December Update

Well people............... not a great deal happening with regard to the bike at the moment....... but here's an update.


I had decided originally to build a new motor for next year, but have you heard............. there's a credit crunch!!!!!!! I also decided that in reality....... money would be better spent on track time re-learning to ride fast rather than on some mega motor that I can't ride!

Chalky White of Replay Scooters in Rothwell had originally built my engine for himself, but never really made it out onto the track. Chalky introduced himself at Cadwell, and very kindly offered to relook at the engine and do some more work on it to help me out.

So after the racing in France, I dropped the engine out and took it to Chalky. The plan is to do some interim work on the barrel to produce some more power, and of course sort out the knackered ignition system! (Thanks again to Ralph at SRP for the loan of the Motoplat) and then in the spring do some further developments for 2009 with a possible change of exhaust system, and also going to direct scoop cooling. With Chalky's help this can be achieved hopefully with minimal outlay, leaving money from my small racing fund to use for some track days and tests, which in reality will probably be worth more time than a bonkers engine!

So...... what else has been happening? Well over a few evenings, rather than waste time sitting in front of the TV, I used it productively to edit a video which is a spoof of Hitler's reaction to Tony O'Brien's mega small frame Vespa. Its been well accepted and already doing the rounds of scooter forums, and quickly racked up 1,000 views! For those that don't know, there's a number of alternative versions of this video clip from the German subtitle film 'Downfall'. The original film is apparently very good, but somehow people have produced umpteen spoofs of this video clip with alternative subtitles, with everything from Churchill stealing his Big Macs, to him having problems with Microsoft Vista!

So I can't claim originality for the idea, but it was great fun, and actually harder than it looked trying to make things fit, and in places even match the sound of the German words.



Enjoy!

So................ what else is happening? Well, the BSSO AGM is only a month away so it will be interesting to see if anyone is going to propose anything radical or controversial! With all the development going on in the road scene, with some VERY well engineered clutches, barrels and even gearboxes coming along, it would seem the right time to complete a well overdue review of the BSSO Racing regulations and specifications. The published ones are desperately in need of review and it would be great to simplify them and help out the many newcomers showing interest in racing. At the moment it's looking like we will have some full grids in 2009...... economy permitting!

We don't have a calendar of events finalised yet but I know we have the offer from the VMCC to race with them again. They are really a great bunch, and they and the spectators make us very welcome and enjoy the spectacle of howling scooters blasting around!

My good friend Dave Crampton will be a new entry next year on another bright green machine! This one will be a Gilera Runner, built to compete in Group 6. Dave's from an engineering background and has a number of subtle, but very trick additions and modifications to his Runner. It will be interesting to see how he goes - but I have a sneaking suspicion he ain't going to be at the back (no pressure!)

If I don't update before Christmas........ Peace and Love....... Happy Christmas (war is over!)