Me and UNJ - ready for the road

Yes, UNJ has now got a tax disc and I have actually driven it on the road for about 40 miles - Oh yes!

Just a bit of tidying, a check over of tyre pressures etc and now ready for tonight's Pendle and Pennine meeting which I am really looking forward too as it will be the first one in a year I have driven to in a Triumph.

I have decided it will be a steady year for me this year but it's good to have at least one Triumph on the road.

Next weekend I'll be at the finish of the Historic Counties Run and tehn in May it will be the Club Triumph Wesh weekend tour followed by the North Yorkshire Triumph Weekend. After that I'll see how it goes and also see what this year's summer is like.

Not the Christmas Meal 2013

Last weekend was the NTXM 2013 and I have just about recovered.


Another really great night that carried over into the early hours!

40+ there and it gets better each year. This year's theme was the "Wild West" as you can see in the photos

Steve Thompson receives his award as P&P champion attender

My Movember tash worked well for my Mexican bandit outfit!

Bryce Greenwood receiving award as P&P's Competitor of the year

Dodgy gang

Pendle & Pennine - the Raider's Triumph

A Club Triumph weekend this one.

Friday night was the Pendle and Pennine Area Meeting which, as always, was  a great night with lots of chat and banter.

Then on Saturday morning  Andy Flexney and I visited one of the secret locations for tests on the "Raider's Triumph". Andy will be in charge of this location and we spent a fair bit of time planning the tests which will be interesting and fun, but not too difficult for newcomers.

Then we spent some more time talking cars with persons unknown (for now as it could give the game away).

After all that I went over to the workshop to continue the rebuild of PMWs engine. Thanks to Mike Charlton obtaining two more shells for me the crank ald pistons are now in place and fully torqued up.

Friday is Triumph day

A day off work and what can you do but spend it with Triumphs and Club Triumph - can't get much better than that.

First off down to ATS Euromaster in Colne to have a new Michelin fitted to the spare for UNJ. At last I have 5 of the same OE type wheels with 5 Michelins fitted. It gave me a chance to sort through some of the wheels and tyres I have and get three of the old tyres scrapped at the same time. Meanwhile ATS stripped and hopefully fixed 2 slow punctures which are down to 30 year old wheels. If this doesn't do it then refurbished wheels will be needed or I think Rimmers still have "new" ones although I doubt they will be cheap.

Next was over to Bryce's to start work on PMW's original engine, here seen on a pallet along with the original non-overdrive gearbox and cylinder head, rockers etc.

It took a while to lift the engine and get it secure on an engine stand but then we got the sump off for inspection. The crank looks pretty good with probably only shells and thrust washers needed. Having said that there was a fair bit of swarf in the oil pump pick up filter and I have decided to do a "proper job" so Bryce and I are going to strip the engine down completely and get it thoroughly clean first off.

Swarf in oil pick up pipe just visible

Bryce is fine with lightening the flywheel as he has a lathe etc available and then we'll get all the bottom end balanced. Enough for today though as I needed to get home ready for leg 3 of Triumph Friday!

It was 10CR video night at the Pendle and Pennine Area meeting so the projector, audio leads etc had to be found then transported down to the Old Stone Trough in UNJ for setting up before everyone arrived. Thanks to Andy Flexney for helping with this at the OST and Jenny of course for giving us the function room and reserving a table for us all to eat before the evening's entertainment began.

Another good night had by all but I was glad it was all over when my head finally hit the pillow!

I had to spend a fair bit of time on Saturday tidying away from the previous day's activity but did find time for one of those rare events, a small quick job that actually was small, quick and satisfying! There should be a gear lever shroud grommet but this was missing in UNJ which was a bit of a niggle. Rattling around in my loft though I found one, dismantled the shroud and fitted the grommett - cracking job!

Not the Xmas meal

I don't want to say too much here as I have written an article for Club Torque and I feel that is where all should be revealed!

But a quick comment or two

That was probably the best night I have had at a Pendle and Pennine meeting and I would like to thank all my friends on the night for a great atmosphere and fun, as well as Jenny and the staff at the old Stone Trough.

2011's "Not the Xmas meal" will have a lot of living up to do"