Bemsee early 1980s proddie racers

Very nice , you've done a great job , I think

Lovely bike!! Excellent photos.
Nice set of Hein Gericke leathers too I have set in those colours, dont think I will ever get in them again though!!

Lovely bike!! Excellent photos.
Nice set of Hein Gericke leathers too I have set in those colours, dont think I will ever get in them again though!!

Plus , of course , you'd look a bit daft riding round Harlow on your Ariel 3 with them on

[quote name='RC162' date='Dec 27 2010, 17:36' post='4770359']
Hi Mick
Have you still got all that lovely hair ? It's been good to see a few names again and some pictures that otherwise you may never had seen. What are you up to these days ? Me it's mortgage, kids, cat and a local job with the bonus of parading a replica here and abroad, that I took four years to build, but having a good time now it's all done. Just for fun I have put it on the road as well. 18000 RPM and lots of noise ! I've put in a couple of pics of it in road trim and on the track at Croix en Ternois which Bemsee used at sometime. Good to hear from you.

Yep mate still got the hair and i've done the family thing, mortgage paid and kids grown up and buggered off Lovely bike stu, i'm jealous. I've got a pic or two of us at play, i'll dig em out.

Edited by MickJones, 27 December 2010 - 23:17.

I knew I had one somewhere Stu.

Hi Mick
Now that is a nice shot. Is it Sears at Snetterton ? Here are some more photos from the LC era. The first one is with Robbie Beckett, Terry's son, and it's a bitter sweet photo. This was taken the Saturday after Micky Downs had died the previous weekend and to be honest at the beginning of the week I had thoughts of calling it a day as we were good friends. Added to this was the fact that his accident happened in front of my Mum and Dad. which they never got over, and for Mum the thought of me racing had changed from exciting to really scary. However I felt I needed to stop riding for a better reason as I would have wanted Micky to carry on if the situation was reversed. At this meeting I found myself running with Robbie for the lead and was thinking of Micky at the same time. I can clearly recall saying to myself " come on Micky we can do him" As it turned out I passed Robbie on the last lap into Russells to win and ended up winning all four races that day but as you can imagine this one sticks in my memory.



This one was taken the same day.



I have a few more that I will post tonight hopefully. Glad to read Ricky is mending. I was with some friends on the pit wall at the time and it was a nasty accident.

Stuart

Good yarn, and good pics Stu, plenty of atmosphere. Welcome aboard !

Hi Stu, yep it is Sears. I must have been standing very near your parents on that fateful day, my TZ was being warmed up for the next race and I went into the pits to check out my old headbanger class and stood right at the point it happened. I was so numb that I then prepared to go out in the next race till my spannerman woke me up.

Hi there
This is pretty much the last of the photos I can easily get to but there may be some others in the loft. This first one is at the Esses on the 1st of March 1981. I'm sorry to say I don,t know the guy with Terry on his leathers but it looks as if we came across some backmarkers.



This next one was taken on the 24th of May 1981 at the Bemsee meeting that used the long GP circuit at Snetterton for a two day meeting. It made for a quick lap and I was lucky enough to get a win over the weekend. The other three races were won by Pat Moony. They were close races with Cliffton Tabiner, Eddie Boldizar, Paul Grubb, John Hogg and a lad who's name was Tipple. I won mine when it rained during the race otherwise I think Pat would have cleaned up.



The guy behind me in this one is Greg Page who is a bit of a hero to me and to be able to run with him was special. Greg has been blind in one eye since early chidhood so he always fully taped up his helmet to prevent any insects getting in. This also led him not to notice you on the inside due to his loss of vision on his right side. This day we had two cracking rides which he both won and managed to get our photo in MCN. It said in the report that Page had made his knee bleed by touching down on the track but this was done when he stuck his knee in my front wheel round Riches on the last lap. I can still see in my mind the leather dust that flew up.



This photo was taken at West Raynham on the 7th of June 1981 and the reason I remember that day and this corner is because during practice I dug the sidestand lug into the track and was lucky to stay on. Needless to say a few minutes later and with the aid of a hacksaw this never happened again.



This was the 500k race at West Raynham on the 16th of August 1981 and again I rode with Grant Goodings and again we came second for the third time in three years. Don't know if I would have liked to have been on the old 750 Honda in the shot.



I'll post up my Manx pics from 1984 later with a bit of a story.

