tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post7821123732067882773..comments2024-03-28T20:30:35.448+13:00Comments on Confessions of an Ageing Motorcyclist: A day at the racesGeoff Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-63518246571486650552020-03-02T18:10:06.040+13:002020-03-02T18:10:06.040+13:00Hi Marg,
What a thrill for Bill to be allowed to p...Hi Marg,<br />What a thrill for Bill to be allowed to photograph it in situ! I remember you being there but didn't realise that you photographed it too.Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-48387212591585349702020-03-02T10:28:43.214+13:002020-03-02T10:28:43.214+13:00The Britten 1000 was the final (highest) exhibit i...The Britten 1000 was the final (highest) exhibit in the Guggenheim NYC "Art of the Motorcycle" some many moons ago. Bill was "allowed" to take a photograph, on account of his nationality.Grandmarghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01837506357005208945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-2453360431347674642020-02-19T19:26:47.744+13:002020-02-19T19:26:47.744+13:00That's bad news - hope that your weather break...That's bad news - hope that your weather breaks before long. Some rain forecast for the North Island on Saturday, but pretty brief.<br /><br />The world is a small place these days and where you live doesn't really matter too much as long you're happy, financially comfortable and have your health. Our daughter moved from NZ and started a new career in Melbourne this week. Somewhere for us to revisit without the cost of accommodation :-)Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-22386790869457703642020-02-19T19:19:23.336+13:002020-02-19T19:19:23.336+13:00Mo rain that did more than indicate a pattern in t...Mo rain that did more than indicate a pattern in the dust since beginning of November. 2nd driest year we've had since I've been here, and the hottest. We'd move back to NZ, but it's just too expensive and we'd never be able to replace even half of what we actually have here.JonLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04101897631145411071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-75920624918590447612020-02-10T19:54:55.371+13:002020-02-10T19:54:55.371+13:00Hiya Jon! Yep, there's always a delightful su...Hiya Jon! Yep, there's always a delightful surprise or two every year - some smart people about. I think if I go up next year in those temperatures, I'll wear shorts under my gear and do what a friend did.... ran a long steel cable through his jacket sleeve and pants leg and left them secured to the bike. I just did it to my helmet with a short coiled cable and combination lock carabiner. <br /><br />Hope the weather is treating you well in Perth. No rain since Christmas in Coromandel and Northland. Total ban on fires and no external use of water. None expected for 10 days at the earliest.Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-8943870157157493522020-02-10T19:41:07.187+13:002020-02-10T19:41:07.187+13:00Always enjoyed the classic meets at Puke - sometim...Always enjoyed the classic meets at Puke - sometimes, when you think you'd seen everything,you'd walk around the corner and spy a Triumph with wooden wheels, or some other piece of whimsical fun. <br />Mesh jacket and kevlar jeans in the heat - but even the jeans are a bit hot when you stop. Over about 38 it doesn't really matter what you wear - I found full leathers no more unbearable than anything else on the move in those temps - as long as you peeled the top off when you stopped!<br />Did they have the Harley and Indian board racers, racing? They are evil machines - 100 mph with no clutch, no brakes and those downward drooping handlebars and the rear tire 2 inches from yr freckle! Sound good though with two inch exhaust pipes....JonLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04101897631145411071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-55999832821866957732020-02-10T19:11:09.865+13:002020-02-10T19:11:09.865+13:00Well worth it Andrew - you can stick a tent up at ...Well worth it Andrew - you can stick a tent up at the circuit for both days if you want to do it on the cheap and really take in the atmosphere. They're both V twins although I admit that there's a teensy bit of a difference ;-)<br />Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-57914488873548867002020-02-10T18:57:55.418+13:002020-02-10T18:57:55.418+13:00Nice. Must get up there for that one at some stag...Nice. Must get up there for that one at some stage.<br /><br />More Britten pics and less Harley ones next time!Andrew Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00716829007873864871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-47087492069197053242020-02-06T10:33:37.710+13:002020-02-06T10:33:37.710+13:00Thanks Oz! You've hit the nail on the head. ...Thanks Oz! You've hit the nail on the head. So much more variety in the older machines and a lot more innovation by their owners.<br /><br />Have a safe 2020!Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-69605358564801058902020-02-06T10:00:37.611+13:002020-02-06T10:00:37.611+13:00Wow, thanks for sharing the photos of those great ...Wow, thanks for sharing the photos of those great bikes. That looks like a fun event. The older bikes have so much character. Ozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01781519114239212489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-44848135258891595582020-02-06T08:23:23.763+13:002020-02-06T08:23:23.763+13:00Hi Andrew,
I envy you visiting the UK bike museums...Hi Andrew,<br />I envy you visiting the UK bike museums. Most of them were set up after we emigrated. Hope that your Beemer is still purring along and every good wish for 2020. Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-31044616838176479132020-02-06T08:20:59.955+13:002020-02-06T08:20:59.955+13:00Hiya Steve! I know those early R1's had a repu...Hiya Steve! I know those early R1's had a reputation for being bullet-proof and there's still a good few on the road. Same as the Blackbirds of that era.<br /><br />I can't be sure about the Britten as I think that there are only 10 in existence and they simply don't change hands. I seem to remember a quote by someone of "over a million dollars". Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-81004284716949277972020-02-06T02:21:35.372+13:002020-02-06T02:21:35.372+13:00I enjoyed that post Geoff and I must say I'm w...I enjoyed that post Geoff and I must say I'm with you in my admiration of classics, more so than vintage. Whilst over in Uk I visited a couple of museums dedicated to them and spent many happy hours wandering among the fabulous bikes on display, the highlight was an afternoon at the Sammy Millar museum - which wasn't really long enough so I hope to go back sometime.the riderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13681668130209585709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-47334079553210685782020-02-05T22:43:15.349+13:002020-02-05T22:43:15.349+13:00An awesome collection of bikes mate.
