping your friends close and your enemies closer may seem like something of an enigma to many, but in this instance, I rather suspect there are those within the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, who don't even know who their real friends are, never mind who the enemy within might be.

"Watch out! He's behind you! Yes! That's him there - the guy with the straw bales!'

Incredulous you might think, yes, but not as incredulous as the level to which these alleged morons have allegedly now stooped - Richard Nesbitt and Ian Forsyth - they haven't gone away you know - both have just recently, allegedly been nominated for positions within the MCUI-UC - again - and this despite the alleged pending legal action having not gone away either you know.

What kind of people are at the helm of the MCUI-UC - before one knows it, there will probably be more allegations - who knows what is in circulation even as moi furiously types - perhaps an alleged document - allegedly presented to the Martin Finnegan inquest - allegedly Questioning Martin Finnegan’s Riding Ability!!!!

Surely my dear friends, if such an alleged document existed, it wouldn't have been allegedly written by an alleged MCUI-UC official, nor would it have been presented to the Martin Finnegan inquest - by another alleged MCUI-UC official - one does apologise, that my dear friends, is a nightmare scenario that couldn't possibly be true - or is it?

Also what if - in the midst of this devilish nightmarish scenario of moi - one must cease taking the tablets - drum roll please as we raise the tension - what if, following the tragic Martin Finnegan incident, and others let us perhaps surmise - a mysterious, but not necessarily unknown personage, managed to somehow cajole from others - certain photographs, with intent to confiscate, make unavailable, make disappear - magically! No disassemble Number Five! What utter rubbish, who'd believe such a scenario? What person with camera would simply hand over photographic evidence to anyone, other than perhaps to an Investigating Officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland? How silly of moi to even dream of such a ridiculous scenario, any sane person with camera would realise that to do such a thing - would be to implicate oneself in a criminal act scenario - perverting the course of justice scenario - now there's a phrase worth serious consideration. The noose doth tighten - how dramatic - round of applause please. Thank you one and all, to kind by far.

Advertisement - Wanted, large tarpaulin, very large tarpaulin, humungous tarpaulin, one really does have an awful lot to cover up.

How Financially Secure is the MCUI-UC? Really!!!!

2011-01-12T15:03:00.013Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

As mentioned in an earlier posting, moves are allegedly underway to rid the sport of motorcycle racing here in Northern Ireland of the MCUI-UC hierarchy, or as some in our midst would allegedly refer to them - the Dinosaurs. One really cannot think why!!

Hopefully the blood letting will commence sooner rather than later, that the mass culling of the Dinosaurs does not falter, that prisoners will not be taken. Each and every one of the Dinosaurs along with their family circle must be given the Order of the Boot - they're all allegedly tainted with the same disease. No honoury positions bestowed, no consultancy positions, no advisory positions, no jobs for family members, no anything, zero, zilch - castrate them from all things MCUI-UC.

The MCUI-UC it would seem, is in a spot of financial difficulty you see - allegedly that is. In an earlier posting, one mentioned there had been alleged trifling little problems with due insurance policy instalments, allegedly the piggy bank had spat out its last penny - who needs insurance for motorcycle racing events?

This month it is rumoured, it is again alleged there is a slight shortfall in that direction, but then again, what's an alleged £75000.00 between friends. Perhaps a cap in hand trip down to the local friendly bank manager is in order. Perhaps the Dinosaurs will offer some of their mansions as collateral, perhaps Dinosaurs will be seen flying - from the coup d'etat - perhaps pigs will be seen flying over Dundrod - and whilst we speak of that hallowed place - Dundrod.

Further rumours flying low around the Northern Ireland motorcycle racing fraternity allege it might be the case that the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club Limited - they of Ulster Grand Prix aka UGP fame - are allegedly a little overdue with around £20000.00 allegedly owed to the aforementioned MCUI-UC for insurance no less - allegedly of course - after all, nothing of what I say is true - is it?

So what happens if the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club Limited fails to pay the £20000.00 or so which they allegedly owe or allegedly don't owe the MCUI-UC? Expulsion from the MCUI-UC perhaps - surely not, for that would herald the end of the Ulster Grand Prix - already a loss making event by all accounts - and speaking of accounts.

Had one some sense, one would most probably attend a meeting of the MCUI-UC and ask the MCUI-UC Secretary how this alleged situation was permitted to allegedly spiral out of control. One actually should do so, but unfortunately the Centre Secretary allegedly no longer bothers to make an appearance at these meetings, perhaps the Secretary has other more pressing matters to deal with elsewhere, or simply isn't in the mood to answer questions. And, there is another point that merits a few words - the majority of Clubs organising motorcycle race meetings under the auspices of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, are also Limited Companies, therefore one would allege that accruing such debts could quite possibly be illegal trading, particuarly so when there are few, if any, apparent saleable assets - allegedly. Based on the foregoing rumours and allegations, none of which are of course even remotely true - perhaps - the question is then - how many of the Limited Company motorcycle clubs here in the North of Ireland, including the MCUI-UC - are actually financially solvent?

These alleged revelations have prompted one to make further Freedom of Information requests - Lisburn City Council has been asked to supply information regarding funding which they have made towards the running of the Ulster Grand Prix - rate payers money, most of whom have no interest in real road racing, money that could have been spent more wisely elsewhere.

And the MCUI-UC – the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited - what funding have they received from DCAL since its inception in 1999? A Freedom of Information request is asking the aforementioned DCAL that very same question.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

MCUI-UC, RRR, and the Freedom of Information Act

2011-01-09T19:56:00.003Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

As it is the case that public money - your money, my money, some other guys money - is allegedly used to allegedly prop up the sport of motorcycle real road racing here in Northern Ireland by way of alleged handouts from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, for such alleged purposes as safety improvements - one has decided to find out more.

Allegedly, the Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to ask any public body for all the information they have on any subject you choose. Unless there’s a good reason, the organisation must provide the information within 20 working days.

Further more, it seems that everybody can make a request for information – there are no restrictions on your age, nationality, or where you live, therefore it would seem - moi can make a request.

Allegedly you can ask for any information at all - but - yes, there is always a 'but' lurking somewhere - some information might be withheld to protect various interests which are allowed for by the Act. If this is the case, the public authority must tell you why they have withheld information.

