Invitations to the annual WNT (UK) / XYZ Machine Tools trackday at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire are much sought after items and are issued to customers meeting certain spend criteria; in the case of WNT that is a set monthly tooling spend, for XYZ Machine Tools it is based on recent or planned machine purchases. This year saw 54 WNT (UK) customers meet up with 43 from XYZ Machine Tools to have an exhilarating day around the famous Lincolnshire circuit that is often referred to as the mini Nürburgring.
Track instructors were led by the day's organiser, Team WNT/Burman Racing's Sam Burman on her Honda Moto3 bike, along with her fellow competitor in the HEL British Motostar Championship Georgina Polden on her Kalex KTM RS Racing machine. Alongside these ladies was Haribo Starmix rider, Chrissy Rouse, and Joe Irving who rides for the Stauff Connect Academy; both are leading participants in the SuperStock 600 championship.
It isn't all about fun, though, as part of the event's ethos is to raise funds for the chosen charities of WNT (UK) and XYZ Machine Tools, which are The British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK. In total £1,770 was raised over the day. "WNT would like to thank all of the customers that attended for their generosity and also the great respect they showed for each other out on the circuit. With such a diverse range of motorcycles and skills on display, we got through the day without many hair-raising moments!" says Dan Atkinson, WNT (UK)'s internal sales event coordinator.
The mutual enthusiasm for motorcycling also gave attendees an opportunity to mingle and talk about business, as well as bikes: "XYZ had a great networking day with the customers, many of who combine their engineering passion with motorcycling, but very few take up the challenge or have the opportunity of riding on track, where they can exploit more of their bikes' potential than they can do on the road. They also had the benefit of input from the four instructors, who shared their experience. This meant that and went home after the event with huge smiles and more riding confidence than when they arrived," says Mike Corbett, XYZ's applications manager.
