New helmet for Streetfighter

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An evening with Jim Redman

The Northants and MK Honda Owners Club arranged an evening with Jim Redman at Overstone Manor, Northampton, on Wednesday 15th May 2013 so I eagerly went along.

What a character he is. He has a million tales to tell and all with pinpoint accuracy and recall.

On himself. I knew I was not a talent so I had to do it by strategy.

On women. I never cheated on my wife if she was on the same continent.

On Mike Hailwood's bike set up. I was in the garage one day and sat on Mike's bike. The controls were all over the place so I got out some spanners and put them straight. Mike came in, sat on his bike and said - " Who's been fiddling with my bike ? "

On racing Phil Read in the Isle of Man. I knew he had better acceleration and top speed but with him starting after me I decided to let him catch me then see if he would blow the bike up. He caught me at Rhencullen and thereafter I showed him my wheel wherever possible. Then, going up the mountain, he suddenly sat up and I thought " You beauty - she's blown ! ". And she had.

On scariest moment. Flat out down Bray Hill on the Manx Norton he took a glance at the rev counter, clouted the kerbstone, fishtailed along the pavement and got away with it. Upon examining the bike he found all 4 sump bolt heads sheared off. On going back to look at the kerb a big chunk was freshly torn out. Turning to the Marshal to ask what he had seen to be told " I saw you coming down the pavement and ducked behind the hedge to take a shit ! "

On favourite bike. 296cc Honda Six. As quick as the 500.

On the Honda 500 Four. I liked it but it was the only bike I ever saw that Mike Hailwood could not get on with. He said it was horrible so I said have a go on mine. He came back and same yours is no better than mine. He changed the frame and all sorts

but just never got on with it.

On Honda contracts. Never had a written contract with them just an agreement that we both kept. On the very first one he and Tom Phillis were signing up and did not know how much to ask for. So they agreed to ask for £3500 each plus start money, win money, etc, etc. Honda drew up a list with everytrhing they would get and a big blank on the other side for what Honda would get. Honda then asked the pair - so what do we get then ? Redman was stumped but Tom Phillis chalked up The Rider to big smiles from Honda and thus the deals were done.

On beating Hailwood in the Isle of Man. Strategy at work again. Redman knew they would pit together. So he and his crew worked out how long it took for the fuel gravity filler to empty and came up with 23 seconds. Come the pit stop and the crew were ready with the stopwatch. Redman came into the pit with the fuel cap already undone. A crew member stood next to him with fresh googles on his head. Whilst the fuel went in all he had to do was reach over and swap googles, the watch man yelled 19 seconds, Redman banged the filler cap shut and took off. Net result 19 second pit stop v Hailwood 30 second pit stop and the win !

On Michelle Duff. No inkling in the paddock at all that he was about to change from Mike to Michelle.

On counter contract offers from other factories. Got them all the time so he would tell Honda, they would do a deal and everyone stayed happy.

On the TT course. Liked Start to Ramsey but could not get The Mountain right. I could not count ! The Mountain is all 1,2,3,4,5 right then 1.2.3 left and so on and I just could not get it right.

On greatest rider of his era never to win a World Championship. Bob Macintyre. Bob was way faster than me on the Isle of Man and actually showed me around but the tables were turned in Europe when I had to slow up at Assen to lead my all time hero round.

 

All this plus endless entertaining anecdotes. Do not miss any chance to hear them from the 82 year old legend himself.

 

Ethel goes North

A stunning morning so it was up and away early for a 280 mile round trip on Ethel. Of course breakfast was a priority.
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Spoof rules for a new bike club

Someone local is trying to set up a new bike club. Based on my experiences of local bike clubs here are some of my, rejected, club rules suggestions.
Rules for new club. 1. Must be able to describe difference between 2 stroke and 4 stroke. 2. Anyone talking about cooking, shopping or anything domestic is barred. 3. Anyone serving up chicken nuggets in France will be shot. 4.Same goes for biker wannabees that hang around other peoples bikes in tents. 5. Members must have keen interest in bike porn like camshaft serial numbers. 6. Anyone producing cup cakes will be made to lick a toilet bowl.7. Members must not give a shit how far you rode yesterday. 8. Anyone wearing a Twat suit to be doused in diesel.9. Ride outs to be for single bike only - see you there. 10. Can't think of any more.
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Purple ZXR stripped off

A good morning in the sunshine to drill out seized original fairing bolts to get the fairing off. Needed to do this to drain coolant and get better access to the fork legs which are coming out to be stripped to see why the seals persist in leaking despite twice being professionally replaced.
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Fuel pump relay Guilty as charged

Put in used relay from breakers £12 and she fired first time.
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