So, chill break to Saxony over and back to dear old Blighty - rain, cold, etc. !
A bit different to the 20 degree [c ] and clear blue skies we had in Reichenau.
Anyway, here's another gentle tale ................
Beachcomber’s Tales from the Day.
“Disastrous Day out at Duxford
– never use Aerolastic straps to hold your fuel tank on” May 2012
In the early –mid Sixties the NSA [ National Sprint Association ] secured the use of several redundant WW2 air bases to hold sprint meetings. For those unaware – sprinting was / is generally over a ¼ mile [ sound familiar ?] and in those days used reasonably sophisticated timing apparatus and was you against the clock. However, in order to introduce more spectator interest bikes [ and cars / 3 wheelers ] would “race” in pairs – although the outcome was still based on timing, unlike later Drag Racing. We would also run in the rain, although when times got down in the 10 second ranges – common sense prevailed!
Primarily I was a design engineer and although I’d built 50 + Café Racers by that time – the engineering / tuning side was of real interest. My Sprinting career had begun much earlier [ and illegally ] after a girlfriend’s Father spotted my talents lay in an engineering direction, rather than the academic path my education had taken me. He actively encouraged me into all aspects of engineering, including forays into his business’ drawing office during my school Summer holidays. The company was “Aerospray” [ still in business ] and manufactured all manner of spraying equipment. I was also lucky enough to also spend time in their painting lab. during the same holidays and was taught the rudiments of spraying. Strange though, although he encouraged me [ even bought a Velo for me ! ] he would not allow me to take his Daughter on my road bike. Anyway the result was the Velo was turned into a reasonable Sprinter, I think he enjoyed the process as much as I did as he had no son of his own to “bond” with. Many parts were made up in the Aerospray workshops, the only stipulation, I had to draw them up to the satisfaction of the chief Draughtsman. I also sprayed the bike components under the supervision of their factory foreman – invaluable experience. I spent some time in the machine shop polishing all the internals within an inch of their life !!! Regrettably I didn’t pick up any of the other skills – lathework, welding, etc., only so much time and at 16 years old, I had also to look after my girlfriend’s needs !!
That sowed the seeds for my future forays into Sprinting, and later - Drag Racing.
Anyway, back to Duxford. My own Sprinter was in the process of being built – 350cc triumph Tiger 90 motor with reversed head – so we all decided to take a ride to Duxford to spectate at the weekend’s meeting. We were all anxious NOT to miss a meeting, as our hero George Brown [ Vincent Nero ] was tapping at the doors of the 9 second bracket – yes I know that sounds slow now …………… There was also some young upstart called Alf Hagon, who had brought his talents over from his successful Grass Track racing and used some of the grass track principles to build his 1000cc JAP sprinter. He was also running very low 10’s and it was a case of which one would break into the 9’s first.
We all met up at the Owl early morning so we’d arrive in plenty of time to catch all the action. Nine of us in total, including Dave on his recently built Goldie. Now Dave was almost another Roy, not so accident prone – but not a good rider and would often end up falling off for no apparent reason. Because of this he was also a nervous rider and would generally end up as “Tail End Charlie” on runs.
No different on this particular day, I was riding a Triton that I’d just built for a guy and was running it in / snagging it before delivery. I’d ordered a stainless tank hold down strap [ a la Manx ] from a friend, but unfortunately it didn’t arrive in time, so the ubiquitous Aerolastic luggage strap [ 2 actually ] was pressed into service to hold the tank on.
The route to Duxford took us on from the Owl across rural Essex with some beautiful lanes to ride. Dave was soon left well behind, but he knew the way so we weren’t too bothered. About a mile or so from Duxford there was a railway crossing with level crossing gates, and needless to say we arrived at just the wrong time as a train was due to pass. We all pulled up to wait for the gates to open, when Dave – unaware of the hold up around the corner came hurtling into the mass of bikes! There were bikes everywhere and we really feared that some would be really damaged – however, my Triton was hit first and the violent forward jolt was enough to dislodge the tank and send it over the other guys and onto the railway banking – which was fortunately grass. Dave was given a round of fucks for his incompetence, but when we sorted the mayhem out there was only superficial damage – the worst being my pal Mick’s newly built Ton Ten which had the rear lamp and mudguard destroyed. Dave’s Goldie suffered a front wheel puncture, but other than a few minor scratches here and there everyone and more important – the bikes were OK.
After running repairs to get Mick roadworthy and Dave’s puncture repaired, we replaced my tank with the Aerolastics and we were ready to set off again.
We arrived at the meeting with no further dramas, other than Mick complaining of severe pains in his side.
The second disaster occurred on the strip – “Stormin” Norman [ Dennis ] had built a supercharged Ariel Square 4 sprinter, which sounded the absolute biz and everyone was certain he’d give George and Alf a run for their money. He got settled on the start line and proceeded to wind the revs up and the sound was absolutely deafening – then – boom, the engine grenaded in awesome fashion sending bits of innards in all directions, scattering those next to the start line in rapid fashion. One part [ piston ?] ended up in the adjacent car park , smashing the windscreen on a car !
Alf Hagon then proceeded produced his new secret weapon to chase the 9’s. These were the days before slipper clutches and we only had 4” wide Avon Slicks, so smoking ¼ mile runs were the order of the day, using the tyre as a clutch. In order to break traction earlier and get the wheel spinning [ Alf used a 2 speed box ], the crew had built a device that acted as a crude paddock stand and the rear wheel was raised and the engine revved to god knows what in first gear and the stand quickly dropped. Needless to say this was banned after a couple of starts.
Memory fades now and I can’t remember whether this was the meeting that Hagon broke into the 9’s – but he DID beat George to it.
The third disaster – they always go in 3’s so my Granny said – on the way back Mick had to stop as the pain in his side was getting worse, and we persuaded him to go straight to the local hospital, where a cracked rib was diagnosed ! After he had been strapped up, they were going to arrange for an ambulance to take him home – “No need the bike’s outside” brought incredulous looks from the nurses. They insisted that he take an ambulance – so we smuggled his riding gear outside and he simply slipped out while nobody was watching – and rode home ! I DID kickstart his bike for him though…………………………….
The Triton ? Quick respray on the tank and you’d never know !
Yes it WAS that meeting 9.595 .....