Scrutineering - Check your gloves or lose them!!
 

At Brands Hatch, I had my £140 Alpinestars gloves taken off me in scrutineering after a tiny (and I mean tiny) hole was found in the palm of one of them.

I was told that they HAD to conviscate them, because I was likely to use them if they didn't - nice to know trust exists in the race paddock.

Anyway, I forgot to collect them at the end of the day - You know how it is when you're packing up, saying goodbye etc etc

So, last Monday I rang New Era and spoke to Mr Plonk*. He basically disagreed with me when I said that, to me the gloves were still worth £140 and although they may have had a tiny hole in one palm, they were still perfectly funtional - AND THEY WERE MY BLOODY GLOVES! I got the impression that despite lining the pockets of New Era for years, they didn't care about my gloves as much as I did and didn't even know where they were!!

To cut a long story short, I had to call back again today, to find out who has them - New Era or Brands Hatch.

You may find this hard to believe, but New Era have a PILE OF GLOVES!

The lady I spoke to today was very polite and helpful, but in the background Mr Plonk* was moaning and I was told that in future all gloves will be BURNED if they're not collected at the end of the day.

You have been warned!!!







*Mr Plonk is a fictional character, as getting banned from clubs and associations can complicate issues - as I've found in the past!

[Edited on 19-9-2005 by domski]

Funny that - the recent program on BBC2 about Ebay had a feature on this fella from Kent who was just about to retire to France on the Ebay profits he'd made from selling motorbike gloves!!!! ;)

Serves you right for using expensive gloves!

Buying a job lot of cheap Akitos means that it is more economical to trash them and bin them. I also apply the same logic to fairings, clip ons, leathers, other people's bikes etc....:lol::lol:

Down at Pembrey the other weekend they were also taking unsuitable gloves off riders at scrutineering.
I usually end up buying a couple of sets a year and have just purchased a new set of Belstaff race gloves with excellent protection from the BMF tailend rally for £20.
I also find I have been buying a set of new boots each year as well, last pair were £40 from the Ally Pally show and the year before that I goy some Sidi's from the same show for £79.
Takes a lot of the worry out of scrutineering.

Interesting - just like leathers, gloves can be repaired so it wouldn't cost you more than £20 to get them fixed. Maybe the eBay story isn't as silly as you might think...

Excuse me, but if an individual takes something of yours, isn't that theft?

If they aren't forthcoming, tell 'em you will take them to the small claims court or phone the police. :flame:

1. I understand the theory behind them taking the gloves, and it is a safety issue, and in the riders best interest.

2. I also get the fact that it's my responsibility to collect the gloves at the end of the day.

What got my goat though, was the way I was spoken to by a man who's wages I pay, telling me that it was my own fault, the gloves were rubbish and in future I'll burn them!!

Nice to know we're appreciated :mad:

[Edited on 20-9-2005 by domski]

Don't all gloves have holes in them?

How are you supposed to get your hands in otherwise?:eureka:

Ooh, you're like soooo droll man :D

Someone let Phil out again!!!!! :lol:

Funny place for a hole? Right in the middle of the palm :puzzled: