41 replies to this topic

[k4racer]

it is such a shame that so few folk are posting on here, i miss the who-where and when and stories of bikes and riders. I am sure people are still reading the stuff on here, just not posting. Maybe it will perk up in the winter when it is too cold in the shed.

[knickerbrook]

I share your disappointment k4racer .

 

It seems most people are getting their fix on Facebook these days, including myself I must confess. Nevertheless, every time I fire up my PC (which is every day) I faithfully look in here in the vain hope that some one has posted something!

Photos have always generated great interest on the forum, and it’s a pity we don’t see more of them. There must be loads of pictures hidden away in drawers that people mistakenly think would be of no interest to anyone else, or the quality might be a bit iffy, but that doesn’t matter a jot - we want to see them! A lot of printers have a scanning facility these days. Random paddock shots always go down well – surely everyone has some of them!

 

The forum has given me a lot of pleasure over the years and I for one, will continue to look in. As the saying goes – use it, or lose it!

 

So who is the rider leaning against the (good old Thames) van door?

 

 

[Paul Collins]

I still look in most days Barry, and yes it is a shame that the forum is so quiet, once I get time I'm hoping to dig out some more old programmes and cuttings to post, but that will likely be a few months away.........and no idea on the chap in the shot, looks like Paul Smart holding the bike though?

[tonyed]

Perhaps nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

 

I visit most days.

 

Had a day out yesterday picking up bits to restore a good mates TZ A. Caught up with a few old racing friends and what did we talk about mainly, our failing health.

 

Still two weeks off work coming up and the TZ should be a different animal at the end, hopefully.

[milestone 11]

Not that I add much to the conversation, I lurk hereabouts most days.

[knickerbrook]

A clue as to the rider in the picture - he is Welsh!

[SMonty]

Yes, have to echo the sentiments of previous posts here - still look in but disappointed with the lack of gossip.

 

If I can just make one point, and it has been mentioned on here loads of times, the difficulty of posting photos. It's not exactly user friendly is it? Well certainly not for my type whose computer literacy is way behind that of your average 9 year old.

 

I do feel if there was a simpler way of posting photos it could only help.

[k4racer]

Griff Jenkins ?

 

[k4racer]

not you is it barry?

[knickerbrook]

No no, not me!

 

This chap was pretty well known on the national scene in the early seventies (in fact, he lead the British 750 championship for a while one year, on his home-brewed, Manx-framed Triumph with 8-valve Weslake conversion - until it blew up at Thruxton!). It's Brian Adams from Cardiff! (Pictured with said motor in a Seeley frame).  

 

As an aside, a lot of people thought Griff Jenkins was a welshman, because of the "dragon" on his helmet. But actually he is a Londoner (I think one of his parents might have been Welsh though). Recently, a friend of Griff's explained (on Facebook) that it was a griffin on his helmet and not a dragon (there is difference apparently!). The Griffin therefore is for "Griff"!   

[k4racer]

ok you beat us with the rider. we did get the bike as a seely frame and triumph motor, but where was the photo taken and who else is in it. by the way 'us' is me martin and my mate dave saltwell

 

[knickerbrook]

It was taken at Thruxton (photo "pinched" from the very excellent Dave Riley's website I have referred to in a separate post - have you looked at it by the way?). The only other person I know in the photo is the follicly-challenged chap on the left - he is Glyn Worwood.

 

Yeah, the name Dave Saltwell rings a bell - so Martin "who" are you then k4? (Believe you know mine). 

 

Cheers, Barry.

[k4racer]

nobody famous im afraid, surname is hill and finished racing career on my own k4 and robin ovendons tz,

[knickerbrook]

You ain't gotta be "famous" on here bud - we're all the same kind   ! 

After all, if it wasn't for small fry like us, the stars would have nobody to beat would they? 

[ERIC63]

State of the art facilities for the 1970's.

 

Edited by ERIC63, 29 September 2016 - 07:53.

[knickerbrook]

That you Eric - if so, what and where?

(Surely that grid wasn't in use with that caravan next to it - or the track even  !).

Edited by knickerbrook, 28 September 2016 - 14:49.

[ERIC63]

Flookburgh 1979,and yes it was a bit scary.And yes,it was the start line.

Edited by ERIC63, 28 September 2016 - 18:16.

[ERIC63]

Another one from Flookburgh.

D.Patt,Robert Norgate and Adrian Andrews

 

[Paul Collins]

I remember Flookburgh, the Formula 5 club used to run meetings there, I never got over there myself, but it was one of those places I wished I had, a few of the lads I knew rode there and told me all about it.

From what I was told it was a static caravan park, and was short, tight and bumpy.

Edited by Paul Collins, 29 September 2016 - 08:52.

[ERIC63]

It's been closed for about 30 years now so I'm not sure if the track is still there or if they've extended the caravan camp over it.Used to be known as the Ponderosa circuit.

[ERIC63]

Knickerbrook at Oulton Park how it used to look.

 

Edited by ERIC63, 29 September 2016 - 09:08.

[SMonty]

Another one from Flookburgh.

D.Patt,Robert Norgate and Adrian Andrews

 

Never been to Flookburgh but this pic reminds me of Aghadowey in N.I.