I notice off ...An awesome collection of bikes mate.<br />I notice off the bat in photo 1 bottom left a 98 R1. Its almost a classic now at 22 years in its own right. <br /><br />Those warbirds are older than those bikes and would have sounded great. What an great day.<br />That Britten certainly looks better than the triumph. By the way what is the estimated worth of one of those Brittens?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10160712689280276620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-29946216295935887612020-02-04T21:01:46.974+13:002020-02-04T21:01:46.974+13:00A fantastic day Dave. Also a one-eyed Triumph man ...A fantastic day Dave. Also a one-eyed Triumph man so didn't need both eyes 🤣.<br /><br />Also managed to give the tyres a bit of a work-out on the way home thanks to the absence of traffic!Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-22033630222392467732020-02-04T20:53:53.418+13:002020-02-04T20:53:53.418+13:00Looks like a great day out and also great that you...Looks like a great day out and also great that you could see it! ;)Flyboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11304812333120293988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-17567096978482510052020-02-04T19:18:56.061+13:002020-02-04T19:18:56.061+13:00Hi Lee, I still remember seeing my first one in Au...Hi Lee, I still remember seeing my first one in Auckland just after they'd been released - looked terribly exotic! Still look pretty good as you say.<br /><br />Good practice for the upcoming bike tour! See you in Porirua....Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-56939678629136175332020-02-04T19:16:55.217+13:002020-02-04T19:16:55.217+13:00Gidday Nikos! There were older Triumphs and a Bro...Gidday Nikos! There were older Triumphs and a Brough there too. Clearly a bit of racing doesn't hurt them as they've been regulars for a few years.<br /><br />All the best for 2020!Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-47783787040716153512020-02-04T11:20:00.431+13:002020-02-04T11:20:00.431+13:00Hi Geoff - I remember Katanas from the first time ...Hi Geoff - I remember Katanas from the first time around - Albeit I was a lad growing up in South Africa at the time. They still look good too I reckon. Glad to see you're back on the machine once more.Lee Blackburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082631561885571713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-5981055408632248672020-02-04T09:09:40.984+13:002020-02-04T09:09:40.984+13:00Hi Geoff, That's not such an ancient Triumph.....Hi Geoff, That's not such an ancient Triumph...the one I saw had a leather drive belt!<br />TTFN.Nikoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03119901226987582553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-91067324608961667522020-02-03T22:30:49.988+13:002020-02-03T22:30:49.988+13:00Thanks Ian. Lots of stuff about the Britten on You...Thanks Ian. Lots of stuff about the Britten on YouTube, as well as a video documentary. I vaguely remember that the man hours to construct the exhaust was jaw dropping. John Britten was an absolute perfectionist. <br /><br />Thanks for the good wishes. Better than 99% recovered now!Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-25529547667271036542020-02-03T12:51:39.031+13:002020-02-03T12:51:39.031+13:00Thanks Richard. Yep, eyesight is taken for granted...Thanks Richard. Yep, eyesight is taken for granted until something happens and it is truly frightening. Apparently, there is an increased risk of cataracts but easily detected and pretty routine to fix. In the meantime, I'll enjoy 20/20 vision (with my specs)Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4341114511830074977.post-28223805784424029822020-02-03T12:25:43.544+13:002020-02-03T12:25:43.544+13:00Nice photos from the event. It’s great to hear tha...Nice photos from the event. It’s great to hear that everything has gone fine with your surgery. Any surgery is frightening but when it deals with something like sight, it’s even more frightening. RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com