Road Racing - Czech Style
A group of us decided we would visit the 300 Zatáček Gustava Havla road races in Hořice, Czech Republic. Hořice, situated 120 kms North East of Prague is a small picturesque town with a population of around 9000. The 300 Zatáček Gustava Havla is part of the Czech Championship where they hold 5 races during the year. The Championship consists of Production 125, GP 125, GP 250, Supermono, 600 and Open 600/1000 classes. Well known local rider Victor Gilmore has raced at Horice for the past 2 years and with his and Pavel Wusa Kočí's recommendation we headed off for a taste of European Road Racing, Czech style.
We arrived from Dublin on Thursday where Pavel had very kindly organised a bus to take us to the paddock in Hořice. After some alcoholic refreshments we were ferried in groups to our various accommodations, which were dotted all over town. Our bed and breakfast was clean and cheerful and just a stones throw from the circuit. Myself, Alan, Mago and 2 Stroke Joe headed up to the paddock to get some dinner and beer and then had an early night.
On Friday, myself and 2 Stroke Joe decided in the scorching hot sun we would walk around the circuit. The circuit itself is very technical. A lap is 3.2 miles, with 15 right hand corners and 11 left hand corners, with only 3 straights. When racing up into the country section, the circuit's total height is 90 meters. From the start/finish the circuit goes down hill into town, through town and up the hills, twisty corners and the famous hairpin, to the 2nd straight which goes down hill into and through the forest, coming up the 3rd straight up to the start/finish. Road conditions are excellent, with no white lines on the roads and a smooth tarmac over the whole course.
We stopped in the paddock for some refreshments and watched the constant stream of scutineering which went on to almost 11pm. While in the paddock we met a lot more people from back home that had decided to make the trip over. In all, around 200 irish visitors were in attendance. Many sections of irish road racing was represented, from Motorcycle race clubs to forums, from photographers to marshals.
On Saturday, roads closed at 8am for practice to commence. 8 classes, including 175/250 Classics and 350/500 Classics had 2 practice sessions each. Practice had to be stopped twice due to the unexpected torrential thunderstorms which had washed debris onto the course in the forest section. This weather did not dampen our spirits and when the sun came out we enjoyed the day, which didnt finish until around 8.30pm. After the long day we treated ourselves to a meal in a lovely restaurant called The Labyrinth. A good hearty dinner and a few beers only cost the equivalant of £8, which was very reasonable and thus we kept going back.
Another early night beckoned and worried about the weather from the day before, we awoke to glorious sunshine for race day. We took plenty of photos around the circuit and were amazed at the beer tents and food stalls dotted around the forest. Racing was excellent, with only a few red flag incidents, but no riders were injured. Our newcomers came home with trophies which was fantastic for the local boys. Michael Pearson scored an astounding victory in the 600 class and 2nd in the Open class. Wayne Hamilton came home with 3rd in the 250 class with Darren Gilpin 5th and Dave Walsh 7th, Victor Gimore 4th in the 600s with Andrew Courtney 9th, and Billy Lyle bringing home another 3rd trophy in the 500 Classic's. The racing ran a little over schedule, but they kept racing until they had finished around 7pm. As soon as the racing was over, all the marshalls started to disassemble the safety bales and commence the task of the post race tidy up. With sore feet and weary legs we headed back into town to get freshened up and went out for some dinner and a few beers. We expected a quiet evening but the whole town seemed to have gathered in the town Square where they had a big screen to watch the Ice Hockey game. Im told that Czech Republic are now the National Ice Hockey Champions so they were in party form that night!
Monday was a free day and we headed out around the town as tourists, shopping and viewing the local sights. We were amazed that all the bales were away - the clean up was so quick you wouldnt have known a race weekend had been held! We finished the night off with an indoors BBQ,as alas the thunder and rain had come back again.
I met so many new people and have made some new friends this weekend. Great company with Adele, Stu, Roy, Kevin and Martin.
We went home on Tuesday, where Pavel had organised a bus to take us to Prague airport and even that was a little adventure. Our Roy was the only one that was stopped and searched going through customs! And i thought he was the most respectable looking of our little going home party of 7!
To Pavel, many thanks for promoting your races. We all had a wonderful time and will be over again.To all the riders and teams that made the journey over for the first time, many thanks for a great days racing - you did us proud and we were very happy to be there to watch.
To anyone that has never been, stop us in the paddock and ask about Hořice. Be it from the rider, photographer or spectator point of view, this was a well organised and truely impressive road race meeting. The atmosphere and Czech hospitality was second to none. Next year will be the 50th running of the 300 Zatáček Gustava Havla road races, and heres hoping more local riders will be on the grid and an invasion of spectators from all over Ireland to cheer the boys on!
Report by Angela Kernohan McKenzie (isnota400)