[Bob Riebe]

Maybe a bit off topic but I was/am surprised that this site pays no attention to the IOM Classic.

Now it is a current race but the biikes are decades old as are some of the riders.

 

I figured some here might have some inside info on the bikes and riders there.

Edited by Bob Riebe, 25 October 2018 - 16:30.

[roger9650]

Classic TT etc.

Interesting thread here     http://www.ttwebsite...d.php?tid=23163

[knickerbrook]

An extract from the above link - words fail me!

 

It was only a money thing as the 72,5 mm pistons would have been special parts and £40,000 whilst the 73mm are standard at £3,000 each.’

 

     

[milestone 11]

Maybe a bit off topic but I was/am surprised that this site pays not attention to the IOM Classic.

Now it is a current race but the biikes are decades old as are some of the riders.

 

I figured some here might have some inside info on the bikes and riders there.

I had a 2016 Classic thread running in Racing Comments, I was its only contributor.    I remember inviting you to come along during TT.

[Bob Riebe]

I had a 2016 Classic thread running in Racing Comments, I was its only contributor.    I remember inviting you to come along during TT.

SORRY, I rarely read Racing Comments any more.

When I did comment on bike racing thread a gent said I would be better just going to the IOM site.

Edited by Bob Riebe, 03 October 2016 - 04:35.

[chunder27]

There is a lot of interest in bike racing on there, but it centres mainly on current MotoGP, you do occasionally get some folk talking about times past, but rarely.

 

As for the TT, it's a bit like Le Mans, it focuses the forum for the time it is current they dies away, most people are only interested for that event I am afraid.

 

This area of the forum was fairly vibrant, but for whatever reason has died away, people used to regularly post pictures of old, and of up to 80/90's times when I started going, but that seems to have stopped.

 

Things have a life I suppose

[ERIC63]

I don't think it's just happening on here.I look in on 4 or 5 other sites and none of them seem to be as used as much as they once were.

Perhaps everyone's on facebook these days(don't do it myself).

[Sharman]

Knickerbrook at Oulton Park how it used to look.

 

 

 

I don't know about bikes (although my son races a Lambretta with 40bhp) but Knickerbrook was always a daunting prospect even in a relatively slow car. It makes (made) one aware of ones own limitations especially when being lapped just before it by one of the quick boys.

[tonyed]

Facebook - I leave that to those who don't know any better   like yoof (anyone under 40) who appear to be obsessed with letting everyone under the sun know they've been to the toilet or have scabies. 

 

Modern bikes - the only good looking modern bikes are the Panegale and the Aprilia V4 the rest look like something from a Bruegel nightmare with a dustbin hanging off one side.

 

Modern racers who seem to suffer from St Vitus Dance or a desire to be a Can Can dancer when entering a bend.

 

The pathetic farting noise of Moto3 a class that now puts the idea of entry level racing out of the reach of ordinary people   

 

Can't wait for the Alien invasion to take them all away  

[chunder27]

I think social media has a lot to answer for in terms of the lack of use in forums.

 

I detest it in some ways, but in others it is good.

 

I am a member of a couple of really good retro groups on facebook, one for autograss and one for rallycross, and some of the discussions had on there are excellent.

 

They would have died very quickly on here, as you just don't get the same in your face publicity and instant feedback here as you can on face book. And there isn't enough interest to have their own forums, chat groups etc.

 

Twitter I don't understand, very sycophantic, I will follow you to gain stuff if you follow me!  Weird word, like downloading music!!  Weird world!!

 

Modern racebikes are probably just as horrible to older generations as things like the RS125, TZ and NS500, 600's, 400's  were to the old Norton/BSA/Matchless etc etc etc brigade in the 60's.

 

I think Moto3 is the best racing we have seen since the early 125 Honda days, the bikes are technically quite cool, beautifully made and a lot more trick than an old RS125 was that was using prehistoric suspension, an old motocross engine, but provided the world with a relatively cheap (until you wanted to win on it at a decent level) race bike most could ride.

 

I prefer the latter day 2 strokes and early MotoGP bikes, no electronics, rider power etc. but that is old world now sadly. It is coming back in terms of the show but it's here to stay I am afraid.

[Russell Burrows]

No no, not me!

 

This chap was pretty well known on the national scene in the early seventies (in fact, he lead the British 750 championship for a while one year, on his home-brewed, Manx-framed Triumph with 8-valve Weslake conversion - until it blew up at Thruxton!). It's Brian Adams from Cardiff! (Pictured with said motor in a Seeley frame).  

 

As an aside, a lot of people thought Griff Jenkins was a welshman, because of the "dragon" on his helmet. But actually he is a Londoner (I think one of his parents might have been Welsh though). Recently, a friend of Griff's explained (on Facebook) that it was a griffin on his helmet and not a dragon (there is difference apparently!). The Griffin therefore is for "Griff"!   

As you may know, Barry, he's alive and well, living in Wimbledon and apparently a keen bowls player.   

