PROJECT ‘LIKELY FAIL’ PART III

Another month scorches by, which means even less time before Charles ‘Charlie’ Charles will be lining up on the grid to go racing. Getting nervous much, Charlie?

PROJECT BIKE

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRIDGESTONE

It’s all coming together!

It’s time to get serious! Two issues ago I introduced you to my intention to build a TZR race bike from a rolling frame and box of bits and pieces, replacing what was absent or spent. Then, to get at least one round of the Yamaha Past Masters Racing series under my belt and start the process of losing my OJ (Orange Jacket) status. Last month I told you about a fantastic day I had at Brands Hatch with the genuinely brilliant people in the YMPR paddock (who are to become my target through the visor), as they prepared for the first round of the series. However, by the time you are reading this the YMPR’ers will be three rounds in and I have spent way too little time with Wayne Philips, who is building the bike ‘with’ me at Phoenix Yamaha in Trowbridge.

Fortunately for me, Wayne has not been lording it about like myself. He has been putting in the time bit by bit, in-between jobs, and steady progress has been made. As I had left it before heading to Brands the TZR was sat on the reserve bench at Phoenix. I had been relatively busy getting the parts together that we needed, so that we could at least get the bike running and test an engine that has not turned for some five years.