Page 1 Paradise & Gell has been located on Michael Street in Peel since 1974. Here you will find a wide range of furnishings to enhance any living space. Whether you are looking for something contemporary or a more traditional piece, then look no further than Paradise & Gell. Page 2 Contents Page 2 Secretary's Notes Page 3 Chairman's Chat Page 4 Yellow Belly Notes - “Boastie" Page 7 A Moment in Time Page 8 Trials Results Page 10 Hawick Heroes - "The fastest men in the world" Page 22 Book Review - "Triumph Thruxton Bonneville" Page 24 Rider Profile No. 28 - Renzo Pasolini Page 25 Forthcoming Events Page 26 Floggers Corner Page 27 One Man's Jurby Page 28 Out and About Page 30 Vintage Mann goes Digital Page 31 IOM Section - Hills & Ponds Rally 2015 Page 36 Strangers in a Strange Land Editor: Harley Richards [email protected] Cover Picture:- Graham Walker heads out onto what could be the first VMCC TT Rally. Photo by Amulree Page 1 Secretary’s Notes Hi Everyone, Since the last magazine the weather has been pretty good with hopefully lots of riding for you all. The Classic TT, Festival of Jurby and MGP Rally are now a distant memory, and I really must thank all those who turned out to help and support our Section in its endeavours we could not run these events, especially Jurby, without you. The Regularity Run and Concours on the Green was a great attraction even though it was an unexpected race day. Looking back, the whole event was a brilliant success both financially and organisation wise but, like all good events, we cannot rest on our laurels but must come up with new ideas for 2016. Rupert and I are attending a Government meeting shortly to suggest various new ideas and themes for 2016 and if anyone has any thoughts for 2016 we would be pleased to hear them. Having just returned from the UK, I cannot see why we do not mirror the rules of the DVLA as regards taxation of vehicles i.e. no tax discs on the windscreen, no cost for historic vehicles, the ability to get credit on unused portions of vehicle tax, the ability to tax just for six months etc etc. I know the argument would be that the Island cannot afford to do this but the UK procedures must produce considerable savings otherwise they would never contemplate its continuation. Many of our members have more than one machine and if we don’t protest and try to get change the £15 charge will continue to rise. Our Club has an obligation to its members to lobby Govern- ment departments to try to get a fair deal…the present system is unfair to the historic movement!! Don’t forget to give Kestrel Insurance a chance when looking to renew your car and bike insurances, just mention the VMCC to get your discount and let me know how you get on. All the best, safe riding and look forward to seeing you all at our Club nights. Tony Page 2 Chairman’s chat In my last notes we were looking forward to the Classic TT/ Manx Grand Prix rally and Jurby, well it’s history now but I must say that the week passed in a flash. All our days were filled with activity and events, which, judging by the comments received went down very well, my special thanks go to the committee and everyone who volunteered to help at all events but especially Jurby, thank you all. We had the current VMCC president Tim Penn staying with us for the week and he went home singing our praises, so perhaps HQ might acknowledge our continued existence, time will tell. We still have a full program of club nights for the winter but if you, or anyone that you know, is willing to talk to us on any subject that you think will be of interest to members please let us know. Our stand at the Royal Manx show proved popular so I am hoping to repeat this next year, again, thank you to everyone who helped with manning the stand and loaning bikes. If you would be willing to organise a road run or an attendance at other events for next year, now is the time to act so that they can be included on the events calendar which will discussed at the next committee meeting. I hope you can all enjoy some autumn riding before it gets too cold. Richard Page 3 Yellow Belly Notes “Boastie” Pete Boast is a legendary “Yellow Belly” racer. He has competed in long track, short track, ice racing, moto cross, road racing and many other disciplines. Three years ago he won “Best Newcomer” at the