One then wondered what those various interests might be, whether those interests might include real road racing, so, one decided to try it out. Below is the first of several Freedom of Information requests one will be making about all things motorcycle racing in Northern Ireland - and of course anything bearing the fingerprints of the MCUI-UC.

Quite obviously, should it transpire that DCAL do not have available the requested information, during the course of their next meeting with those nice alleged cap in hand officials from the MCUI-UC - said MCUI-UC officials should have no problem with supplying the answers. As the Governing Body of all things motorcycle racing here in Northern Ireland, the MCUI-UC is after all a very open and transparent organisation - Limited Company.

The following has today been forwarded to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Could you please supply me with the following statistics, all of which relate to motorcycle road racing here in Northern Ireland as held under the auspices of the Governing body for the sport - the MCUI-UC also known as Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, an organisation / limited company which allegedly regularly benefits from generous grants of taxpayers money courtesy of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Since January 1990 to the present, how many competitors have died as a result of injuries sustained whilst participating in an event in Northern Ireland organised under the auspices of the aforementioned MCUI-UC?

Since January 1990 to the present, how many spectators including children have died as a result of injuries sustained whilst attending an event in Northern Ireland organised under the auspices of the aforementioned MCUI-UC?

Since January 1990 to the present, how many competitors have sustained non-fatal injuries whilst participating in an event in Northern Ireland organised under the auspices of the aforementioned MCUI-UC?

Since January 1990 to the present, how many spectators including children have sustained non-fatal injuries whilst attending an event in Northern Ireland organised under the auspices of the aforementioned MCUI-UC?

I look forward to hearing from you promptly, as required by the legislation, and in any case within 20 working days.

Yours sincerly

Barbiegirl

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Captain Pugwash Dinosaur And His Dinosaur Crew v The Upstart Pirates

2011-01-09T10:32:00.019Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A long, long, long time ago, when sailing ships ruled the waves, Captain Pugwash Dinosaur and his Dinosaur crew were in danger of being boarded by a pirate ship - pirate rivals intent on seizing control of their sordid little empire built of course from straw bales, because allegedly, there was nothing more stable available in those far away days of yesteryear. So as the Dinosaurs became more frantic - after all, just like their Captain, they were off that rare species, the alleged fabled great yellow bellied - and so Captain Pugwash Dinosaur bellowed to his First Dinosaur Mate, "Bring me my red shirt!" - He doth bellows a lot doth Captain Pugwash Dinosaur you doth understand. And so the First Dinosaur Mate he quickly retrieved the red shirt of Captain Pugwash Dinosaur, which the bellowing Captain Pugwash Dinosaur didst adorn and lead his alleged fabled great yellow bellied Dinosaurs to battle against the upstart pirate boarding party. Although some casualties allegedly occurred amongst the Dinosaurs, the pirate rebels were repelled - for allegedly the upstart pirates didst fall at the first chicane of straw bales.

Later that very same day, the lookout screamed that there were now two pirate vessels sending boarding parties of upstarts. The Dinosaurs they didst cower in fear, but Captain Pugwash Dinosaur calm as ever bellowed loudly again, "Bring me my red shirt!" - I didst warn you, he doth a lot of loud bellowing. The battle was on, and once again the loudly bellowing Captain Pugwash Dinosaur and his Dinosaur crew repelled both boarding parties, although this time more casualties occurred - those damned straw bales, though some didst allegedly resign - some alleged evil ploy to thwart the upstart pirates perhaps.

Weary from the battles, the ancient decrepit Dinosaurs sat around on deck swilling free beer that night recounting the day's occurrences when an ensign looked to Captain Pugwash Dinosaur and asked, "Captain Pugwash Dinosaur, why doth you call for your red shirt before the battle?” Captain Pugwash Dinosaur, giving the ensign a look that only a bellowing Dinosaur Captain can give, loudly bellowed, "If I am wounded in battle, the red shirt does not show the wound and thus, you Dinosaurs will continue to fight unafraid". And so whilst counting their gotten treasures, assorted benefits and Dinosaur pensions, the Dinosaurs sat in silence marvelling at the courage of such a bellowing Dinosaur Captain.

As dawn arrived the next morning, the lookout screamed that there were even more pirate ships, 10 of them, all with boarding parties on their way. The Dinosaurs became silent and looked to their bellowing Captain Pugwash Dinosaur for his usual command. And the bellowing Dinosaur Captain Pugwash, calm as ever, loudly bellowed, "Bring me my brown pants!!!

Will the upstart pirates succeed in their quest to overthrow the all powerful, all seeing, loudly bellowing Captain Pugwash Dinosaur And His Dinosaur Crew, and wrest forth from them the keys to the house of straw bales - and the alleged unlimited riches within – or will Captain Pugwash Dinosaur And His Dinosaur Crew be off on some faraway all expenses paid exotic holiday?

Tune in next time folks for another thrilling instalment of Captain Pugwash Dinosaur and His Dinosaur Crew v The Upstart Pirates.

Warning! The foregoing is nothing more than a foreboding riddle, a fable, a fairy story, yes, there could be fairies involved, who knows? It's merely a simple alleged story of alleged simple Dinosaurs, after all - Dinosaurs in sailing ships fighting of upstart pirates - how ridiculous - whoever heard of such a thing, what eejit would be stupid enough to believe such drivel - get real! Twas all a dream - twas the demon drink!

Disclaimer! No allegedly living Dinosaurs, or pirates, were actually bodily injured - or molested, sexually or otherwise in so far as one can reliably ascertain - during the disjointed writing of the foregoing alleged fabled nightmare, although some rather good wine was possibly consumed by moi during the gory process.

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Tomorrow, time permitting, one will in all probability return to reality and the very real issue of alleged safety, or alleged lack of safety at our Northern Ireland real road racing events, possibly even mentioning straw bales in the process.

