It’s been a while since my last blog – mainly because I haven’t had to do anything towards getting the bike ready. However, Kev has been merrily working away in the garage, crashing and banging around and he now has what resembles a bike sitting all nice and spangly new on the paddock stands. We have yet to see if it actually starts never mind anything else.

           

Mmm Comfy!

The CTC day….

14^th February, although usually known for being a romantic day, actually marked our first YPM outing in the new caravan. We arrived on Saturday evening to Brands Hatch and set up our cazza before touring the garages. The evening was spent (as is usual at these events) with all hands on deck to rebuild a bike which was a little less than race prepared. In between jobs we ate a proper meal cooked in our proper oven in our lovely caravan and we all started to have a drink or two and the boys spent the evening tinkering with the bike.  By 11pm with a very grateful “Big Tone” and a bike that was at least running on all cylinders the YPMers proceeded to have a few more drinks before turning in for the night.

The following morning we woke to find a damp track and as the snow began to fall we doubted that  there was going to be any track time that day. It did stop snowing though after a few hours, leaving a very wet circuit. It was with some very nervous looking rookies that 2 hours later the track was declared safe and everyone got ready to get out there and start their YPM careers. Meanwhile I cooked a full English on my very effective cooker in our lovely warm caravan.

Firsts things first – a meeting was called by Mr Fish (sir) for a chat with all the rookies and then after a few other groups went out and dried the circuit a little the boys went out.

A rabble of YPMers had arrived throughout the morning and were offering their help and advise to anyone willing to listen.

After a session or two everyone seemed much happier with things and they got into their stride. We had one faller, who managed to get back to the garage where the bike was repaired with the usual gaffer tape and cable ties and he went back out in the next session. The only other failure was from a clutch which didn’t want to play anymore.

The boys practiced their race start and all got away ok, no stallers in our bunch and no bunny hopping either.

As dusk fell the last session started and stopped again after a superteen chucked himself (on a bike which wasn’t his) down the track at the exit of clearways. Apparently this was his third crash of the day so I doubt he will be joining the racing this year!

Generally a good day was had by all and everyone is looking forward to April when hopefully it will be a bit warmer and less snowy.

The pieces of the jigsaw have begun to arrive now.

The frame is in the garage and the transponder has arrived (not that there is anywhere to attach it to yet!).

And now, as you can see…..

……  there are two wheels, a mudguard and a fuel tank IN MY LOUNGE! Now thats not a good start!

By turning them all into a beautiful gleaming white colour,  I must confess that our friend “Banana-Man” has done a great job and you’d never know that the fuel tank had some very large dents in at the end of last season.  And although the wheels should have been black I do quite like them in white. I may be known as Mrs OCD  but I will not be bleaching those every time he comes in… well maybe just occasionally!

So now we just wait and see how long they stay indoors for before migrating to a more suitable location (hint.. hint.. you’d better read this Kev)

Next on the job list is polishing the frame and believe me thats not happening in my lounge

And so the 2010 season begins…..

A week ago we all had a fab meal  (a tear or two in some cases) and a good boogie at the D&D to marked the end of the 2009 season,  and today some of the club members rocked up to the Kentagon at Brands Hatch for the Bemsee open day. The meeting today was an opportunity for anyone who is intending to race next year to fill in some forms and to find out some much needed information. It’s hard to believe it’s only three months or so until the start of the 2010 racing and only a year ago Kev hadn’t even been out on a TZR or any kind of bike track day! That could explain a lot actually!

Very Official looking!

Having bought the Reeve’s  Tranny and Cazza yesterday, we collected the girls from theirs and headed for Brands. When we arrived Mr Fishwick (sir), Mr Button and Mr Muse were already there in their official jackets and in their official capacity as club VIP’s. The Kentagon was already looking like a Saturday race meet prize giving evening, with little room for more people. There were some pretty looking displays, some lovely polished R1’s and some well prepared presentations.

In true YPM form we all stood near to the hot food counter and close enough to the bar. Kev filled in his forms and paid his subs then went off to accost Tracey. Throughout the two hours we were there our little group increased to include current YPMers : Mike Wake, Higgsy, Rangi, Rob, Ken and Ruth, Marcus and Jules and our newbies, including : Big Tone and Mungo. As the eye tests began and there was a feeling of excitement as well as nerves as the waiting has become a reality for the rookies.

We had to leave about 2pm as we had two very well behaved, but bored kids who had no idea what the conversations were about – even I struggled sometimes (tyres/costs per meeting/amount of laps/rookie vs clubman vs YPM championchips/Powervalve vs TDR  vs LC vs TZR/ crashes/ Mike Smiths ebay bidding via Rob Banyard – most of which were not for a child’s ears I might add!).

We headed off with Higgsy to pass on an engine from our new (ex Reevesie) van into his van for Cappo to take home (when he arrived) having already said our good bye’s to the VIP’s.  At the exit I was suddenly apprehended by a handsome and dashing young man known simply as Griggsy…… Thank you sir, I will treasure the memory of the leg thrusting until our next meeting. With that memory fresh in everyones mind we headed off to our van with the Higerty crew, and then we went off to get some lunch before a visit to our new caravan.

Thanks to everyone that attended – a great show of faces, as always,  and a good representation of the class. Well done.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to everyone associated with the YPMers and we look forward to the racing and socialising of 2010. Bring on the parties !