Easter Run 2010

New Venue

Change is always difficult, even more so when time is not on your side. In the later end of 2009 our trusty home closed leaving us somewhat “out in the cold” so to speak.
The good news is that we have a new home and a very welcome one too, The Goat Inn @ Skeyton. After a couple of meeting held in the pub a vote at the recent AGM confirmed our new venue to be the favoured option without exception. All we need now is to get as many of our members past and present to come down and see for yourselves what a fantastic venue it is and all they are able to offer the North Norfolk Motorcycle club. Address is: The Goat Inn, Long Road, Skeyton, Norfolk, NR10 5DH Tel: 01692 538600
Have a peek now by visiting their website and find out how to get there @ http://www.skeytongoatinn.co.uk

Drew's "BIG" project

Back in the days when colour had yet to be invented and dinosaurs needed a way to impress girls and get to school (c1977), Mr Honda decided, for one reason or another, to produce a moped which looked like a proper bike and didn't stink like a Flymo (not you Garry, I'm sure you smell great). Out of the Big H factory popped the mighty CB50J. A 49cc OHC 4-speed bristling with almost some horsepower, a disc brake and a chrome megga. The British version also arrived with a neat little single seat conversion, (possibly due to our 'no passengers for 16year-olds' rule) and it looked pretty good. It was also tiny- you'd trip over it thinking it was still 20ft awayLuckily my Big Bruv bought one of these off a friend who, given his future maintenance record, failed to destroy it. As almost everything a younger sibling receives is hand-me-down, I was well chuffed when, having finally made it to the pimply age of 16, Big Bruv sold me the 'Ped for £10 more than he paid for it.Off came the standard air filter and on with the S+B with chrome end cap which unleashed an immeasurable amount of horsepower but sounded ace. The front disc was cable operated and was not bad if you tested it immediately having adjusted it (again), but soon became ok-ish when the car in front jumped on the brakes. Change the oil every 1000 miles and the odd new plug and it absolutely never broke down. It always started first kick, even in any of the worst motorcycle- unfriendly weather. And after I crashed it. Twice. The headlamp and battery were poor- applying the brakes unfortunately meant half the electricity destined for the bulb at the front came out of the one at the back, rendering the rider virtually blind approaching a tightening bend in the dark. To teach it a lesson, I crashed it into a field. I happily spent the next two-and-a-half years chugging around North Norfolk, to and from work and to sixth-form where I successfully failed to impress any girls on the ever reliable 50J. Then I finished building my GSX250, and so endeth the life of The 'Ped. Until...... I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it (Gibbo's rule- never sell a bike) so it sat in boxes in my shed for 16years. I got bored. I looked in the boxes. I was no longer bored. I want a cafe racer, I thought. Hmmmm. Hacksaw and welder out, let's get started. First things first, I made some (very high) rear-set footrest hangers, using the remains of a bike my mate used to reshape a Rover 25. Thanks Keallo. Made a cable operating mechanism for the rear brake as wherever I moved the linkage meant going over bumps would apply or release the brake. Don't fancy that much. Removed the rubber swingarm bearings (thanks Mr Honda) by intricately burning them out with a blowtorch and sent the whole lot off to the outlaw Andy Wales for grit-blasting. Once it was back, on with the black Smoothrite. NEVER follow the instructions, it went on like black water and promptly ran off like black water. Once that was sorted, time to plonk all the bits back together. It was nice having a project so small I could build it on my bench.

Had the forks re-chromed by A M Philpot, a friendly helpful bunch of folks, new headrace bearings, rear shocks and new rear rim (Dave Silver is a good source of new old Honda stock). Hagon sent me some beautiful shiny new spokes and I sent the rear hub and brake plate off to Gibbo and Son Eng. Co. where junior Gibbo worked his blast- tank magic. New wheel bearings (luckily NOT rubber, thanks Mr Honda) in and time for some knitting. Never laced a wheel before, so I used the still assembled front as a pattern- piece of cake. This is easy, dunno what all the fuss is about. Front hub off to Gibbo, lovely clean front hub back from Gibbo, assemble. Eh, what's going on? Why can't I make this one work. Five attempts later, the front is a wheel at last. Purely because the rear hub was wide enough meant I could unwittingly start in the wrong place and still complete it. Top tip- start with the spokes on the inside of the flanges or get someone else to do it... Wheels on, ace- bars on, one big white-faced tacho and time to scoot it around outside and laugh at its complete lack of size. Neat