Perhaps one might even be tempted to mention the lovely caring safety conscious MCUI-UC aka Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited and those equally lovely caring safety conscious officials of the aforementioned MCUI-UC aka Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited - Richard Nesbitt for instance, alleged 'former?' convenor of the road inspection committee for looking after competitors' and spectators' safety for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster Centre, who in 2010 allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable available in 2007 - than straw bales that is - and Tony Harvey of course, alleged incident officer - 'former?' - for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster Centre, who had allegedly conducted a review of the John Donnan incident, and allegedly said "It could only be described as a freak accident and a risk competitors accept in the pursuit of their chosen sport" What really lovely caring sensitive people those MCUI-UC officials truly are. Brings tears to the eyes! On the other hand, could be the onions.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Second Coming of the Dinosaurs

2011-01-07T19:53:00.005Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Following the sickening revelations of the John Donnan inquest last year - starring those ever so allegedly lovely officials from the allegedly wonderful safety conscious MCUI-UC - sheer, unadulterated panic allegedly swept through the massed ranks of Dinosaurs - that rare species, the alleged great yellow bellied - the alleged gut-wrenching smell of their alleged fear wafted far and near across this wee country of ours - forum users banned for daring to speak of the truth - and then the alleged resignations as rumours of personal liabilities, finanical difficulties (Father Ted Again), prosecutions and more raged unabated - Tandragee, chicanes, straw bales - haunting words for Dinosaurs, especially that rare species, the aforementioned alleged great yellow bellied.

*He's been holding out in the village, speaking out against wealth and privilege. "I don't believe in money, but a man can make him a killing. I hear up there it's changed you see, they're not as backwards as they used to be, but Lord, it sounds so easy, it shouldn't take long, we'll be back in the money in no time at all." So allegedly did sayeth the Prophet Austin and the massed congregation of faithful peasant worshippers didst lie down before the alter of the Dinosaurs and Roll Over Beethoven laughing off their asses.

He's gone, he's back, the putrid smell of opportunism has returned - but for how much longer - the pack of baying wolves doth circle the campfire.

(*Many thanks to Alan Jackson)

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

MCUI-UC - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Safety?

2011-01-05T14:27:00.012Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Since the shocking revelations of the John Donnan inquest early last year, the safety of competitors, spectators, ancillary others, and of course the hordes of alleged free loading officials - who generally appear to far outnumber all others at any given motorcycle real road racing event in Northern Ireland - has been a much discussed topic amongst those with a desire to see the sport continue, and flourish - safely.

On the other hand, there are probably those people who want the sport to flourish for other dubious reasons - the acquisition of Government funds perhaps; it is after all what makes the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round - useful to for purchasing that new car you've always wanted - allegedly. For them, safety is allegedly nothing more than a byword - or another means by which to allegedly extract funding in the form of grants from those eejits up at Stormont - or to put it another way, just another method of allegedly getting their grubby little paws on our money.

Back in February 2010, it was suggested all officials should be Government tested, and licensed - all officials to undergo a theoretical learning and practical training period - then pass a theory test, followed by a comprehensive practical test, but how do we protect the riders? A seemingly impossible task, but the risks could be substantially lessened - by training!

In April 2010, we then learned a little more about 2 & 4 Wheel Motor Sport Steering Group Limited, apparently an umbrella organisation which represents the four governing bodies of regulated motor sport in Northern Ireland on issues which are common to all disciplines. Safety perhaps? Perhaps not the subject for facetious remarks - one does of course apologise.

These issues include, according to their website, increasing the level of government funding for motor sport, the improvement or creation of facilities, dealing with legislative issues which affect any aspect of motor sport and the provision of training for clubs in order to increase their professionalism - allegedly!

Rewind now if you will a few more short years when our beloved MCUI-UC allegedly acquired a government grant of £2500.00 for the alleged purpose of training new riders.

For the privilege of participating in these away days at Kirkistown, the alleged unlucky newcomers were allegedly charged £40 per day for their training. Obviously one would want to ask where the alleged £2500.00 went on its alleged vacation, or perhaps it's allegedly resting in the now legendary bank account of Father Ted.

With safety conscious officials such as those in the MCUI-UC, we can all attend real road racing safe in the knowledge that the MCUI-UC is in charge of - our safety - and allegedly our money. One does wonder though who allegedly ~~cooks~~ - oops typo error, I do apologise most sincerely, let's start again - one does wonder who allegedly performs the menial task of book keeping?

Perhaps the MCUI-UC will turn over a new leaf this year, begin a new chapter - one that is open and transparent. Yes, one does unfortunately realise the allegedly corpulent Dinosaurs are living proof that pigs do fly.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

A Little Tale of Irish Morality

2011-01-04T12:27:00.003Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

An innocent wee Irish girl who had not seen her parents for over five years came home unexpectedly one day.

No sooner has she set foot inside the house than her father rounded on her angrily: "Mother of God, Roisin! Where have you been all this time? Look at the state of you, girl! You're wearing lipstick and that skirt barely covers your ass! You shamless ingrate! You left us without a word on your sixteenth birthday and we've not had so much as a line from you in five years. Why didn't you call? Do you have any idea what you've put your poor Mammy through?!"

Roisin started crying and sobbed: "Oh Da - I fell in with a real bad crowd - sniff - started sleeping around - took drugs - sniff - and then I became - - a prostitute!"

"Holy Mary!" shouted her father. "What did you say? A PROSTITUTE! You evil little sinner! You're a disgrace to this family - I don't ever want to see your face again!"

"OK, Da," said Roisin, dying her eyes on an expensive, silk handkerchief. "I only came back to give Mum this fur coat, the title deeds to a ten-bedroomed villa in Spain and a savings account certificate for five million Euros. For my little brother Sean - I got him this gold Rolex, and for you dearest Da - the 'S' type Jaguar that's parked outside - plus lifetime membership to the Ballymurphy Golf Club ---- and an invitation for you all to spend New Years' Eve on board my new yacht on the French Riviera, and - - -"

Her Father interrupted and asked: "What was it you said you had become again?"

His daughter started crying again and sobbed: "Sniff - - a dirty little slut, Da -sniff - a shameless harlot who sells her body for money - a — a PROSTITUTE!"

"Oh! Sweet Bejeesus! The Lord be praised!" exclaimed her father, clasping her to his bosom. "You scared me half to death, girl! I thought you said 'a Protestant.' Come here and give your Da a kiss!"

Sincerest apologies to all whom the foregoing little tale of Irish morality may, or may not have offended, for to be sure, no offence was ever intended.

