Frans Willemsen

I’m sad to report that Frans Willemsen passed away last month just before the Begonia Rally. A real gentleman and stalwart of the Dutch Norton Owners Club, known by everyone on the International scene he will be sadly missed. I count myself very fortunate to have known Franz and glad that despite being unwell he came to Spain this year to take part in the International rally there, little did we know it would be his last. Franz was a believer in enjoying life and living it to the full, our thoughts are with his wife Gaby at this difficult time.

Begonia Rally 2010

As always a fantastic weekend with our friends from Europe, another well run rally from the Flanders branch. I keep saying this but for the people from the UK who may feel a bit nervous about venturing abroad with their classic, this is the easiest opportunity to do so. The Rally is friendly and if you go on your own I can guarantee you won’t be alone for long. David, Alex and myself left Edinburgh around 8.30 in the morning for the 300 mile run down to Hull, a good run and the only mishap was David running out of petrol one mile from the Scotch corner services, this was after I waved him past the previous petrol station 3 miles earlier. Funnily enough we stopped on the hard shoulder adjacent to a layby where a couple of police cars were waiting to accompany a wide load, in true traffic police style they never offered to help or even ask if we were OK, thanks lads!

We found an old discarded plastic bottle which had obviously been used to pee in emptied the pee and filled it with petrol before carrying on. The road in the other direction heading North was filled with Harleys all day heading for the Thunder in the Glen Rally in Aviemore. A guy in the services asked if we were heading there, I asked David and Alex if I looked like a Harley faggot and they seemed to think I did! Haircut and moustache removal if that’s the case!

The service from P&O ferries was not good which was as expected. In this day and age to have to tie your bike up with an old piece of oily blue rope is a bit much. I travel frequently on ferries so I expect it but the Euro virgins on their huge BMW’s and the like get themselves into a fair bit of panic when they realise nobody is going to secure their bikes for them.

Of course we got lost en route to the rally, only slightly lost and because of the usual problems in Belgium with wegomlegging (Diversion) We stopped in Passendale for coffee and food but the bar had no food so we were directed to the supermarket to buy food to eat in the bar, excellent. The barmaid was interesting, she had a mini skirt on the size of a scarf and a plunging neckline, normally attributes I have no problem with but I suspect she was the wrong side of 60 and her bosoms had been heading south for quite a while. We did wonder if we had wandered into some kind of swingers bar, we’ll never know, thankfully.

Fiona joined me later on in the afternoon having taken the train from Edinburgh that morning due to work commitments and Tom Bradley from Glasgow made up the Scottish contingent after his period of getting lost also, but I have to say more spectacularly lost than us.

A great band on the Saturday and an overall overdose of whisky over the weekend combined with the most friendly crowd you could hope to ask for all added up to a great rally.

We left for the Zeebrugge to Rosyth boat on Monday and stopped for lunch just outside Zeebrugge by the seaside with Geert Callens before making our way to the Norfolklines boat. I have to say that this was the first time we’d been on this particular boat as the costs have been prohibitive since Norfolklines took over, now DFDS have taken it over, dropped the prices and then announced that it will stop carrying passengers in December because not enough people are using it! A real pity as the service was by far the best we have had this year on any ferry.

Braemar weekend

Another resounding success from the Tay Valley Branch, small attendance but those who did attend all mixed and enjoyed the banter over the weekend. We ended up with just under 40 and even had the pleasure of the company of Danish John who made the detour on his way back from the Isle of Man MGP. Several of our friends from South of the border made the effort as did Ian McDougall who rode from Ireland on his CS1. My personal thanks must go to our man on the ground in Braemar Doug Bruce for a great job in organising things up there, George Peddie for organising the entries and liaison and Ian Hair from the Moorfield House Hotel for looking after us.

We had a pleasant run on the Saturday around the area and had an excellent lunch in Ballater. Because the Queen is in residence at Balmoral just now the place is crawling with police but they were all very pleasant when they spoke to us with some showing a genuine interest in the bikes. We even managed a photo shoot at the gates of Balmoral which was a bonus.

The band let us down on the Saturday but in some ways because of the limited numbers it done us a favour because it allowed everybody to have a good blether.

My thanks again to all that turned up and who made it fantastic weekend.

End of season Do, Killin?

I’m about to see about organising the End of season do probably at the end of November in the Killin Hotel if possible. If anyone has a better idea contact me soon!

Next Year

So next year we are in a quandary, no International Rally in Europe only in the USA. If there is enough interest we could organise something again, after a long chat with George Peddie we decided that Stirling once again could be a possibility or perhaps something in the borders if we can find facilities. Another option is that maybe Geoff Scales and the guys could organise something in France? Anybody from the Norton Community who wants to suggest something for us to go to as an “alternative” International please let us know.

Recommendations

Sandy Bloy has just had some work done and is impressed with the quality and service from these suppliers, if you know of anyone who you would recommend let me know and I’ll pass it on;

Chrome Plating

Alderney Plating LTD

Thrush road,

Parkstone

Poole

Dorset

BH12 4NP

Tel 01202744664

Fax 01202733577

Seat upholsterer

James Watt

Mobile 07787 180812

Phone 01738827902

I think now with the cost of new parts, replacing these “tired “ parts with pattern items which don’t fit or of inferior quality then refurbishment of items is now a cost effective option, worth considering

Finally

The Summer is all but behind us, don’t waste the rest of the riding opportunities this year, get out on your Norton, wear it out and enjoy it!

And Finally Finally

Any reports on the new 961 yet? Have they Euro 3 Homologated it yet? Have they started?

I’m beginning to think that 961 ownership is like a secret society, nobody wants to talk about it. On a positive note they have been at Bonneville salt flats for a rich boys holiday and managed to scoop a record so that’s positive?

There was one on Ebay recently which was sitting at just over £12K with a day to go but I missed what it went for, interesting in the script the seller claimed the factory had the best customer service ever! Hmm not what we’ve heard!

The saga continues……..

For what its worth here’s my prediction and thoughts;

First they have a great name and with a few mods a potentially great product.

Secondly the finances do not add up, do the maths and see how many you would have to build to break even , and that is with small scale production.

Third, publicity is great and by far exaggerates what is slowly creeping out of the “factory” (I prefer to call it a workshop)

I have many more conspiracy theories which I’ll keep to myself but I think in 12 – 18 months time the company will try for a public listing on the stock exchange to raise capital.

The result of this will be to attract investors and give the main financiers their money back while still keeping control of the company. This may or may not be a good thing. Open mind time, remember you read it here first!

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

September 2010