Tuesday 28 May 2013

Tea and cakes and bargain tee shirts


We’ll be running teas-and-cakes next Saturday 1st June from 2pm till late afternoon, but with no Benzina etc. to promote we’re asking for a  donation of £3 per person, £2 of that to Wilts Air Ambulance; there’s rarely a huge crowd but we still donated £20 last month. You are of course more than welcome – the more the merrier. More info and approximate directions on the website – postcode is SN10 4PX. More at http://www.teambenzina.co.uk/rides-teas-and-cakes/

And breaking news - We’ll be relaunching Benzina magazine in a month or so, so – as they say – everything must go.  That means some great clearance offers on the website shop: tee shirts are Buy one, get one free, and loads of stuff is half price. More at http://www.teambenzina.co.uk/home/


 
 


Monday 20 May 2013

Controvery at Donington? Meet the real Ducati TT2 and TT1

 
 
The Ducati TT2/TT1 symposium planned for the Donington Park classic event over the weekend of 9th-11th August is shaping up nicely. Based on the TT symposium that's run in the US for several years (below) there should be plenty of controversy - like does Tony Rutter's TT1 (above at the TT) exist anymore? Tony had a nasty crash at Montjuic Park (probably on a blown-up GSX-R's oil, which explains the occasional claim he was riding a Suzuki: it's in some photos of the crash.) and the TT1 was destroyed: Tony was left in a coma for several days, with the oft-maligned Vernon Cooper part of the beside vigil in Barcelona. Post-crash photos show the TT1's frame in two, and all the magnesium cases and suspension melted by the ensuing fire. But then how often do you have to replace an axe's head and shaft before it stops being your axe? As Paul Simon wrote, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest
The TT2 was Taglioni's swansong, and reflected his distrust of complexities like 4-valve heads and liquid cooling. Once the Castiglionis had Massimo Bordi in the big chair (and thanks to Reno Leoni working out how to stoke a Pantah to 748CC) the TT1 became the prototype Ducati Superbike, with rising rate rear suspension and super trick front forks, courtesy of Cagiva's 500GP racer. From then on 4-valve heads and a liquid cooling were only a matter of time, along with the legendary 851cc capacity. So that makes the TT2/TT1, rather than the bevel twin, the real genesis of Ducati's domination of superbike racing and that fantastic T-shirt with the Cagiva elephant and the Sumo wrestler...
 More on the event below
 
 
The  9th 10th and 11th August 2013  will be the dates for the first ever TT2 Symposium to be held in the UK with people coming from as far afield as Australia to view and show these wonderful bikes. We have a dedicated area where we shall have The Italian Village where these classic bikes will be displayed in all their glory, we are also anticipating having an area where one can sell and buy spares etc for their bikes.

It is being held at Castle Donington in conjunction with the CRMC.....It is possible to buy weekend passes and there are excellent secure camping facilities available. £40 will get you 2 adult passes, 1 camping space and the facility to display your bike. Should you wish to book please mail your interest to tt2symposium@gmail.com. If camping doesn’t appeal there are many hotels and B&Bs in the area and I suggest you look at www.lastminute.com

Should you wish to enter your bike for an event please visit the CRMC site to down loads the regs etc. However there will be an opportunity in the early evenings to parade the bike around the track ( not a race I stress !) For any further information please contact Roy Thersby on 01642 612784



Friday 10 May 2013

Something for the weekend? Moto Guzzis in the alps and paintings in Bath

 



If you fancy a wander around Bath while being bit a bit more intellectual than the average tourist, you could stroll round Newbridge Art’s Trail and take in Richard Varley's paintings (above and bottom) as seen in issues 8,9 and 10 of Benzina magazine . Also really love the work of Robert G Fresson, below.
 
 

 


Wednesday 1 May 2013

The return of tea and cakes - plus famous Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica for sale


We’ll be running teas-and-cakes this Saturday 4th May from 2pm till late afternoon, but with no Benzina etc. to promote we’re asking for a donation of £3 per person, £2 of that to Wilts Air Ambulance. You are of course more than welcome – the more the merrier - but please email via the website first so that we have an idea of numbers. More at http://www.teambenzina.co.uk/rides-teas-and-cakes/
 
One of our regular visitors has been this Mike Hailwood Rep, a one-time cover tart for Classic Bike magazine and their 2009 bike-of-the-year winner. Now for sale; you could become famous! More details below.


 

Ducati 900MHR 1982. 5000 miles since fully rebuilt mechanically and cosmetically. Red/Yellow paint like TT2, Lucas RITA style ignition system, updated with digital MOIRA box and modern coil, SS half fairing. Classic Bike of the Year in Classic Bike magazine, March 2009 issue. Top end rebuilt by Nigel Lacey, Improved Crankshaft by Godden Engineering. Very clean and tidy, but was built to ride, not as a show bike. Fully useable, ridden to Manx GP and back last year without missing a beat. Original Owners Handbook, two full fairings available. Fully serviced, new chain, sprockets, tyres and ready to ride for the summer. More details on request. £12500 o.n.o.  stu@ducatimhr.co.uk or 07917247027