Happy New Year to one and all - come to think of it - exclude the Dinosaurs

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Saint Peter of Stormont, The Deputy and The Water Diviner

2010-12-30T20:29:00.011Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Shambolic, ineffective, not fit for purpose - fine words that effortlessly spewed eloquently forth from the silver tongued mouth of Saint Peter of Stormont, whilst by his side stood but two of his faithful noble disciples - Deputy Dawg the Brewer, alongside Conor the Water Diviner. Brave noble words, not fired in the direction of those responsible for the current difficulties that has rained down upon their faithful devoted peasants - words directed not at themselves - rather at the nearest available scapegoat, probably that guy who must have received a Blackberry from Santa - the Blackberry he was allegedly playing with while the rest of us were dying of thirst - whilst drowning in the flooded streets of Northern Ireland.

Shambolic, ineffective, not fit for purpose - fine words to which one could probably add - control freaks, arrogant wasters, verbal bully boys, despicable sewer rats, Tandragee, chicane, straw bales - all fine words that allegedly one might use whilst referring to dinosaurs, if indeed there were such ghastly despicably grotesque beings still roaming our beautiful countryside, but since there isn't - one obviously can't make use of the foregoing words to describe them - allegedly.

Perchance though, what if Jurassic Park had been a documentary, if dinosaurs really did again exist in this the 21st century, one does wonder how perhaps they would then pass the time of day in this wee country of ours – now if they had an interest in the sport of motorcycle racing – oops, forgot - they’d never be able to survive – how would it be possible to earn a crust from being in control of all things motorcycle sport in such a wee country as Northern Ireland?

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Do We Live In A Democratic Society - Or Not?

2010-12-29T14:10:00.014Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Even if it does currently resemble a third world country, it's nonetheless sometimes difficult to believe we live in a democratic society - one that allegedly believes in the human rights of its people, each of whom have a right to voice their opinion, and the right to listen, or not listen to the opinions of others.

Each of us has the right to be heard, each of us has the right to hear the opinions of others, and each of us has the right to choose what we believe - whether it's an opinion we've listened to, or read - on a forum for instance.

Apparently though, there are allegedly those in our midst who believe we don't live in a democratic society, who don't want to hear, or read the opinions of others, who'd probably rather we didn't exist - except when they want to get their grubby little hands on our hard earned cash that is. And with our less than democratic government sitting on their fat posteriors up on the hill at Stormont while the rest of us die of thirst, the extreme cold, potholes the size of our empty reservoirs and who knows what diseases are lurking in the filthy water they're dishing out - who could possibly blame those who would have us banned from speaking the truth?

Earlier this year, at the alleged behest of *******, a website with no alleged links to the MCUI-UC, or the dinosaurs - banned little me from their forum for daring to speak the alleged truth about the alleged dictatorial MCUI-UC and the John Donnan inquest revelations.

This was the inquest during which Tony Harvey, incident officer for the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster Centre, who had allegedly conducted a review of the incident, said "It could only be described as a freak accident and a risk competitors accept in the pursuit of their chosen sport"

This was the inquest during which it was said "I can't remember the man saying anything sensible other than nattering away in my ear. If someone is constantly coming at you it is easier just to ignore them" Remember who uttered these now infamous words in Court - No, it wasn't the village eejit - allegedly, it was Richard Nesbitt, alleged convenor of the MCUI-UC road inspection committee allegedly responsible for competitors' and spectators' safety, the very same person who allegedly claimed there was nothing more stable available in 2007 - More stable than straw bales that is! In the year 2007!

Later in the year, for quite a spell, the aforementioned forum then went completely missing - now resurrected - what a convenient alleged opportunity to rid oneself of anything embarrassing that had been written about the MCUI-UC, and the dinosaurs.

Lately, yet another forum appears to have taken a sabbatical, and one has to wonder why - what topics were being discussed - two is what I've heard, though there was probably more - the Harris Healey MCUI-UC media squabble and TAS aka Temple Auto Salvage - that's a scrap yard in the middle of beyond to you, me and the rest.

Alternatively there's Albert and Harold - Steptoe and Son - the stories some of my older colleagues have told about Harold simply beggars belief - someday perhaps, since we allegedly live in a democratic society that believes in freedom of speech - one might consider further researching and publishing aforementioned alleged tales of yesterday.

Quite obviously though, other insignificants - and insignificant items of paddock gossip were most likely being discussed or perhaps not - banter and chatter that may or may not have upset some insignificant other, some insignificant who may or may not have imagined their imagined insignificant self or imagined little empire may have been in danger of being undermined, even exposed - who allegedly has something to hide, one has now to wonder!!!!

Then again, all of the foregoing is a figment of the imagination, none of it is true, it's all been a dream, one was in the shower, dozed off, dreamt it all - after all, we do live in Northern Ireland - nothing here makes sense, not ever. We've had tons of snow, torrential rain - it's always soddin' raining - and now we've no soddin' water - must be dreaming again.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Pathetic Death Throes Of The Embarrassing MCUI-UC Dinosaurs

2010-12-27T12:13:00.007Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Have we been witnessing the pathetic death throes of the embarrassing MCUI-UC dinosaurs this past year? From inquests that were both harrowing and embarrassing to the news that Motor Cycling Ireland are allegedly planning to sever all ties with the beleaguered MCUI-UC, and rightly so.

Somewhere in the midst of this script of comedy errors - a homage to the farcical Carry On series of low-budget movies - there also lurks twists and turns worthy of the great Alfred Hitchcock - allegations of a failure to acquire a new Vice Chairman, or a full quota of officials for the disgraced Roads Inspection Committee, the Great Harris Healey Media Caper, and shock horror - this bunch of plonkers at one stage allegedly hadn't even enough pennies in the piggy bank to pay one of their insurance instalments. Nothing beats a good old whip round - what about the next time though? Can the riders, the fans - can anyone who attends a motorcycle race meeting here in Northern Ireland be safe in the knowledge that should they become the victim of yet another unforeseen incident - there won't be a problem with insurance cover?

How can the MCUI-UC allegedly not have the finances to pay for something as unimportant as insurance cover? Perhaps somebody isn't playing the game - isn't claiming all of the available benefits - might one suggest the Benefits Adviser is checked out as a matter of some urgency.

Say what you must about that other waste of space - the Assembly of assorted alleged scum on the hill - at least we are occasionally afforded the opportunity of voting them out, if only to replace them with another flock of alleged scum - the MCUI-UC aka Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited dinosaurs are with us until they self destruct, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

All I Wanted For Xmas Was A Shiny New XXXX! Allegedly!

