Guzzi Rally

I attended the Scottish Guzzi Rally over the May weekend, last year when I went up to Applecross on my Guzzi Daytona it was going well but the Bevel box was being sick on the back wheel. Over Christmas I ordered new seals, they arrived and I put them on the shelf hoping that the threat of being disembowelled would shock the Bevel box into repairing itself. I then read about a mod which helps the problem this involves putting a breather in the box so that it relives the pressure and subsequently the pressure on the seals. Well guess what…. It still pissed oil all over the back wheel except now it’s blowing out the breather as well as through the seals. So it looks like I may actually have to fit the seals now as leaving them on the shelf hasn’t fixed the problem. Back to the Guzzi Rally, I arrived at Wemyss bay just South of Greenock on the Friday afternoon, the sky was grey, nothing unusual for the West coast though. There was a minor drama when a lifeboat came in to Caledonian MacBraynes berth to offload a guy who we found out later had had a stroke into an Ambulance. The jobsworths loading the boat were as usual for people with some authority and no education complete ass holes. Instead of letting the all the bikes on to fill the ferry up they badly packed it with cars so that half of the waiting motorcyclists had to awit for the next ferry. And it wasn’t cheap at almost £20 return .Because of the constant rain in the area the field we used last year was unsuitable so the council allowed us to camp on the park next to the Shinty club where the Rally was held. As long as you avoided the dog crap and the small lakes around the site it was fine.

Tents up and the usual evening followed, on the way back to the tent I managed to get attacked by a small wall but was luckily saved by a passing Samaritan.

Up in the morning to wash the blood of my bruised legs and we went for a small run (it’s impossible to go for anything other than a small run on Bute) and generally chilled out talking Guzzi nonsense to anybody that we met. Guzzi owners are very much like Norton Owners, they have a masochistic streak that makes them ride motorcycles that aren’t always fit for purpose but they spend their lives trying to convince themselves that they are. The rest of the weekend followed and either passed listening to the rain in the tent or drinking excessively whilst at the same time inventing new dances. A brilliant weekend in good company. On the ferry home a gentleman enquired if my legs were OK, yes this was the chap who picked me up on the Friday, quite embarrassing but somehow quite normal!

I did get some complaints over the weekend about the stink of gearbox oil coming out of the bike, the breather was doing its job, spreading the horrible smell of Castrol’s finest 90 weight oil for all to enjoy!

And when I returned back to the East it was a sunny pleasant day

Jem’s Wedding

Phil Trudy and myself made the trip to Portsmouth last weekend to attend Jem Nicholls wedding (former Roadholder editor and general all round good chap) a good time was had by all and the evening reception turned out to be a bit like a Norton Rally in that we spent all night talking Nortons to familiar faces and got extremely merry. Jems guest of honour was his Commando which came along to enjoy the festivities.

BMW Woes

A friend of mine recently bought a BMW 1200 GS I love Ewen & Charley thing. At its first (600 mile) service he reported the gearbox was a bit awkward to get in to first gear, they recommended that they should change the box! A friend of his also has one, at 200 miles it died with a faulty alternator!.

Now remember all these stories about Norton Commando’s being unreliable!!!!!

It is probably just as well that the Germans have given up their quest for world domination otherwise on their next trip to Poland the AA & RAC would be kept busy.

George’s DKW

George’s beloved DKW has been sold to New Zealand, amazingly someone (who has obviously just been released from a mental hospital) saw the bike advertised and is arranging to have it shipped over. I am not sure if George is also giving the guy a tape with his pre recorded DKW speech on it, the one that starts “Yes it is a Rotary, I’ve had it from new It etc etc etc. We’ll all miss it George.

For Sale

1972 Norton Commando Roadster. Very Good condition. £3000 o.n.o. For further Details please see George ( 07742 852057)

Coming Soon

National Rally Essex on the 3^rd, 4^th 5^th of June. Further details see either George or myself

Applecross festival of Music & Sea food

(a bit like Woodstock but without the people and the bands and with some fish) 10^th 11^th 12^th June.

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not necessarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli

May 2005