Gaffers Gallop planned stops

Days and dates of the stops on the Gaffers Gallop 2013.

Day 1

Sun 6^th October 2013

Roche > Land’s End > Exeter

Approx 170miles

Day 2

Mon 7^th

Exeter > Malmesbury (lunch) > Leamington Spa

Approx 163miles

Day 3

Tues 8^th

Leamington Spa > Boroughbridge (lunch) > Carlisle

Approx 246miles

Day 4

Weds 9^th

Carlisle > Perth (lunch) > Inverness

Approx 263miles

Day 5

Thurs 10^th

Inverness > John O Groats (and possibly back to Wick to crack the 1000 mile barrier)

Approx 158miles

The Gaffers Gallop 2013 will attempt to stay on the roads that Edward Turner used in 1953.  If you know the ‘old’ roads in any of the above areas, please get in touch with the Gaffers Gang so that we can plan accordingly.

Putting us to shame....

No, no progress on Terry (Gorgeous Biker Chick's Terrier) or Yorkie (MFM's plunger Cub) but Scott-Scotty-Scott-Scott is really cracking on with his build for the Gaffers Gallop - 200 days to go..........if you can't be there in person join us on Facebook by searching for Gee-Bee Chick or The Gaffers Gallop 2013....or if you have a Terrier or even a Tiger Cub, why not join us for some of our journey?

Scott's Terrier in the paint shop

Coming together slowly - but not as slowly as our bikes!

And the beginnings of a luggage rack, which by the time I've hit 'post' will probably be completed and fitted!!!

The Gaffers Gallop acquires an Artist!!!

Very pleased to announce that Jean-Marie Guivarch has agreed to work on some sketches to illustrate the Gaffers Gallop 2013.  Personally I'd like to have a transfer made for Terry's tank, but I'm also thinking maybe the riders would like a tee shirt or some such other memorabilia.....

Here is the first sketch to give an idea of what Jean-Marie Guivarch can do - visit the website for more pics of anything to do with motors!

Young Mechanics Group

Here's a copy of an email I sent out to the Grampian Classic MCC today, in case anyone from outside of the Club is interested in getting involved.....

Dear all.

I've been trying to start a group to give young people a chance to try a hands on approach to old bikes - I now have a project bike that is suitable and the insurance is in place, so its all systems GO!!!

This project will start as a restoration (so will include every step from stripping it, to logging work done and pricing and sourcing spares etc) and will run until the bike is back on the road.

I would like YOU to be involved - you all have skills and experiences to share with newcomers to the hobby, so I am asking for any volunteers who would like to give up a few hours every month to help out - if we have a big enough pool of people, it doesn't need to be the same ones helping each time, we can create some sort of rota in line with the work being done on the bike so that your 'specialist subject' is on at a time when you can help.

You don't need to be CRB checked and formal quals are not necessary - all you need is a willingness to share your passion for building and riding old motorbikes.

Please get in touch if you can help out - currently looking for companies to sponsor the group by buying some overalls and a few tools, so if you work for, or know of any local firms who would like to support this idea, please let me know.

Looking forward to hearing from you.........

GBC!
Venue TBC but will be local to GCMCC HQ in Aberdeenshire.

Gaffers Gallop update...

Errrr, well, there hasn't been much in the way of bike building progress yet, for either Muckle Flugga Man or Moi.  MFM is slightly ahead because he's got all the bits he needs to build his heavy duty forks up and I've only just found out that I don't seem to have any forks for my Terrier!  I thought I could 'borrow' a pair that were on another frame but they turned out to be a bit bent....

On the positive side, the brand spanking new MITAS TYRES have arrived, along with some paint from RS BIKE PAINTS and a complete TAP & DIE set for Tiger Cubs (and presumable Terriers!) from ACME STAINLESS so once I get around-toooo-it, I can start cleaning up Terry's threads and reading the instructions on using the various primers etc that RS have sent.  

TWO HUNDRED & TWELVE DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE GAFFERS GALLOP!!!!!

PS I've got lambing as an excuse - have you been on Facebook and seen the pics?  

Look for Gee-Bee Chick and send a friend request.  Go on, I need all the friends I can get.....

VMCC Scottish Area Rep Election

The results of the election for VMCC Scottish Area Rep are in - sadly GBC is no longer your rep. Thanks for all your support over the last 4 years and thanks to all who voted for me - don't worry, I'll still be around and about riding bikes and all the usual stuff. Talking of which, gotta dash, work is a-calling'....

The Terrier Rebuild Begins...

No false alarms this time.  It's Real.  The aim is to get this little Triumph on the road for May and use the Grampian Classic MCC Annual Camping Weekend trip to Skye as a running in test - which is just what I did with Cubbie in 2008.  A round trip of 500+ miles should be enough to establish what's going to fall off or break etc.

Cubbie on the Skye Bridge, May 2008, complete with toilet roll.

Then between May and September, any alterations, updates or repairs will be carried out and more miles added to the clock, in preparation for the Gaffers Gallop.  So, this is the state of play so far....

The frame was cleaned and treated with one of those rust stopping substances a little while ago.  Oh ok, about a year and a bit I think it was!

The front guard has the original paintwork, complete with a few rust spots.   I'm tempted to leave it as it is....

But for some reason, the back guard, at least I assume it is, as it was with the front one, is completely  bare of paint.

As is the nacelle.

The oil tank has been lovingly painted in a rather nice shade of blue.  Again, I'm tempted to leave it but will I get away with it?  The back of the tank is original Terrier red.

This is the tank that came with the bike, its the wrong one, but is anyone bothered?  

Not sure why this tank is in the Terry File, it's supposed to be for the trials project, but hey, it looks smart dunnit!

Terry's bottom end has progressed a little from this, and has been stripped, cleaned up, had new bearings fitted and awaits my attention to put it back together.

Most of the other bits and pieces are present, the head has been fully cleaned up and is tucked up in an oily rag somewhere.  I really need to send off to try and get the original number - I have a log book and a dating certificate so fingers crossed....

Merv sorted the old chrome on the wheels for me. 

It's a lot quicker doing it like this than scrubbing away with a wire brush, or trying to build a cabinet at home and sending blasting medium all over the garden!

They've come up quite good, and the spokes are sound.  A lick of paint will see them right and hopefully, if any are going to cause problems, they'll do it on the running in test to Skye, rather than half way to John O Groats.

And then there's Yorkie, the 1955 plunger Cub that Muckle Flugga Man will be riding.  That's in many parts at the moment too....

And Scott the Cubaholic has also to build his Terrier.  If you want to take bets on who will finish first, I wouldn't bet against Scott!