Stuart

Great pics Stu, enjoyed those!!


Daisy

Greg Page was sponsored by Iceni Motorcycles..Swaffham way??
he was a demon rider
I remember him man handling the first of the twin shock GPZ1100's....awesome!!

Regarding the photo of Greg Page and me in Motor Cycle News ( 3-6-81 ) as luck would have it I've found the picture in a bag of press cuttings one of my friends gave me many years ago. At the time we agreed that it must have been only a moment after this photo was taken that Greg's knee went in my wheel.



Let me say sorry for hogging things at the moment but I just won't get the time to put this stuff on once I'm back at work so I hope you will understand.

In 1984 Nigel Verity mentioned he was going to do the Manx on his YPVS and said why don't I go and really I thought if I could find the money why not. So I ended up with a damaged YPVS which I did myself and to test it I entered the 500k race at West Raynham with I think Paul Kerry. The class we were in was no longer up to 500cc but 750cc and with the latest V4 Hondas the best we could do was 4th Just behind Kevin Maudsley. At least I now knew the bike and off to the Isle of Man we went.

This was always going to be a budget trip and my mate Gibbo was the perfect man to take as he would just get things done when they needed to be. Now when I say budget I mean I was racing on the same tyres that I rode on in the 500k race as I had no extra cash. If anything went pop that would be it and I also knew that I would be selling the bike afterwards to pay for stuff.

Before anything else, after we had arrived, it was down to Fairy Bridge to make my peace with the Fairies. This was something that John and Joan Milligan made me promise to do so I said hello to them and took a pebble from the stream, which I carried with me all my time on track, and returned it to the stream before I left the Island.

Practice was an eye opener trying to find my way round without hurting me or the bike but at the end of it I had a fair idea of where I was meant to go. In one practice it was wet and the back end was all over the place and I thought if this happens in the race I'm screwed at which point Alex George noticed the back tyre and asked "what the fook is that" I explained the budget situation at which point he fooked into me , asked me what size it was and how much I had in me pocket. 20 quid came the reply where upon a big scottish fist grabbed the twenty and a nice Michelin was slung over my head followed by "now fook off'

We fitted the tyre, and because the bike was road legal, I went out and gave it a scrub and it was magic and felt great, so great in fact that the next practice was wet and I was third fastest in the 350 Newcomers that morning. Thank you Alex !

The race went just fine with the odd bum nip here and there but I ended up 15th but it wasn't until I saw Gibbo that I found out what had happened to him during the race. When he went to use the fuel fillers supplied he found it was full of rust after he had filled it up so the fuel we had was now crap. He drained it out and dumped the crap fuel and then ended up going out of the pits, getting a taxi to the nearest petrol station, getting the fuel, the taxi back to the pits and filling the filler back up only to have me arrive at the end of the second lap as he was about to test the nozzle. So he just stuck it in and hoped for the best and the rest is history.

We had a great couple of weeks on the Island seeing the sights, making new friends, seeing some bands and accepting the odd free beer but it is to my long time friend Gibbo that I say thank you as without his will to get things done on the day I would, in the words of the wonderful Alex George, be "FOOKED"

This was taken at Rhen Cullen



This one is at Parliament Square

Just to add to your post #109 Stuart, the Tipple guy you were refering to was propably Brian Tipple from Newbury. he started of in the Kawasaki KH400 series, then went to LCs. used to travel with Paul Willis, Royston keen and Ian Cowles.

Edited by LamboNZ, 28 December 2010 - 20:11.

Stuart Matthews - Hi and welcome

You tuned my LC250 during my last season

I once leant it to "wobbly Edwards" who said it had terric midrange torque and that suited me

Good to hear from you and hope you'll keep the posts going - I may have some of you from the Suzuki and LC Days (on slide so not an easy thing to sort..)

Hi there
Yes Martin Edwards ' Wobbly Willy ' If ever there was a guy who ran close to the edge it was him. I liked him a lot and we were good friends. He was quite aggressive with his engines but it stayed together most of the time. I remember at the start of one race when the engines were turned off him shouting out at the top of his voice " Now then boys I want a nice gentle ride and don't go too quick " He is a lad. Some years back he went to collect a lorry for a ' friend ' from France but at the French border they found a bit more than fresh air in the chassis and Martin did about 10 years in a French jail but at least he can speak French of a different kind now. I think he's living in Norwich at the moment.

