A quick update, it all went pretty well with the Cottrel Crusader, riden by my Brother Ian taking 2nd and 3rd places in the 250 races, a well sorted and ridden Rudge beating him twice, also a Greeves when he was 3rd.
The 350 took 4th and 5th places, two VERY fast Manxes taking the honours, but Ian reckons he would have got better placings if the front brake hadn't faded to nothing halfway through each race - a soloution is in hand, though.
The 500 specials was very tough in both races, we got 8th and 9th places out of around twenty machines, Steve Linsdell managed a 4th place on his Enfield in the one race he took part in - there were some seriously fast Petty Manxes with around 55 bhp at the front.
Our times were better than in previous years by a few seconds in some cases, but the competition was very strong !
All three bikes and the rider finished the day clean and in full working order - even my white t shirt was still white at the end of it !
B.W.
[Forgot to mention that the 350 was relegated to the very back of the grid, 35th off the line in a staggered race with a bunch of Ducatis off the line 10 sec ahead of the pre '62 350 machines, the Ducatis getting in the way and holding up the faster ones in our group.]