Engine time. 49cc is never going to excite anyone so the original reliable engine retired to a shelf. E-Bay lightened my wallet but sent me a 'good, rebuilt' XR80 engine (identical crankcases so will fit in 50J frame). Apparently, a 'good, rebuilt' engine needs a new cam chain, cam sprocket, piston, rings, exhaust valve, cam chain guide. Glad I looked inside.... Incidentally the 50J engine was rated at a max of 2-2.5bhp, the XR80 a more healthy 7.5-9bhp. At the very least, power will be tripled so 40mph could become 69mph..... Oh bloody 'ell, better sort the brakes- it'll need a good front one more than Gibbo needs cake. Rear drum was fine, so down to Burto's for a hydraulic caliper and master cylinder. After much rummaging, said bits were found. I need to mount the shiny little caliper somehow- the original was in front of the fork leg, but as that looks not all that tidy and will slow down the steering (????) I'll put it where it should be. Oh dear, nowt to bolt it to. Except one original mount and a vastly over strong mudguard mounting point. They'll do. Off to Gibbo's (again- the coffee is pretty good here) with a lump of aluminium and a cardboard template. 5 hours later and having reduced a lovely great piece of metal to lots of chippings and a bracket, I bid farewell to Mr G's Swarf Emporium and do another 1 1/2 hrs on my lathe making more of what look like Metal Mickey's pubes.

The finished bracket looks ok, fits well and is very solid. It ought to, it took long enough. That's about as far as Project Ped has travelled so far, lots of other niff-naff and nonsense to complete but hopefully it'll be coming out to play in spring 2010. If you want an genuine original Honda 49cc racer, there's currently a 90mph 1963 CR110 (4-valve DOHC 8.5bhp @ 14000rpm) for sale on t'internet for a measly £37605. Sorry if you've fallen into a coma through boredom, but Adi made me type all this- he's standing behind me with a large stick as I type. Keep it rubber-side-down.

Gibbo and yet another fun packed summer!!

Long ago when my eyes still worked and two cylinders were considered a "multi", a few of us decided to resurrect the NNMCC and arranged to meet at the Scottow Three Horseshoes for a brave new start. We turned up in encouraging numbers to discover a dark, very closed pub. Unperturbed we shot down the Jolly Farmers and thus began the reborn Bike Club. Much oil has fallen on the garage floor since then but last week we found ourselves outside the very same pub in an all too similar situation. This time we shot down the Skeyton Goat, for the simple reason it was the first thing that came into my mind, and the representative sample that managed to find its way there were made welcome and so a quick vote around the table fixed the venue for the foreseeable future. A big Thanks to the folk at the Shoes for all the support they've given and we wish them well and I for one am sorry that all the hard work didn't bear fruit for them. Thanks also to the Goat for making us welcome, I'm sure we can go on strong in this new home.
I've had a busy bike year but have probably neglected my Club duties a bit due to the amount of work involved in rebuilding and prepping bikes. I love pottering and fettling in the bike shed and I spend much more time fiddling with bikes than riding them but even for me the pressure at times made me question if I was actually enjoying it! (I was really!! my "estranged" wife wasn't) I was invited to join someone else’s run to Monza and Le Mans in May and thought it would be nice to tag along for a change without any responsibility. A new Blade, GSXR600, B King, R1 SP and my Daytona made an interesting group flying in formation across France to get over the Alps (or the Dolomites, I'm never sure where one finishes and the other starts). However we never got over as all the passes were still snowed up and after a bit of makeshift sledging on a pallet we went through a 16km long tunnel to burst out into warmth and southern Europe. There is nothing I can add about Italian driving/riding that you've not either read or experienced!!! Monza WSB was terrific, we were right on the bend of that horrific crash, it was the worst I've seen live and it’s a miracle there were not more serious injuries. GOD IT WAS HOT. Paul was doing a great impression of a Crab Stick by the end of the day. The route up to Lemons took us through an entirely new part of France for me, and a stop at Monaco for a blat round the already set up F1 track. The principality Police were very polite when they advised us that two laps were enough and we really should be going now! Up through the middle we had to see the "Sky