Here we go again and after a week at the NorthWest 200. I seriously need my head testing.

First of all we all at GDR Racing send our condolences to the family of Robert Dunlop.

Darren (Burns), there are ways and means of getting out of changing my tyre, but this caps it. As Darren lays in the Royal Victoria Hospital Ward c, Oscar Goldman is trying to rebuild the new Steve Austin or is it the new Irish Barry Sheene??
Our love and best wishes are sent for a fast and speedy recovery.

Our NorthWest was a waste of time. The paddock was packed like sardines in a can, with the biggest laff being when when Health and Safety came around to ask if we had a fire extinguisher!! Ha if anything went up i'd be running not using a fire extinguisher, i might just grab Paul Owen on the way lol. A static fire engine in every awning might be a better idea!!

We had problems with the kawasaki again slipping out of gear, the 250 power valve had come undone so it rode like a moped.
We were put at the back of the grid, and came 19th. At the end of the day wasn't that dangerous putting a rider like Garry D with his calibre of riding and over 30 years experience.?? Um i could say more but will probalbly be banned. I will say Mervyn i dont think you did us as a team any favours, were you scared that Garry would have been a threat??? Well the highlights being Garry was 3rd fastest through the speed trap on the 250. But the kawasaki was back in the van. Thanks to Robbie for the quick spray job. Even though we couldnt show it off.

The weather was fantastic, and we got a tan, but i have never worked so hard. The guys never stopped on the bikes.
The Chaplains day out to the Giants Causeway was fantastic and thankyou. We had a fabulous day out. That being only the second time i escaped the paddock. Garry D i dont think will race at the Northwest again due mainly to the vast majority of the riders in the back field being treated like second class citizens and let's remember without the likes of us in that back field, who are the big boys gonna race against?? Think they will end up being five of them racing each other. The big teams are nothing without us all. Where were our showers? The paddock was packed out. We had four loos. Yes i know they were round the corner but its not the point. We are the gypsies amongst the so called kings.
The showers could have easily had someone to mop the floors, surely that alone contravenes health and safety for slipping and the unhygienic conditions.
However, to all in our gypsy paddock we all stuck together and made the most of our appalling conditions. Next time maybe all of us should refuse to race, that would make interesting footage on the BBC. We will earn our money by selling pegs !!!
In comparison to the Ulster GP last year, where we were treated with respect and looked after, my thumbs up goes to Big Noel Johnston the Clerk of the Course, no they havent got as much money but the beer tent was bloody great Er cant remember seeing one of those at the northwest either. Will have to take another look at the site map it was probably in the back paddock somewhere.
If anyone should get MBE it should be Noel for his sheer passion and love of the sport.
I have never spent so much money, cans of pop 1.00 burgers 3.50
bottles of pop 1.70. Does harrods have wholesalers??
i worked out that if the burger vans sold a burger to everyone there over that week they would make 3/4 million. Hey lads, lets stop racing and go into rip the big boys off burger vans!!
Well heres to the Ulster !!! A very disallusioned Team Manager.

Been there done that, yes I could see on the BBC (lol) coverage that the paddock was even more packed like sardines! No change with showers etc
Best change they made was splitting the 125/400/250 into their own races, typicial !
Now you know why local rider Victor Gilmore wasn't present this year for the reasons you listed and I say he's local, as you say not top team, but Vic been getting great results all year so far, now wish someone would give him a works ride and see what he does with that !
But all in all the racing was brilliant especially MIchael Dunlop what courage.
Thinking of you all, the DUNLOP family & friends.

Written By Garry D.
Politic's red tape call it what you will, the truth of the matter the smaller teams are treated like xxxx !!! The big teams with there 40 foot trucks and hospitality that take up half the paddock are treated like god's get what they want. For instance practice what a shambles !! superbikes, superstock supersport never loose out do they ever. If there session gets cut short they still get the track time no matter what, doesn't matter about 125/250/400 we just get what's left choose what, not fair in any shape or form.

Why? Ask yourself cos the manufactures want the respective bikes sales, and they call the shots end off !! Bike sales equals money. 600s 1000s sell in millions worldwide, 125/250 don't generate that turnover. These big teams can have as much space in paddocks as they want,the rest of us have take what they give us, and if we don't like it then tuff xxxx basically.

I went and asked if I could have two extra paddock pass's for two sponsors who were attending the NW for the first time, I was told no, as they alledgedly dont make any money out of that, yeah right and I've just fell out the last shower. I stood outside talking to a friend near the marquee for a while, and saw a team personnel from one of the top teams go in and come out with lets say, and adequate amount of pass's, whats that all about then double standards I'd say but there you go. I think its about time all us privateers had some test tickles and stuck together and voiced an opinion, in that we want equal treatment after all we don't have the multi thousands pounds budgets to call upon, if anything it costs us guys far more money.