Pre – TT meeting on the Billown course. He is an instructor for MSV at track days and has his own short track oval deep in the Lincolnshire country- side. Pic 1 At this year’s Pre - TT he had four rides; Yamaha TZ250, Honda 500/4, Yamaha 1000c.c. OWO1 and my Aermacchi. Set- ting up camp at the Castletown paddock required flying the Lin- colnshire flag and the flag of our host country (Pic 1). He has a good team of dedicated helpers, and his enthusiasm and energy levels enable him to tackle such daunting schedules. By the time you read this he will have competed again on four bikes at this year’s MGP! The official Pre-TT programme had an interesting version of my first name under race number 54 (Pic 2), but it is usually my sur- name which gets mangled. When Pete contacted me during the winter about racing the ‘macchi, I said that it would be a pleasure and no worries. Pete added that he would really like Owen George along to fettle the bike. Knowing full well that my Page 4 mechanical abilities are limited (i.e. non-existent) Owen re-jigged his holi- days and joined us. He is pictured here changing the gearing after practice (Pic 3) - please note the very stylish Persian car- pet inside the awning; standard kit for road rac- ing! The bike uses a Rickman frame and ad- Pic 2 justing the chain requires the use of numbered discs inserted into the swing arm behind the pivot shaft, or something like that. All beyond me, but Owen knocked it into shape in no time at all. During last year’s races, Pete was being followed around by “Bike” magazine and, in their piece about the Pre - TT, they described Owen as “probably the cleverest bloke in the world”. Pic 3 Page 5 Pic 4 So: The best laid plans of mice and men etc... This year Pete only had one finish out of the four starts (500cc Honda) and the ‘macchi had done a big end (Pic 4). That’s racing for you. Downhearted? Not a bit of it. Everyone had thoroughly enjoyed themselves and can’t wait to return. Pat Sproston Page 6 A Moment in Time I imagine that everyone reading this magazine will, at some time or another, have ridden off without turning on the fuel. For most of us it ends in nothing more than an embarrassing few moments at the roadside while you turn the tap(s) on and coax the engine back into life. Maria Costello’s experience during this year’s final Classic TT practice session took an altogether more frustrating turn of events. The fuel in her Paton’s carbs had run out by the bottom of Bray Hill which, in turn, meant leaving the track to find enough room to bumpstart it. I don’t know what compres- sion ratio a Paton runs but it took the com- bined efforts of five helpers (and the input of fellow Paton rider John McGuinness - pictured) to get the en- gine running again. However, Maria’s woes were not over as then she wasn’t al- lowed to rejoin the session! (Apparently, by sneaking back to the pits via public roads, she did make it back in time for the Photo: Karen Dickins next outing.) Page 7 TRIAL RESULTS Carnagrie - 16th August 2015 Victory in the Vintage A class of the VMCC's Trial at Carnagrie went to Jim Davidson from Shaun Huxley, with matters largely decided at the boggy Section 3. With the route for Vintage B class avoiding the mire, Andy Sykes was able to keep bike, rider and his scorecard clean, finishing with the class win on 0 marks lost. Invitation A class was headed by Daniel Smith from Paul Smith, both on Triumph Tiger Cubs. After an enforced lay-off, Paul Doherty took Invitation B with a clean ride, while in Youth Invitation B, Kaytlyn Adshead produced a matching perform- ance, losing no marks to finish ahead of Bradley Calvert. Youth Invitation A class went to Harry Corrin. Thanks go to Southern MCC for the use of Carnagrie. VMCC Members 'A' route Invitation 'A' route 1. Jim Davidson (Triumph) 11 marks lost 1. Daniel Smith (Triumph) 8 2. Shaun Huxley (James) 13 2. Paul Smith (Triumph) 18 3. Brent Seal (Yamaha) 17 3. Colin Scarffe (Triumph) 31 4. Kevin Whiteway (Triumph) 19 4. Brian Kinrade (Fantic) 37 5. Gwilym Hooson-Owen (BSA) 21 5. Ian Lees (Yamaha) 44 6. Sammy Ball (Fantic) 24 6. Richard Skillicorn (Bultaco) 46 7. Neil Kerruish (Yamaha) 32 7. Alan Lund (Fantic) 59 8. Ashley Gardner (BSA) 67 Invitation 'B' route VMCC Members 'B' route 1. Paul Doherty (Yamaha) 0 1. Andy Sykes (Rigid BSA) 0 2.