And then there was one.
Two friends dropped out on the Saturday and my other half decided the dog couldn’t be left all day so I was flying solo for my first visit to Oulton Park Circuit.
My car is in the shop so it was Rachel’s electric barge that eased out the garage just after 8am, completely failing to shatter the Sunday reverie of the neighbours. Where’s the fun in that?
Oulton Park is about an hour-and-a-half away, mostly motorway, mostly traffic-free. I arrived quite early in the day, planning to do the pitlane walkabout. Unlike the previous day, the skies were grey and the rain was starting and stopping; the clouds not really putting their backs in to it.
Getting in to the circuit along the back lanes was easy enough with just a few other cars trickling in. A lot of people had opted for four wheels on the day. One quick scan of the QR code on my ohone and I was on my way to the field-cum-car park. There is no shortage of space.
The rain had steadied off to a level whereby it could take its time and enjoy gradually soaking the crowd instead of going all in. The regulars were noticeable by their sponsor umbrellas. I was noticeable for not being a regular. This is England. Someone must be selling brollies on a merch stall. (They weren’t).
With no prior experience of the venue but a keen sense of adventure, I wandered off in random directions, ambling past an array tents and gazebos housing bikes from the lower classes. Only the BSB boys get a proper garage. I pondered striking up a conversation as a way to keep out of the rain for a while, but I figured everyone was probably busy prepping for their race day.
Before long I came across a covered area by the paddock office where the fine folk from Macmillan were offering coffee and cake in return for a few coins in their collecting tin. Chocolate sponge cake - breakfast of champions.
The cheery sugar rush reminded me that I still had a spare ticket in my pocket so I gave @Wessa, who’s local, a quick call and soon he was on his way. No more Billy No-Mates for me! Meanwhile, I needed to find my way to the pits for rhe walkabout.
Still with no idea where I was going, I tailed a unsuspecting spectator hoping they too would be following the day’s itinerary and heading for the pits. I was early but it said get in the queue in plenty of time. And there ahead was a queue - huzzah! The sign up ahead, placed helpfully for the uninitiated or navigationally challenged, confirmed I was in the right place This is important because I once joined the wrong queue for a flight and…well, that’s another story… And it had almost stopped raining. Almost.
After about 20 minutes the queue began shuffling forwards, past a man announcing that people should have their passes ready. Say what now? Passes? It said ‘free pitlane walkabout’ on the spectators guide. Clearly it meant ‘free’ after you’ve paid for the pass. Bugger. I trudged away slightly despondently. It drizzled a bit harder.
But no matter. My companion and Oulton Park veteran had arrived. We headed down to the circuit’s spectating areas and merch stalls, grabbing two cups of alleged coffee along the way. Wandering around looking for good vantage points is okay but having a tour guide is better.
The rain was still coming down but it didn’t seem to have put off the punters. There were a fair few people all around the track when the warm-up sessions were run and more arriving for the afternoon race action.
The rain was starting to make conditions on-track quite tricky. The circuit commentators and guests were filling time as race control delayed and delayed again. Occasionally, a safety car would scoot around the track, mostly arriving back with a shake of the head. I started to wonder if they would abandon some of the support races. In the end one did get bumped, but with a lull in the rain and some judicious sweeping by the marshals, the BSB boys eventually lined up with Glenn Irwin taking the spoils with his Ducati.
Watching racing on TV means you get a view all around the circuit and see replays of all the interesting bits. What you don’t get is the visceral, thunderous wailing of V-twins belting down the tarmac. There really is no substitute for being there.
As the afternoon wore on the sky started to brighten and the rain stopped. Fingers crossed that was it for the day. The BSB teams gambled on all sorts of tyre combinations for race three. One guy (Bridewell, I think) even had a rear slick on the bike, so he was probably least impressed of all when it starting raining again after a few laps. It was getting dangerous so they red-flagged it and restarted a while later for a 5 lap sprint, Kyle Ryde making it to the top step.
Despite the rain it was a grand day out, definitely improved by the company. I look forward to going back next year when I shall be ordering my pitlane pass and copious sunshine.