2010-12-26T10:09:00.010Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

All I'd really wanted for Xmas was a shiny new XXXX, but sadly it didn't arrive. Nothing to do with the adverse weather conditions - all that white stuff, sub-zero temperatures - some guy swore he'd seen polar bears and penguins skating across a frozen Belfast Lough - in the cold light of Boxing Day now I'm not so sure that he was paralytic drunk as first imagined. Perhaps a colleague was correct when he'd suggested my belief in that guy Santa Claus was a trifle misplaced - I'd written to him at the North Pole - sent him an email - santa.claus@thenorthpole.com - and had he replied? No, nor had he brought me my presents. Next year I'll act on the advice of my colleague, make public my Xmas wish list - I'll call in the media - newspaper journalists, radio journalists, television journalists, even those nice internet journalists.

'Next Xmas', I'll tell them, 'I want a designer tweed jacket - preferably Harris Tweed - and a new set of wheels perhaps, not that I have an old set, apart from the Yamaha - one of those new Healey Sports Cars would suffice'.

In years long since past - we've all heard the stories - the hacks, local and from across the Irish Sea, what they allegedly knew or cared about the motorcycle racing scene could now be written on a pin head, but what they knew about the hospitality tent the alleged stuff of legends. Did any of them care about whether the racing was good bad or indifferent, or what alleged scheming went on behind closed doors? Not when allegedly pissed as newts on an alleged never ending supply of free booze they didn't. The stories of daring do were still published, even if they were rose tinted as allegedly supplied by local dinosaurs - alleged stories that made local legends, even if they to were at times allegedly as pissed as the hacks, but still managed to race - and win. On the other hand, many perished in those wondrous glory days of Irish real road racing (many still perish) but who cared - they were legends - up there with, even if not quite of the same stature as, the great Finn McCool.

Fast forward to the 21st Century and believe it or not - we still have the dinosaurs, some of the old hacks are still around - somewhere or other - complete with pickled livers one imagines, but now we have - the Internet. The days of the KGB are numbered, secret societies are no longer secret - secrets are published worldwide, if not by WikiLeaks then by anyone with an Internet connection.

It's understandable why the Great High Priest who dost rule the World of motorcycle racing here in Northern Ireland, and all those who dost Worship @ the Elite Holy Inner Sanctum of the Sacred Temple of the Dinosaurs - otherwise allegedly known as, in another bygone age - the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited - MCUI-UC - dost banish the evil media from this, his Land of the Dinosaurs. How dare any mere mortal publish the truth about the Dinosaurs, rather than the alleged Fables of the MCUI-UC.

Who indeed needs the media? The Dinosaurs have already made extinct motorcycle real road racing in Northern Ireland, therefore one should read only the Obituaries - not for the name of any gallant competitor who has succumbed to his, or her, chosen sport, but rather the passing of the sport itself.

'Dear Santa, Next Xmas forget about the Harris tweed jacket, and the Healey sports car I requested earlier - next Xmas I want a copy of the local newspaper, the one with an obituary - the one that reads - Real Road Racing Fans Raise A Glass To The Passing Of The Dinosaurs'.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Merry Xmas To All - Not The Dinosaurs Though

2010-12-24T21:51:00.005Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Reconstructed, hopefully for the last time, everything working as it should this time around, not quite 'Murphy' but who cares - not me. Just enjoyed a lovely relaxing holiday in a warmer place - then it all went terribly wrong - cancelled flights - snow at home - SNOW! Three days living in an airport isn't good for the stress levels, and then you arrive home and discover the moron in charge of keeping the roads clear of snow - didn't bother his sorry ass. If only we could vote these eejits out of whatever cosy office they inhabit. We're getting salt from Egypt! What happened to the soddin' salt mine we had in Carrickfergus? Wrong type of salt was it?

Merry Xmas to all motorcycle racing fans, the riders, the teams, the sponsors and anyone else I've forgotten. No, I haven't forgotten about the MCUI-UC officials, although I do hope this new ice age kills off every last one of the inept incompetent vermin.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

UGP Recession Proof Real Road Racing

2010-12-22T09:41:00.018Z

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Southern Ireland - the Republic of - is for all intents and purposes – bankrupt. So to is our own wee country - Northern Ireland - special thanks for this state of affairs must of course go to the evil bankers, the borrow and spend your way out of annoying little financial problems Labour Party, and our very own local waste of space and money - the parasites on the hill that is Stormont.

Now in the midst of this prolonged recession we have the UGP organisers’ announcement of a massive price increase for their 2011 event - a two thirds increase in admission fees - up from the £15.00 of 2010 to £25.00 and the cited reason - the scumbag fans who evade paying by crawling through miles of Dundrod mud fields. To give a reason for anything is to breed a doubt of it, so no matter what the spurious reason might be for this scandalous decision, what better time than this to increase admission fees to the Ulster Grand Prix - an already dead in the quagmire event some would say - and if not - this is surely the last nail in the coffin.

On the other hand, the foregoing scum have nothing on the dinosaurs, they who've been sucking the life and soul out of the sport of motorcycle racing here in Northern Ireland for years. Attend virtually any real road race meeting in Northern Ireland and you'll allegedly be in the minority - you are not an 'official' - you are not scamming the benefit system whilst living the all expenses paid high life - free accommodation, free meals, travel expenses, free access to all areas, and almost forgot - nor are you one of the vermin actually receiving monetary payments – all an alleged scenario of course.

Whilst most reasonably intelligent real road racing fans would have welcomed and approved the alternative headline - UGP Slashes 2011 Admission Fees - few if any would have appreciated or understood the reasoning behind the breakfast spoiling shock price hike news so indicative of a mindset that just like the dinosaurs - cannot be reasoned with for they have no reason.

Yes, admittedly the two thirds increase only takes the admission cost up to a measly £25.00, and whilst crowds do flock to British Superbikes where the cost for a couple of days entertainment is somewhat higher, there are other subtle superior differences. Ever attempted to access and park your prized possession in the middle of a ploughed Irish swampland? Not an easy task. On the plus side though it does aid the local economy, many are the grateful farmers who've generously taken the time to extract those in need from the clutches of Mother Earth at Dundrod - for an extortionate fee.

