Rebuild fully underway

'Gordon' is well on the way to being rebuilt.

The repaired air box and new sub frame are now fitted; over the next couple of days I will try to press on to get the Ducati forks fitted in the new yoke.

Then I will just have to get on and spray the fairing and apply the graphics.

Rock and roll...

Looking good..

A work of art is always worth waiting for. At this point we all had been at it for about 10 hours straight! Talk about burning the midnight oil.....
Lots of calculations to get the header length right, and still managed to keep the pipes up out of the way for the fairing.

Nearly there.

Its a joy to watch Mark at work and he certainly knows his stuff too!

Almost all the parts are cut to length and formed they just need welding together.

We had a delicious lunch there which Simon put together.

The exhaust is almost done now.

coming along

Things are begining to shape up.

Work in progress

Here at MHP waiting and watching while Mark is working his magic.

Fantastic yoke

Picked up the top yoke for Gordon from the 'Jack Daniels Motor Cycle Club' (AKA Fred Petit), great job!

Now I can get on with transplanting the Ducati forks and wheel into Gordon.

What's that I can smell? Midnight oil burning I guess!

Exhausting wait...

Gordon's been away at MHP for a week now and I'm missing him, I have so much to do and I'm starting to run out of time.
I am still waiting to hear from Mark about his progress but it is a necessity that Mark has him down there to get the new system to fit 100%.

Exhausting thoughts.

Gordon is still away at Mark Hill's MHP having a new system made.
Mark has some great ideas and produces some superb exhaust systems, but i have had some ideas of my own I'd like to try.
Should be on the dyno on Thursday afternoon with him so more news then.
I am going to contact Mark and see today and see how things are progressing.

Off to see new friend 'MHP'

Jane kindly lent Gordon Ron's van and we've driven four hours down South to see Mark Hill. We've had a chat about some ideas for a new exhaust. I am going to leave Gordon in Mark's capable hands and see what he comes up with.

Gordon 100 Club Members - write...

It has been great to get notes and envelopes from all over, returning their membership number ticket halves to be included in the free draw to win Gordon.

Due to the problems encountered at Snetterton, as per the terms and conditions, we have taken the decision to revise the closing and draw dates.

This way, potential sponsor club membership purchasers will get the chance to see Gordon rebuilt, and showcased at Pembrey.

The revised closing date for the draw is now the 1st August 2007, with the lucky membership number to be drawn at the Donington Round of the Supermono Championship on the 12th August.

One wheel on my wagon..

I have put lots of feelers out accross the internet on many message boards, looking for a replacement rear wheel - all to no avail.
I visited Roy Thersby today to see if he could rectify the damage done at Snetterton; initially he said that wheel was too bad, but that he could straighten the one generously donated by Norman Bell.
Roy has a business repairing wheels in Stockton on Tees, just an hour up the road, so it was well worth seeing if he could help.
It looks like he's managed to do the trick, and I'll be off to collect it this week.
Visit his site by clicking here: Roy Thersby

Bit of video from Snetterton.

My face at the end is a picture - I'm pleased to tell you that repairs are under way - I'm currently looking for some replacement wheels, if you can help, please get in touch.
Cheers.

Something to smile about...

Gordon's mate is having a right laugh - he's just realised the only possible 'up side' to the crash at Snetterton, if there could be one...

Whoever wins Gordon in the 100 Sponsor Club free draw will get a cracking race engine - it'll have hardly done any work!

What with missing practice, qualifying and two races at Snetterton I must have saved about 100 miles worth of wear and tear on the motor...

Time to think

As I sat out both races this weekend at Snetterton it gave me time to think about what I have to do with Gordon.

It was really bizarre, there was just so much damage to him - I was really taken aback, as in previous years, I've crashed in exactly the same place before, and managed to pick up the bike and rejoin the race; but this time it's different and I'm going to have to form some kind of strategy for his rebuild.

On the up side I've got 5 weeks before the next British Championship round at Pembrey, but that doesn't mean I can hang around!
I'll be on the phone ordering parts and chatting to Gordon's special friends to see who can help in his rescue.

Getting on with it.

Well I might as well get on with things. I have phoned Peter Day and he knows what to expect.

I have got most stuff off now so have a better idea of what I need to do to get him back up and on his wheels.

No way Jose...

This picture only tells half the story.

Even if I set to try and rebuild him there is major stuff that I just can't put right before racing tomorrow.

Both wheels are wrecked, exhausts are ripped off, and sub frame is remodelled.

Good job there are five weeks until the next event.

Early bath...

Testing this morning has not gone to plan, as you can see.

Highsided at the chicane. Bugger!!

I had done several laps to warm up the left hand side of the tyre that is always a problem at Snetterton and was starting to pick up the pace.

The lap before the rear felt like it was gripping well so I opend Gordon up coming on to the straight. I was well out of the corner and sitting the bike up when the rear came around - and then it's all 'ground - sky - ground - pain....'

Let it rain...

Let it rain...
Originally uploaded by no1bloke.

After looking at the long range forecast for this weekend I got in touch with Gordon's uncle Phil to request some wellingtons for him.

I have to say the front looks most curious, but can't wait to give it a try!

Lumbering up in Limbo...

The Ducati forks have proved more difficult to drop in than I imagined, so I've been in limbo for the last couple of days as I've been waiting for the stock forks from Steve at Jordan Motorcycles, he was investigating re-valving or fitting new cartridges in them. However, with time running out the decision was made to just try and improve the the stock internals by re shimming and re shaping the original components.

While the forks are out working on Gordon has not been easy on my own, but I managed to fit the Ohlins shock Zweitze sent over for Gordon.
It went straight in without a hitch; only the mounting of the remote reservoir posed any problems, but zip-ties saved the day. Where would we be with out them?

Action photo by: PLJ Photo