Where did the time go?

[Manky Monkey]

A friend posted this photo online yesterday.
Taken at the Pegasus rally on the Isle of Sheppey in 1979 or 80, so I would've been 17 or 18.
30 of us from the Fox & Hounds MCC rode down there from Berkshire for the weekend.
That's me on the left.
Stuart, wrapped in the blanket, (it was first thing on Sunday morning & we'd all just emerged from our tents), was an ACU instructor & taught me to ride. He's just retired at 60 years old. I've still got a motorcycle in my garage.
Rob, ironically became a copper. He was my best mate from school. He spent 40 years in the force & retired as a Police Commander in the Met'. His last big job was over-seeing security for the London Olympics. He now spends his time riding his collection of vintage motorcycles all over the World.
And I'm a Postman

[poprodder]

and you've got us lot to look after!!!! lol

[Manky Monkey]

Where did I go wrong in life?!

[Tony oily bike]

Ahhhhh, the RAC/ACU training scheme, remember it well(ish), popping along on a Fizzy.

We were 'locked in' the training site (read Council Depot) one Sunday lunchtime, so a couple of the instructors decided to drag race thier bikes whilst waiting for the keyholder.

One of the bikes being given the beans was 650 Triumph - which may explain a few things  


Looks like a Honda four-pot in the foreground, can you confirm, maybe 400/4 ?

[Manky Monkey]

Yup, 400 with 460 conversion. Most of the club members had the new fangled Japanese multi cylinder jobbies -they'll never catch on. I was still riding my first bike, a CB200 Honda, but stepped up, (is that a step up?), to a beat up T120 Bonnie soon after. Rob also started out on a CB200, then went on to a John Player Norton. Stuart rode a Honda CB500T.
I killed several Triumphs trying to keep up with the Jap guys.