Can you let me know your name LCRider ?

Stuart

Hi there
It made for a quick lap and I was lucky enough to get a win over the weekend. The other three races were won by Pat Moony. They were close races with Cliffton Tabiner, Eddie Boldizar, Paul Grubb, John Hogg and a lad who's name was Tipple. I won mine when it rained during the race otherwise I think Pat would have cleaned up.

Stuart

Enjoying the ripping yarns.

Would that perchance be the Pat Mooney who's been racing a Summerfield Manx in the AHRMA Premier 500 class for a number of years ?

Edited by GD66, 29 December 2010 - 11:11.

Enjoying the ripping yarns.

Would that perchance be the Pat Mooney who's been racing a Summerfield Manx in the AHRMA Premier 500 class for a number of years ?

Yes the very same.

Pat's a really nice guy, we scrapped back in 80 and when I had a bad car racing accident his get well card was the first to arrive.

Great to be reminded of some of the names in the early 80's proddy racing scene. I was in the 500 class on a RD400, and Colin Pole was the one to beat in the clubs I was in.

I was in the Bantam Racing club (anyone remember the annual p*ss up at the end of year dinner?), British Formula Racing Club, and the Southern 67 club. Looks like they all disappeared without trace at some point. I take it Bemsee is the main club still surviving?

Colin Pole!! he was a flyer, he also used to give us a hard time on our TZ's in the open class on his proddie bike.

I remember one year he graduated to a TZ and I expected him to really go places but for some reason he didnt seem to get on with it and just disappeared from the scene after that, I often wondered what the story was with him.

Colin Pole!! he was a flyer, he also used to give us a hard time on our TZ's in the open class on his proddie bike.

I remember one year he graduated to a TZ and I expected him to really go places but for some reason he didnt seem to get on with it and just disappeared from the scene after that, I often wondered what the story was with him.

He certainly was very quick Paul, i'd be interested to know his history after 1980 when I got to know him well(I had his 79 bike) and only just managed to grab the BRC 250 proddy title off him(I was 2nd in 79). He was from Leicester way I believe and quite a devout christian, had a nice sister as well

He certainly was very quick Paul, i'd be interested to know his history after 1980 when I got to know him well(I had his 79 bike) and only just managed to grab the BRC 250 proddy title off him(I was 2nd in 79). He was from Leicester way I believe and quite a devout christian, had a nice sister as well

Mick,

He raced a Single cylinder Yamaha for a while and maybe a Bantam
I am not sure that he went any further than a 250 LC

Hi there
Yes Martin Edwards ' Wobbly Willy ' If ever there was a guy who ran close to the edge it was him. I liked him a lot and we were good friends. He was quite aggressive with his engines but it stayed together most of the time. I remember at the start of one race when the engines were turned off him shouting out at the top of his voice " Now then boys I want a nice gentle ride and don't go too quick " He is a lad. Some years back he went to collect a lorry for a ' friend ' from France but at the French border they found a bit more than fresh air in the chassis and Martin did about 10 years in a French jail but at least he can speak French of a different kind now. I think he's living in Norwich at the moment.

Can you let me know your name LCRider ?

Stuart

Stuart

I am Paul Lancaster I used to live in Attleborough but have married and live north of Norwich. I raced for 2 full seasons in 84 and 85.
I marshalled for several years before that.

I was part of the crew that had Alan Howlett and his wife Maureen plus a few other lads (George and wife Kate. + Howard (who had a bus!) We tended to do Sear and Russell @ Snetterton or The Hairpin at Cadwell, so not sure if we ever picked you up.

I then comentated at Bemsee mettings - I once commentated at a Racing 50 meeting and it turned wet. I was racing too so it got a bit perculiar!! My mechanic - Stan - put my wets on for the last race but because I wasn't thinking straight I forgot to top up with fuel. I was in a batch of 3 or so guys scrapping for a top 6 place and catching the guys in front (who were running KR124/TG22 combos) and ran out of fuel at Riches on the last lap Bugger!!

I liked Wobbly but I was never sure about when he was serious and when he wasn't. I think he was the guy who (on a wet Snetterton meeting) Began to sing "singing in the rain" after the engines had been switched off before the lights changed - caused a lot of chuckles and presumably he got away first.....

He was a hard rider but there were a lot of them in those days, Askins, Allot, Langan, Boldizar, Rymer, Melen. It was the last yrs of the Yamaha domination before Suzukis return with the RGV.

Edited by LCRider, 30 December 2010 - 22:36.

Mick,

He raced a Single cylinder Yamaha for a while and maybe a Bantam
I am not sure that he went any further than a 250 LC

I was having a weekend off from riding and went marshalling at Cadwell one day around 1980/81ish, he was out on a Maxton TZ, I cant remember if it was a 250 or a 350, he was mid field at best in his early races and then I picked him up after he binned it at Charlies later in the day.

Having witnessed his talents on proddies I expected him to get dialled in and be right up there after a couple of meetings but I heard later in the year that he'd given up with the TZ as he couldnt get on with it, I think he went back to a proddie but I never really heard any more of him after that.

I was having a weekend off from riding and went marshalling at Cadwell one day around 1980/81ish, he was out on a Maxton TZ, I cant remember if it was a 250 or a 350, he was mid field at best in his early races and then I picked him up after he binned it at Charlies later in the day.

Having witnessed his talents on proddies I expected him to get dialled in and be right up there after a couple of meetings but I heard later in the year that he'd given up with the TZ as he couldnt get on with it, I think he went back to a proddie but I never really heard any more of him after that.

Thats interesting and I don't recall that - thanks for the update
There is another thread on another social network about riders who do very well at a certain level (say Production but it could also apply to 250/350 Yamahas) but never seem to be able to step up. Thats not to say they were useless or that thier machinery was inferior to the opposition.

Lots of guys could fall into that category - Dean Askin for example and he was briliant in the proddie classes - many of the guys who won the Marlboro series didn't get on with their new machinery. Of course if you are upgrading your bikes then you maybe thinking about testing yourself at a higher level and that, as they say, is another story!!

Have to admire those who could turn their hands to nearly anything - Terry Rymer for example. Its probably more difficult to start in smaller production classes then move on to heavy metal than start off on something with a lot of grunt. Mind you, one needs to be able to learn how to stay on the bike and with a lot of power (and treaded tyres in those days) that may have been easier said than done.

Which reminds me that when I was commentating (for Bemsee) at a wet meeting beginning of 1986. A novice turned out on a CBX Honda with a Moto Morini frame. Worth a lot of dosh I would have thought. Anyway he started the race at the back but rounding sear he gunned it and overtook a few riders on LCs and slower machinery. The he braked at about 300yds and lost the bike which slid all the way to the armoc barrier at the esses (not sure if he hit it as couldn't see from the commntators box)

That's an interesting thought LC, regarding riders who were great at a certain class but got lost elsewhere, there must be a few who fit the frame. Myself, I had a very varied array of machinery over the years, Bantams, Greeves Silverstone, 350 Bultaco, RD250, X7, TZ250 and Rickman and P&M F1 Kwackas. I was never going to be any more than the odd top 6 national rider but I enjoyed every minute and had enough success to give me the satisfaction of fond memories and a shed full of silverware. Of the old Bantam riders who tried other classes I can think of a whole host, Peter Tibbits, Colin Aldridge, Bill Lawrence, Mick Scutt, Kieth Webb, Fred Launchbury, the Hunter brothers and a few more well known names, i'll have to compile a list. Bantams were a great starting block, you didn't have enough power to ease off so you learnt to go like stink from the off. The easiest bike I ever raced was the F1, more torque than a tractor

Great to be reminded of some of the names in the early 80's proddy racing scene. I was in the 500 class on a RD400, and Colin Pole was the one to beat in the clubs I was in.

I was in the Bantam Racing club (anyone remember the annual p*ss up at the end of year dinner?), British Formula Racing Club, and the Southern 67 club. Looks like they all disappeared without trace at some point. I take it Bemsee is the main club still surviving?

During the early 80's I travelled to races with a bunch of friends and I was the only one who didn't ride a production bike, maybe because I was slightly older and a bit more sensible

More than once I slept on the floor of a certain race secretary's house in Rothwell follwing the Bantam Club dinner....and more than once did I see a certain contributor to this thread in a slightly "happy" state at the same do's...although I never got that way myself...no, not me

Stuart

I am Paul Lancaster I used to live in Attleborough but have married and live north of Norwich. I raced for 2 full seasons in 84 and 85.
I marshalled for several years before that.

