July 2nd, 2009
Now then folks, how’s the weather treating you? Don’t complain, it’ll only rain are my words of wisdom for the week. It’s official it’s summer because, my old Saab is in action again, leopard skin interior, the lot. She started up a treat after being stood for nearly a year. Do you reckon she’s a bird-pulling machine? They’d have to be a classy bird to appreciate the lure of the Saab I reckon.
Well, it’s the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend for Danny the mechanic, the farmer’s daughter and me. It’ll be as posh as you like. I’ll even have to dig out some smart attire from somewhere. Danny is a proper fashion victim and the farmer’s daughter has spent the gross national turnover of a small country on some posh dress, so I’m going to have to make an effort of some sort. Looks like im going to do the Megavalanche thanks to Orange pushbikes, they’re lending me an Alpline 160 to do it on, so thanks a million. Right, best get some work done. I’ll get some pics of Goodwood put up, posh isn’t the word.
Posted in Goodwood, Life | 8 Comments »
June 24th, 2009
Morning all.
Well, after the TT all I wanted to do was get back to a bit of normality. So that was it, straight back to work Monday morn, did the usual butty run for the morning’s tea break and that was it, normality by dinner. So what to do at the forthcoming weekend? I thought I’d be racing the classic Suzuki at Donington, but the owner decided no to go. Well i thought ill be working till Saturday dinner so I’ll not be able to go to far. Or so I thought. While looking on the Dirt magazine website I saw it was round 5 of the UCI World Downhill Mountain Bike Cup in Slovenia. How far is Slovenia? Quick look at the map… It’s only 1100 miles. I can do that on Sat night, watch the race Sunday and drive back Sunday night, catch the ferry back and be back to work Monday. Sorted.
I got my mate Andy to come along for the ride. He used to be in the army in Bosnia so he knows his onions. We got into France by 8 Saturday night and that’s where the hard work started. It got to 11 Saturday night and there was still 760 miles to do. This might take a bit longer than expected. So that was it, find a decent place to abandom mission and get pissed. We ended up in Notre Dame in some dodgy bar then got a lift with the locals to a night club in the Notre Dame castle. That was us till three Sunday morn. We kipped in the back of my works Tranny, had a look about Sunday morn, drank French coffee to try a cure thick head, ate some french food, not sure what it was, then drove back. Sn enteraining sunday and now I’m looking forward to me next race. I reckon it’ll be the Southern 100. I didn’t realise the Skerries is the same weekend as Goodwood so got to do Goodwood instead, orders from the boss.
Posted in France, Goodwood, Life | 22 Comments »
June 18th, 2009
Is that light on the western front? Not sure, but my sister Kate and her fella Paddy are getting married. How cool is that? She’s my little sister and any bloke that has any interest in her usually gets my deathly silence or a back hander. But to my relief Paddy is the man. He’s a world champion in sidecar racing, proper sound lad and managed to put up with my sister for a good while now so I wish ‘em all the best.
I reckon Guy and marriage won’t be coming any where soon, not as long as I’ve got a hole in my arse. Reckon my Dad once said if i got married that’d be another man gone to waste, what do you reckon?
Oh, and no Megavalanch for me at the mo’. The farm was broken into the other day, all my bikes nicked, so thats my bonfire pissed on. Gone missing is a Scott Ransom 10, and an Orange 224 GBR, with all the trick Hope sponsored green stuff on, stuff you can’t buy. Any joy let me know please.
Posted in Gear, Life | 32 Comments »
June 15th, 2009
Now then all, Isle of Man 09, eh? Not too bad, but could have been better is the verdict. Ok, three podiums is more than anyone else got but I’d still like more, and the number 1 spot. But I’m back in one peice so it could have been worse, couldnt it?
Straight off the ferry on Saturday morn I thought ‘Where to now? Farm, mow grass, chilll out or work on trucks? I know I’ll work on trucks.’ So straight down to the wagon yard but my dad works like a good un and had got everything finished, so that was it. I ended up in the Polish truck drivers caravan with Chris the transport manager drinking the homemade vodka and eating Polish sausage. Not a mention of motorbikes just plenty of sluring, piss taking and garlic dip. Next thing I knew it was Sunday morn and I got on with mowing the grass.
So the conclusion to the 2009 TT is, woking with my mates worked, they all worked faultlessly, good laugh, the problem we had was not our fault, working outside of the pits is the future and most importantly, milk allways in first. Thanks a million for the mega support over there, sorry if i was a bit busy to talk to folk, it’s just I stuck to my “first things first” motto. Thanks a million.
Posted in Gear, Isle of Man TT, racing | 47 Comments »
June 11th, 2009
Well, it’s Thursday night and we’re just getting ready for tomorrow’s Senior TT race by watching the Le Mans qualifying. I’m hoping for an Aston Martin win, they’ve got three cars out in LP1 and have put in a massive amount of effort. Did you know the new v12 in the Lola Aston Martin has got direct injection? That’s a new one on me. Every day’s a school day and all that.
We’ve got my old (2008)forks back in the superbike and been up to Jurby airstrip for a bit of a run out to see if I’ll like her or not. she feels like a completely different bike. Let’s just hope it’ll work around the TT. Two seconds and a third , so near yet so far, eh?
Posted in Gear, Isle of Man TT, racing | 45 Comments »
June 9th, 2009
All from Andy Graves. Cheers Andy.
In one shot you can see how close Guy, Hutch and a rider further down the order are at 150mph at Ago’s Leap. You can just spot Guy.
Posted in racing | 20 Comments »
June 8th, 2009
Sorry I’ve been a bit slack, we’ve been busy on the bike front, getting stuff ready for tomorrow’s races and trying to sort out some of my old favotite forks for the superbike.
After the race I had a bit of PR stuff to do for Dainese. It’s a hard life is this, having to meet Rossi, eh? That man’s a legend and was genuinely interested in the world of road racing, a bit differant from the GP world eh? Anyway he got a lap around with Ago and got an idea of what its all about.
Anyway I’m off to bed, I’m on Radio 4 early in the morn. That’s my tractor driving station. Am I getting old ? Radio 2 for workshop, 4 for tractor. Maybe I’ll grow into Radio 1.
Posted in Life, racing | 16 Comments »
June 8th, 2009
1st McGuinness
2nd Plater
3rd Guy
4th Hutchinson
5th Johnson
More later, from Guy himself, hopefully.
Posted in racing | 29 Comments »
