Gordon Bennett!!

12 months on………
15,500 hits………
1800 plus per month……….
61 per day………..

Have you lot got nothing better to do
than read the PETERBETABIKER blog??????

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

Luvverly motor John!

Well

you could have

“knocked me down wiv a fevver”

I needed juice for the van

having driven the tractor and “topper”

round the building plot

keeping the grass

down to golf course length

(sad or what?)

Called at St Matthieu

and there it was………

A BOSTIN CAR SHOW!

Over 100 beautiful cars

a few bikes and a small autojumble.

With no more ado

-feast your mince pies

on these beauts !

(enough of the  Cockney moments-ed)

Wacky mini cars-we gottem!

This is a Vespa!

followed by a PAPAMOBIL??????

Some great US cars

a few CADDIES…..

A fabulous Model T FORD

(who needs alloy wheels???)

A huge Kenworth Truck

plus a few Mustangs,Corvettes

and a lovely GTO which I missed!

only a few bikes,

but check out this ZUNDAPP outfit

CUTIE?

French cars(as youd imagine)

were well represented

Some great Simcas,

I,d never seen before;

a CHAMBARD?

or this lovely V8 Versaille

Looks like an old Ford Consul

dont it?

Renaults aplenty..

a 1922 model“TORPEDO”

a FLORIDE covertible

or a lovely DAUPHINE convertible

on French plates

but British owned

(Like this mint Lotus Cortina )

Ever heard of a DONNET ZEDEL?

Me neither but what a cracker!

It sounded absolutely GORGEOUS!

Panhards were a popular car” en France “

Heres my old pal Claude Bonnet

This time on 4 wheels!

His Amilcar had expired-seized gearbox.

he was waiting for the breakdown truck!

The french Morgan copy used to belong to him!

not sure of the make though…..

sorry !

There were several Alpines

including this former Monte Carlo rally car

Isnt it beautiful?

Tiny 1100 or 1300 engine lives in the boot!

If you got fed up  looking at cars

theres allways an autojumble at these do,s

Lots of expensive rusty rthings for sale.

Or how a bout a Gallette(a savoury pancake)

Theres ham ,cheese or eggs

ham and

cheese, and

eggs

OR

BASICALLY

any variation on ham and cheese and eggs……:P

I,m an eejit!

How long have I been biking?

How many bikes have I owned?

Youre never too old to learn.….

I,ve mentioned on several occasions

that I find the FZR6OO

very heavy handling at the front end,

not a sporty ride in fact.

Its extremely stable

but requires an inordinate amount of input

to turn into a corner .

Loads of countersteering

and pressure on the bars and footpegs

-not right surely?

Yesterday I rechecked the tyre pressures

with my new twin piston footpump

(4.99 euros from Lidl )

HEY PRESTO

the tyre pressure gauge

showed front tyre pressure of 15lbs !

My old pump clearly hadnt been working properly

-I,d assumed the gauge was accurate

and anyway the tyre FELT hard!

I pumped the tyre to 34 lbs

and took her for a spin

TRANSFORMATION

the bike now feels light ,

quick steering

-SPORTY!

I was a bit intimidated before,

now I am delighted.

A truly sporty ride,

just like everyone had told me!:P

Big Thanks to everyone…

4000 of you

have logged onto the Peterbetabiker blog

since its inception in  March 2008

INCREDIBLE

I must be saying something you like!:P

new love affair

“PARP,PARP”

Just like Mr Toad in the wind in the Willows

I was happy with my Two wheelers

THEN I WAS SWEPT OFF MY FEET……..

A new love had arrived!

Not 2 wheels but 2 tracks……..

here she is …….

A Case/Ferbec mini digger.

Shes powered by a 3 cylinder Perkins diesel,

carries  her substantial 3 tons with grace

comes with 3 buckets and all the hydraulics

to power a pecker or post borer-WOW!

Apparantly a 9 year old,

used to operating a Playstation,

could master the controls

in a matter of minutes.

For a geriatric like me,

however,

it seems an impossible task

-digging proficiency is a long way off.

Why have I bought one?

Well, weve bought a 4 acre field

and are going to build ourselves a new house.

Installation of a 25 metre square septic tank,

foundations and a 100 metre long drive

(not to mention a swimming pool)

means a substantial saving if you can do it yourself.

To complete the job-

a Ford 4 wheel drive tractor-a 6 cylinder 8210

and an 8 ton trailer.

Ive bought a 2 metre “topper” to cut the grass as well.

Perhaps I should call myself

FARMER Peterbeta biker

OH AARRHH

Urgent-Trackday calender

HI y,all!

I just found a comprehensive list

of dates,prices and organisers

for French trackdays 2008 .

Its the club Vikings site.

moto-club-les-vikings.over-blog.com

Days are listed under each circuit.

Organizing clubs and prices are given,

with email addresses available

at the foot of the list.

C,mon

Theres still plenty of time!

Honda 125 cutie

I have said before that I love small cute bikes.

This little Honda 125 illustrates the point

“Small is beautiful”

Dont you agree?:P

Quick-trackday entry available!

BE QUICK!

Entries are still available for a trackday,3rd October at val de Vienne.

90 euros for 6 sessions of 20 minutes.

Driving licence,Insurance and log book

Hat, leathers, gloves,boots AND back protector

OBLIGATOIRE!

I,m signed up

See you there?:P