| Who
we are and what we do...
So what do you need to know about us?
Well, the pictures of Richard and me may say something to start with. We’re
a father and son team who have managed to maintain and improve the same riding
code over the last 17 years of riding and training together. Motorcycling
plays a huge role in the Hopp family life. My dad rode in the ’40s and ’50s,
I started in 1960, - passed my test in ’61 - and the boys (Richard and Spencer)
followed suit between 1986 and 1989.
With so much at stake, that’s when I started to take it very much more
seriously!
By 1989 we were all involved in our local IAM group, and from ’93 to 2003
I was Chief Observer of that group; responsible for training trainers as well
as members. In 2000 I qualified as an Instructor of Advanced Motorcycling
when I passed my RoSPA National Diploma.
| |
Not policemen, not racers …
... just ordinary motorcyclists who have taken the time and trouble to
train themselves to help others improve their riding. After 14 years
in the British Army, Rich has resigned his Captain's Commission and is
now a qualified sports coach specialising in Squash Racquets. With a
string of teaching qualifications in his portfolio he is my natural choice
as the other Instructor with HRT.
So when Dad needs a cross-check, who do you think he asks? |
|
Meet the HRT Cadwell Park Team...
Overworked and underpaid, these guys are there for you...
and you will not have seen so many dedicated Instructors at any other track
based training day in this country! Sometimes, conditions permitting, there
are up to fourteen of us working in order to create the right conditions
for a safe learning day.
So who are they? Where do they come
from?
As if you need to ask! Read on and you'll notice a strong link with
the British team of Instructors and Coaches at Der Nurburgring – Germany’s gruelling 13+
mile long ‘Green Hell’. Most of us have worked and played there together for many
years,
and I devised the HRT training system at Cadwell from the discipline we learned
together on the famous 'Nordschleife'. |
|
Some policemen, some racers, some...?
You know how it is with motorcyclists - you can know someone for years,
and only ever talk about bikes! Each of the guys below has been a colleague
and a friend from between 5 and 25 years, yet ask me what they do, and I'll
be scratching my head! One of our great pleasures is meeting up as a team
again to enjoy giving you the benefit of our experience. So; who's who in the world of HRT!? Click on a
name and see what happens!
Or if you want to see an Instructor in action - just click on his mugshot!
|
|
| |
| |
Chris
Rossiter.
A Qualified Senior Instructor at Der Nurburgring and a founder member
of the HRT Team. Chris and I have been good friends since 1977. He's
the safest,
smoothest, most progressive rider and driver I know. When he won his
1st 500cc motorcycle race in the '70s he was still wearing his orange Novice's
bib! Absolutely no other motorcycling qualifications at all, but he was my
motorcycling mentor in the '80s & '90s and introduced me to Der Nurburgring in 1987.
Chris remains a totally natural expert. There's no substitute for
talent!
|
| |
Alan Burn.
A Qualified Senior Instructor at Der Nurburgring. Alan's been riding
since
1977, Advanced (IAM) since 1979. He started training other riders in 1980
with the RAC/ACU scheme and the BMF. Whilst doing that he qualified as
an IAM Observer, and started road racing in '85, which he did successfully
until 1990. Alan won the BMRC 350 Production Championship in
1989. A great
HRT Instructor – ‘never underestimate ... a quiet man’. |
| |
John Hale.
A Qualified Instructor at Der Nurburgring. I met John at the 'Ring (where
else?) in 1994. Ah yes I remember it well. Group 1, almost all
of us on
Fireblades. We later joined the 'Ring Instructor team at the same time
in - er - 1997/8 wasn't it? John's a Qualified Senior Observer with the
IAM and has a great teaching style at any level. Welcome John. |
| |
Jon Taylor.
A Qualified Senior Instructor at Der Nurburgring and an original member
of the HRT Team. I got to know Jon in 1994 at the Nurburgring where
he was already a respected Instructor. He has been riding bikes since
1967 and
qualified as police class one in 1982! Jon is a Staff Examiner for
the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and has also had an impressive racing
career. In 1987 he won the B.M.C.R.C. open 500cc and production 600cc
championships including setting a new 600cc production race record at
Brands Hatch. A real HRT star, and another quiet, modest
man. We're proud to have Jon on board. |
| |
Crispin d'Albertanson.
Another member of the team of Instructors and Coaches at Der
Nurburgring. Crispin is a qualified Senior (2005) Observer with the IAM, and a former club and endurance racer. Underneath the quiet exterior lurks a great
sense of humour - essential when working with HRT. A lovely
rider. Welcome Crispin. |
| |
Martin Hopp.