Another small issue is the toilet facilities, not much of a problem for primitive macho men, many go where they stand - us ladies though are more refined and discerning, preferring not to make a public spectacle of ourselves, or an exhibit for the attending voyeurs. Eating establishments around the Dundrod area are hardly 5 star either, sporadically located pushers peddling alleged over priced antibiotic-resistant salmonella burgers - the only alternative to snaring and cooking a few of the local rabbits over your campfire - a problem all of it's own when you're under assault from the wet stuff that frequently falls from the skies around Ulster Grand Prix time - and only in the vicinity of Dundord at that.

Another insignificant problem with the UGP is the International status it proudly boasts – which leads one to believe the cream of top class riders from around the World are to be seen fighting tooth and nail for glory, serious injuries, or death. Not so, but then again there are of course the local crop of between the hedge specialists, and those unable to compete successfully in other International events – BSB, WSBK etc etc, although one has to be honest – most can talk a good race - almost.

If not for the dinosaurs, most likely this wee country could have had its very own World class International race track by now - where we could enjoy watching our real Superstar motorcycle racers competing successfully against real International riders from around the World – Eugene Laverty, Jonathan Rea to name but two of the numerous local riders with the necessary self-belief, courage, passion, and commitment to compete at the highest level of their chosen sport.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Cretinous Real Road Racing Fan Email

2010-09-06T20:20:00.012+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Laugh if you must, but the following email is as received from an obvious real road racing fan, or to put it another way - one of the cretins who think they know something about motorcycle road racing here in Northern Ireland.

Name: get a life
Email Address: youhavetomuchtimeonyourhands@yourareasado.twat Subject: pathetic
Message: if you dont like road racing, dont watch it. SIMPLE! leave the people who choose to invest every penny they have into something that gives them enjoyment alone to do what they want.

if people choose to do something, its up to them, who are you to say they cant? and to actually go to the effort of setting up a blog, just to bitch and moan about things? get a grip! get out more in the fresh air, try to find some friends, and spend your time more constructively

im pretty sure that me sending this will give you some kick of pleasure to keep on posting your drivel, but oh well i thought i would send it anyway to maybe switch a light on in your head and waken you up to realise how sad and pathetic you are.

Attend any real road race event here in Northern Ireland and you'll meet at least one, the loud mouthed cretin so busy spewing out verbal diarrhoea, the actual racing passes him by - the drunkard who next day has to ask who won the race, so busy was he spewing diarrhoea from all sorts of unsavoury places - the dedicated Northern Ireland real road racing fan who will stagger across several miles of ploughed fields, climb mountains, do anything rather than pay a pittance to attend his favourite blood sport - all pathetic individuals.

I've met them all and more, attended to many race meetings in the past, and officially have had the dubious pleasure of confronting these dangerous eejits who think it's alright to get drunk and start fights - this years UGP for instance - and the other mindless morons who believe it's their right to stand on the roadside, endangering the lives of the riders they'd claim are their heroes.

What I haven't recently met at any local road race meeting are 'the people who choose to invest every penny they have into something that gives them enjoyment'

To meet those genuine people who do it for the love of motorcycle racing, you have to move away from the confines of Northern Ireland, travel to the mainland where you'll find the real heroes of our sport - people like Nicole McAleer and her family, John Simpson, Josh Elliott, Nigel Percy and many, many others, all of whom - as if having to invest every penny they have into something that gives them enjoyment - also have to pay an extortionate fee to the MCUI-UC dinosaurs for the privilege of competing outside of Northern Ireland. Scandalous, but then again, when the 'International' UGP is attended by a mere ten thousand paying fans - plus the usual payment dodging scum - the alleged freebie lifestyles of some officials has to subsidised by somebody.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Real Road Racing Killers In Waiting!

2010-08-06T16:40:00.010+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Back in June of this year - what a long time ago it now seems - many witnessed what some might say was attempted murder by several competitors from the real road racing fraternity, and allegedly, on more than one occasion it would seem.

The Isle of Man TT, already probably as famous for its unacceptably high death toll as it is for anything else - was thrust into the limelight yet again - not for the deaths and serious injuries that occurred, rather for what might have been.

Allegedly, several of our well known 'heroes' were more interested in money than they were in the lives of their fellow competitors, the volunteer marshals, and the fans whose money their grubby little hands couldn't wait to grab - at any cost it would seem!

Whilst injured riders, some fatally so, lay on the track being attended to by caring marshals, some imbecile fellow riders allegedly demonstrated their utter contempt for innocent life by ignoring the warning 'Yellow' flags being shown. Hence, riders, marshals and spectators alike, were in the firing line as these alleged would be murderous individuals sped past at racing speeds, missing all and sundry by - the proverbial coat of paint perhaps.

Not to worry though, the responsible governing body allegedly took action - and allegedly fined one unnamed rider a pathetic paltry sum. Rightly so, marshals have been angry, threatening even to boycott next years event, but will anyone listen, or even care? Get real!

Does it happen here in Northern Ireland? Of course it does, and what does the Health and Safety conscious MCUI-UC do about? Rumour has it; they just might be waiting until there is a major incident, serious injuries, and fatalities even. And besides, it wouldn't do if they were to upset any of our temperaMENTAL professional superstars of real road racing.

Mister Nelson McCausland (MLA) Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure might, as part of his alleged investigation into real road racing safety issues, have a friendly word with the dinosaurs of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited, or then again - does he really care either?

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Nonentity World Championship Nonentity World Champions

2010-08-04T19:04:00.010+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

In 1977 the IOMTT was stripped of its World Championship status but responded with the 'TT Formula 1 World Championship' - a one race 'World Championship' no less.

History shows the great Phil Read was entered on a 1000cc four stroke Honda which was based on their rather successful endurance racer of the time - and duly won his eighth motorcycle racing World Championship title. Problem is though, Phil doesn't appear to claim to have won eight World titles - only seven - and who would blame him.

The legendary Carl Fogarty - Mister Superbike, the most successful World Superbike rider of all time - he claimed four WSBK titles before a freak accident with another rider brought his illustrious career to a premature end - otherwise who knows how many World titles he'd now be proudly boasting off. What he doesn't boast off, nor allegedly ever mentions, are is other 'World Championship' titles - come to think of it, I'm not sure if he even bothers mentioning the World Endurance Championship he won for Kawasaki in 1992.

