Nigel Hammersley

It was with terrible regret
that I learned from my sister in law
who is visiting us in France
that Nigel Hammersley is a patient on her ward
at the North Staffs Royal Infirmary
in Stoke on Trent.
Joan is a nurse on ward 21
where Tigsy was admitted
suffering from a cerebral aneurism
and accompanying stroke.
Whilst out of immediate danger,
he remains confused,
immobile with lower limb paralysis
and generally very unwell.
Any stimulus from friends and customers
would be greatly appreciated;
Ducati stories and photos may help to refocus his brain.
If you know Nigel,
PLEASE help!
Whilst never one to suffer fools gladly,
Nigels coarse manner and speech
hid a rare talent and a generous spirit.
He allways supposed he knew better than you did
but in truth -HE DID.
A truly gifted bike mechanic
Nigels skill with the Honda V4 engine
saw him dealing with the problems HONDA UK couldnt fix.
Nigels lifelong passion has been for Ducati
“a proper motorcycle”
and a few years ago he nearly lost his life on one.
A trials rider of repute in the late 70,s
his passion for bikes inspired many.
I implore friends and acquaintances
to rally round and show their support for Tigsy in his hour of need
All messages to
Ward 21
North staffs Royal Infirmary
Princes Rd
Hartshill,
stoke on Trent
Thanks:P

January round up…

Firstly let me thank you all!

10,000 of you have looked at the Peterbetabiker blog

since its inception in March 2008.

Amost 1000 a month,250 per week!!!

INCREDIBLE

Whats new?

Well I sold the FZR 600

to a local French guy

who doesnt get a full licence until April 09!

I made a decent profit on the bike

and bought a classic Honda.

A 1975 K2 Honda 500 Four

in fact.

Whilst not concours it is in great

original condition.

The four pipes are good with no dents or rot.

lovely colour-metallic gold

Recently serviced,it is ready to roll.

I,m looking forward to going on some classic club runs.

OH,and I bought another Elise!

Bright red this time.

Low mileage and very well serviced

its faster than the silver one I bought.

Could be the 160 throttle body and K+N filter.

It gives a claimed 12HP increase.

Certainly a bigger mid range!

At the other end of the sporting spectrum,

I bought a lovely Volvo 850 estate!!!!

£1000 for a low mileage,top spec UK model.

RIDICULOUS

PLUS

UK cars are effectively 30% cheaper

due to the fall in the value of the pound

against the EURO.

For French residents it means UK cars/bikes

are a real bargain.

Except UK dirt bikes!

Why are they still so dear ?

Everyone predicted

that they would be given away

after the restrictions on green lane access

and local authority restrictions

on motocross meetings.

I havent seen any bargains,have you?

Anyone out there had a TVR chimeara?

I fancy one and need some pointers from owners.
ps anyone interested in my housebuild
-take a look on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33883422@N03/

Cheers:P

preventable accidents

Some were my fault……

Others happened to others (who shall remain nameless)

My second ever bike was a Sunbeam S7

-all black with balloon tyres

like a Harley-WOW!

library picture

I was working my college holidays as a dustman

(real bins,collected from real back gardens!)

I spotted the Sunbeam under a cover

in a council house backyard

I returned that evening

and bought it for £20.

I never thought to check the 20 year old tyres,

the 20 year old petrol

or the 20 year old oil!

All elements were present

and the bike ran

-job done.

On the way home I nursed it

until I hit a straight bit of road;

I wound on the gas,

50 mph,60mph….

BANG!!

The rear piston and conrod

burst through the engine casing

an inch from my left knee!

I instinctively pulled in the clutch

and coasted to a halt.

Sold a month later for £20 for spares.

Lesson learned!

Petrol,oil,tyres

these are the first things I change

when I get a new bike.

Speaking of changing tyres…

a good friend

was marshalling the Welsh 2 day

Aware that his front tyre had a slow puncture

he was returning to base to fix it,

when he got collared by a mate

to take something to the next check

for his son to collect.

