Coming to Life

by Gordon Jennings



A Silly Exercise, But...

We could get rid of all the engine starting bothers by returning to run-and-bump, dead engine starts.

None of the two-stroke engines mentioned are any challenge at all compared to a Matchless G50 or Norton Manx, yet those big bangers were consistently made to light off almost instantly at the drop of a starter's flag. And they did this despite being fitted with Lucas magnetos.

What it comes down to is this: Tuners, tubby or otherwise, are expected to suffer, and I could make a case for saying they like suffering. So, nobody gets down at the mouth when they see tuners struggling, sweating and swearing. If they didn't like like those things, also bad food, no money and the stomach-knotting ingratitude of riders and sponsors, they wouldn't be tuners.

But if we fix it so instant starting will help to win races, instant starting is what we'll quickly get. Like Ginger Malloy.

I rest my case.


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