So much for track days then

Finally made use of a No Limits track day ticket I bought 2 years ago and which was snowed off then cancelled due to low numbers. With the recent fine weather I thought I'd use it up so booked for Snetterton. Up at 0430 and away to a cloudburst rainstorm around Cambridge so pulled into services to check trailer and let it pass over. Bollocks! Got into truck fuel line and lost 20 minutes getting out. Anyway weather good again at circuit, signed on, got bollocking for no helmet at paddock noise test then missed the first session. Thought it was at 1000 but it was brought forward to 0900. Mmm day not too good so far then. All clear to tag on to next group out to do mandatory 3 sighting laps. These went OK, instructor pulled off, everyone flew past and I started to wonder what I was doing out there. When I realised that I was spending time wondering what those crops were in that field over there the realisation dawned that I should not be doing this. So I pulled in and packed up there and then. It is one thing to be able to keep up at a VJMC lunchtime parade of blinged up Jap oldies but the track day brigade are completely different. I was amazed by the bikes and set ups on hand. Full on Superbike team style outfits just for track day use. I asked some if they raced but was told no - all this just for track days seems pointless. 2 blokes had HP2 BMW S1000R s with carbon swinging arms, wets, intermediates, slicks, different sprockets, tyre warmers - you name it they had it. But what did it for me was the overall level of performance of all the other bikes. This is a place where the latest thing matters but with that you get performance. No idea what skill level the riders have but everything out there smoked me. Never mind. Back to parades, that'll be a relief after this.

As dark as a dark thing

Contributing to the concern over Siegfried's fuse is the thought that at this year's Manx GP he will be my sole means of transport. When darkness falls on the Isle of Man it falls completely, often there is no ambient light at all and it can be ink black. So best to do all I can now to try and avoid possible problems in the dark.

Replacement valve caps

As nice as it is to retain the original knurled metal valve caps this can, strange as it may seem, cause a scrutineering failure at circuits. I know Siegfried won't be racing but parades are scrutineered. Rationale is that lost metal valve caps can lay on the track and cause punctures. For example Manx GP is strict on this.

Fuse updated

Here we have the fuse update. Waterproof enclosed bayonet 25 Amp fuse with heat sealed connectors and stainless Allen bolts. Happy now.

Original 25 Amp glass fuse

This is a 20mm 25 Amp glass interior light fuse. Virtually unobtainable in 20mm nowadays.

Original fuse set up

From day one I've not liked the look of this. One pothole thump, shattered glass fuse and you're stranded. It had to go.

Bar end mirror

Now that the major issues have been taken care of I'm really enjoying making the finishing touches. Here is the correct bar end mirror, fitted as it was on the left end of the bars.

Plug brown at last!

At long long last after all that work the plug is a lovely digestive biscuit colour, hooray!