Knockhill - Reverse action!

rmarinel

rmarinel

New member
I read on another forum that Knockhill will be running some races and track nights in reverse this year. They used to do that years ago, I'd love to give that a try, may help to get those who have lost interest due to boredom back on track!:rolleyes:

What about lobbying to have a different direction for each of the SDC nights?;)

R
 
I asked knockhill about this yesterday
not sure they are allowing bikes to go backwards for some reason.
Do u think It'd be good backwards????
 
Well thats one way of getting rid of my chicken strips on both sides if i can take the hairpin in both directions :D
 
reverse, circuit that is

howdy from Molenz

there was was a post and some vidage last year on this subject ..

Personally i don't like it due to witnessing a bad accident during the practice.

I'm not a racer so i am not an authority on that subject,
but the proposition may throw up a few problems.
maybe ask the senior members/racers

Molenz :)
 
I've a mate that used to race years ago and he says that the main reason for one way was safety due to the hairpin run-off when modern bikes started getting ballistic on the straights. He recon's it was more fun the 'wrong' way round though in the 'old days'.

R
 
Johnny is right there was some "reverse" Knockhill on video last year possibly from Wassy but not sure....would be happy to do track session, half one way half next, just to shred the tyre each side!!!:D
 
BruceCampbell said:
would be happy to do track session, half one way half next, just to shred the tyre each side!!!:D
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How about if half of you set off in one direction, and the other half in the other...

Hmmm, on second thoughts... ;)

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Personally speaking i found knockhill in reverse interesting and somewhat confusing. It is like learning a new track but harder because your brain is telling you you are at knockhill and gets all in a muddle.I am not that keen on it as it is the only time i left a track in an ambulance. 1990 racing an rgv250 broke my arm in two places collided with another rgv entering hairpin.Those were the days 30 250 riders down duffus dip on the first lap mayhem!!!
 
Pal of mine tells me traditionally the last race of the championship at Knockhill was run the other way around.

He competed in his 350 yam and won the championship in the 80's.
 
Brother Forbes and I raced the very first reversed Knockhill.
The fast run down to the hairpin saw the demise of the highly strung Suzie X7 as it nipped up and cast me into the grass, lost the back end of the Rob North Trident at the now left hander at the top of the chicane, Forbie highsided the Bevel at the left hander entering the start - finish straight dicing with Kawasaki 1000 mounted Bill Logan, Bill Logan partially demolished the catch fencing at the hairpin thinking brother Forbes was still up his chuff, Bill gets up, dusts himself down, and hot foot's it to the paddock to mount the 200cc conduit special for the next race.
Duguid Bros. didn't do another Knockhill that season, nae bikes left !
 
Last reverse direction race held a Knockhill was in 1991 which was the first race of the year, I remember it well as I took 7.5 seconds out of the F2 sidecar lap record on my first outing on the windle 350TZ which will still stand to this day as they never ran it again. I loved it in the sidecar as you could get the chair in the air around the hairpin, Mcintyres and exiting the approach to Duffis dip.
 
Did it reverse direction on a Honda CB750 think it was a Tay Valley track day remember them Derek?, the two parts of the track that gave me the greatest concern was Clarks, and the Chicane.

Could not afford a Bevel twin then, but I think Ive made up for that now!.

Scott
 
Scott 888 said:
Could not afford a Bevel twin then

Scott
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Would you want to take a bevel around Knockhill now though?
Going off topic (how unusual :rolleyes:) I wonder how in real terms values of say a 900SS 30 odd years ago compares with values of them now?
 
I also remember racing at the last knockhill race they held in reverse in 1991 and was very happy to leave in my own van at the end of the day instead of the ambulance like the year before. Wouldn't mind another crack at it anybody know if it is happening?
 
