Monday 31 March 2014

Big News

Hi all

I mentioned in my last post that there maybe some big news heading your way,well here it is.

Despite saying it would never happen again, I've entered The Manx Grand Prix this year.

This was all down to an offer by my good mate Stafford to race a Ducati 888 in the Classic TT in August.

So as long as my entry is accepted I will be racing the below bike, all being well.




As a lot of these things go, it all started one evening whilst in The Creek Inn, Peel, during our visit to The Manx last year.

Luckily this idea didn't disappear and was more than a drink induced dream. So after much searching, Stafford found a suitablebike for sale, albeit in Belgium.

The bike was delivered a couple of weeks ago and I finally got to see her last week. I only popped over to have a look and was told that once the pictures were taken, the bike would be stripped down as the engine was due to go to Louigi Moto the following day to be rebuilt before the race. I got home at midnight, but the bike was stripped and ready for work to begin.

Stafford has started a blog on the rebuild celeresracing.blogspot.co.uk so I'll let him tell you whats going on with that side of it.

I'm really excited to be given this opportunity and can't thank Stafford enough, it's been a dream of mine to race a Ducati on the Mountain Circuit for many years so am looking forward to racing on The Island again, but naturally quite nervous after my last trip.

I have started watching on board laps again to remind myself of where to go and what lines to be taking so hope this will help after my 14 years away from racing there.

As always my ambitions for racing there are to qualify and finish, anything else is a bonus.

I'm not counting my chickens just yet as we have to get an entry first, I'll let you know just as soon as I do.

So hope to have some good news for you soon.

Cheers
Stuart




Wednesday 26 March 2014

Supertwin Update

Hi all

Well another weekend working on my SV in readiness for Cookstown, which is rapidly approaching.

I'm having the wheels repainted so had to borrow some tools from the nice people at TAS Suzuki, was handy buying a Suzuki and having such a big race team just down the road.

I also tried to sort my quick shifter out as I prefer road pattern gear shift, as opposed to race shift which it is currently set up for.

I phoned HM Quickshifters for some advice and they said to return it to them so they could service it.

That was Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning they called to say they had sorted the problem and checked it all over, they then posted it back to me. So in less than 24 hours from sending it, the unit was back in the post all sorted. So many thanks to them for such a quick turn around.

My van is also back in Northern Ireland and bike is now just waiting the fairings to be painted and then we'll be ready, fingers crossed.

I hope to have a big update for you in the next few days, so stay in touch.

Until then, ride safe.

Cheers
Stuart

Monday 10 March 2014

Long Over Due Update

Hi all

Apologies for the delay in updating my site, pesky work has got in the way.

Anyhow, I have still been busy working on my bike, both here and in Northern Ireland.

This has lead to my usual time spent at airport security trying to explain what these various lumps of metal are.

My worst time was when Gatwick decided that I couldn't take the rear axle, despite it being let through previously. Still the nice people at Easyjet booked my bag into the hold for free, so not all bad.

Anyway back to the bike.

I've been cleaning and painting various bits so it looks like I know what I'm doing at least. There have been lots of bolts that have been replaced so will be easier to work on in future.

After stripping the loom of all un necessary wires I got home to find that you now need a rear light for adverse weather conditions, so back in went some wires.

I've also added case savers and also replaced the end can as it was well battered.

The last visit over saw me bleed the brakes, fit the wiring loom. Add the foot pegs that I made onto the rear sets that my Dad cleaned up for me. Again this was only for asthetics as they were a bit of a mess.

I bought a lathe a couple of years ago as always wanted to be able to turn stuff, this project has given me loads of practice making footpegs, lever ends, crash bungs and various spacers, and have to say it's been great fun.

The sub frame was stripped of some brackets and has been repainted, thanks to Adrian and Josh.

After refitting the loom it was a nervous moment to see if she ran. Luckily on the first press of the button she burst into life and ticked over quite happily.

I hope you, from  the photos below,  agree she is looking more like a bike again.

There are afew bits left to do but nothing major, then she will be ready for the faring to be fitted, which is once again being painted by Adrian, so fingers crossed she will look the business.






So there we have it, with less than 6 weeks to go until Cookstown, we are on schedule without too many late nights hopefully.

Hopefully there will be an update soon, so until then.

Cheers
Stuart