Well another fantastic weekend for round 2 of the season. The Big Chill once again failed to live up to its name, but this year it was close as there was snow the weekend before. We had the chains already and everything. Don't really know how chains effect lap time, guess we'll have to wait for another time to find out. 😁
Not a bad turn out with 105 entries, which gave our periods 12 in each race. This time we had the the slapped together 450 Desmo with the springer head, the 62' 250 race desmo headed race bike and the 350 Desmo road bike doing regularity. We were joined by a mate and his period 3 250 ex factory race bike and his 900 round case SS. We also happened to have a new team member join in. A pomy guy (Welsh actually) by the name of Glynn Jones. He ran his RS 600 in regularity. We had to let him come play for a couple of reasons. Firstly he is a good mate of Brett's (450 owner), and secondly he fitted in with the vibe of the thing. Glynn use to work for Sports motorcycles. Steve Wynne being his boss and still good mates. We kind of figured that being the actual hands on spanner on the 78 TT IOM bike ridden by Mike Hailwood, he was acceptable in the pit. The guy just wants to get some laps in. Nice bloke hey. He showed me a pic of Steve himself and No 12. Also we had a little chat about how Steve had the team set up while they toured. Generally three bikes, three spanners and Steve running the show. He said it was a lot of stress and a lot of fun. He mentioned I seemed to have got it the wrong way around doing 3 bikes, but it was entertaining to watch. What more does anyone need to know. 😄 Now I'm concerned, what if Steve and Paul Smart (Paul lives in NZ now) roll up for a visit one weekend? They will be chatting away etc, and I'll be stress vomiting behind the tool box. Great!
Anyway enough name dropping. We managed a couple of 2nd's and a couple of 3rd's with our bikes, not enough points to get a trophy but. The 450 decided to play silly buggers and on Saturday morning the exh flange nut decided to strip the threads out of the head resulting in a DNF. A couple of attempts of holding it in and some stressful moments end up with it being wedged in with Ally tape and held with lock wire tied on from a number of places. It finally held together. The swing arm pin also decided it was no longer friends with the frame and wanting to leave. Some brake clean and shim stock sorted that out. The rear drum shoe spring also had a moment, which was cured by much humour and debate about how relevant braking is to the future of modern man, and removal of the shoes and use of tie wraps to hold bits in place.
The 250 with Pete piloting, had a gear lever push rod break (the other DNF), but luckily the 350's was a straight swap. It just made for some busy times in between races, as among other things it had to be swapped over. Even though its valve guides are warn it performed rather well nailing a BSA 500 is some great racing. We were out HP'ed and out cubed in the field but held the up the flag with pride and did quite well I feel. Pete on the 250 even got applause when coming down pit lane at one stage. Not quite as much applause as the early side car guys and girls got during one wet race. Man they were having fun sliding all over the place. Very entertaining.
All in all a great weekend, I'm sitting here with a heat pack strapped to my back and Bretts can hardly walk due to a similar pain issue., but worth every cringing step. Seriously great fun and great people. I keep thinking I should get a race nose cone for the 851 and unleash Brett on the unsuspecting field for Lakeside “Lord of the Lake” in September, but I couldn't handle pain of all that punishment on the bike. I feel another couple of seasons and we'll be ready for some serious attempts at Nationals, although they all get a bit too serious for our liking. Time will tell.
And yes I have issues, but a lot of fun. They are genuine Wilson safety goggles 1947 on the hat.
