Back, slightly damp, from a day watching the racing at Tonfanau in Gwynedd.
Tonfanau has long been one of the best tracks I know. Easy access to pits and paddock, they even put on a small racing classic show in one of the bigger brick sheds also used by the scrutineers.
Jim Redman turned up for a few laps, alongside some really nice machinery including a 50cc Itom, morbidellis, 4 cyl 250 Yamaha two stroke and the usual Hondas and Ducatis - latter were at least thumpers - Triumph and Norton twins. The tannoy said something about Mike Hailwoods son - certainly somebody riding a Ducati twin had Hailwod across the back of his leathers. And a lone AJS single. Lots of two strokes too including a Greeves, Yamahas and Suzukis galore. Standing behind the paddock during the parade warm up was deafening, made my head ring so there goes another bit of hearing.
Also on that front were racing 500 BSA and Velocette singles. A Royal Enfield big twin of over 800cc didn't even manage to complete one racing lap - never did find out what went wrong but it was beautifully prepped. Do overbored Enfield twins suffer badly from overheating ? This one had a large heat deflector for the carb, air ducted from the fairing to blow on the carb, heat bandage on the exhaust and an oil cooler - that engine must run hot.
Even the burger bar had gone upmarket, cajun chicken breast or steak ?
Steffans MZ ran faultlessy I am pleased to report, as did the XT. Didn't even rain much until the last twenty miles, during which it p****d it down. Now I've got to get my MZ running.
RIchard
