("Donington"
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of their new bikes down. I can hear it, 'We knew we shouldn't have
let a Yank ride with us, what an embarrassment! Where's the ambulance
and wrecker?' I casually walk over to the Firestorm, check the controls.
I've ridden a friend's CBR600 once and the controls appear to be the same.
My Norton only has a key switch, headlight switch and a big lever you kick
very hard if you want it to start. These new bikes have as many controls
and indicators as a car. But, time to leave, gear on, starter button
pushed, smooth exhaust note, and the rain has let up. 'Careful with
that one, twist the throttle too much and it'll come out from under you!'
Just what I wanted to hear. My god, smooth as glass, handling
like a light 250, not a 140 horse superbike. Smooth shifts, though
I'm not taking it to redline with a wet road. Cruising through a
small village, past a few pubs, up a few gears, look down to see about
90 MPH, down a few gears and into the next village, then crank it back
up. OK, it's not an Elise, maybe better, especially that feeling
you get when laying into the turn, throttle twisted a bit more, then straighten
up and then lean in for the next bend. Is the ride over already?
But, just like when the roller coaster ride is over, time to bring it to
a stop, shut down and turn it over to the next rider. I almost wanted
to tell him, 'sorry your not getting this bike, its mine now.'
The
Donington Grand Prix Collection, well, it's great, though I was mostly
using the time in there to wind down. Lotuses from the 12 to the
72; lots of McClarens; After about 2 hours of viewing the collection, its
time to start back to London, drop off the rental car and get the kids
at the airport the next day. Actually found time for another museum,
the Heritage Motor Centre, off the M40, on the way back to London.
All BLMC stuff, no Lotuses. Many old minis but no NEW mini, 'now
a German car, you know.'
All
that gets done, the next morning comes but I have until 2 |
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