Bridge" and decided to approach not on motorway but by riding up the "Gorge Du Tarn". This turned into one of the best rides of my life. Awesome scenery, considerable danger and more bends and bumps than on an extremely bendy bumpy thing with added twists and lumps.Gary (another "club" member) pissed off into the distance, Steve wrestled and squirted the B King like a goodun and I contemplated the cost of replacing smashed carbon Dymags between demented grins. A long wet day finished the interesting central part of France until we arrived at the amazing Route 66 Bikers hotel. Qualifying for a piece all of its own let's just say you have to go there. An old coaching/hunting lodge this range of buildings now has a bar unlike any I'd seen, loads of indoor parking and wacky old school accommodation with fine food prepared by women brought in from the village. At this point, and to celebrate completing a difficult day, I broke my own no drinking rule and therefore can't vouch for the full English breakfast other than to say it looked fine when I handed it to Steve.
Moto GP at Le Mans was a bit different to Monza, GOD IT WAS COLD!! How can one week and a few hundred miles be so different? Also the racing was not brilliant with the silly bike changing thing going on to confuse everyone (well alright maybe I was the most confused) and Mr Rossi finishing in a very uncharacteristic place. Edwards duffing Toseland up at the end did little to lift spirits either. Back at the excellent camp site Steve and I decided to make a dash for home that night and we took about10 hours to get back, at one point queuing with hundreds of bikes for over an hour to get fuel, the only dry bit was on the ferry! I took the precaution of wearing every tee shirt I had with me and just about avoided hyperthermia but it was not a pleasant end to the trip. The others who didn't have to get back for work made a swift safe return the next day, job done! You'd think I deserved a rest after that but no. The very next weekend was the Classic Burn Up at Cadwell Park where I was to ride the recently completely rebuilt Triumph 250 and 500. Neither had turned a wheel in anger for 15 years.The 250 had taken far too long over winter and was only just ready (or in fact not) but the 500 with its fancy new ignition had been pushed up and down the road to no avail and did not join us at Cadwell. It later transpired that the rather confusing marks lead to the rotor being 180 deg out, much later, and after much more pushing and head scratching.The 250 was far from sorted also as the clutch key sheared and then once fixed I discovered third gear was rather like an MP's scruples when filling in their expenses form, i.e. entirely missing.Noise testing was interesting, the outer end of the added baffle was increasingly squashed and then finally the inner end suitably mullered to match allowing us to scrape through. How many people can there be close enough to Cadwell for noise to be a serious problem? And anyway that's not noise its music! My very old ,in both senses, friend Stuart was having much more luck with his incredible tribute to 1960's Honda racers hitting something like 18,000rpm and having a trouble free day. Even getting photographed for an article in Classic Bike magazine. The quality of work on his 250cc four cylinder RC162 has to be seen to be believed and make my little darling Triumphs look like the "shed racers" they are.This run was really a test day for our proposed trip to La Belle France to ride in a Classic event about 50 or so miles south of Calais and although I had a bit of work to do we felt we would be OK to go. Although still not running, the 500 came along to Croix St Ternoise just to look pretty. With my 250's rebuilt gearbox, fettled clutch and every spare nook and cranny of the van filled with optimism, we set off to impress the world.With no noise testing the 250 ran so much better baffle free and in fact went better and better as the weekend progressed. Meanwhile Stuart and his Honda were being almost worshipped. Even dyed in the wool Brit fan that I am I have to confess it sounded awesome circulating the wonderfully tight little track. From some view points you could almost hear it make a complete lap, its high pitch howl most distinctive. How often do you get to hear four separate open meggas at 18,000?The whole meeting was so friendly and well organised we will definitely go back. We even had some supporters come all the way over to join us who very kindly turned up in the mornings with fresh cakes strapped to their bikes. Bikes may splutter when low on fuel but I completely fail to function when deprived of cake.

