The ISDE has started to get into gear here in Germany . The event is based at the famous Sachsenring race circuit, near Chemnitz .
The circuit, home to FI and World Championship M/Cycle events, and the impressive infrastructure of such a venue is excellent.
The UK Teams consisting of ACU Trophy and Junior Trophy teams plus the 5 ACU Clubs teams in the form of Army, Wales, IOM , Witley, St Georges have all arrived safely and set about preparation and Special Test walking.
Some Special tests are reported as taking some teams 4 hours to walk, but out teams reduced this time as the terrain seems to be very similar to UK and they have not had to study each corner etc. If the weather which ranges between brilliant sunshine to chilly winds deteriorates, it will seem very much like Wales.
Our scheduled time for Administration control was 1.30 pm , and all went smoothly with our Team managers making sure documentation was in order.
Tech Control an hour later was not quite so simple, with several of our riders turned back after Sound control. Brad King seemed to suffer the most, but after purchasing a new silencer and then tweaking this and presenting the machine several times, he is in Parc Ferme with everyone else, but with a reduced bank balance!
The Sachsenring is impressive, but what we did not expect is the constant circulation of race bikes and even cars , every hour of every day, with associated full throttle noise. The circuit seems to be used every day for track and practice days with your average Joe's hitting around 120 mph on the straight.
With Admin and Parce Ferme on one side of track and Paddock also divided most of us have used the tunnel under he track a few dozen times and legs are starting to ache. A few wise souls such as Colin Boniface, Witlety Team Manager, and Mick Seward have come prepared with cycles and rest of us look on with envy and hope the will leave them lying about somewhere!
John Collins