YOUR LETTERS
Ever passed on a bike you later wish you’d bought? David Naylor has the ultimate ‘one that got away’ tale...
Observation, comment and wit from the mail
I was lucky enough to be a (nearly) grown man reduced to tears after seeing Mike Hailwood make a glorious return to the TT in 1978. A year later, I managed to buy my own 900SS, making many trips to the TT in subsequent years. Part of our yearly routine, hangover permitting, was to turn up late at the Glen Maye Ducati meet on Mad Sunday, and one time (late ’80s, I think) a group of us turned up a bit the worse for wear, wandering about the car park aimlessly ogling the assembled, mainly beveldrive, Dukes. At the top of the car park, Sports Motorcycles had a car and trailer containing the remains of an 851 which had been crashed in practice. On top of this mangle was a hand-written sign from Sports Motorcycles – it was a plea for sponsorship to buy a new 851 for the team to continue. It said that, in return for paying for the new bike, Sports Motorcycles would give you Hailwood’s winning bike from ’78.
I stood looking at this sign for ages, wondering how I could get the money together, but it was impossible, having just bought my first house. It seemed too good to miss, but I couldn’t persuade any of my mates that it was a good investment.
Many years later, Steve Wynne did some work on my ST2 and I related the story. He confirmed it was true and that nobody took him up on his offer – probably the offer of a lifetime. Still, on the bright side, I still have my 900SS – and it’s nearly paid for! DAVID NAYLOR, DERBYSHIRE