David Capes – One Man’s Perspective

David died shortly after midnight on Sunday 19th April 2009, after his Black Honda VT Shadow was in collision with a Silver Renault Megan on the A47 at Hockering.

Many members of the Panthers will have their own personal memories of David, some knew him better than others and Graham Tansley has kindly offered to put pen to paper and give us his perspective of a man who was much more than just another motorcyclist.

I first met Dave around the summer of 1996 through our association with the North Norfolk Motorcycle Club (The Panthers) at the Three Horseshoes Public House @ Scottow. He rode a Honda CX500 and arrived each meeting with Dave Bowyer who had built his own motorcycle special.
In the late 1990’s my wife Chris and I arranged two early summer motorcycle camping weekends at the Duke of Edinburgh PH in Bacton, both Dave’s with members of their families came to those weekends, where we barbequed food and had Saturday ride along the coast.
By now aware of Dave’s blacksmithing business, I attended my first “Forge-in” weekend with Dave and his Daughter Verity, all on our bikes and near Stowmarket. Near this time in 1998 I had ridden the coastline of mainland Britain on a 4000 mile charity ride. Having missed one or two areas of Scotland’s north-west coast due to low cloud and torrential rain, Dave asked that if was returning to ride those stretches, would I like some company? So our Scottish tour took shape in May and June 2000.
The tour of Scotland took to the John O’Groats where Dave spent a day visit to the Orkney Isles. Then we rode the north coast and down the west stopping at Applecross, one of the places I’d missed in 1998. There are great memories at Applecross, approached via the famous Bealach-Na-Ba (Pass of Cattle) at 2053’ in the clouds!
While there Dave arose early one morning to stalk red deer with a local gamekeeper we met at the inn. Also being there with when the local musicians play traditional SCOTTISH MUSIC AT THE Inn, I have photos and memories of Dave entertaining them for over 15 minutes on his Jew’s harp. He received a great round of applause and appreciation and instant friendships were established. We ended up staying around five days after a horsefly bit prevented me using my left hand until the swelling subsided so we beach combed and walked the local hills, ate and drank at the inn and even found foil wrapped ‘wacky-backy’ in a hole in a stone wall!! Dave wishfully suggested that the only fun we were likely to have with the opposite sex was if we dragged one of the local sheep off the hillside one night! Such was Dave’s sense of humour.
After this Dave organised a trip to the Isle of White on late summer 2003. we slept overnight near Guildford with Terry & Sally Clark, a blacksmith associate of Dave’s, Terry then joined Dave, Verity and myself for the three nights on the Isle of White on our variety of bikes. More coast and cliff walking, eating, drinking and another memorable few days in excellent company.
More recently Dave joined our family at Whitwell Hall Country Centre where Chris and I have run several biker friendly rallies over the past few years, around the campfire Dave entertained us again with the Jews harp. One time he couldn’t come due to a clash with a NABD rally, supporting the National Association for the Biker’s with Disabilities was close to Dave’s heart as was his care and commitment to his other biking friends. It was a shame that when Dave left the Panthers we saw each other less, though we would meet up for the Blakenay mid-summer evening ride, and other party and biking occasions, at the Eel’s Foot, Ormesby, the Railway Tavern, Dereham or when he called in at our home.
Dave was immensely proud of their son Marcus, who has become a talented artist in his own right. Marcus and Gwyn live in New Zealand with their nineteen month old daughter Fern. Meanwhile, Verity and Rob and their three year old daughter Robyn live next to Sue at Frans Green, Dereham.
Once one knew David Capes it became clear that you were fortunate enough to be friends with one of life’s real characters. There was no pretentiousness. Being aware of his may other interests including shooting, beating, gun dog breeding and training, as well as all his blacksmithing work, “forge-in” weekends and the excellent parties at Frans Green where his wife Sue prepared some excellent food and welcome together with numerous friends, it was evident his close family relationships and strong friendships meant that here was one of the special people one feels proud to call a friend.

While two of our daughters shed tears, Chris and I were left deeply moved by Dave’s early death, despite this and the comments from the heart above, I am left with the abiding thought that Dave Capes took hold of life and lived it fully and well. Dave was not a conventional man, he was a true friend who said what he thought which was the way it should be. He displayed sensitivity and emotion, with an educated eye to nature, scenery and the forces within our universe. For all those who knew him well, there will many fond memories of Dave, because to these people the world will surely be a poorer place without him.
Sleep peacefully my friend and know we cared.

Graham Tansley

The Funeral will take place on Monday 11th May 2009 @ 12.30pm at St Faiths Crematorium. Representative biker friends are welcome.

Easter Charity Motorcycle Run

Robin Howard

With the sudden and untimely death of Robin I have been asked to write a few words.

Robin was a keen motorcyclist who was in awe of what fellow club members had achieved be it manufactured or rebuilt, or the rides they had undertaken both near and far. During his latter years as you know he had been unable to ride his pride and joy, his Honda VTR Fire Storm, but he always dreamed of one day being able to swing his leg over the saddle and being free again, A dream that was sadly never to become a reality.
Robin started riding at an early age and would tell many stories of his riding backwards & forwards to Norwich whilst undertaking an apprenticeship at Morgan’s Brewery as a sign writer.
During National Service in the RAF he was lucky to be enlisted into the Police Escort Flight which enabled him to ride motorcycles whilst escorting high ranking officials and several dignitaries all over the country or escorting large equipment e.g. Queen Mary’s, or Queen Elizabeth’s from one camp to another.
After National Service and with the help of his father he started repairing automobiles that had been involved in accidental damage but nothing pleased him more than tinkering around and making things.
He made Fairings, large and small, Panniers, Dummy Exhausts initially all out of steel and then produced in glass fibre. He enjoyed a challenge. He would purchase a motorbike and would sit looking at it for ages, chewing a cigarette, deciding what he could do to make it unique.
Robin was one of a breed, someone who was both my father and my friend, someone with whom I had enjoyed many hours riding and joking with and will be sorely missed by both myself, my family but also I believe other people he had met during his life.

Michael Howard

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Funeral details:

North Walsham Church

Friday 12th September 2008 @ 2.00pm

Motorcycle escort to start from Robin's house meeting @ 1.15pm

Please confirm your attendance via email to Adrian

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Our friend and fellow biker Robin Howard died on Sunday morning at 0300hrs. He passed away at his home with Michael at his side.
Like many of you, I see Robin as a constant presence in the club and a biker in the traditional mould - someone who I have always looked up to and relied on for his sound advice and unfailing humour. I will miss him - he was my friend.

I'm sure you will all join me in passing on our sincere good will to Robins family in this testing time.

Graham Woolfenden

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