FEBRUARY 2001

Tay Valley Norton Owners Club AGM

Yes it’s that time of the year again, just to remind you all who the office bearers are;

Chairman John Hyman

Secretary Gino Rondelli

Treasurer Ian Coull

Events George Peddie

I would like to thank my fellow office bearers for the work they have put in this year, especially Ian who attempts to keep the branch finances on an even keel despit his heavy work commitments.

I would also like to thank all the regulars for turning up and getting the crack. (No I’m not even going to try and spell it the Irish way even though it is fashionable!!)

The committee were voted on last year en block proposed by John Duncan and Seconded by Ally Maclaughlin.

Last year we organised a rally as well a some runs, I’m not going to go into them all here now as they have been reported on extensivley within previous newsletters.

The Branch still has a strong base and it’s good to see the branch represented at most of the main Norton events throughout the year, lets keep it up.

Kildean Autojumble

I had a stall there and I’m glad to say it lived up to expectations as the first decent social event of the year.

The other good thing was that I made a small dent in my stock, only another dozen jumbles and I might even break even!

Good (cheap) Norton parts are becoming harder to find at these events but only because people like us hoard the stuff we have, but who cares, I’m collecting parts not selling!!

Sad to say I’ve still not had a run on the bike this year yet, the weather has been terrible and it’s only in the last couple of days the welders have stopped making a killing out of the Brass monkey population.

Roll on Spring, speaking of terrible weather some of us will be off to the Thistle Rally next weekend and as always after what seems like a longer than usual winter break I’m really looking forward to it and sod the weather. I’ve taxed the JPN and can’t wait to get all that lovely shiny alloy ruined by salt and sand.

It’s just as well it’s got red and blue stripes along the side or it could become invisible if it snows!!

During the aftermath of the heavy snow a couple of weeks ago I was on my way to work when just approaching the roundabout at Dunblane I saw a brave (or stupid) soul on a R1 Yamaha stopped up to the wheel spindles in snow, further down the road ther was virtually clear roads. I reckon this poor guy ad totally misjudged the weather and roads just a few miles futher along and was probably sitting there wondering how to get out of the mess he had just driven into. He gets this years first "Oh shit how did I get into this" award.

International Rally News

The booking form for this years rally in the Dordogne will be in the next edition of Roadholder, this is one event we are all looking forward to and it draws nearer.

After a conversation this week with Keith King (NOC events supremo) OUR offer to run the International rally in Southern Ireland has been taken up. Our Dutch friends were all set to arrive en masse next year but we will hopefully be their guests in 2002 and it’ll be down to us in Ireland in 2003, further on from there there is talk of a Scandanavian (Norway or Sweden) rally after that.

Join the NOC and see the world.

As promised last Month here is the Quiz for our Internet friends answer on an E mail to motorcycles@ginorondelli.freeserve.co.uk

What was the full name of the founder of "Norton"?
In what year was Norton engineering founded?
What engine was fitted to the first Norton?
What was the nickname given to the machine that set 112 national speed records between 1912 and 1920?
What was the first machine to lap Brooklands at an average speed of 100mph for an hour?
Who was the rider?
In what year was the 500cc forerunner of the commando built?
What is the exact capacity of a 750 Commando?
What is the exact capacity of a 850 Commando?
What have BMW’s and Triumph got in common? (the answer is not that they are both crap!)
Which excellent motorcycle eminates from Mandello Del Lario?
In 1965 a japanese factory brought out a bike which mimiced the BSA A10 but without the unreliabilty which manufacturer was it?
Which model was it?
In the mid 70’s Tom Christenson was a successful drag racer on a double engined Norton, what was the Bike called?
What is the best sports tourer money can Buy?

(Shame on you if you don't know most of them off the top of your head)

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not neccesarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli