Eventpost 21 - Hodnet BMCA

Today was a BMCA event at Andy Onions' Farm near the famous Hawkstone Park motocross circuit near Hodnet.

I always enjoy riding here as the ground is not usually effected by the weather as it quite sandy and has some good scope for sections with rock slabs, bank and roots. The sections here are often quite tight too, which also suits me.

All started well today with 3 cleans on the first 3 sections, however some more electrical problems made the next hour quite frustrating. First the bike wouldnt start then after trying different plugs with a very weak spark the bike fired up but ran very inconsistently with the engine dieing then picking back up with no warning or reason.

This made the rest of the first lap and most of the 2nd lap more than a callenge, then for no apparent reason, it went away as quickly as it came on and it ran without missing a beat for the rest of the trial. I suppose it may have even been a blocked jet or carburation problem but I am glad to say that whatever it was now appears to have passed and the bike was fine for the second half of the trial.

Although my score was reflective of the day for me, I really enjoyed the trial and felt that I was actually riding well so I am not too dissappointed. After the last few muddy trials that I havent enjoyed, today was fun and that's what we all ride for isn't it???

Now I have a couple of weeks off, to give the dodgy knee a rest and also put a trial on near to home, so will give the bike a bit of a spit and polish in time for Wrighty's show at Malvern.

I am showing both the Sprite and the Fantic at the show so if you regularly read my updates, please come and say hi at the show. The challenge for me will be to come home with both bikes as everything has a price and I suppose that for the right price I could start over again with a new project???!!??

Results

2 Stroke

1. Nathan Jones 17

2. Dave Jones 22

3. Dave Dawson 33

Unit Construction

Alan Borton 23

2. Nick Wooley 30

3. Brian Dale 32

Pre Unit Construction

1. Bill Bourne 13

2. Jim Pickering 30

3. Pete Peed 50

Fanticpost 10

Here is a pic of the FANTIC with white side panels - a much better solution than the previous 2 tone red with different colours on the tank and side panels!

Now the question is whether we should have gone completely white and done a white tank too?

I hope to give it a try this weekend if the rain ever stops - I will update the blog with details of the test.

Fanticpost 9

Finally the wheels are in the bike and its rolling.

I dropped the side panels into the powder coaters today but have put the original red panels on for the photos.

I am really pleased with the way it looks and the white side panels wil be on next week.

We now need to give it a run out and see how it performs and understand if anything needs doing to the engine.

Let me know what you think!

Fanticpost 8

Over the last few weeks my Dad has been freshening up a 200 Fantic for himself.

Whilst doing my bike, dad suggested a different approach to the seat and side panels by making them all one unit. As I was set on the idea of using a 300 seat and separate side panels I didn't go with the idea, however whilst doing his own bike he tried it out and I think it came out quite well.

I thought you would like to see it.

Fanticpost 7

At last I got my wheels back today for the Fantic from Terry at M and B wheels.

The problem was has been in lacing the rear wheel as the holes were drilled in the rim for a much narrower rear hub and even though an attempt was made to re-drill the holes, the nipples would not seat correctly so a new rim was ordered from Central wheel which has taken weeks to be produced.

In the mean time, I got to thinking about the fact that the original side panels did not match the colour of the tank so I decided to try a different approach. We have made a set of side panels in alluminium, turned the studs for the inside to push into the original rubber grommets and held them in place with small dome head screws. These will then be powder coated white to go with the frame and will be re-stickered as per the originals so the only red part of the bike will be the tank.

Pics are of the side panels that are off to the powder coaters tomorrow. I will update the BLOG with more pics when the wheels are in the bike.