Pukekohe 21st October 2001 - The moment of truth

We eagerly awaited this confrontation with the ES2, to see whether the Norvel had progressed and started getting some legs. Practice saw us being a bit cagey and sizing up the ES2 boys, who were also doing the same. The first race came and Bill got off to a flying start, but was hauled in by the ES2's down the back straight. This time though he managed to stay with them, and they certainly weren't making gap any bigger. The last lap and Bill came over the brow of the hill towards the finish line slip-streaming the second place ES2, to finish on the line just a half a wheel short. A 3rd, but still close enough to say that we had gained on them since the last meeting here. The gain was an improved performance of 5secs per lap, but the bike was missing when flat out in third and top. Quick investigations didn't find anything wrong and as the bike was going well overall we decided to leave well alone. During practice we had changed mainjets, both up and down, and had finished up were we had started.

Race 2 and this time the ES2's worked as a team, the faster one towing the slower of the two. Again a 3rd place with the misfire still there and lap times the same as before. A quick clean up and check round, top up the fuel, change the oil, ready for the next race.

Again in Race 3 saw us with a 3rd place, however the faster of the two ES2's had problem and got a second place, with the slower one winning.

Resigned to the fact that we had done exceptionally well with the improved lap times, but still mystified as to the misfire, I looked at the magneto to find a broken points spring. Bugger! This has let us down before and a new spring had only lasted two meetings. Right next time I'll put on two springs, that'll cure it.

We figured we are now 1st equal in the championship.

Manfield - 3rd and 4th November

Manfield is our local circuit just 2 hours up the road from Wellington. Bill had raced there several times in the past and knew the circuit well, however it had been 11years since he had raced here. Practice day on Saturday saw us with 1" of rain on the circuit and huge showers of rain, not what you call racing weather. The Norvel went well, but Bill was a bit apprehensive about giving it too much of a handful. The ES2 boys were there as usual, however Dad who usually rides the faster bike couldn't make it and a ring-in was being used. Greg Pitches is an exceptional rider and has just returned from Australia where he was 3rd in the 500cc Modified class, riding a short-stroke methanol burning ES2. Yes you guessed it, the Lodges owned and prepared this bike and it was a credit to their engineering ability.

Racing on Sunday saw it overcast and a damp track, however there were three races in front of us so they might dry out the racing lines! They had and the starter dropped the flag, Bill tore off and was first into the corner, the ES2's weren't far behind. On the last lap Bill was overtaken and the pair sped down the back straight will Bill overtaking on the braking and eventually winning by a bike length.

Race 2 - Bill led from start to finish and won by 50 yards.

Race 3 saw a real charge from the starting flag with a rider trying to undertake Bill on the first corner and taking a tumble. This slowed the whole pack and Bill was 50 yards up with only a quarter of a lap gone. He didn't bother to look back and just kept the old girl flying. Another win, this time by 100 yards.

What a great days racing, many guys who had raced in years gone by came and congratulated us. It was a good feeling to have the bike go well. No misfire at all. Bloody mag springs that cost next to nothing had cost us some valuable championship points. Still mustn't complain we are back winning at the moment, we now need to concentrate on Pukekohe on 1st Feb. This is the biggest meeting of the year and is attended by racers from all over the world. I have heard that Richard Adams is bringing his bike and that he is going to be racing in the 500cc Clubmans class against us. It'll be great to see how our Norvel compares.

We'll let you know.

Roy Harvey