Racers Guild – May 2012. New Line.

The night-before announcement of the track is always a twitchy time for me and no track strikes fear into my heart more than The New Line so I arrived feeling nervous to begin with. The New Line is arguably the most technical at Stile Cop; loved by the fast guys feared by the rest of us.

The day didn’t go to plan as Gaz, soldier of the queen, fresh back in blighty after a tour of duty in Afghanistan crashed badly; by all accounts he had a poor landing off the drop, clipped a pedal, spun around and bounced off some trees; ouch! First aid was quickly on hand and the track was closed while he was tended to. The ambulance crew decided the Air Ambulance was needed and poor old Gaz was casivacced to the nearest field hospital with suspected fractured ribs. For those of you who have served in the Army you will know that your basic training always ends with a stretcher race and until you’ve done it you can’t explain how heavy someone is to move around so mega props to the riders who carried Gaz to the chopper from the bottom of the hill to the top. It’s the first time in 4 years of attending RG that I have seen the Air Ambulance required. All our wishes go to Gaz for a speedy recovery.

When it was safe to open the track a few frantic runs were put in to get a feel. The track was running fast and grippy in most places but the New Line can always catch you out and often does.

Before the first timed practice run the draw was made for the Rave Racing raffle (I didn’t win, nor did anyone who was on the hill J) the results are on the forum and £2,249 was raised in total to help Jason. Give yourselves a round of applause.

Runs started later than planned but the rider’s enthusiasm was as high as ever and the standard of riding was simply awesome. As Peaty would say the New Line is a proper man’s track requiring skill and speed to achieve a fast time. With the New Line being Adam Halling’s baby he started as favourite to retain bragging rights but with Andy Hughes and Adam both back from very strong Expert performances at Fort Bill it was going to be close. Andy put down the first marker at 48 seconds followed by a Peaty equalling 47.2; no one would beat that would they?

Enter stage left Mitch Ingley, cross country hardtail his ride of choice after he was forced to sell his Session to buy a car. The lad was on fire throwing it into the top tree bends like a demon. Mitch is without doubt one of the most dialled riders you will ever see and watching him clear the gap and hit the drop was a privilege, he wasn’t just fast he was super smooth, not a sound on his landings. Mitch did a 48.4, 48.6 and then unbelievably a 46.8. I’ll just say that again a 46.8 on a hardtail which beats Steve Peat’s time on his World Cup Winning V10. It was looking odds on that for the first time in the history of Racers Guild a Hardtail would earn bragging rights for the fastest practice run. Incredible!

Andy and Adam were determined to stop this and put in some lightening runs with Adam just 2 tenths slower on 47 dead and Andy stealing it with a 46.4. on his new Nukeproof machine Well done.

The great thing about RG is that everyone is involved fast or slow, young or old, male or female. The key is to improve your own time as you practice. Rider 137 Louis Morris is so stylish and he and his mates never stop laughing, from the minute they arrive to the moment they go you can always hear and see them have a great time.


This month yet again there was a really strong youth turn out with Rider 207 Matthew Foster doing really well and Nathan Foster producing a rapid 52.5

We haven’t seen Alex Thompson for a few Guilds and there was a double take moment as I thought it was Andy Hughes coming down through the trees thanks to their identical bikes, I think Alex must have been secretly practicing finishing on a 51.9. Sweet.


The Vets category continues to grow with some very fast times, Scruff has a way of looking slow but going fast, I have a way of feeling fast but going slow.


Save of the day has to go to rider 105 Danny Gilbert who was gunning for a quick time and did the super posy ‘pedal when I’m in the air’ move on the final approach to the gap jump. On landing he slipped a pedal, sat on the cross bar but somehow managed to avoid jumping the gap in 2 easy instalments, got around it and reached the chequered flags, captured wonderfully by monstrous media. So Funny. Links to pics on the forum.

Fastest female rider of the day was Danni Brown with a 1.14.2.

It was another great day of riding enjoyed by all but none of it would be possible without the volunteers who make it happen, Harry for taping the course and sitting on the clocks, Mick, Bob and Scruff on the start, the Marshalls and First Aiders. Thank you all and see you next time. Maybe we should do an Air Ambulance Charity ride soon?


To view more pictures visit the downhill forum www.chasetrails.co.uk

Written by Lance Netherton.

Feb 2012- Rave Racing Jason Brennan Fund Raiser Little Bringe

Photo diary from Dan- http://djaphoto.co.uk/blog/?p=606

Results - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B597TORK-9KjZGM0M2NiYzgtOWViZC00ZDZhLWFiM2ItYjZhNjU5ZWY0NmZh/edit?pli=1

Jan 2012 RG Timed Practice

Finally we had a good cold spell in January, and riders attending the first Racers Guild of 2012 were met with a beautiful yet frosty reception. Not even Gazzaloddis where penetrating the frozen surface. Air temp. in the sunshine only got to 2 degrees at midday.

Theres not much better than a hauling a train with your mates during practise, boosting of the newish stepdown off the gasline. This launch was expertly remade during a build day a few months back. Next build day is January 21st. If you cant make it come to the next one, keep an eye on the FORUM.

Stu Tite playing on his little bike. As the DH boss man for Chase Trials, Stu is heading up the build days yet again this year. Attending build days is good karma & we really do need your help. Do you ever imagine how good the trails could be? Then come to a build day to make it happen !

Either on a Racers Guild day or a normal weekend, the hill always has plenty of young rippers. Here is Ellis Jones proving size is no barrier to speed. Full list of the days times can be found on the FORUM.

I was wearing merino, fleece and a jacket but there was plenty of guys in Tshirts & no gloves putting full feel and control over warmth. You get tough and fast when you have a DH track in your backyard, just like Alex Worral.

This pic isn’t from the day, but the upgraded Mega Trail was keeping a lot of riders warm with a quick session on the way back up the hill, including possibly the first 360 over the big gap. The Mega shows what can be acheived with a bit of organisation and lots of graft. Here is Chris OC trying out part of his hard work. Get well soon Richie !

The last corner decided the times and how much skin you went home with. Don’t go round the edge of the roots, they don’t like it. Give them a frontal attack, show them whose boss.



We now have a slightly revised system in place for getting race times immediately after sign in, we had way more riders than ever before so apologies if you didn’t get many runs.

All donations go to Riders Guild equipment or materials for trailbuilding. For 2012 we have a new gazebo for shelter and will be getting new radios, maybe a finish flag and lots of fixing bolts and timber for the upgrade of Walleater.

We have also replaced the 16+ race plates, please carefully take off & return your race plates before you leave. The gate gets locked at 3.30, please move your car to the main carpark on Stile Cop Road if you want to ride longer.

Many thanks to the marshalls, starters & timers for standing in subzero temps all day. If you have questions or want to help at Racers Guild email harry@racersguild.co.uk or for Trailbuilding email stuart@chasetrails.co.uk or head over to the FORUM to ask questions & view videos / pics of the action.



Pics courtesy of http://djaphoto.pinkbike.com/