I was part of the crew that had Alan Howlett and his wife Maureen plus a few other lads (George and wife Kate. + Howard (who had a bus!) We tended to do Sear and Russell @ Snetterton or The Hairpin at Cadwell, so not sure if we ever picked you up.

I then comentated at Bemsee mettings - I once commentated at a Racing 50 meeting and it turned wet. I was racing too so it got a bit perculiar!! My mechanic - Stan - put my wets on for the last race but because I wasn't thinking straight I forgot to top up with fuel. I was in a batch of 3 or so guys scrapping for a top 6 place and catching the guys in front (who were running KR124/TG22 combos) and ran out of fuel at Riches on the last lap Bugger!!

I liked Wobbly but I was never sure about when he was serious and when he wasn't. I think he was the guy who (on a wet Snetterton meeting) Began to sing "singing in the rain" after the engines had been switched off before the lights changed - caused a lot of chuckles and presumably he got away first.....

He was a hard rider but there were a lot of them in those days, Askins, Allot, Langan, Boldizar, Rymer, Melen. It was the last yrs of the Yamaha domination before Suzukis return with the RGV.

Hi Paul
Good to hear from you. I don't think you would have picked me up as between April 81 until july 88, when I came off at Donington and called it a day, I never fell off so I had a good run. What are you up to now and do you have anything to do with racing now ? Guy Martin and William Dunlop are at a 'Night with the Stars' at Frettenham village hall on Sat 12th Feb and I will be going. If you fancy meeting up tickets are available at most of the bike shops in Norwich.

Anyway you take care and it's good to know you are about.

Stuart

He certainly was very quick Paul, i'd be interested to know his history after 1980 when I got to know him well(I had his 79 bike) and only just managed to grab the BRC 250 proddy title off him(I was 2nd in 79). He was from Leicester way I believe and quite a devout christian, had a nice sister as well

Hi Mick
As regards to Colin Pole he always seemed out of the crowd a bit. You never felt you would know him properly. I remember at a BFRC meeting at Snetterton it was raining and I beat him in the first race, he came to look at my bike and went balistic as I had a 375 KR124 on the back. " that's illegal" and all the usual squit came out and I thought he'll slit his wrists if he doesn't win the next one but I could only come second to him in the then dry second race. He used to go out with Gail Musson, daughter of John and Hillary Musson. Gail was ok and was quite chatty and became a tidy rider herself. When I started riding her Mum and Dad were both riding production at the time. I know that they moved to the I.O.M. and sadly Hillary was one of the marshalls that was injured when a local lad from Attleborough crashed on the mountain in 2009 and he and a spectator sadly died. I had heard since that Hillary was making a good recovery. Lets hope so.

During the early 80's I travelled to races with a bunch of friends and I was the only one who didn't ride a production bike, maybe because I was slightly older and a bit more sensible

More than once I slept on the floor of a certain race secretary's house in Rothwell follwing the Bantam Club dinner....and more than once did I see a certain contributor to this thread in a slightly "happy" state at the same do's...although I never got that way myself...no, not me

Yep, I seem to recall Paul Siddons very much the worse for wear at Jane Andrew's house. Sleeping space was at a premium, and I'm sure it was Paul who kipped in the bath.

Hi Mick
...... When I started riding her Mum and Dad were both riding production at the time. I know that they moved to the I.O.M. and sadly Hillary was one of the marshalls that was injured when a local lad from Attleborough crashed on the mountain in 2009 and he and a spectator sadly died. I had heard since that Hillary was making a good recovery. Lets hope so.

http://news.bbc.co.u...000/8726137.stm


I remember her riding in the F3 at the TT in '78

Cheers

Edited by Rennmax, 31 December 2010 - 09:59.

http://news.bbc.co.u...000/8726137.stm


I remember her riding in the F3 at the TT in '78

Cheers

Hi Rennmax
Many thanks for the video. I really thought this happened only two years ago but it was 2007 ! Does time pass you by or what. Glad to see Hillary in good spirits and with us.

Here's a couple of bits I put on YouTube from Croix 2009 and 2010. In 2009 I took the bike unfaired and unpainted and despite a poor front brake and a gearbox issue between 1st and 2nd I still had a good time. I put the camera on for the last session of the weekend not knowing they would be letting the Coupe Kawasaki boys out with us. It is meant to be a parade weekend but you have to have a go don't you. The 2010 bit shows the bike in her warpaint with all the little niggles sorted out. The two guys with me are Gibbo, who went to the Manx with me. and his son Sam. At least in France you don't have to run with the silencers in.