Look at the UGP headed by Noel Johnston, they are in it for the sport for the pure passion of the the sport and treat us as equals not as second class citizens. The privateers teams like ourselves are the foundation of the sport making up the grid, so these big teams actually have a race to compete in, I think we should brake away and do our own thing and let the big bucks have a race with ten or twelve of them in it, and see who and where the spectators support.

I know that this has been muted before, but why not set up a riders union. To qualify you have to be regularly treated like dirt and not have any major sponsors.

HOW IS A RIDERS UNION GOING TO MAKE THE PIT AREA bigger, HOW IS THIS UNION, GOING TO STOP THE CROWD COMING TO WATCH THE GUYS RIDING BIKES OUT OF THE 40FT TRUCKS.

YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NTH WEST SET UP ARE HOW THE PLACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND WILL ALWAYS BE, GET OVER IT, OR MOVE ON, COMPLAINING ABOUT THERE SET UP AND RIDER TREATMENT ON A PUBLIC FORUM WILL NOT HELP YOU AT ALL, IN FACT, IT COULD SCARE OF ANY POTENTUALL SPONSORS, AS THEY MAY NOT WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS KIND OF FEED BACK?

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FUTURE RACES

I've only been to the Nw a couple of times and loved it. The paddock is on the whole not too bad and I guess having loads and loads of people walking around and making it difficult to get anywhere is a price that has to be paid as this is a major way of the organisers generating some much needed revenue. I do think however that there should be more toilets and showers set aside JUST for competitors and their helpers. Its paddock life though not the ritz?
Enjoy it as best you can, while you can. I wish I could still be doing it.
Cheers
Russ
PS Hope the recovery is now at 100% Shaun?

Riders Union sounds like a good idea how about Shaun Harris and garry D running it cuz i wudnt mess with the pair of them. The forum is for all people to air their views be it good, bad, right or wrong. Last nights threads were better than Eastenders, Corry and Desperate housewives all put together. I hope today they kiss and make up cuz i know they're mates and im a sucker for a good ending.

Come on boys! You both ace riders, and genuine nice guys. Awwww!xxx

BBC Wrote:Riders Union sounds like a good idea how about Shaun Harris and garry D running it cuz i wudnt mess with the pair of them. The forum is for all people to air their views be it good, bad, right or wrong. Last nights threads were better than Eastenders, Corry and Desperate housewives all put together. I hope today they kiss and make up cuz i know they're mates and im a sucker for a good ending.

Come on boys! You both ace riders, and genuine nice guys. Awwww!xxx

BBC, Me and Garry have had a cuddle today

Shaun Harris Wrote:

BBC Wrote:Riders Union sounds like a good idea how about Shaun Harris and garry D running it cuz i wudnt mess with the pair of them. The forum is for all people to air their views be it good, bad, right or wrong. Last nights threads were better than Eastenders, Corry and Desperate housewives all put together. I hope today they kiss and make up cuz i know they're mates and im a sucker for a good ending.

Come on boys! You both ace riders, and genuine nice guys. Awwww!xxx

BBC, Me and Garry have had a cuddle today

Awww made my day and others im sure. Brill Fab. there is a god. God bless yo both for a happy and as painless future. U guys keep sport alive. and LIVING. U both have my adoration. Doesnt it feel good to bury the hatchet. Lifes just too short. Cheers to LIFE!!!!!

BBC Wrote:Awww made my day and others im sure. Brill Fab. there is a god. God bless yo both for a happy and as painless future. U guys keep sport alive. and LIVING. U both have my adoration. Doesnt it feel good to bury the hatchet. Lifes just too short. Cheers to LIFE!!!!!

I Know that Garry D is a genuine nice guy, obviously some thing has rocked him recently, and I did over react a tad, to what he posted back at me, but should have known better!

I suggested to Garry D On the other web site, that perhaps he should have his manager only sign on to web sites, in her own name, so nothing that she may say, may be taken as some thing Garry has said, and end up with getting him a bit of agro on the internet

Good on ya for supporting him so much

The image of you two cuddling will keep me giggling all day!

Sorry to hear the Dickinson team had such a tough time at the NW200. To be honest I think that the North West is on the verge of becomming a victim of its own success as it is now so commercialised. I can understnad that the big teams need to be accomodated but equally the smaller teams need to be sorted out too! Not giving out paddock passes in the circumstances you mention is kinda short sighted and would leave a sour taste in anyones mouth. I can agree too that the prices the chippys etc charge are OTT but they know they have a captive market.