On the way,

travelling on a fireroad

at about 40 mph,

the wheel and tyre parted company……..

A week in Hereford hospitals intensive care

with a punctured lung and fractures

meant that he missed his sons wedding

on the Saturday after the event.

His wife was not best pleased!

Another tyre incident

happened to me at Cadwell

I had borrowed my pal Roger,s Honda XBR500 racer

for one of the early sessions

at a trackday there.

Usual story-last minute panic

bike straight off the trailer

“Blue group to the start,

Blue group to the start”

Helmet on,”wheres, me gloves”

“Any juice in the Honda?”

Should be……..”

Set off following the marshall

-all in crocodile formation,

no overtaking for a couple of laps…..

Marshall pulls in -all hell breaks loose!

red mist(this isnt supposed to be a race-HA HA!)

I bludgeon my way through the pack.

Left right and into the mountain section.

The back wheel breaks traction,

I get ready for the inevitable high side,

I look up into the small stand at the side of the mountain

where the riders friends/families are sat,

To a man they are on their feet

hands over mouths-OH MY GOD-Hes off!” style

By a pure fluke I regain control of the bike

and conduct the remaining laps of the session

rather sedately.

Back in the paddock

the reason for the “moment”

is discovered

5lbs of air in the rear tyre

Since then I NEVER

go onto a track without checking the tyres in advance.

Nearly a very hard lesson?

A racing pal

seized his Honda single at 3 Sisters

-a yellow duster,

he had used to wipe his wet seat

and then tucked under the seat

and forgotten about

got sucked down the bellmouth of the carb

INSTANT HALT!

(I did something similar at Cadwell.

Trying unsuccessfully

to bumpstart

the normally 1st push Honda K4

my wife Ann asked

whether there should be a rag

sticking out of the carb bellmouth!

I had put it there

to stop rain ingress

on the journey to the circuit

on its trailer,and forgotten to take it out.

(It must have polished the crank,

judging by the length of cloth

pulled back out!)

Perhaps the moral is

to fit a bellmouth with a mesh end!

Anyone forgotten to fit the little fishie

on his chain split link

or had him swimming wrongly “downstream”

I know a man who did…..

his chain came off,and so did he!

Wasnt his bike either.

Another favourite(on older bikes)

is to ride off

with the sidestand still extended

I did on my Ducati 900 supersport.

1st bend,

tipped her in

went straight on!!

Fortunately no cars coming the other way!

Unfortunately 80 euros for a new stand.

An incident 20 years ago

has ensured that I NEVER ,EVER

take a bike for a ride

without suitable footwear and a helmet.

(I often prefer to watch the owner put it through its paces

than ride an unfamiliar machine myself)

I was selling an aircooled KDX 200

and a nice guy came,complete with trailer

to collect it.

I fired her up

-”yes ,fine,I,ll have it.”

“can I take her up the road”

“of course- have you got your lid and boots,if not I,ll lend you mine”

No need to bother,

in fact he didnt want me

to get it to the road for him,

past several large piles of

building materials on the drive.

A small man,

a tall unfamiliar peaky machine

-there could only be one outcome!

He revved the nuts off it,

dumped the clutch,

stood it on its back wheel

and then threw it away!

No damage to the bike….

he was writhing on the ground.

Looking at my mate

and supressing a laugh

we picked him up

and helped him

to a nearby wall to sit on.

By this time he was shaking

and sweating profusely.

I helped him roll up his trouser leg

His shin was split to the bone

from knee to ankle.

Round to the village doctors surgery…

she took one look

and called the ambulance

-blue lights and all!

The metal cleated footpeg was the culprit

Lack of suitable footwear

compounded the injury

Whilst he lay on the doctors couch

I had to ask the obvious…….

“I  suppose this means

you wont be having the Bike now ,

does it???”

WHAT do you mean-ME-insensitive???:P