Other notable winners of this nonentity 'World Championship' were allegedly of course - Mike Hailwood, Ron Haslam, Graeme Crosby, Virginio Ferrari and Joey Dunlop.

Strange that the large majority of the aforementioned riders never referred to their astounding 'World Championship' titles - modesty perhaps - or to embarrassed by the nonentity of it all.

Perhaps later this year, the motorcycle racing fans of Northern Ireland will have a 'Real' Road Racing World Champion to boast off.

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Perils Of Quad Biking With Cows

2010-08-03T16:17:00.004+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Down under in Australia a 55 year old woman has been airlifted to hospital after crashing into a cow whilst riding her quad bike.

Seems that while riding the quad bike on private property, the collision with the cow caused the quad to flip over and land on top of her which was bad enough, but unfortunately the cow also toppled over and crash landed onto the bike. Ouch!

Reports suggest the woman is in a stable condition, and the cow - anyone for burgers?

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Irish Real Road Racing Summertime Blues

2010-07-31T12:32:00.012+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

What a truly wonderfully pleasant summer we've all been enjoying in this lovely wee country of ours, and it's all thanks to the truly innovatively insane 'Peace Process' dreamt up by people who allegedly might quite possibly have escaped from a lunatic asylum - either that or the rumour it was actually the brainchild of those lovely MCUI dinosaurs, is quite possibly not so far-fetched after all.

Thus far, it's been a summer of bombs, shootings, riots, petrol bombs, hijackings, punishment beatings, more riots, more petrol bombs, more shootings, and more real road racing deaths - whilst just a few miles away - the annual Isle of Man TT provided us with even more not unexpected deaths and seriously injured riders.

On a lighter note, the IOMTT also provided us with the new Guy Martin / Michael Dunlop Show - funny for some - seriously disturbing and disgustingly insulting for others. Hardly surprising though considering the pedigree of these two individuals when both seemingly decided to drag real road racing down into the local sewage system - or was it merely down to their own level perhaps?

The antics of Guy Martin - the embarrassing class clown, every school has at least one - allegedly usually a cover for their obvious inadequacies - his aspirations, if he ever had any, to be a BSB, WSB, or even MotoGP star - a wildly implausible dream by any standards. Guy has found his dubious niche in the world of motorcycle racing - hopefully he survives the ride.

Michael Dunlop though seems to think of himself as being the rightful heir to the vacated Joey Dunlop title of being the King of the Roads, but one has to wonder what the great man would honestly be thinking of this seemingly sullen spoilt brat when he allegedly spoke about not being bothered about going through the hedge when riding close to other competitors. The people who should be exceptionally bothered by his threatening attitude are the fans standing behind those same hedges - unprotected innocent fans who would become mere statistics, but who would care, seemingly not Michael Dunlop in his quest for the spoils of victory.

Perhaps a responsible governing body will revoke the appropriate licence, teams will withdraw machines, sponsors will withdraw funding or will Around A Pound boost the Michael Dunlop bank balance with another infusion of cash - around a pound perhaps!

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Belfast Custom Bike Show 19th July 2010

2010-07-21T18:52:00.002+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

This weekend sees the Belfast Custom Bike Show at Custom House Square, Belfast on Saturday 24th July 2010.

Taking place from Noon – 6pm and costing £5 the show has a raft of entertainment from live music from Belfast Greasers, The Sabrejets and of course customised bikes galore!

Hot Rods, Scooters and Old Skool Custom cars are also welcome but they all “gotta” be driven in.

With families welcome and Kids free admission – The kid’s events include bouncey castle, face painting & kid’s entertainer – there is plenty of other “stuff” for everybody from – Vintage hairdressing – Auto Jumble – Vintage clothing – Pinstriping from Nefarious – Trade stands – Body painting by Alternative Ink

Finishing off the day is the after show party with the Red Hot Roosters, which will take place at the Shorts Social Club from 8pm till LATE admission is £5. There is free secure overnight camping at Shorts Social Club from 11am on day of show – only 5 minute drive from show site.

Promises to be a great day and night!

Full Details – www.belfastcustombikeshow.co.uk

Belfast Custom Bike Show

Saturday 24th July 2010

Custom House Square

Noon – 6pm

£5.00

Show entries no later than 12 noon

Categories for this drive-in show include Best of Show, Best Engineering, Best Chop, Best Paint,

Best Streetfighter, Best Scooter, Best Trike, Best Classic and best Ladies Bike!

Live music from Belfast greasers, The Sabrejets – Hot food & drinks – On-site bar – Pinstriping from Nefarious – Ladies ! – Vintage hairdressing – Auto Jumble – Vintage clothing – Merchandise including new 2011 HAMC Nomads calendar – Big prize raffle – Trade stands – Body painting by Alternative Ink

After show party with Red Hot Roosters,

Shorts Social Club, 8pm – LATE, £5

Shorts Social Club, Aircraft Park, 366 Holywood Road, BT4 1SL

Free secure overnight camping at Shorts Social Club from 11am on day of show – only 5 minute drive from show site

Families welcome – Kids free admission – Kid’s events include bouncey castle, face painting & kid’s entertainer

For all enquiries please contact: info@belfastcustombikeshow.co.uk

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

IOMTT Supersport Tragedy - ACU Statement

2010-06-10T16:53:00.001+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The Auto Cycle Union regret to announce that Paul Dobbs, 39, from Onewhero, New Zealand, was killed during the Supersport 2 race at the TT races in a racing incident at Ballagarey.

Paul was an experienced TT competitor with a best finish of sixth in the 400cc lightweight TT race in 2000. He first competed in the Isle of Man TT Races in 1999.

He was married with two children. The ACU wishes to pass on their deepest sympathy to the rider’s family and friends.

Jim Parker, Chairman, ACU, commented: “Paul was a really popular rider in the paddock and was a great competitor. He was a very talented rider who made many friends in the racing community. He will be sorely missed.”

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Rambo Granny of Melbourne Australia

2010-06-09T16:51:00.008+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Gun-toting granny Ava Estelle, 81, was so ticked-off when two thugs raped her 18-year-old granddaughter that she tracked the unsuspecting ex-cons down and shot off their testicles.

