There Is More To Life Than Motorsport

Some of you Southern Members will remember this: 5...4...3...2...1...Bungeeeyyy from the 1993 Southern Car Club Bungey Tour; well, I've found summat BETTER!

Amongst my wonderful Christmas prezzies, I was blessed with some Air Miles. What will I do with them? I pondered, go to Ireland maybe?...Nah!
What corporate thing can I do....
White Water rafting.............Hmmm
Rally Driving course...........Hmmm
Parachute Jumping............Alrighty then!
Now we're talkin'.

[A parachute jump with air miles – didn't you have enough for the whole journey?]

I had a few days holiday left this year after using up most days on "Rallye Sunseeker", Goodwood Festival of Speed, and various other motor orientated events, so I booked up to go to Hinton Aerodrome on a two day Static line Square Parachute "R.A.P.S. Course mid March.

I got up early that morning & went home. Quick ablutions, check the oil & off to Hinton.

I arrived on time – 10 o/clock-ish having made a slight detour up & back down the wrong motorway! Anyway, I arrived and introduced myself, and proceeded to sign various disclaimers, forms and paperwork only rivalling Rallye Sunseeker – allegedly.

Next came the introductions to the other "jumper" Ian and the Instructor Brian – who is a taller Brumified version of Craig Charles.

Brian quickly dressed us up in some natty Jump-suits (so that's where the name came from) and we were soon departing for the classrooms, after a coffee & fag break.

The training was very intense, but, as there were only two of us, was over by about 4 o/clock. (With a few more coffee & fag breaks in-between.) So now we are ready to jump .... GULP. Off to the jump Zone and wait for all the tandem jumpers to finish (yes I can jump a pushbike too) and for the weather to calm down a little. As trainees we are not allowed to jump with wind speed in excess of 17 knots and the Wind was at 22 – 23 knots.... Oh Well back tomorrow.

I left the airfield and headed straight to Paul & Jo Freemans house – which is about two miles away arriving to a tour of the B.A.R. factory at Brackley, a gorgeous Spag Bol and some celebratory sparkling cider – B.A.R. just got Points!! – and before long, I was in the land of Nod.

I woke up at 06:30 to go home & realised where I was, and had to wait for the world to wake up before dragging poor Jo up to the airfield – Paul had to work – and it was Jo's day off & I needed moral support in the way of a qualified nurse!!

We arrived to find perfect weather conditions and the next thing I know, I was strapped up in a jump suit again with a parachute, helmet, radio - for listening to the Ride of the Valkyries – and an altimeter, now resembling Tom Cruise in Top Gun – well - nearly – alright – Patrick Swayze in Point Break...??!!!

As we approached the plane the pouting had stopped and I was focussed: ONE THOUSAND, TWO THOUSAND, THREE THOUSAND, FOUR THOUSAND, CHECK, CANOPY... yeah yeah, all worked out - get in the plane!

Oh yes,....Last in FIRST OUT! (shhh******t).

So I got in last, and off we taxied up the runway, turned round and off we go (pulls nearly like a Nova that plane)- check altimeter – 1,000 feet, check ground – still there!! Ohmygod! 2,000, 3,000, 3,500feet:

"FEET OUT.....GO!!"

ONE THOUSAND, TWO THOUSAND, Bl***dy H*ll!! Chhecck Cnanopppy – OK –(phew) – Check brakes – indicate and pull away – Oh no wrong manual – Check brakes – check all around for hazards and locate the Drop Zone.

Wow!

Now steering one ov dem fings 'aint arf 'ard to start wiv, but I had soon mastered it and headed skilfully avoiding the buildings, pylons & trees to the D.Z.

"Number one further up the airfield please"- (please??) No problem. "Further" OK this is easy!! "Look mum I'm flying!!".

500 ft – gosh my car looks small – 400 – it's getting bigger – 300 – so's the ground – 200 #### - 100 - #### #### - 50 – 10 – 8 – PULL BRAKES!!!! BUMP!!!

A slight kneel forward and stand up, wrap up 'chute and WOW – WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!

I almost ran back to see Jo and the other spectators to share my emotions, but realised Ian was still on his way down. I waited for him – and watched him fall flat on his face – and helped wrap up his 'chute.

We returned to the others and shared stories with a buzz of adrenaline and a couple of Aztec bars (thanks Chrissie).

Well NOW what can I do to frighten Mother? – Well with a few more jumps and I can FREEFALL!! – 3,500 feet Pah!!

How's about 10,000 feet!!!