239desmo said:
Would you want to take a bevel around Knockhill now though?
Going off topic (how unusual :rolleyes:) I wonder how in real terms values of say a 900SS 30 odd years ago compares with values of them now?
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If you took the average salary to be £20-£30k now and a good bevel 900ss at £12-£15k thats half, not really sure if thats how I remember it anyone?, but I think that the premium models ie the Roundcase sport, and ss are much more for sure, closely followed by the 75/76 Squarecases.
 
Scott 888 said:
If you took the average salary to be £20-£30k now and a good bevel 900ss at £12-£15k thats half, not really sure if thats how I remember it anyone?, but I think that the premium models ie the Roundcase sport, and ss are much more for sure, closely followed by the 75/76 Squarecases.
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In 1978 a 900SS cost £2,400. I was earning less about £4000 then which was a bit less than the average which was probably more like £5,000, so not so different really.
 
Scott 888 said:
Did it reverse direction on a Honda CB750 think it was a Tay Valley track day remember them Derek?, the two parts of the track that gave me the greatest concern was Clarks, and the Chicane.

Could not afford a Bevel twin then, but I think Ive made up for that now!.

Scott
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Only just Scott. Was at a meeting of the Tayside Classic Club the other night and met up with some of our old TVMCC pals, some of whom I hadn't seen for years. Bob Donaldson, Norrie Milton, Snibs, Murray Flett, Graeme Russell. Although Graeme has been a personal pal of mine for years you might remember him for the 450 Desmo he had then and the various mad escapades he used to get up to.
 
Hi Derek

Yes remember them all Snibs sometimes pops in on his travels, and I remember Graeme as being a more Guzzi man, anyway a confession to make mmmhh!
 
Also did Knockhill in reverse on the old Norton, 1986 I think. I arrived at the track for my first race to be told it was "wrong way round" after practicing for months the right way! Oh sh**! Overreved and seized going downhill to the hairpin, end of fun.:mad:
 
Derek said:
In 1978 a 900SS cost £2,400. I was earning less about £4000 then which was a bit less than the average which was probably more like £5,000, so not so different really.
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In '78 I was earning just over £2k and thought I wasn't badly off. :o

I started work in '72 earning £800pa. :D
 
Pict said:
My CB100N was £220 in 1986 (or '87 :confused:) and I had to get a 12 month bank loan :o
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My first bike was a CB100N in 1978. Silvery blue. Bought it from the 4J's in Dingwall.(now a cycle shop but different owners). I took a bank loan as well but I was sure it was more than £220! :confused:
Sat my test on it. No roundabouts or traffic lights in the town then. Struggled to find a suitable hill for the hill start. One way system so once examiner set you off you knew you could do what you wanted for almost 5 minutes before he would spot you again on the next tour by!! :lol2:
Examiner gave me a hard time on the Highway code and only after I passed did he comment on the Bronze and Silver "Star Rider" stickers on my cheapo helmet.
The scheme was just launched from memory as I started riding and thought he would be impressed I did the courses.
Turned out he thought I had maybe borowed a mates lid for the test!! :lol2:
 
Star Rider you say!!!

Well Stewart you must be younger than you look as I was a Star Rider instructor for many years........ and my first "road" bike was a CZ 175 stink wheel 1971 vintage and sheete.....only passed me test in '73 no helmet etc......:D
 
BruceCampbell said:
only passed me test in '73 no helmet etc......:D
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I remember riding pillion on a 500 triumph twin with a 350 gearbox with no helmet etc in '72/73.
Actually I was dressed for the occasion in 2 piece suit with huge lapels and flared trousers. Took safety seriously at that time! :rolleyes:
 
My favourite short circuit was Scarborugh which was a l/h counter clockwise what ever you want to call it. three hairpins up hill down hill had everything just like a mini TT used to race there for the "cock o the norht" first week in July. After the weekends racing we would head to Colin Hoppers strip the bike full rebuild jump on the ferry and head for the Southern 100 for a weeks practice and raceing great fortnights holiday.
 
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