STAR GROUP NEWS

Star Group suffered last year from the disruption resulting from foot & mouth. As a result it has debated whether it is time to change the format again. Feedback throughout the year was that the Intermediates and Novices were having a hard time, whilst the pre 65 riders felt that the red route could do with tightening up a bit.

The group has also encouraged new riders to ride Star Group events and the existing colour routing has, apparently been confusing some intermediate and novice riders who are used to the more normal open to centre route markings (ie intermediates on blue, novices on red).

Accordingly, in a bid to encourage more riders back and to fall more in line with open to centre markings, the Star Group will be moving intermediates to blue and novices and twin shock to red. The sportsman class will therefore now merge with the novice class.

Sidecars will still run on the red route but will have special route markers top allow them to ride wider on tight or narrow parts of the course.

Anybody can opt to ride a harder class but should make this clear on entering. It was felt that experienced riders on modern machines may still like to ride the blue and therefore the over 40 class will remain on the blue route.

Star group events are run on the second Sunday of every month (except November when no events are run on the Remembrance Sunday). January’s event is at Dunsfold (where we have the camping trial). Put it in your diary now and look out for the regs in the Gazette. You have to enter at least a week in advance of the event to gain points for the club and awards personally. Some clubs allow entry on the day but don’t rely on it. RRND riders normally meet up at a Little Chef beforehand and have a cooked breakfast – give me a call for info where we are meeting up (unfortunately I’m not riding the event in January due to a bossy wife but I’ll find out who is nearer the time)

Rick