[pete53]

Although primarily a car racing man I have often enjoyed visiting the two-wheel ( and three) department on TNF. I have some very fond memories of watching bike racing at my local circuit, Crystal Palace, back in the 1960s. Anyway, I think the lament of k4Racer to some extent applies to the four-wheel fraternity as well.

 

The "problem" with the past and nostalgia is that there is only so much of it - it is finite. I have been a member and poster to the forum for a number of years, and I notice on the car racing section that there is increasingly little of interest to me in what is now being posted. Most of the obvious topics to reminisce about have already been covered and discussed in great depth. A lot of new threads relate to very specialised areas of interest which are of probably little concern to most members.

 

When someone does attempt to start a new thread on something that may have been touched on in the past, somebody will normally tick them off for not having done a search to check if the subject matter already exists. That's fair enough if the thread is fairly recent history but when a forum has been going 15 years plus I think it is okay to allow newer members to start a fresh discussion on something when it is 10 years or more since it was last a live discussion. The alternative is having a forum that is followed by increasingly fewer people discussing ever more obscure subjects. I should add that these reflection refer to my experiences on the car racing section of TNF.

 

I did say that the past is "finite" but of course every year that goes by adds to the past. However, this begs the question of how long in the past does something have to be before it can qualify as nostalgia? I have noted some rather withering comments directed at some younger contributors on the car section, which is guaranteed to deter them from ever visiting and posting on the site again. But, if we are too protective of "our nostalgia", and don't accept and welcome younger people whose era for nostalgia is more recent than ours the danger is the site will stagnate and eventually die.

[k4racer]

well at least I have managed to get a few folk posting again. also this confirms my belief that plenty of peps visit the site and read but don't post. Re the last posting about finite nostalgia I think t would be good to revisit some of the old stuff as all the photos disappear after a while. lets have some w.w.w  and stories of the old days at all levels including club. not all of us were gp riders  (does the ulster gp count?)

[chunder27]

The thing you have to remember is regarding such things as supposed spent topics.

 

Hardly anyone ever, ever scrolls back through the pages or does a search to find out if someone has posted about something before.

 

So, although starting a topic that has been visited before might annoy the odd user (and they will always comment on the fact sadly), it might also attract new contributions from newer members who did not see the original thread that was here 4 years ago or whatever.

 

So as far as I am concerned, post away, what's the worst that can happen? You upset a niggly man who hates the fact that the same thing was talked about 5 years ago?  Get a life and talk about what you like as far as I am concerned.

[knickerbrook]

I also wonder if new visitors to this site (if there are any!) take the trouble to scroll back through the 41 pages of past topics! Granted, most of the photos have disappeared from them, but there's still a lot of stuff there worthy of further comment from new faces. So if there are any new members who might not have done so - please do take a scroll! 

[46700]

Facebook - I leave that to those who don't know any better   like yoof (anyone under 40) who appear to be obsessed with letting everyone under the sun know they've been to the toilet or have scabies. 

 

Modern bikes - the only good looking modern bikes are the Panegale and the Aprilia V4 the rest look like something from a Bruegel nightmare with a dustbin hanging off one side.

 

Modern racers who seem to suffer from St Vitus Dance or a desire to be a Can Can dancer when entering a bend.

 

The pathetic farting noise of Moto3 a class that now puts the idea of entry level racing out of the reach of ordinary people   

 

Can't wait for the Alien invasion to take them all away  

Bring back the 2Smoke all is forgiven + you never got bitten by the wee flying objects with teeth like crocodiles

[greg1953]

Another one from Flookburgh.

D.Patt,Robert Norgate and Adrian Andrews

Adrian Andrews was a victim of my big crash at Flookburgh, 7 May'79, I was leading and crashed on the first left, bike hit earth bank and came back onto the track taking out a few other riders, Adrian being one, he sold me a pair of exhausts as mine were pulverised. I still suffer from the injury to my neck, can't get behind a screen.

 

 

[Paul Rochdale]

'Tis true, I haven't been here, or anywhere else on the TNF website, for a couple of years. I'm unsure why but enthusiasm for me ebbs and flows. I have just posted on the Racing Collectables section about collecting autographs, and my own collection of F1 and motorcycle racers, which some of you might find interesting. With riders getting older and passing away, I need to get a move on to enlarge my collection.

[knickerbrook]

Hi Paul

Indeed it's a pity how so many forums like this one have all but died out, due to the overwhelming popularity of Facebook.

If I recall correctly Paul, weren't you the person who started this very Motorcycle Nostalgia section off way back in the mists of time? Well I must say it was a great success and posting here has given me immeasurable pleasure over the years - so a big "thank you" for that  ! But as we all know, the world has moved on.

I was very sceptical, frightened even, of joining Facebook myself, but after much persuasion from the late Phil Murphin ("phil2.8" of this parish!) I finally succumbed. And it really was a revelation  !

No need to preach to the converted of course, but for any members of this forum who are still reluctant to get on Facebook for whatever reason - I would urge you to reconsider. You will be astonished, as I was, of what racing stuff (and what racers!) are on there!

PS: I still look in here from time to time, of course !

Regards, 

Barry.

[Michael Ferner]

No facebook for me, for reasons that I think should be obvious (though apparently, they aren't). I'd rather die with the dinosaurs.