Life – Page 10

August 23, 2013August 23, 2013

The Day Before the Ulster Grand Prix

Bikes with tyre warmers, J Orr, Ulster Grand Prix

The Ulster Grand Prix is the fastest motorcycle Road Race in the world. It is held at Dundrod, County Antrim and in recent years, this being Ireland, it has rained. This year was different – we had sunshine.

The races are held on a Saturday and the week prior to the actual racing is known as Bike Week. During Bike Week there is practice time for the teams and events for the family as well as racing fans. There is also the opportunity to see the bikes being prepared and talk to the teams and even the riders.

This is a great sporting event and an enjoyable and interesting week, even if you’re not particularly interested in motorcycle racing.

I always try to get to the races and usually one or two other days during Bike Week. This year I went the day before to see the bikes being prepared and of course I took photographs.

Click on an image to enlarge. If you want to see more please visit the gallery on Photoshelter here

Timothee Monot Racing, J Orr, Ulster Grand Prix — Timothee Monot Racing

Padget's Racing, J Orr, Ulster Grand Prix — Padget’s Racing

August 12, 2013August 12, 2013

Festival of Flight, Newcastle

The Festival of Flight at Newcastle is always a great day out and this year was no exception. The main attractions were the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows and a Vulcan Bomber from the cold war era.

The Red Arrows are ever popular and always get an enthusiastic reception. Their display was full on for nearly 30 minutes and at times the planes are flying in formation with only about 6 feet between them. To describe them as impressive doesn’t do them justice. The pilots talking with each other is played over the speakers so the crowd can hear them but I don’t know if it’s a two way thing and the pilots can hear the crowd cheering and clapping.

An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon also impressed. It appeared overhead and then the roar came after. The commentator announced it had been doing around 700 MPH. The electronics in this plane defy belief and apparently the pilots helmet is worth around as much as an average house.

The drive home was in sharp contrast to 700 MPH Eurofighters. I’ve heard there were around 125,000 people at the show and it seemed like they all left at once in front of me – I probably averaged around 7 MPH for the first few miles.

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RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, J Orr — RAF Eurofighter Typhoon

VTTS Avro Vulcan XH558, J Orr — VTTS Avro Vulcan XH558

August 6, 2013August 6, 2013

Belfast Games

The World Police and Fire Games are being hosted in Northern Ireland and run from 1st to 10th August. This is the first time the Games have been held in the United Kingdom and about 6700 athletes have entered with events being held at various venues throughout the province.

I am old enough to remember Belfast during “The Troubles” at their height and it is difficult to believe that city has been transformed into this new vibrant Belfast.

These photographs are from the Triathlon held on Sunday 4 August 2013.

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03.08.2013, Belfast UK, World Police and Fire Games, J Orr — Two girls draped in National flags support competitors

August 4, 2013August 5, 2013

Watching old cars

Audi Quatro, Craigantlet Hill Climb, 2013, J Orr

I nearly always go to Graigantlet Hill Climb but this year I had other things to do and had simply put it out of my mind, out of my mind that is until my neighbour asked “Are you going to the Hill Climb?” Without a pause I said “Yes.”

Now Craigantlet Hill Climb always attracts some beautiful vehicles, it’s a popular event and it was a sunny day so there was a good crowd and we were late, actually we were very late and as I expected we didn’t get anywhere near a good position for taking photographs so I simply watched. This wasn’t a hardship as I enjoy motor sport and it was nice to just watch without a camera stuck to my face.

I did take some photographs however.

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Craigantlet Hill Climb, 2013, J Orr — Triumph TR3, Craigantlet Hill Climb, 2013

1928 Lagonda 2 Litre Speed Model, Craigantlet Hill Climb, J Orr — 1928 Lagonda 2 Litre Speed Model, Craigantlet Hill Climb

July 15, 2013

City Hall Summer

We don’t often get temperatures in the high twenties in Northern Ireland. It has certainly been three or four years since we had what comes near to what you could describe as warm weather and a friend’s seven year old daughter tells me that the last time we had weather like this was 2006, the year she was born. Regardless – three, four or seven years – when it happens people are out to take full advantage of it.

These photographs were taken at lunch time in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.

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