Email to the MCN editor

I don't believe for a second it'll make a blind bit of difference, but
I've just sent this:

'Dear Sir,

I write to register my disgust at your "gutter press" reporting of
marshalling standards at this year's TT.

I was a first time marshal at this year's races and I cannot recognise
my experience in any way from your sensationalised reporting.

Your reporters were clearly operating (as were all inexperienced
marshals) under the direct supervision of fully-qualified people, as was
I. The only drama I experienced was extinguishing a fire on a sidecar
outfit. This was accomplished with no fuss, no drama and certainly no
"shaking with fear in a tangerine tabard".

If your reporters truly felt as much trepidation as your report
suggested then they were irresponsible in the extreme to continue
without mentioning this to a senior member of their marshalling team.
That they failed to do so is an indictment of either their intelligence
or their motives.

You do a huge disservice to a very dedicated group of men and women, you
should be ashamed of yourselves.

I expect to see a full retraction and apology in this week's
publication.'

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000 Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Fat chance! It's the same bile that they printed last year.

Having marshalled at the IOM, and had the latest training that was
available after the demise of DJ, I know how hard they have worked to
make things better - line of sight marshalling, for one. Which, guess
what, means you need more marshalls out there.

The guys and gals are doing an unpaid, thankless (it would appear, by
the equivalent of the Sun gutter press for bikers) job, which *does*
hold an element of risk. Ooh, guess what. Those that offer their
services are well aware of the risks involved, as are the riders for
what they are doing.

I bought the MCN for the first time in 12 months, to read the same
stupid bile being spouted. Never again.


--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

Oh yeah - if they weren't prepared to deal with the possible
consequences of a road-race accident at speed, in whatever capacity,
why did they apply?

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

snip>

You might be given a shock when he asks what fire training you'd been
given because normal advise given is to **** off and wait for back up
unless properly trained. I know you put the fire out without any
effort and I know you actually enjoyed doing it but you might have
given the MCN weasels a bit of ammunition to use by recounting that
one.

 

I'd reply along the lines of: "I have received training in simple fire
fighting and assessed the situation as manageable and acted accordingly.

At no time did I place myself or others in danger. That principle being
a key part of my external training and emphasised by the IOM marshaling
instructions".

Although I have received training in fighting both electrical and
oil/fuel based fires I believe having read and understood the
instructions on a hand held fire extinguisher would cover it.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, sweller

Indeed, and the training video did say not to empty the extinguisher,
since it might be needed again. So I didn't.

<nods>

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000 Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

They put an ad in MCN?

 

Bravely bold Sir Nigel rode forth from Bedfordshire.
He was not afraid to die,
O brave Sir Nigel.
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Nigel!

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Cane

Dear Sir,

Your 'Gutter Press' attempt at a 'pome' is factually incorrect, I do not
live in Bedfordshire. I demand a retraction.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000 Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Hitch in your Corset there mate.

BTW, I'll give you a shout over the memory card confusion.

Cheers,

P.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

Good-oh. I await your email with bated thingy.
--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000 Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

snip

snip

I don't read MCN anymore... it's crap...

 

Champ wrote

Do you know what, it just doesn't scan in the same way as the
Bedfordshire one, he'll just have to move.

 

snip>

Which paper do you suggest I buy to get bike racing results and
reports instead of buying mcn?

I wish there was an alternative that I could buy from the local paper
shop wherever I'm working at the time but there isn't so it looks like
I'll have to carry on being a twat and buy a copy most weeks.

 

He's not wanted in Bedfordshire tvm.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Andy Bonwick

"Wanted in fourteen states. But not Bedfordshire."

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000 Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

You know that and I know that but he might not do.