2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
The mighty Thunderbirds
16th March 2008
Even for the most committed cycling fan, certain track events can be hard to follow. A madison, devil or a six-day can all challenge easy explanation and often the spectator has no choice but to enjoy the spectacle while accepting they don't fully understand what it is they are watching. But the excitement of the race often compensates for any lack of in-depth understanding as the intimacy of a velodrome draws the spectator into the action. Motor pacing is one of those events.
But while crowds are often familiar with the thrill and excitement of derny paced events like the kierin and other races involving the small mopeds, few in this country have witnessed the spectacle that is 'big bike' motor pacing.
Plowman Craven's Simon Gaywood, a former National Derny Pacing Champion, was recently invited to try his hand behind the Triumph Thunderbird pacing bikes that are a feature of the Good Friday meeting at London's Herne Hill Velodrome. Motor pacing is still a regular feature of the six day scene in northern Europe, and Gaywood was partnered with big bike pacing veteran Derek Marlowe – also known as Del Boy - who is keen to challenge the largely Dutch, Belgian and German field this year with a British rider in his wake.
The difference between motor and derny pacing is immediately obvious as soon as the giant 650 cc twin Thunderbirds roar into life on the track. These are big, powerful motorcycles, ridden by men in open-faced crash helmets and full black leathers with large numbers stitched onto them like gang emblems and who, at first glance, would seem more at home at the Ace Cafe on the North Circular than a velodrome.
It's only upon closer inspection of these monsters that you realise they may be used for something else than doing a ton on the Brighton road. The handlebars are swept back to allow the pacer to stand upright and attached to the back is a roller, supported by two arms that fan outwards from the bike and look almost like a plough being towed by a tractor. The paced rider aims to get as close to this roller as possible - often touching it! – just as if they were being paced by a team car during a road race. It requires not only a high degree of skill by both motor pacer and bike rider, but also a special bond of trust and, given the loud noise from the motorbike engine, a unique way of communicating.
The pacers' helmets are more Star Wars than Hells Angel, with bulging rear-facing ear vents so they can hear the bike rider behind. Only they're not known as riders but as 'stayers', and their bikes are nothing if not unique: the front wheel is smaller than the rear and there are additional rods between the crossbar and saddle and the handlebar stem and headset, designed both to strengthen the frame and dampen vibration; but it the reversed forks that catch most people's attention. This, along with the small front wheel, is done to allow the stayer to get as close to the pacer as possible; the best stayers actually keep in constant contact with the roller attached to the back of the pacing bike. The pacer stands up throughout a race, looking like a stunt rider about to begin a turn on the wall of death. Races are usually about 25 km long, and from a rolling start stayers instruct pacers to maintain speed levels that will put them ahead of their rivals.
Organiser of the Good Friday meeting Graham Bristow, himself a skilled pacer and big fan of this form of racing, has put together a very competitive field for this years Big Bike Spectacular, including several riders from the Continent. Marlowe is keen to try and take the honours this year with a British rider in his wake, and is over the moon to have such a competent bike rider such as Gaywood as his stayer.
Gaywood, perhaps best known as a criterium rider but increasingly as a road man following his win in last year's Archer GP and this season's Wally Gimber road race, had seen the Thunderbirds in action both at Herne Hill and Rotterdam and jumped at the chance to give it a go.
"The first time out was a bit shaky, but I soon settled into a good rhythm behind Del Boy. The stayers bike I borrowed felt really strange at first compared to my regular track bike which is made by Pinnacle. But once we had done a few laps, and made a few adjustments to saddle height and bars, I felt very comfortable and soon got into my stride," commented Gaywod.
"The team had done a lot of motor pacing behind the team car during our recent training camp in the French Pyrenees, often leaving bike tyres marks on the rear bumper, so it wasn't completely new to me./p>
"We had a small mechanical with the pacing bike as we were coming out of a bank which resulted in me hitting the roller on the back quite hard a couple of times. It was nothing serious, just the old Thunderbird misfiring a little and clearing her lungs after being laid-up for the winter! They're awesome old bikes, and the buzz you get from riding behind them is something that few riders get a chance to experience.
"Del Boy told me afterwards that for a first timer he was very impressed at the speeds I managed to sustain. He's been pacing for years, so that's quite a compliment. I put total trust into following his driving skills and I feel pretty confident that as a pairing we'll be able to bring home the honours at the Good Friday meeting and give the crowd something to cheer for."
Plowman Craven team manager, Garry Beckett, also felt Simon did well on his first outing:
"For a first-timer, Simon looked very impressive. A little bit stiff in the arms for the first couple of practice laps, but he soon relaxed and before we knew it, the pair of them were doing some pretty fast laps out there."
Gaywood will be joined at Herne Hill on Good Friday by his team mates Tony Gibb and James Jackson, although they won't be chasing the Thunderbirds themselves. Gibb, the current National Derny Pacing Champion, and Jackson will join Gaywood to ride the Golden Wheel 20 km scratch race, elimination race and the mile dash.
Whatever their success on Friday, Tony and Simon won't be able to stay around long to enjoy any applause as they'll be shooting off to fly up to Scotland to join the rest of their Plowman Craven team mates for the Girvan three day road race, the second event in this year's Premier Calander series.
But despite the tight timings, Plowman Craven are keen to have riders at the Good Friday meeting:
"As a team, we feel it's important to support as many races and events on the British calendar as possible" explained Beckett. "The Good Friday meeting is such a historic event that it would be wrong not to support the efforts of the Southern Counties Cycling Union and Graham Bristow, the organiser, in keeping this event alive."
Gaywood agrees:
"Herne Hill is such a fantastic venue with a unique history. There is something very special about those Olympic rings at the entrance, reminding you that the 1948 Games were held there. I hope both the meeting and the track have a future, and although motor pacing won't feature in the 2012 London Olympics I really hope that Graham, Del Boy and the rest of the British Pacers Association manage to keep this branch of track racing alive."
Videos of Gaywood Motor Pacing
Please note that you might need Real Player to view these videos. Real Player can be downloaded here.
» View the first time behind the Thunderbirds
» View the second attempt: now he's flying!
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