Ash is in hospital

One of my friends once said 'every time we fall off a motorcycle, we could be killed'. The same could be said about falling out of bed. He went out in a practice session ahead of me at Mount Gambier race circuit. As I came around a blind corner at speed, he and his bike were laying on the road, and I went between them.
 
Ash, you probably rememember the conversations we had when you suggested I should convert my race bike into a road bike. Apprehension is not 'fear'. Being taken out by a moron is not the way to go. When I feel apprehensive, I sit up and take notice. People who race by relying on reflexes are idiots. On public roads, many people drive cars by watching the tail lights of the vehicle in front of them. In a very heavy fog, it might be necessary.
 
I have no probkems with Al he has just lost his way, motorcycling is in my blood and life, i have no fear at all riding on the road or when i feel like it, Al gave that up when he was 29 years old and since then only racing in classic bike races not real racing and only once or twice a year when he did so long ago, how long has it been Al, yes i had a bad accident but i can't wait to get back on the bike as soon as i can, a minor set back but i am not a fraid to get back on the road and do what i love best riding motorcycles.
You keep telling us about your racing days Al but classic racing is not the same as real motorcycling racing with modern bikes that go so much faster and handle much better than something thrown together from bits and pieces, maybe why finding a track that will let you on is the hardest thing for you to accept as well your age, the track owners have a duty of care and your bike won't past the test to be allowed on the track, things have changed from days gone by, you are living in the past Al ànd its been so long since you been on a bike let alone your own bike Al, move on but do something about your bike no good going to waste in your shed as it will never race again in your hands or any where for that matter.

Ash
 
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The word 'safe' can be defined as 'a condition or situation where risks are minimised to a tolerable level' - the question is then 'who are the stakeholders'. I actually treat the 5 women with whom I live, and most other people as equals. In Australia, if a passenger in a vehicle is injured, they can sue the driver. Women usually look tame, however they are all savages. A while back, my wife slipped and fell at our local swimming pool - she injured her spine. For a couple of months we were working with wheel-chairs and ramps it is not a pleasant experience. If my wife does not want me to race - I do not race. - She is a stakeholder. I suggest you should never underestimate your wife, all women are capable of bursting a man's thought bubble. I know a lot of motorcyclists, however I never do big men together bullshit. Most guys die in the bum when they are really confronted, my wife and the other four girls would go down fighting. Their problem is that I am mentally dominant, but that might be an illusion.
For any person involved in motorcycle racing, if your partner and dependents do not want you to race - do not race. The CEO of Winton Raceway was stunned when I told him motorcycle road racing is safe. It never makes me feel apprehensive. I cannot say that about many other things which I have experienced. I used to think about what it would be like to be instantantaneously vaporised, then I decided it was not worth even thinking about.
When I was working, I had several women working under my direction. I know what they are about, so I never had a problem - they are capable of eating you alive, at the slightest sign of weakness.
There's clearly something wrong in your relationship imo but if it works for you that's fine just don't constantly winge about it
My other half would never ask me to not race
Or not to do anything for that matter
It's nothing to do with male dominance bullshit it's about having a relationship
 
Very well said
I'm surprised that Ashes post hasn't turned into racing advice as yet!
Wheelchair wheelies? not that I would want to suggest Ashman gets up to any mischief / hooning around while he is recovering.

Hope Ash's and Debra's recovery is continuing to go well. Had the good fortune to do a few miles on an Enfield 650 whilst in Aus over Xmas, it's a great country, spectacular roads and scenery, much recommended.
 
Wheelchair wheelies? not that I would want to suggest Ashman gets up to any mischief / hooning around while he is recovering.

Hope Ash's and Debra's recovery is continuing to go well. Had the good fortune to do a few miles on an Enfield 650 whilst in Aus over Xmas, it's a great country, spectacular roads and scenery, much recommended.
I’ve never been to Oz, but I have yet to meet a Brit who has been and didn’t like / love it there.

But don’t tell the freakin Ozzies I said that…
 
Wheelchair wheelies? not that I would want to suggest Ashman gets up to any mischief / hooning around while he is recovering.

