Liz Millet
Liz is a regular rider in the British Championship and is treasurer and current Champion of the ELRAT club . This is Liz's brief summary of her career.
Born
in the later half of the 20th century, I didn’t know the sport of riding
motorbikes on dirt existed until I turned thirty. The learning process was slow, and the
right bike for my skill level, height and strength never seemed to exist. However, despite
spending several years trying not to be last in the sportsman class, I have thoroughly
enjoyed all aspects of the sport no matter how tough it has been. I still remember the
good old days pushing and heaving my little KX100 through dense undergrowth, avoiding some
deep rutted bog suitably marked by some stuck rider, and the buzz I used to get if I
wasn’t last in that event.
By
1999 I had improved enough to confidently
ride a KTM125. That year I competed in the first ACU ladies championship, and came third.
The following year I started passengering on an enduro sidecar. This brought another
dimension to competition. My driver was riding solos at expert level, and I enjoyed riding
the tests faster than I would have done had I been on a solo. Our first competition on the
outfit was a local hare and hounds with plenty of solos and six sidecars. It was a very
slippy event, solos spinning out everywhere, meanwhile we rode it, never backing off,
roosting everything in site. To our surprise we were top sidecar, but my hands were
severely blistered, a problem I still struggle to overcome.
At
the 2000 Welsh three day, a special event
marking the millennium, day 3 included a motorcross at Cwmythig Hill, Rhayader. Now my
driver had raced solo motorcross for many years at expert level, and continued to do so
that day on the sidecar, I on the other hand, don’t like heights,
so, we were informed afterwards, that my screams as
we flew off the ski jump could be heard across the valley and the valley beyond. The
following year we were runner up in the sidecar clubman class. A good result for a 15 year
old basket case of an outfit, bought for a nominal sum.
Photo of Liz at 2005 DYFI courtesy of Keith Bowen www.MX247.com
In
2004 I became passenger to Richard Chandler
on his new KTM EML outfit. I was forced to ride at expert level. I was unsure I was up to
this and concerned I would hold Richard back, however 2005 has
proved to be a very successful year, and we came second in the British Enduro Sidecar
Association championship. Frustratingly the sidecar rounds clash with the ladies
championship rounds. I would love to support the ladies championship again, but as far as
the sidecar is concerned, we are still improving; our test times are getting better. Also
I enjoy the buzz of hanging out the side on the fast forest roads. There is strong
camaraderie amongst the teams, and a plus point of being a passenger is that I feel like a
works rider! I turn up, ride, go home. All responsibility of washing the outfit,
maintaining it and preparing it is left to Richard who lives nearly 200 miles away, just a
bit far for me to nip round and help!
When
not hanging off the side, I am still riding solo events and have recently ventured into
the world of the desert rally. 2004 I rode in the Qatar Baja on a 
The
going tends to be fast rocky and sandy tracks travelling through the uninhabited areas of
Morocco. The sand is quite unlike the sand encountered on say the Natterjack or Weston
beach race. It doesn’t take long to adapt ones riding style and like any enduro,
picking a good line pays dividends. The Tuareg is a very well run, enjoyable event,
certainly a very good starter event before entering the more expensive rallies controlled
by FIM rules. I finished mid field in this event, a satisfactory result for a first timer.
I
hope to do more rallies in the future; work and funding permitting. Back in the UK, I am
still willing to drive the length of the country to my favourite events. Lossiemouth with
its sand, beautiful forest and always sunny, Otterburn’s open going and many ditches
and Yarrowfield with the long hills, although Yarrowfeild will always bring back mixed
emotions, being Ian Bells’ final event. In my early
enduro days in Scotland, Ian was always one of the first to help me out, whether to help
me fix a mechanical problem or pull me out of a bog. He is sadly missed.
I
still enjoy the challenge of typical wet muddy rutted events such as the Snowrun and the
Adrian Ellis enduro. I enjoyed the teamwork of the Dawn to Dusk, and for the second year
running teammate Mark Rayers and I have managed a finish in the top 15%.
2005
has been an excellent year, with some good results and the final touch, becoming the ELRAT club champion. With 27 results submitted,
only 2 were dnfs, a smashed radiator and a burnt out clutch.
When not competing I still find time for trail riding in the UK and France. I have plans to return to Romania, and visit other countries for trail riding holidays.
