Gordon gets rebuilt.

Peter Day has very kindly offered to rebuild Gordon over the 'festive' period.

After taking him to Peter's house, Gordon was very excited to be back with someone who actually was bothered about him - he is very grumpy that I seem to have ignored him since he spat me off at Cadwell...

A3 poster - Cadwell Mountain

I've got some A3 posters of Gordon cresting the mountain.

If you would like one, please just contribute something towards a postal tube and at least £1.50 for a stamp.
Click below to donate something to cover despatch costs, also let me know if you would like the poster dedicating to anyone.

New Blog

The new blog that will carry my ideas and plans for the 2008 season can now be found here: 2008 Season Blog

Please add it to your 'favourites'.

I try to continue to keep this blog updated with stuff that is specific to 'Gordon' and his progress.

Video from Cadwell weekend.

On track action.

This great on track action shot is by Peter Wileman check out his website at http://www.racingdigitalimages.com/

Cadwell's mountain section is a great place to do a bit of 'show boating'. I quite like getting it a bit out of shape coming over the top, it's difficult to keep the wheel down and go quickly though!

Not according to plan.

Unfortunately the time table was changed and that meant that we were called to the holding area while the karts were still on track.
We did have to wait for quite a while, and all I can think is that my tyres cooled off.
Got a great start.
Gordon gets off the line like a rocket.

Leading the race - into the Goose neck - and down we went.

Chilling out.

Done a few laps this morning. Small problem. Seems like fourth gear is knackered as it keeps jumping out of gear. Oh well will have to try not to use it too much!

Disappointed.

Got a great start and led the race for the first four laps. Mark got past and then I took the lead again. Only to get the oil flag. Gordon was smoking big style. Steve stripped him down and luckily it was the cam chain tensioner bolt that had come un screwed! The air box had saved the day and contained it. Oh well we can do it all again tomorrow.

Qualifying.

Not a bad session.

Third fastest.

Alex on pole then Mark Lawes - we were all within two tenths of each other.

Carry on Cadwell

Gordon's mate Jody Lovatt (AKA Dr. Love) is racing this weekend so has kindly offered to give him a lift.

Big job broken out...

Popped up to the garage to check on Gordon today - just thought I would give him a wipe over in anticipation of racing the last two rounds of the championship at Cadwell Park this weekend.

Once I started on one little job, I noticed another. Then before I had finished that, there was another bigger job to do.... here I am hours later, and there still seems to be loads to do...

Great weekend.

All in all it has been a great weekend. It was a class race with all the Euro front runners. I raced hard knocking over two seconds off my qualifying time.
It was a real testement to Martin also that his newly built unridden bike could make it to the rostrum. He never saw my race though as he too was riding, finishing a credible 11th.

Went for it.

Had a good race, really went for it from the off.
It was just me and Mark Lawes at the front for the whole race. I didnt realise Stephan Meiners was creeping up behind and just pinched 2nd off me as we crossed the line.
Not bad when you think the bike had not turned a wheel before yesterday.

Mark Lawes is the 2007 European Champion.

Working late.

Martin has got most things done as well as cooking dinner for everyone! I am hoping that now the yoke is sorted the handling will be transformed.
After trying a much harder spring we are trying one a bit softer.
Now he just has to put the motor back together and build the bike back up!

Brand new bike.

Of course with this being a totally new machine we are finding all sorts of things as I push it more and more. The back is still not right, too hard I think.
The big problem is the front - under heavy braking the bike does not want to turn. Let the brakes off, no problem.
Turns out the bottom yoke is actually touching the frame causing the steering to stick! Managed to qualify 7th though amongst all the Euro regulars.

not forgotten

not forgotten
Originally uploaded by no1bloke

We have not forgotten Gordon just because he has been left at home. The team are running four bikes this weekend. Jan is riding an Over Yamaha with the number 66 in Gordon's honour.

Bound for Assen.

Good morning, just on my way to the Netherlands, to work with the Mali-Jawa team again for the last round of the European Supermono championship.

I am really looking forward to it as Martin has now finished the third bike.

Keep coming back for updates as I will be be keeping the blog current from my mobile phone.

Photo by Rejman.

Everyone's a winner!

I was getting ready to send out the official notifications of Gordon's new owner, and some of his mates thought that everyone deserved to be a winner, so they got to grips with the membership cards.
They fought it out and picked who got what. If you are a sponsor member, keep your eye on the post - it might just be a baby shark, coozie, hat or t- shirt.
If you get a t-shirt and it doesn't fit pleas pass it on to someone who might appreciate it!

Draw video.

Just so you can see the actual draw as it took place:

Here you can see 'The Judge' Johnny Corrin years ago, when we were in the 1989 Belstaff team together. From the left, Trevor Nation, Steve Ives, Johnny Rea Snr. at the back, Johnny Corrin in front of him, then me, together with some other blokes - including Mark Farmer and Ron Haslam!!
I would really like to thank all Gordon's special friends for contributing to the project and especially to all the people who bought sponsor memberships, I could not have done the 'Gordon Project' without you.

And the winner is...

Alex won the race, Glen won the championship and John Corrin won Gordon.
J.C. and I rode together in the Belstaff team in the '80s.
He was a very good rider, I wonder if winning Gordon is enough to tempt him back on track...