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How about THIS???

December 31, 2011 By 4 Comments

 

Kent just emailed that to me. This is the completed seat/tank unit ready to be painted. Makes me realise just how awesome the bike is going to look. NOTE: For some reason my WorldPress is not inserting pictures in the correct aspect ration at the moment, and I can’t persuade it to do so. The actual unit is longer and less “bunched-up” than this picture makes it look.

Since this is the 31st December I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you all a healthy, prosperous and enjoyable 2012. Thank you again for your support throughout the year and I look forward to being able to continue the relationship next year.

 

Filed Under: December 2011

An unlucky break

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

News in this morning that Nicky Hayden has suffered an accident in private testing that may compromise his participation in the first MotoGp test of the year at the end of January. Hayden was riding in an indoor flat track venue in his home town when he fell and broke his scapula and several ribs. This is after him crashing and breaking his scaphoid in the last MotoGp event of the year at Valencia. With Ducati trying to come from so far back in the pack for 2012, they will need every bit of testing time they can get, so it’s a good thing that they have some other test riders (including Carlos Checa) and that the testing rules have been relaxed for 2012.

In other news, Jerez has been confirmed for 2012 but looks unlikely to keep its spot on the calendar for 2013. Let’s see, there must be another Spanish circuit that we can use in its place. :(

It is being rumoured that the Gresini team has enlisted the help of Ten Kate to tune the engines on its CRT grand prix bike. Sounds like a good move to me.

Former WSBK World Champion, Troy Bayliss was at QIR yesterday doing two-up rides on the two-seat Ducati. Apparently he took F1 driver, Mark Webber, for a spin. That would have been interesting.

Oh, and don’t forget that the Dakar Rally starts this weekend. SBS usually has a highlights package every night so check your local guides.

 

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Gearing up for “The Island”

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The 2012 Island Classic at Phillip Island (d’uh) is shaping up to be one of the most exciting ever. With an entry list of over 200 riders (and over 350 machines) plus an expected spectator turn-out of over 20000, it should be one of the biggest road racing events on the 2012 calendar in any category.

As well as all the usual races for bikes from pre-WW1 to the early 90′s, the Classic is renowned for the International Teams Challenge, a series of races that pits the best from Australia against aUK team and a Rest of the World team. As usual, the Aussie team looks formidable and should win, again.

Steve Martin AUST Suzuki Katana 1981
Shawn Giles AUST Suzuki Katana 1982
Cameron Donald AUST Suzuki XR69 1981
Robbie Phillis AUST Suzuki Katana 1982
Beau Beaton AUST Irving Vincent 1978
Scott Webster AUST Kawasaki Moto-Martin 1980
Laurie Fyffe AUST Suzuki GSX1100 1980
Leo Cash AUST Suzuki Katana 1982
Albert Tehennepe AUST Kawasaki Z1000J 1982
Peter Mizzi AUST HondaCB1100R 1982
Stuart Loly AUST Suzuki GSX 1980
Andrew Lind AUST Kawasaki Z1000 1977
Robert Ruwoldt AUST Kawasaki Z1000 1980
John Pace AUST Suzuki Katana 1982
Karl Corpe AUST Kawasaki ZIR 1980
Malcolm Campbell AUST TBC

The UK team will be led by Ex-pat Englishman and President of the NSW PCRA, Keith Higgs and will be a strong contender.

Jim Agombar UK Yamaha TZ750 Spondon 1979
Andy Bailey UK Kawasaki Harris 1981
William Gougy UK Yamaha TZ 750 1976
Phil Davenport UK Honda POM 1981
Craig Ditchburn UK Yamaha TZ750 1978
Ryan Farquhar UK Harris F1 1981
Keith Higgs UK P&M Kawasaki TTF1 1978
Jeremy McWilliams UK Harris F1 1981
Richard Peers-Jones UK Yamaha TZ9 1980
Graham Salter UK Moriwaki Suzuki GSX1100 1980
David Taylor UK Suzuki GS1000 1979
Clive Warner UK Yamaha TZ 1979
Dave Woolams UK Suzuki GSX1100 1980
Barry Ditchburn UK Yamaha TZ 750 1977

And the RotW team is also strong.

Russell Barker NZ Suzuki GSX1100 1982
Kevin Grey NZ Suzuki McIntosh BRI 1982
Andrew MacDonald NZ Yamaha RDLC 1980
David Ogden NZ Yamaha TZ F 1979
Tony Osman NZ Yamaha TZ350F 1979
Trevor Taylor NZ Yamaha TZF 1979
Glenn Kelleher AUST Honda CB900FZ 1979
Paul Remaud France Suzuki GSX1100 1980
Roger Gunn AUST Suzuki Katana 1980
James McKay USA Suzuki GS1100S 1979
Ed Haazar USA Suzuki Katana 1982
Glenn Crutchley AUST Kawasaki Z1000 1981
Bob Marriner AUST Honda CB1100R 1981
Glenn Carroll AUST Kawasaki Z650 1977
Steve Ward AUST Honda CB 1980

Made up of some Aussies and mostly Kiwis, the RotW is bolstered by two highly-regarded AFM competitors from the west coast of the USA, Ed Haazer and James (Jim) McKay. Yes, THAT Ed Haazer who has been such an encouragement to the Shadowfax project.

I’ll be heading down on Tuesday so that I can spend as much time with Ed and his team and hopefully warn him about drop bears and hide-behinds before the locals corrupt him completely.

I’ll take the laptop and hopefully post reports as the weekend transpires. I can’t wait.

Oh, and thanks to two of my regular readers who pointed out all the broken links in my Shadowfax posting last night. Editing late at night is not a good idea!

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Serious Shadowfax progress

December 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

Just completed another update of the Shadowfax Restoration page. Seriously exciting things are happening. Check the link on the right side of this page for the latest update.

Filed Under: December 2011

Merry Christmas everyone

December 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

I’ve been a bit slack, haven’t I? I’ve left it till late on Christmas Day to get on and wish you all the compliments of the season. It’s been hectic, but, with my wife’s encouraging medical reports, it’s been great. I hope you all have a great holiday break and that you enjoy the company of family and friends. I received this Christmas card from Kent (creator of the Shadowfax Kawasaki) today. The caption is, “Never trust a reindeer with a red nose.” Classic.

Filed Under: December 2011
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