BUILTH WELLS - WELSH NATIONAL MOTORCYLE SHOW
25th - 28th MAY 2001

THE ROCKY ROAD CONTINUES…
( and there seems to be lots of stones on the road ahead! )

By : Sammy Mack

Fri 25th May.  Everything is going well, it's early morning and the team are raring to go.  Off  we go, me, the missus and baby Sam in the van, Father and the dog next, and Darren and Carrie leading the way.  3 hours or more later we arrive at Builth Wells.  We are shown to our personal paddock area which was superb, all laid out with barriers to stop baby Sam from disappearing and also to keep unwanted visitors away!

Sat 26th.  I woke early, infact I woke very early, 3am.  This was because a few likely lads tried to have it away with my generator, it seems the fences weren't high enough, luckily enough I woke as they were carrying it down a pathway to help it over a fence.  Rumour has it, the nice people who took a shine to my generator were local scum  bags who saw a chance to make a few bob.  Unfortunately for them I tend to like the stuff that belongs to me and persuaded the fellas to return it to my area right away, security then assisted them back home.  (I hope they were not hurt jumping over that high fence, with the help of the security)!

Three shows were planned for the Saturday so off we go with show one.  Things were going great, wheelies,  stoppies, two up and more.  Skiing off the bandit and also the scooter and Phil up to his normal crazy antics getting thrown all over the place and hurled over hay bales!

Show two: All is fine, a new tyre is put on as the first one had to go bang, (these things happen).  Phil sitting  backwards during wheelies whilst I am dangling off the handlebars.  The constant presence of a St Johns ambulance  sat at the top of the track was slightly worrying though, did they know something I didn't?  Well we're not worried  about falling off anyway, not going slowly!  (Don't know how Phil feels about that)!  Another tyre gone and the engine is getting a little hot but it should be ok.
Pic By Gill Barnes The Pile Up
Show three: Straight into it, wheelies, endos and stoppies, fast and furious taking it a little close  to the edge with the speed.  Went into a burnout, then a donut about ten mins into the routine when suddenly there was a nasty rattle and a crunch from the engine, ooops!  That was it, she  just stopped and would not start again.  Oh dear, time to get the scooter out!

Sunday.  After a sleepless night thinking about the engine on the bandit I decided to see if all was lost so off I went to start her up, with fingers crossed and legs too as I needed the toilet!  I started up the beast, it sounded ok although there was a little rattle when I gave it some high  revs.  Cool, I thought, it looks ok and there's no oil dropping out all over the place.  It runs.  That's it then, it must have fixed itself in the night, great!  Yeah…  I wish. 

On we went, two shows were planned and I thought if I take it easy I will see the day through.  Within 5 mins that was it, the engine was coughing and spluttering all over the place, loss of power and impossible to keep it running, so I decided to totally kill it.  Whilst doing a burnout I slammed it off the limiter until it totally seized and that was it for the bandit.  What shall I do now?  Not wanting to disappoint MAG or  the spectators I was determined to complete the full set shows so a plan was drawn up quick. 

The scooter came into action for a full show, the final show of the weekend.  All the stunt guys had been on and it  was time to see what was going to happen.  With the help of a length of rope (donated by the marshals) and a large plastic box which appeared from nowhere a plan was forming.  The next item was totally unreal and like the routine was totally unplanned, a table, yes! A small table appeared or should I say it was being used for something but  there was nobody by it when I borrowed it, (finders, keepers)!  Away we went, all the team jumped into leathers, swapping boots and jackets to fit.  Phil had the skis on and Rob clambered onto an upturned table grabbing one of  the legs he held on for dear life.  Darren climbed onto the back of the scooter and away we went, totally unrehearsed  and with no idea as to what we were supposed to do, the best improvisation unfolded before our very eyes.  Darren  and Rob outstretched a plastic strip which was apparently to be released as it just about touched me but they told me later that they forgot to release it and that is why I got a large burn to my neck! 

Next I catapulted Phil over the hay into the crowd, and Darren knocked me off the scooter with a bale of hay.  He  then jumped on and disappeared up the top of the road leaving me to receive a beating from the lads, who continued to pelt me with bales of hay and a frenzy of swift kicks to certain regions of my leathers, (all in the name of fun).  Phil was once again thrown over the barriers into the crowd and the scooter was returned by Darren, it was time for a finale, but what could I do?
Young Sam ready for action
With no practise whatsoever a plank of wood appeared and a bale of hay placed under it, my head was starting to spin and I thought yes, lets do it… I got Phil to lie  down on the floor and rode up to the top of the strip wandering to myself what speed to hit the plank and will it snap?  These where just a few things going round in that  empty space above my shoulders.  There was no turning back.  Off I went at 40 mph and hit the plank, the scooter came down nice and easy completely missing Phil, so I thought, go for it.  Rob was the next victim on the floor and then Darren, no problem at all I cleared all 3 bodies with my bog standard 125 Aprillia  scooter.  Job done and  the crowd seemed to like it.  A new trick was hatched! 

Another show came to a close and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as the Sammy Mack stunt team did, until next time, take it easy.

Many thanks to:
Trish-baby Sam
Father
Phil the fearless
Darren-Carrie   
Rob
Chris

Until next time

KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR THE SKINT SCOUSER

ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO STARDOM !!!

TAKE IT EASY…………….S.A.M.

To be continued…..
 

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