Thanks to Jim

Luckily I was at the Classic club last night (on the JPN) where I happened to meet Jim otherwise this newsletter wouldn’t be written. I’d forgotten the club night was tonight thinking it was next week so thanks Jim!

Drivel

MVD on the road again….well almost

My old faithful Interstate has been undergoing a full engine rebuild recently and two weeks ago I got it fired up for the first time, pleased to say it sounded well. I had a run around the country lanes last week to get the first 100 miles on it so I could re torque the head and prepare it for the Euro trip next week. As I was checking it over for it’s MOT test I noticed considerable play on the swing arm. The air in the garage turned blue ! It looks like the pin is worn in the gearbox cradle. Whilst the engine was out I had considered fitting the brand new cradle I had in the garage but decided against it as I reckoned the existing one was still serviceable, bugger! So my advice is, if you are into the guts of your Norton and you think there is even the remotest possibility that any part of it might be worn and you just happen to have a new bit there, FIT IT!

Alas MVD will not be fixed in time for next weeks trip to the South of Ireland, France & Belgium but will hopefully be OK in time for the National and the August tour. Thanks to Dave Templeman for pointing me in the direction of Heinz Kegler in New Mexico who makes a clamp arrangement which after you drill a hole in the swing arm, clamps the pin up similar to a Mk3 arrangement so that should buy me some time with the old cradle.

Of course I was then left in quandary, what to take to Ireland next week. The Mk3 has been to uncomfortable lately so I decided the JPN would be a good option. Friday night was spent giving it a good service (the last time it was out was at the Isle of Man for the International) . It all went well and that was the plan, that was until I decided to check over the Mk3 and see why it was such a horrible bike to ride. A couple of weeks ago I convinced myself the front Isolastics’s were possibly faulty/ seized and had half an hour trying to understand what was wrong but gave up. Funny you can live with a bike for ages and put up with annoying quirks but eventually it gets to you. As I looked at the Mk3 in the corner of the garage I had the light bulb moment, The front Iso mounting bolt was in the wrong way round (one of the previous owners) why I’m not sure as its easier to put it in correctly than the wrong way. The locknut was tight against the timing chest and was acting as a solid conduit between the frame & engine, hence the horrible ride. Changing the bolt around, a tweak to the suspension and a change of handlebars ( the 4^th in the year I’ve had it) has transformed the bike. So it’s the MK3’s inaugural Euro trip next week. I’ll keep you posted as to how it goes.

So next week off to Ireland (in the vicinity of Kenmare west of Cork) for the Irish NOC weekend then after a couple of days sunbathing in France (hopefully) up to the BBA meeting in Belgium. At least I’ll have something to write about in the next newsletter!.

Petrol prices

You can’t help but notice the rising prices just now, these are due to the price of Crude oil going through the roof but the oil companies will make increased profits through it and the major oil producers will get richer. The cartel of Oil producing countries that is OPEC are refusing to increase production, why would you when people still insist on paying any price for your product? We have become dependent on Oil to run our cars / Bikes / trains / planes, whatever, so most of us has no option but to pay it. Of course this knocks on and the price of goods increases because the haulage has increases. Grim times for us petrol heads! I’m thinking of fitting the SU again to get my 70MPG back. It may not make the Commando perform just as good as twin Amals but at least I can still be out there enjoying it. Governments - Basatrds! Oil producers - Bastards ! all holding us to ransom! Time for revolution !

National Rally

There should be a flyer in the next Road Holder, still not much sign of entries (a trickle) and no feedback from the NOC on how many (if any) are inscribing via the web site. I’m sure though it’ll be busy. The T shirts are being finalised and I was hoping to have the final design sorted by now (our artist got his laptop nicked!!) Shouldn’t be an issue though.

Guzzi Rally

Some of us attended the Guzzi Rally at Guildtown a couple of weeks ago, it is a good venue but all of the work (Bar, Food etc) was done by volunteers from the club so probably not much use for us, also the cost is £500 so I suppose it makes the £1500 for Stirling look OK with (hopefully) no Bar or catering issues. I can recommend it for a nice relaxed chilled weekend. I even took a Guzzi for a change, George’s Falcone attracted a fair bit of attention following it’s recent repaint, just a pity nobody will be speaking to him & Sandy when they go to France for the Guzzi rally in June because they nicked the organisers caravan from under their noses.

And Finally

In for a haircut yesterday next to the City Mills Hotel, I parked the JPN in a small cobbled area off the road and came back to a sign saying “National Trust Property – No Parking” taped to my seat. Fuck them!!! I’ll be parking there again!

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 2008