Nirvana @ Brands for the BSB 8th Aug 2009

More action with “Readies Roadies” as we went down to Brands for the BSB – but really to support Phil in his classic rides with a host of 60’s and 70’s road racing stars.

It was a blistering hot and sunny day. Phil was riding the ex-Kenny Roberts OW48 500 square four Yamaha which developed a serious front-end patter on the first outing. Never having worked on a GP bike before, I volunteered immediately (as you do) and found myself with the Snap-On chest and the front end of a valuable GP bike. Many years of spannering on 70’s Hondas helped here as it was basically the same layout, but fantastically engineered with remote (anti-dive?) front forks and twin discs.
Phil blagged a wheel balance from the Dunlop tent next door and we refitted the wheel, struggled a bit with the calipers and spacers but finally got it all back together. Thinking that Phil was due back out on it gives impetus to the torquing of fork bolts and caliper bolts!

At this time I realised that the Superbike race had just finished; I’d missed it completely.

Here’s Phil on the Yamaha.

Phil Read on the ex-Kenny Roberts 500 Yamaha