Stuart

Yep, I seem to recall Paul Siddons very much the worse for wear at Jane Andrew's house. Sleeping space was at a premium, and I'm sure it was Paul who kipped in the bath.

Jane managed to find me and my then wife a spare bed once we were on the committee, how the rich and famous live. Jane and Chris Walpole even spent some time with us on our wedding night(behave yourselves), they stayed at the same Hotel after the "do" and we had a bottle of champagne left over so we carried on with the party. It was a good day and full of racing people. Jimmy Webb was my best man and Kieth Webb, Kieth Wray, Steve Trasler, John Oldfield, Mark Strong and Ron and Josie curtis were all there.

....As regards to Colin Pole he always seemed out of the crowd a bit. You never felt you would know him properly. I remember at a BFRC meeting at Snetterton it was raining and I beat him in the first race, he came to look at my bike and went balistic as I had a 375 KR124 on the back. " that's illegal" and all the usual squit came out and I thought he'll slit his wrists if he doesn't win the next one.....

Well, was it? If it was I'm very surprised that John Milligan didn't pick up on it, what with his reputation regarding proddy bikes.

I was with some of my friends at a meeting in 81 or 82 and Colin Pole joined in the conversation and he asked one of them who had just started racing what he was riding, he replied "An RD400", Pole said "What like mine?" to which Lin, my friend answered "No, my one's legal." There was total silence as Colin Pole turned on his heel and walked off, we all, as one would, found it rather funny. I believe there was always some rumours about the legality of that RD.

http://news.bbc.co.u...000/8726137.stm


I remember her riding in the F3 at the TT in '78

Cheers

Hilary, hubby John and daughter Gail live over here on the Island, they are regular contributors on the TT forums and I see them occasionally so i'll steer them across to this forum for a chat next time I bump into them, I think they attend Bill's (Billbomann's) regular coffee meetings so he'll probably see them first and invite them over if he reads this.

Hilary has made a remarkable recovery given the extent of her injuries and still has limitless enthusiasm for the sport, i'm amazed at just how well she has coped over the past couple of years but she's putting the accident behind her and getting on with life despite her disability.

Well, was it? If it was I'm very surprised that John Milligan didn't pick up on it, what with his reputation regarding proddy bikes.

I was with some of my friends at a meeting in 81 or 82 and Colin Pole joined in the conversation and he asked one of them who had just started racing what he was riding, he replied "An RD400", Pole said "What like mine?" to which Lin, my friend answered "No, my one's legal." There was total silence as Colin Pole turned on his heel and walked off, we all, as one would, found it rather funny. I believe there was always some rumours about the legality of that RD.

Was it illegal? news to me if it was, I didn't think tyres were an issue, not including slicks of course. I used roadgoing TT100's for a season and a half until I got real and fitted KR124's. Similarly rear shocks were ok to change, i had those upside down gas girlings which were an inch or so longer than the originals for ground clearance which saved having to play with the rules and "accidently bend the pipes. Talking of illegal, Colin sold me my X7 which had the one piece head sawn in half to allow access to one cylinder, that was pounced on in scrutineering as illegal so i had to do some pretty nifty makeup work to disguise it. I think BEMSEE were the most leniant with the rule book as they never bothered with the seat padding issue as BRC and BFRC did. I made up a replica padding that dissapeared when I sat on it as I just couldn't get on with sitting up in the air, so in my mindset, it was a safety issue and nothing to do with performance. I must admit that this cheating thing is something I didn't miss when i went open class. I must have been a bit too blase about it though because a friend of mine and old rival recently told me that in F1 I was the only mug out there without an oversize engine and not using AVGAS.

Well, was it? If it was I'm very surprised that John Milligan didn't pick up on it, what with his reputation regarding proddy bikes.

I was with some of my friends at a meeting in 81 or 82 and Colin Pole joined in the conversation and he asked one of them who had just started racing what he was riding, he replied "An RD400", Pole said "What like mine?" to which Lin, my friend answered "No, my one's legal." There was total silence as Colin Pole turned on his heel and walked off, we all, as one would, found it rather funny. I believe there was always some rumours about the legality of that RD.