A qualified Instructor at Der Nurburgring. Other track experience
includes Cadwell, Donington, Oulton, Mallory, Castle Combe, Silverstone
and Goodwood. Probably 10,000 miles at the 'Ring; 5,000 at
Cadwell. Pleased and proud to say that in around 300,000 progressive road
miles
I have never crashed. Apart from one minor slip in '97 when Norfolk
County Highways picked up the bill! (So I don't count
that!) No other
bike crashes on the road, ever - never been nicked either! Obviously
I'm not superstitious ... |
| |
Graham Jung.
A qualified Instructor at Der Nurburgring. You guessed it - I met
Graham in '94 at the 'ring! Then worked together on the British team
of Instructors since '98. He's an endurance racer and a merchant
banker.
|
| |
Andy Norton.
Another member of the team of Instructors and Coaches at Der
Nurburgring. Andy's got good connections with us here in Norfolk, which means he
must be a thoroughly good bloke. IAM expert, road racer, endurance racer and top
chef! Yep, you heard it here first folks! |
|
|
| |
Barry
Salmon.
A Qualified Instructor at Der Nurburgring. Barry may not remember
this but we first met (at the 'ring of course) in 1987! He was there
on his bike, and I was a passenger in Chris Rossiter's 325i. The next
year we were all there on bikes, and the story really begins ... Our
very own International Man of Mystery - wherever we go in the world
Barry's always got a friend in the next village! |
| |
Nigel Speaight.
Nigel's been riding for 30 years, both on and off road, with early trials experience in his favour. He currently runs a beautiful
Honda CBR 600. He's qualified to RoSPA
Gold Standard and is a tutor for his local group, Lincolnshire
RoSPA. Next step is a RoSPA Diploma in Advanced Instruction I'm
told. He knows Cadwell extremely well, and like the rest of us, enjoys helping
others by sharing his knowledge. Good stuff Nigel. |
| |
Philip Masters.
Philip and I go back to the late '70s when I sold him his first new
BMW 525, and then later a 323i for his wife! Not bad for a double
glazing salesman! He's packed in a lot of stuff since he started riding
in 1993, with the IAM Advanced test in '97, currently a qualified Observer;
Nurburgring nut, bike and car; Cadwell nut since he started riding,
Keith Code levels 1 + 2 (3 & 4 upcoming); other track experience (bike
and car) - Mallory, Silverstone, Snetterton, Oulton, Donington, Rockingham
and Spa. Still sells windows after all these years! |
| |
Phil
Gardner.
A qualified Instructor at Der Nurburgring. Met Phil in 1995/6 - at the
'Ring, of course, and we joined the Instructor team at about the
same time. He's done the Superbike thing, moved into a Super Moto
(see pic), and currently rides a big KTM Adventurer. Instructing is
Phil's forte, having been a succesful IT Instructor for some years
now. Combine
this with 23 years on a bike and you've got another great HRT
Star. |
| |
Jeremy
Baker.
Jeremy says, ‘Never, never, never stop learning'. Biking's in his blood and he's rarely happier than when he's on a bike or helping someone else improve. Jeremy passed his test in '89, did time as a dispatch rider, and ran a Harley dealership! He's done off road training with the late, great John Deacon: MAC training: Keith Code Levels 1 - 4: and The Ron Haslam School. We met him at the 'Ring - of course!
|
| |
Richard
Hopp.
Another Nurburgring nut, first visit in about 1995, aged 23, then at
least once every year since. Cadwell Park nut since age 17 on an XBR
500, his 1st big bike. Other track experience includes Donington,
Silverstone,
Castle Combe, Goodwood and Spa. Nowadays he keeps his eye on me
and lets
me know where I'm going wrong! Richard's career path has qualified
him at many different levels, not least of which is teaching. HRT
No.2 Safe
Smooth and Swift - that's my boy! |
| |
David Halsall.
South African raised Englishman David is our new addition to the HRT Team for 2007. Passionate about bikes, David says 'Keep it smooth. If the smoothness goes it's time to take a reality check: cool the pace and then get back into the rhythm of riding again. Once you are running along the right lines smoothly, the speed comes naturally'.
How about this for a resume? - Transvaal Flat Track Champion 1980: SA National Flat Track Champion (82/3): SCC Transvaal Production Bike Champion 85: Transvaal Super-Single Champion 87: South African National Super-Single Champion 90: Botswana National Off-Road (Enduro) Champion (250cc) 94: Botswana National Off-Road (Enduro) Champion (500cc) 95. Now a Nationally Qualified IAM Senior Observer , and RoSPA Gold he's training trainers! Welcome David.
|
| |
Mel Hipperson.
Mel and I go back about 20 years, but I didn't realise then that we would develop as we have. 1st of all he's a great motorcyclist on road and off, but added to that he's a great teacher too, with numerous qualifications to back it up! There's more. Mel is a qualified bike technician, agricultural engineer, quad bike Instructor dealing with the farming community and other important clients he's not allowed to talk about! Mel has worked with me on my Advanced Machine Skills Courses for about 10 years, and is a very welcome and proficient member of the HRT Team.
|
|
