"Ian, did you show Ken around in 1953 ?"
No, but we have met up on numerous occasions while on the Island and at mainland meetings and shows and at all the major functions.
However on the Island, I used to spend a lot of time at his welding unit because not only did the also-rans turn up for help but also the works bikes, without the fairings, turned up, so I could get unique photos of the innards.
Not a lot of fans knew of the Sprayson Unit, placed each year in various venues in Nobles Park so I guess I was one of the privileged few who knew where he was, so was able to get some very interesting photos with his permission of course.
I was there when Scuderia Duke turned up in 1963 with the Gileras to be ridden by Hartle and Read and their frames were given a good going over by Ken. After only half an hour I had blatted off a whole 36 roll of colour film. (No digitals in them there days).
I couldn't wait to get them back from the processors and was able to have some of them published !
Ken and I were both pleased to be presented with tankards in 2007 by Adrian Earnshaw for our "Love of the TT" and the tankard takes pride of place on the top of my tele !
I have taken beer from it a few times but really it is a souvenir of "60 years a TTFAN" rather than an implement from which to imbibe alcohol ! I prefer a long pint glass of OKELLS myself ! I don't even mind plastic from the beer tent behind the Grandstand !)
Not long to TT 2009 - see you all soon........................
I am now preparing my website and webcams on
http://www.ttfan.co.uk and
http://www.ttfan3d.co.uk so I hope you will visit them, giving precedence to
http://www.ttwebsite.com OF COURSE....
2009 is a special year for me because it is yet another anniversary.
We missed a TT because of the "foot and mouth" ( I still came over to keep a sequence going) and in my first year 1947 more time was spent on the beach than at the bikes, so this year in really my full out-and-out 60th anniversary of being a TRUE TTFAN. More anniversaries to come yet !
Let's hope we have a GREAT TT in 2009.
