Ohhhhh fekk
What a great character......very sad news this is- visiting his garage was always a highlight of our trips and he was such an expert at just sorting things out.....from fabricating up a complete side stand for a Husaberg on one trip, including springs, mounting lugs and a side stand (all in, 14 quid!) to making the infamous footplates for the Pan 1100 because the lady pillion had a sprained ankle (you had to see them to believe them, they were......er.......'EPIC'
and gluing on the soles of MX boots that had been ripped off en-route, he was a master bodger/fettler/mechanic.
He and his minions (those who knew the place will know what I mean) were just so bloody good, and we've spent many a contented hour sitting on those Cadillac wheels outside in the sun while the boys brewed mint tea and ran around like busy things.
Most impressive bodge he ever did for me was to replace the odd alloy (bronze and something exotic, I don't remember) ferrule that the starter thrust shaft drifts in......he wasn't the slightest bit concerned that there wasn't one to fit an 1150 starter in Zagora.....he just acquired one from a scrap starter and machined it down to fit.
Imagine that (or anything remotely like it ) happening in Modern Britain
Top top bloke......I've still got a wallet full of his famous stickers here in my desk
