Hello all!
This is an odd one, please, just humour me and read it!
Its my birthday on Thursday, where upon I shall have travelled around the Sun 29 times. Most of you will be familiar with my racing endeavours over the last year or so, and those of other club members John Goode and Mike Edwards, in the British Supermono Championship. When I said to Boyd a few months back that I was quitting as it was “too hard, too dear, too sore, and too time consuming”, he said, “Don’t quit, keep going, I’ll build you a bike up for next year and help you race it”. Having bought the ambulance etc, I kind of thought, “Ok then, 2008 will be my one last season”. Boyd promptly got a website on the go (
www.team-thumper.wetpaint.com - there’s a link from the front page too, Thanks Steve!) and that was it, on we go!
Myself and Boyd have recently acquired from John Goode a Tigcraft rolling chassis, circa 1991. There’s no motor, but I think I may have a lump of metal to fill that hole… And its got wheels, and forks, and a fair few other bits and bobs.
Normally I’d go out on my birthday and get boozed up (us West of Scotland-types are a bit predisposed to that). And on your birthday, all your mates buy you a pint, right?? Not this year! Because I’ve asked all my mates (and some of those mates are pretty tenuous!!) to rather than buy me a pint, could they give the same amount to the race fund for 2008. Amazingly, some (ahem, two…) already have! I’ll be press-ganging work colleagues to throw £2.65 (or whatever they like) into my “Team Thumper” piggy bank (yes, such a thing physically exists) come Thursday.
So, fellow Thumpeteers, I think you know what is coming. I cannot claim that the cause is as just as Pat’s End-to-End, or Dr. Lubeet’s budget chain-oiler. But a lot of us all helped with that. And (you pair!) you’ll know how understandably difficult it is to raise money.
So, can I ask, that you do NOT buy me a beer on my birthday.
-Wow! Not often I say that!-
Kind people, I would be absolutely over the moon, if you could pen to paper instead. The paper in question being your chequebook. I think a pint is about £2.65, tho perhaps not in London or Edinburgh! Please, please, please (I’m “doing a Geldof” here), if you can at all afford it, could you give me the price of a drink towards Team Thumper?? We (Boyd!) has a bank account, amusingly titled “FUZZYEARS”, (which I have no access to!), which he has said we can use to store any funds which may come our way. Anything at all will be gratefully received. If you wish to help, could you make a cheque payable to
FUZZYEARS and send it to
Team Thumper
c/o 1 Coronation Ave,
Alvaston,
Derby,
Derbyshire,
DE24 0LQ
If you could help out Team Thumper, on the occaision of my 29th, we would be eternally grateful. Alternatively, if you have any ideas to help us raise some cash, say them here. I’m going to sell any household tat on Ebay, and also shift the current SRX, and all my associated parts. Do you know anyone with a business who may be interested in sponsoring us in some way? The british championship is a well-attended race series at top UK circuits, the exposure should not be underestimated. For the cost of my entry fees, the bike would be painted as the sponsor wishes, with logos, graphics, etc.
In addition to selling the beloved (and quite quick for a road bike) SRX, one idea I’ve had is a “sponsored bike-push”, involving me getting my race leathers on one Saturday, and pushing the racer from, say, Islington to Finchley, about 5 miles past as many boozers and bike shops as I can. A hard day I think!! But I think it may raise interest, hopefully some cash, and with a few “tin shakers” in all the pubs we pass (there are plenty up Holloway road!). We’d sell badges or stickers or suchlike to try to swell the coffers slightly. I am aware that press-ganging my friends can only go so far. Thanks for your interest, feel free to post any ideas here or the Team-Thumper site, and hopefully we’ll have a good season in 2008.
Cheers for now,
Andy
Ps. Mine’s a double!