Hope Ash's and Debra's recovery is continuing to go well. Had the good fortune to do a few miles on an Enfield 650 whilst in Aus over Xmas, it's a great country, spectacular roads and scenery, much recommended.
The grand Pacific highway is a great road
I rode from Adelaide along the coast to Rockhampton
Back in the mid 80s
Met some crazy people 🤣🤣🤣
 
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There are a lot of Poms living in Aussie land, well the Poms settled a lot of their riff raffs here after Captain Cook sailed the East coast back in 1770.
We have some great bike riding roads here and all year riding weather and my state of Queensland has some of the best roads for biking but these days the fun police have spoil our fun by hitting our favorite roads hard.
Aussies are a friendly bunch, cold beers and BBQs are the go on weekends and we have some of the best beachs in the world as well friendly country hosptality you can fine, we also have the best sea food you can catch and eat, but we also have things that can eat you as well, and little things that can kill you, but very rare that happens.
So any of you ever get my way drop in, fill up the beer fridge and have some great aussie company you be welcome with open arms, but never buy Fosters beer as us aussies don't drink that crap, taste like shit lol, fu ck i am hanging for a cold beer or 2 or more, can you get done for drink driving in a wheel chair lol.

Ash
 
FE, your secret is safe with me.

My daughter likes it so much, she has moved out there and now lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, hence the xmas trip. Xmas in warm weather and sunshine is just weird. And Orion is upside down.
My best mate moved to Yarraville (suburb of Melbourne) in 94, we had Tridents together, he'd never come back to the UK to live.
 
Ash is in hospital

I hope to be able to visit someday in spite of the risks.
 
Well another day in rehab and its blowing a gale out in the bay, Debra is our for the morningva taxi ride up to the big hospital to check on her injuries left here at 8:15 this morning and she has another trip up there tomorrow as well for another app, don't understsnd why they can't arrange them for the same day but out of our hands.
My cruchers training is going well so far but i want to strat training for going up and down steps as i mastered the walking with cruchers so far, bloody hard work with a missing lower limb, just the balance is out of wack.
As soon as i get the cruchers sorted out i be allowed home i hope but as i say out of my hands, the rulers here seems to tell us nothing keep us in the dark just like mushrooms and feed us B S.
Our oldest daughter is applying to be our carer while we need help from Centrelink have all the papers but need the docs ti fill out the injuries part, been a task to get them to do that so far has been taking time, she has been so good our oldest daughter, caring so much for us, paying all our bills and running around for us, and doing all our washing etc etc.
Well a email from the lawyer this morning the car that hit us 3rd party insurance has been handed paper work for our claims and they will be incontact with both of us soon, so the ball is rolling for compensation, haven't heard yet from the drivers court case yesterday, been stuck here don't help.
I head up to the big hospital next Monday to the amputee section for my leg inpsection and the start for a mould of my stump for my training leg to be made and once i master that with walking again my new titanim leg will get made for me, takes sbout 2 weeks to make, wonder if i be able to kick yhe Norton over with it, you never know.
Well a quiet morning here without the wife here and same tomorrow afternoon, need a break sometimes lol.
Well thats about it for now.

Ash
 
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Well another day in rehab ...wonder if I'll be able to kick the Norton over with it, you never know.
Ash, true enough, you never know what you are capable of, until a situation is forced on you.

You can always install a thick cylinder base gasket or a thin spacer to lower compression. (easier than installing an e-starter).

E-starter of course is better in that case, but $pendy

Sleep well, and best of recuperation to you both.
 
There be no way i be instaling a ES not at the price they asking for them, what price a ES is over $5k US add a lot more with the Aussie $$, no thanks, as for lowering compression no thanks as my Norton runs better the way it is and the way i built it, but with the Joe Hunt if fires up pretty easy, so i plan to keep it the way it is.
If my Norton was still in Commando form then i might do the things surgessed but no my Norton is built for lightness (feather light), built for great handling, its shorter than a Commando and its built by me for me, its a high preformance motorcycle for my riding style.
Thowing a big bucket of money for a ES kit and finding a place to add a big battery is just not on, i do have the money to do these things but no thanks i get around it some how.
It's too early to say what might happen down the road, i like my Norton the way it is and ìts so reliable the way i built it, i have better thing to throw my money at and my new hobby, i very rarely need to spend money on my Norton except for fuel, oils and tyres, if i was going to throw more money on it, it be for more performances upgrades, but i have already done what is needed for having a sweet running Norton for my use.
Some might say i am stubban but my Norton is a one off build for me and no one else and it handles so good, the motor has never let me down in the 50 years and 46 years i built/convered it to the Featherbed frame, normal Commando owners just wouldn't understand.

Ash
 
"There be no way i be instaling a ES not at the price they asking for them, what price a ES is over $5k US add a lot more with the Aussie $$, no thanks,"


This adaptaion is the kind thing that the compensation money is meant to do. Adapt things so you can regain some quality of life.
And there will be so many more things...
 
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