TONG '91 (in brief)

I will not go into too much detail as I think most members turned up,
so you will all know what a good event/weekend it was.

It started for me on the Saturday afternoon with the R.T.V.
which was well attended and much enjoyed by most who entered. I
don't remember much of it myself, I think I was psyching (if that's
how it's spelt) myself up for the mammoth Mountain Bike Race, of
which I really fancied my chances after a week's training in Roundhay
Park Woods. When the line-up was set I noticed that the age group was
18 to eternity. What chance have we 40ish types? me thinks. Although I
noticed a couple of "Ringers" were put into the line-up, one by the
name of John Cox, a dubious character at the best of times, and

Stuart Smith, a 24 year old Tri-Athlete type. Well off we go and what
a race, from the site to the far right corner, pick up a card, over to the
far left corner, another card, and back to the site by any route you
fancy. It was at the far left Check Point Stuart was "spiked". He was
told that he had to go back to the right point, where he had already
been again. (One out.)

John Cox's policy was to follow me until I made a mistake, and
I did, I took a wrong turn about 200 yards from the finish, which added
miles to my route (well it felt like miles) and he beat me by 5 seconds.
I'm sure he told me to take that route. Anyhow I finished second, and
the rest came in over the next 15 mins, with the "Tri-Athlete" coming
in second to last beating Steve Taylor to the line by seconds.

The night that followed was ace. The barbie was first class and a
credit to Heather Chaloner and the various helpers. The bar was well
stocked and Mick Walker also doing the club proud as bar man.

The Tube Stretching Contest was rigged as always and cheating
and underhand tricks being the norm. I believe it was Hoskins and
Gill's group who started the underhand work, no proof was available.

Sunday - the Trial. This day did not go at all well for me and I
retired at dinner time due to the calling of bed for a few hours and          
the fact I had picked up a silly ten penalty. So I decided to get my
motor ready for the Comp, I wired up my lights and changed tyres,
all the final checks made ready for the off. For those of you who
have never been in a night comp, it's electrifying, the highlight of the     
weekend. The three runs are so crucial to your day runs, a maximum        

here and you are effectively out of the running the following day, but
you still need good times here. My lights let me down on the second
lap for about 20 seconds. Luckily the fault was on the flasher switch,
I had wired up to a live, interrupted when the switch was knocked on
to main beam - a lesson to be learnt there, a separate circuit for spots.
My third run resulted in a broken spring, shocker and lost front prop,
they were easily fixed the next morning with parts off David Hore.

Three more runs resulted in No. 4 cylinder piston loosening its
crown and jamming up in the bore. (Quick think -) Disconnect No. 4
piston and run on three. We did so for five laps with only a l0 second
difference in times. We managed to limp home to a class win and were
pleased to finish. The course was set by Graham Miles and helpers and
a good course it was too. I'll end by saying a big thanks to all the
committee, marshals and land owner for a truly good event which seems
to grow in stature each year.

Rod Depledge

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