I attended a meeting of the Dundrod Club over the winter months and am going to lend a hand (for what its worth!) preparing the course in August and I do know some of the competitors were remonstrating about access to the paddock at last years event and Noel was able to say that the problem had been noted on the day and that arrangements were in place to make things easier this year. I think that the UGP bike week format incorporating the Dundrod 150 races was a great idea and hopefully you compeditors thnk so too, I completely agree that Noel and team are doing a great (and difficult) job.

I suppose like everything else there will always be improvements can be made at Dundrod and I would guess that if teams can make their requirements (or polite (!) complaints known ) then Im sure things can be at least looked at and at best improved. My view is that the races reputation can be built on if everyone has a good time and goes home happy and I think that puts the responsibility on every one - Officials Compeditors AND spectators to work together for the good of the event.

Dare I say it but has anyone anything that they could think of that would improve the UGP week?

One 'improvement ' for the UGP week would be if you could 'move it' to Nottingham? I'd be able to watch it then

Well ,BBC! What you need to do is get in touch with all the other smaller teams that were competing. Then as a collective larger 'group' send a official polite letter of complaint signed by all of these teams expressing their grievances to the organizers of the NW200. Rather, than as a sole voice! Expressing that you would like better treatment as supporting teams to the superbikes and superstock races. I.e; Private (cordoned off) toilets for the sole use of competitors at the back of your pit area. That are regularly checked and cleaned. A fairer system of the distribution of paddock passes ie 25% allocated to privateer teams to care for their sponsors; who are just as important to you smaller teams! Maybe a pit cafe and beer/leisure tent with discounted prices for competitors use only. Then give them the opportunity to reply before hasty decisions are made.
A thousand voices are louder than just one, thats all.
With or without a bikers union!? Just an idea! [/font]

Your spot on and you seem to understand what i was getting at. Thanx your suggestions are a brill idea. Thankyou again. Gaynor xx

steveJR Wrote:Well ,BBC! What you need to do is get in touch with all the other smaller teams that were competing. Then as a collective larger 'group' send a official polite letter of complaint signed by all of these teams expressing their grievances to the organizers of the NW200. Rather, than as a sole voice! Expressing that you would like better treatment as supporting teams to the superbikes and superstock races. I.e; Private (cordoned off) toilets for the sole use of competitors at the back of your pit area. That are regularly checked and cleaned. A fairer system of the distribution of paddock passes ie 25% allocated to privateer teams to care for their sponsors; who are just as important to you smaller teams! Maybe a pit cafe and beer/leisure tent with discounted prices for competitors use only. Then give them the opportunity to reply before hasty decisions are made.
A thousand voices are louder than just one, thats all.
With or without a bikers union!? Just an idea! [/font]

The effort the folks of the Coleraine club put in to give the riders the opportunity to go out and race on a unique race track in the safest conditions possible and hopefully have an incredible and safe experience should not be forgotten. I understand that the all the riders are the most important part of the race but the organizers have bent over backwards over the years to do all in their power to accommodate all with limited funds and diminishing space. Please do not let one or two complaints about the paddock be your overriding memory of what otherwise hopefully was a great trip.

Ah The Bag I - don’t think we could move Dundrod mind you I think we could put a lid on it to keep the rain out! Sure, you have Donnington Park on your doorstep? But I suppose that is like comparing Tesco’s car park to Dundrod (Only joking!) :-)

SteveJR - I agree that major improvements have been made all round at the North West (in common with all the road races in Ireland) but as I said in my first post I do think it has lost a bit of the atmosphere over the past few years.

I suppose it is a fact of life that the promoters (of any international race) will always have an eye to attracting the big teams so smaller teams wil lose out a tad. This is why I think the UGP Bike week format sounds good to me with the old Dundrod 150 races being geared to smaller teams etc a bit like the TT / Manx GP arrangement? Or am I totally wrong here.

Ive seen that the TT has rider liason officers does any other races have something similar?

I suppose the big difference between Dundrod and the NW is that Dundrod is more out in country and doesn’t have the benefit of the Hotels etc that there is on the North Coast.

The thing for me is to try and see what can be done to made maybe not sweeping changes but looking at the little things that would make a visit to Irish races, or any race for that matter, a positive experience (as they say!) particularly for folks coming to our races from “across the water” or beyond. In doing so who knows who else would feel the urge to come on over!