Was it legal ? Well the reason John Milligan didn't like the 375's was that they rubbed on the brake arm so some boys started to put a kink in the arm but John didn't like this and stated that the arm must be straight as per original. He didn't have a problem with mine as it didn't hit the arm, the arm was straight and the wheels were in line. What he failed to notice was that I had move the mounting point on the swingarm about 10mm making it miss the tyre. Such naughty boys !

The trouble with being up the front is that most of the grid think your bike must be hooky but the bottom line is someone has to ride it to the win and there were lots of quick boys about so you had to be quick and not just the bike. I had two lads convinced the engines I had done for them were crap so I rode both of them in races. One I won and dropped the other while in the lead. What can I say ! Big bores, modified pipes, Avgas, bored carbs, Motoplat ignitions, TZ cranks, straight cut gears, close ratio boxes all of these and more were talked about and many were tried but the quick riders all shone through I think. I'm sure they were all thought about by 'Stan' at some time if not tried.

With Colin Pole I always felt that he thought he was beaten by the bike and not the rider and with the amount of good riders that came along, with the advent of the LC, he would get beaten more and more. Maybe I'm being unfair to the man but this is how it seemed to me at the time. I've never heard Colin praise another rider that had beaten him but I have heard him doubt the legality of their bike.

Stuart

All very true stu mate

I remember being at a Racing 50 Club meeting when Jim Parker decided to have the headlights checked on all the RD's and other proddies at scrutineering, if it didnt work you could'nt ride in the proddie race.

We were at Cadwell and my mate had to race off in the van to a bike shop in Louth and get about 20 headlamp bulbs for everyone, I also remember the big fuss about removing seat padding and my mate's vain arguments with scrutineers most weekends as he tried to convince them that his seat had 'just sagged like that honest mister' i'm glad I didnt ride proddies.

There was never much to worry about in the open classes but I did once get pulled for having clip ons which were supposedly shorter than the legal minimum!! when I pointed out that i was on a TD1C against TZ's and I didnt think it would do much to make up my 20bhp power disadvantage he let me off.

Edited by Paul Collins, 31 December 2010 - 19:19.

I remember being at a Racing 50 Club meeting when Jim Parker decided to have the headlights checked on all the RD's and other proddies at scrutineering, if it didnt work you could'nt ride in the proddie race.

We were at Cadwell and my mate had to race off in the van to a bike shop in Louth and get about 20 headlamp bulbs for everyone, I also remember the big fuss about removing seat padding and my mate's vain arguments with scrutineers most weekends as he tried to convince them that his seat had 'just sagged like that honest mister' i'm glad I didnt ride proddies.

There was never much to worry about in the open classes but I did once get pulled for having clip ons which were supposedly shorter than the legal minimum!! when I pointed out that i was on a TD1C against TZ's and I didnt think it would do much to make up my 20bhp power disadvantage he let me off.

There were a few 'binges' on the proddy boys and the seat foam was one of their favourites. Do you remember the 'shortened front pipes' - the alternator test which meant you had to put on your headlight and then rev the bike to see if it got brighter and this also checked for another type of ignition - the cardboard over the air intake to see if the bike stalled, if not you had a hole in your box - if the clutch side whined you had straight cut gears - the baffles out to compare with a standard one and the marks had to be there to show none of the baffle plates had been removed - one of John Milligans favourites on the X7 was if the caps in the baffle tubes had been knocked out which would make the exhaust note whistle and he would stick a thin rod up them to check. I knocked mine out but put in some thin pins so the stick would hit them but allow the gasses past. John always said mine whistled but never could get his stick in !

I heard rumours of people running paraffin in gearboxes and removing seals from wheel bearings to reduce drag, did it really get to that level?

I heard rumours of people running paraffin in gearboxes and removing seals from wheel bearings to reduce drag, did it really get to that level?

That sounds excessive Paul but I wouldn't put it past em. As Stu said, you had to ride it so give me a rider over trickery any day. The only rule I broke knowingly was the seat padding thing which was a load of B******s anyway. Surely if that's how you feel safer on your bike it makes sense to give in a little, hat's off to BEMSEE for taking a sensible attitude to it.

That sounds excessive Paul but I wouldn't put it past em. As Stu said, you had to ride it so give me a rider over trickery any day. The only rule I broke knowingly was the seat padding thing which was a load of B******s anyway. Surely if that's how you feel safer on your bike it makes sense to give in a little, hat's off to BEMSEE for taking a sensible attitude to it.