The old lady spent a week hunting those men down and, when she found them, she took revenge on them in her own special way, said Melbourne police investigator Evan Delp.

Then she took a taxi to the nearest police station, laid the gun on the sergeant's desk and told him as calm as could be: 'Those bastards will never rape anybody again, by God.'

Cops say convicted rapist and robber Davis Furth , 33, lost both his penis and his testicles when outraged Ava opened fire with a 9-mm pistol in the hotel room where he and former prison cell mate Stanley Thomas, 29, were holed up.

The wrinkled avenger also blew Thomas' testicles to kingdom come, but doctors managed to save his mangled penis, police said. 'The one guy, Thomas, didn't lose his manhood, but the doctor I talked to said he won't be using it the way he used to,' Detective Delp told reporters. 'Both men are still in pretty bad shape, but I think they're just happy to be alive after what they've been through.'

The Rambo Granny swung into action August 21 after her granddaughter Debbie was carjacked and raped in broad daylight by two knife-wielding creeps in a section of town bordering on skid row.

'When I saw the look on my Debbie's face that night in the hospital, I decided I was going to go out and get those bastards myself cause I figured the Law would go easy on them,' recalled the retired library worker. 'And I wasn't scared of them either because I've got me a gun and I've been shootin' all my life. And I wasn't dumb enough to turn it in when the law changed about owning one.'

So, using a police artist's sketch of the suspects and Debbie's description of the sickos, tough-as-nails Ava spent seven days prowling the wino-infested neighborhood where the crime took place 'till she spotted the ill-fated rapists entering their flophouse hotel. 'I knew it was them the minute I saw 'em, but I shot a picture of 'em anyway and took it back to Debbie and she said sure as hell, it was them,' the oldster recalled.

'So I went back to that hotel and found their room and knocked on the door, and the minute the big one opened the door, I shot 'em right square between the legs, right where it would really hurt 'em most, you know. Then I went in and shot the other one as he backed up pleading to me to spare him. Then I went down to the police station and turned myself in.'

Now, baffled lawmen are trying to figure out exactly how to deal with the vigilante granny.'What she did was wrong, and she broke the law, but it is difficult to throw an 81-year-old woman in prison,' Det. Delp said, 'especially when 3 million people in the city want to nominate her for Mayor.'

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

Speed & Safety – Save Yourselves! PSNI Speed Awareness

2010-06-07T17:04:00.006+01:00

Motorcycle Real Road Racing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland

The PSNI has announced the introduction of a Speed Awareness Scheme. Road users detected breaking speed limits in Northern Ireland will be offered the one-off opportunity to go back to the classroom and improve their driving skills - rather than picking up a fine and three penalty points on their licence.

Those detected speeding and who are aged 25 years and over, will be able to attend the Speed Awareness Scheme. The four hour classroom based Speed Awareness Scheme will not be offered to drivers who exceed the speed limit excessively, or those who have attended a national speed awareness course in the past three years.

Those aged under 25 years and detected speeding will be offered the chance to complete a Young Drivers Scheme. The Young Drivers Scheme aims to target vulnerable motorists and reduce the risk of young drivers becoming involved in serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions. The scheme consists of an educational workshop and online e-learning modules.

The schemes will follow a nationally approved syllabus, and will be run by DriveTech (UK) Ltd (a subsidiary of the AA) and delivered by specially selected approved road safety specialists. Courses will be held in Omagh, Coleraine, Belfast and Newry and will cost £85 inclusive of VAT to attend, which covers the cost of administering and delivering the schemes.

Both courses aim to generate a better understanding of the consequences of speeding and raise awareness of the importance of sticking to speed limits. The courses also help drivers recognise speed limits and provide instruction on driving more carefully.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “Excessive speed for the conditions is the single biggest killer of people on Northern Ireland roads. This is the final warning for those who continue to break the speed limits.”

Right To Ride’s, Trevor Baird says, “We have been in contact with the PSNI to see if the educational workshop and online e-learning modules has relevance for motorcyclists and we have been promised an invite to sit in and see for ourselves what is entailed.”

Right To Ride has received some comments, “While the courses seem set up to “catch” and educate those who are speeding just above the limits, what is missing is education for habitual speeders, those that are caught well above the speed limit who despite points, fines and bans will continue with unchanged attitudes”.

“While additional road policing patrols will now be deployed across Northern Ireland to target people who take the completely selfish decision to speed and put other people at risk, I hope the PSNI will not just be out to fill their classrooms?”

Meanwhile down South ahead of this Bank Holiday weekend Mayo County Council is running their “What’s Around The Corner” safety campaign.

The campaign includes handing out High-visibility yellow vests to bikers to make sure they can be clearly seen by other motorists, they will be distributed through motorcycle clubs in Co.Mayo.

Noel Gibbons Road Safety Officer Mayo County Council, said, "This is one part of our ongoing efforts with partners to improve safety for motorcyclists and other road users. We are also encouraging local riders to under go Motorcycle training. Motorcyclists continue to be over-represented in the fatalities and since the middle of April, four riders have lost their lives.

As the weather improves, more and more motorcyclists will take to the roads. Research indicates that the majority of motorcycle fatalities occur over the weekends and during daylight hours. Many riders are injured at junctions when vehicles pull out, others crash as a result of entering a bend too fast.''

Right To Ride’s Trevor Baird, says, “While we have some issues with the reliance and the value of high-visibility yellow vests improving the conspicuity of motorcyclists so that they are actually seen by other vehicle drivers, however we welcome the overall safety message to riders and other vehicle drivers.”

That message is, “Motorcycles are often hidden in a motorist's blind spot or masked by backgrounds. For that reason, motorists should double-check blind spots, rearview and side mirrors before changing lanes or making turns. They don't benefit from a protective metal environment or the stability of four wheels. But as a driver you can help keep bikers safe by remembering a few basic rules.”

“To ensure you don't have an injury to another road user on your conscience KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR MOTORCYCLISTS.”

Right To Ride says - So save yourselves, watch your throttle, watch out for other drivers and riders!

PSNI Speed Awareness
MAYO Road Safety

Save Our Sport From Evil

©2010 Motorcycle RealRoadRacing Blog by Barbiegirl Northern Ireland