Practice makes perfect
By TMX Archives on 1st Feb 07
ROBIN Luscombe and Les Ashby put in some serious practice on their brand new 2007 Montesa 4RT/ Rushton sidecar outfit at a windy Fellbeck, Pateley Bridge, on Sunday, courtesy of Pat and Norman Shepherd. Ali and Bill' Haigh, Sam Luscombe and Kevin Morley were also enjoying shakedown runs in North Yorkshire prior to Sunday's opening British Championship opener in the Isle of Man.
Luscy's new outfit tracks the 2006 version which Ali and Sam will ride in this year's nine round championship. ''There is nothing radically new from last year's outfit. It is a standard 2007 engine, but with the latest engine mapping system and up to now it feels better than the old bike. At least, for sidecar trialling, it does seem more responsive. Les and I will start the season with the standard set-up. I have considered the 300cc barrel conversion but I would like to hear what James (Dabill) has to say first, and maybe get a ride on his Montesa. Cycle parts are just standard apart from my personal touch with the ‘lopsided' handlebars. I take some off the throttle side and clamp up the bars off centre and add a longer left grip rubber. It gives me more control and the off-side is narrower, it misses the trees! The sidecar is another Bruce Rushton job. We had no problems at all last year so there was no need for change.''
So, is Luscy and Les aiming to get that record fourteenth title? Well, they were on the case all last year. Judging by the scenery they were attacking on Sunday at Fellbeck both of them mean business next Sunday at Knock Froy but will Jon Tuck and Ady Pearce on their Wessex Montesa spoil the party? Robin Luscombe said last year that Tuck and Pearce were capable and they more than demonstrated that when they won the Peak Trial.