Well when I started taking the prep of the whole bike and not just the engine seriously I changed the wheel bearings from the rubber sealed type to a single steel shield type and removed the gears from the speedo drive so it was just a spacer and you could feel the difference. Also I radius the edges of the brake pads and when you bleed the brakes push back the pads, put on the reservoir cap, which should seal and not have a vent, and then pump out the pads. This left a vacuum which helps pull the pads off the disc for free running. These are some of the things I did. I knew I could not match the power of some of the motors out there but I prepped the bike to run as free and light as I could to make use of what I had.

Was it illegal? news to me if it was, I didn't think tyres were an issue, not including slicks of course. I used roadgoing TT100's for a season and a half until I got real and fitted KR124's. Similarly rear shocks were ok to change, i had those upside down gas girlings which were an inch or so longer than the originals for ground clearance which saved having to play with the rules and "accidently bend the pipes. Talking of illegal, Colin sold me my X7 which had the one piece head sawn in half to allow access to one cylinder, that was pounced on in scrutineering as illegal so i had to do some pretty nifty makeup work to disguise it. I think BEMSEE were the most leniant with the rule book as they never bothered with the seat padding issue as BRC and BFRC did. I made up a replica padding that dissapeared when I sat on it as I just couldn't get on with sitting up in the air, so in my mindset, it was a safety issue and nothing to do with performance. I must admit that this cheating thing is something I didn't miss when i went open class. I must have been a bit too blase about it though because a friend of mine and old rival recently told me that in F1 I was the only mug out there without an oversize engine and not using AVGAS.

Hi Mick, I can honestly say hand on heart that my Fi Suzuki was definitely 997cc with Yoshimura pistons and ran on pump petrol. However .............. we did have handcut slicks cut to a KR124 pattern by a brilliant ex Dunlop guy from Solihull, cant remember his name but had a standup row with Fred Curry at the Marlboro round at Thruxton who wasnt too impressed, Rob Gourlay intervened and said " If there were money on this race then blood would be spilt !"
Top man and sorely missed !

Hi Mick, I can honestly say hand on heart that my Fi Suzuki was definitely 997cc with Yoshimura pistons and ran on pump petrol. However .............. we did have handcut slicks cut to a KR124 pattern by a brilliant ex Dunlop guy from Solihull, cant remember his name but had a standup row with Fred Curry at the Marlboro round at Thruxton who wasnt too impressed, Rob Gourlay intervened and said " If there were money on this race then blood would be spilt !"
Top man and sorely missed !

Hi Steve
I seem to remember Fred Curry had a 'problem' with a Triumph and the CRMC then maybe I'm wrong !

Nice one Steve, that's two of us then, I'm not alone

Just to add fuel to the fire, I raced against Alf Mossel for the BRC 1300 4 stroke championship all year in 82 and of course learnt his strength and weakness during the process. His bike was quick but not unbeatable and I had the wiggly bits sorted so the annual 50 miler was where I would win or lose the championship. We both got away in front and I thought I'd sit behind him for a while, long race after all. We exited Sears and my heart sunk, he just rocketed away so quick my heart sunk. By lap 19 I was a lonely 2nd in front of Nick Jury, Ray Knight and I think Dave Cartwright but not sure on that one, anyway my pit board started showing P1 and I got kinda puzzled. It seems Alf had blown his motor and handed me the pot, kind of poetic justice really I guess.

Just to add fuel to the fire, I raced against Alf Mossel for the BRC 1300 4 stroke championship all year in 82 and of course learnt his strength and weakness during the process. His bike was quick but not unbeatable and I had the wiggly bits sorted so the annual 50 miler was where I would win or lose the championship. We both got away in front and I thought I'd sit behind him for a while, long race after all. We exited Sears and my heart sunk, he just rocketed away so quick my heart sunk. By lap 19 I was a lonely 2nd in front of Nick Jury, Ray Knight and I think Dave Cartwright but not sure on that one, anyway my pit board started showing P1 and I got kinda puzzled. It seems Alf had blown his motor and handed me the pot, kind of poetic justice really I guess.

Justice !

Woo-hooo ! Some excellent wheezes there : the more stringent the rules, the more inventive the cheating ! The Castrol 6 Hour race at Amaroo came up with some eye-poppers, but wherever blokes race against rules, inventiveness will win !
Some great yarns there lads, really enjoying the thread.