Street Luge? how hard can it be?

[Tom]

Why its just like riding a bike, about 3 inches off the ground and with reduced sense of speed, distance and quite how tight that next corner really is. Then there's stopping...

Thought you guys might be interested in my little experience over the weekend, I headed down to Gurston Down (hill climb track) near Salisbury yesterday to try Street Luge.
The sport consists of lying down on a 6 foot scateboard and negotiating a half mile course in the quickest time. Thats all there is to it. Oh, and they can go about 70mph, but we stuck just below 50 all day, thats plenty fast enough when you've only your feet slowing you down and your own body weight turning you into corners. Luckily I was under the expert guidence of British Champion, luge elite and general stunt man Ding Boston.

My times were good all day, consistantly getting faster and always close (about 1:08:13-1:08:80 for 3 runs, unfortunetly they were just practiced, my 'hot laps' were hampered by mistakes and ended up about 5s off that and well down the field, the top guys were doing 55secs!
I only had 1 wipeout caused by taking a corner too fast and wide, the back wheel clipped the verge and I went over a few times, nothing broken though and I managed to finish the run.

I suggest anyone looking for a great sport thats still growing give it a try, there is no real advantage in being fit or heavy as its as much about dare and not being scared of the occasional off, there is no traction control and no chance of engine failure, the thing is run purely on gravity and your own guts. What's the worst that can happen?



The next round is the same place at the end of Febuary (24th), I can't make it as I'm going rock climbing but if you're the least bit interested I strongly recommend you take a trip down and try it out.

[nae]

mad i say mad

where do i sign


i so so love the british names of hill climb venues
Gurston Down hill climb
doune hill climb

just doesnt sound right
(fancy a crack at hill climbing as well)

[MrT]

I've never been up Gurston, but know its pretty quick so i expect a luge run is quite fun!

Whats wrong with the names of the hillcimbs?? I love the fact that Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb is the oldest Motorsport venue in the World that is still held on it's original course. Hillclimbing is great fun especially in a single seater, there's something about having no run off that makes it fun! I love the fact you have to drive on edge but a single mistake and your uncompetitive, whereas in racing you can often recover....

[nae]

i was stressing the humour in the down hill climb
bit doune is close to me and is scots for down also

i would love a shot at any hill climbing but thats another fantasy

[Belatti]

Is that you Tom?
I have seen it a couple of times at ESPN X games I think, they go pretty fast and looks a cool thing to try. Although they go fast, crashes against barriers dont seem dangerous.

What's the worst that can happen?

ehhmm... To Wax your ass?

[RH1300S]

What's the worst that can happen?

You crash feet first and end up as short as me - that's what

Looks like great fun

[Tom]

That is indeed me, I look off balance but with big army boots on I find that sticking your foot out is as good as leaning because it weighs so much. This is on the final (flat out) corner where you have to apex early or you oversteer onto the verge. Thats how I flipped it.

A 'friend' suggested before the event that it wasn't that dangerous because you go down feet first and therefore your legs will snap and probably save you breaking your back!

Comforting.