Harris Ducati

Here's something interesting - a Harris Ducati...

Thanks Cafe Racer Culture for the pics.

Jim Rice - Hero

This pic of my friend Jim Rice was posted on facebook today. Jim responded a few hours later with the story behind it. He's told me this awesome story before... but here it is in his own words:

"1972 San Jose Mile National win: It was an exciting and interesting race. On the ninth lap, while in fourth place, I hit my shoulder on the inside fence post. The impact tore both hands off the handle bars, and my chest landed on the gas tank. I was laying on the tank, amazed that I did not crash. I lifted my right hand up and grabbed the throttle, and when I tried to lift my left hand up, my shoulder muscles were not responding. I tried a couple times and finally got my left hand on the handle bar. During this process, I got an andenaline rush, focused on the race, and realized I could win. Dick Mann passed me while I was recovering from the impact, and a few laps later I re-passed him. 

The last few laps, Kenny and I had a dual for the lead. Kenny would pass me in the first and second turn and I would pass him in the third and fourth turn. I knew the last lap third turn was going to be "banzai". I "drove it" into turn three striving not to drift off the groove, while Kenny was "hanging it out" on the outside trying to get a drive off the turn. I managed to cross the finish line with inches to spare, before Kenny passed me. 

I was so EXCITED, and by the time I got back to the finish line, the pain hit me like a freight train! I could not pull in the clutch, so I held on, put both feet on the ground and stopped next to Mike. He gave me a congratulation slap the back of my left shoulder, and I crawled off my BSA, and got into the ambulance. What an interesting race!"

Jim Rice - one tough, talented and awesome guy. Hero!

All Tyred Up!

The heating in my house was broke this last weekend - the coldest weekend in Britain so far this winter. -5 Celcius on Sunday morning - Yay. With the Chev-dawg also broke, I had a wee hire car. It was warm in the car and easy to warm the insulated garage... so that's where I spent most of the weekend.

I went down to London to visit Don Plane of Southern Cross Motorcycles. He sorted me out with some new rubber and some scrubbs that I can use for practice. I filled the wee car to the roof. Holy crap! A set of slicks, some intermediates AND wets. Almost like a professional race team! Just need a plug-in heating rack now... then I can use it in my lounge too  ;-)

Don also got me this tasty Oberon clutch slave cylinder. I never bothered with improving clutch lever feel before... because you only really use it once in a race. Always got on with the standard setup... but after fitting an Oberon to the Ducati 888 - I felt the difference. We'll see how this works on track. I figure if it gets me just 1 place further up the field into turn 1, it'll be worth it.

A lot of checking, measuring, cleaning, checking again was done too. And an oil change...

Rock on with RockOil! They sponsored me many seasons ago... I still have some of  the honey they sent me. I should probably try get them onboard again.

My camera is also broke, hence the crappy pics. There is a theme here. I'm getting broke things out of the way for the rest of 2015.

Still got a lot of work to do on the old girl and need to replace a few things that she donated to other race bikes over the years... I also got a quickshifter I am going to try and fit to the standard gear change lever. Just 6 weeks till her first outing :-)

Sweet Yamahas

There cafe racer Yamahas are soooo sweet lookin'

Candy's Back!

Started tinkering on bikes again after a few weeks rest. Blow the cobwebs out... the monthly cacklefest.

The hole in the garage was soon filled by Candy - my first race bike. She's being pressed back into service - need to do 4 qualification races before May to get my IOM Mountain Course Licence.

Her last run out...

She looks sweet - just had confirmation that I don't need standard fairings to be able to run her in the Modern Classic/Golden Era Superbikes class. More cashola for race entries :-)

She needs a few other things... mostly replacing stuff I've robbed off her to keep the other bikes going... battery, clip-ons, brake master cylinder, footpegs, some tyres, oil change...

From what I remember and my results from her last run out - I wasn't happy with her handling. Going to try a few new things with the geometry.

I've got 7 weeks to get her done :-)

Farewell to Big Betty

On Sunday Big Betty went to a new home...

Weird to see he loaded into a different van... a bit sad. I need to say farewell to the second fastest Aprilia twin around the Isle of Man...

Now there's a wee hole in my garage...

... and in my heart.

She was a good 'un.

Scottish Trials to the Next Level

So Purdy

Perfection!

My non-bikey cousin, Mark, sent me these pics and describes it as 'Perfection'.

Thanks Couz!

Duke Cafe Racer - El Chupacabra

By SoulMoto

Thanks Bikeshed for the pics.
Full article here.

Suzy V has Moved on

Suzy V has now gone to a good new home.

Young hot-shot Aaron Silvester will be using her as a 'spare' bike as he challenges for the NG Racing Minitwins title next year. I know Aaron from Dirttrack racing (where we've had a few battles :-) and this year, his first in road racing, he took the Novice Championship and a fantastic 4th in the Minitwins Championship.

All the best for next season Aaron.. and take care of her  - she's a goon 'un!

Suzy V for Sale

Plans are underway for next year. Unfortunately, Suzy V has to go :-(

She's been a faithful servant - a veteran of 5 Manx Grand Prix and earning 3 replicas for her efforts. Just one DNF with a faulty battery and a finishers medal after some plonker replaced the carb diaphragm cover the wrong way around before the race.

This year, outgunned and underpowered against the modern machinery, the 13 year old old carb-fed sweet-lookin' gal did a best lap of 109mph and finished 9th in her race. The first Suzuki home - she showed 'em what's what.

Original Suzuki front-end goes back on...

Frankenstein Aprilia front-end (with the help of Kawasaki bottom clamps, original stem and GSXR top clamp)...

...goes back in the box for the next bike.

Ay yes... all 'original' again.

She's been immense. I'm going to miss wringing her neck around the Isle of Man.