Strutharama, October '23 will be a time that will stand out as a sentinel moment.
One minute I thought I was going to have the big Gastro double gusher, sitting on the dunny with a bucket between my knees, the next being loaded into an Ambulance with a dangerously low heart rate and blood pressure in my boots.
After an hour in my old ED stomping ground and some surprising blood test results... I was whisked off the the 'Cath Lab' for a rebore. As I lay there, I heard the medical equivalent of dropping a nut into a spark plug hole. Oh, Fk! The next moment they'd called a 'Code Blue', (the cardiac arrest protocol... "Anesthetics and ICU required')... just to add a touch of spice. Double FFKKK.
They'd pranged a Coronary Artery while trying to insert a stent. While I understood it was all precautionary, it certainly got my attention. I was mighty pleased to see an old mate turn up as the boss of the ICU Team.
A night in 'Expensive Scare' for observation, a couple of nights in Coronary Care and I was shiny new again.
As you know, I'm an ex-Senior Emergency Nurse and I'm supposed to know better but... The warning signs of heart trouble were far from anything in the textbooks. Sore throat, belly ache, headache and my old shoulder injury playing up but antacids and Panadol got me to sleep. With a liberal use of the Retrospecto-scope the fact that I just couldn't settle that night is a giveaway.
So, I'm a lucky bugger, the rest of the ticker's plumbing is in good nick. My biggest task is to instill some Viagra eye drops and have a long hard look at myself.
Hmmm, on the upside, the out-pouring of love and support has been humbling.
Special Edition AA Bag... Special
Last month we released the flash new, Special Edition AA Bag.
This month newsletter recipients only get a chance to grab one for themselves or as a prezzy at the same price as the standard black AA Bag.
Using the same proven 500 denier Cordura, construction and design, we love the look of these numbered tail bags.
After the weather interrupted Moto GP this month, I'm left wondering what it has done to Phillip Island's chances of retaining the event. Mates who were there on Sunday reckon it was about as wild as the inaugural event in '89 but safety and rider's appetite for risk seems to have contracted significantly over the ensuing 34 years.
With more venues looking to host the event, is the pressure building on a race track perched on a cliff exposed to the whim of the Southern Ocean? While the FIM is really only concerned about TV revenue, keeping the teams onside seems more important than punters' comfort and access. I reckon they'd prefer cardboard cut-out crowds, so there's less 'fuss'. While we know that the riders almost universally like the 'Island' track, Chief Financial Officers and TV rights demands may hold sway. They won't be happy if the advertisers get the sh1ts as a result of missing their honey spots.
Gear Feecha
Held's Sambia Summer/Adv gloves have to be the best gloves I've owned, I've already worn out one pair.
The combination of Held's cut and great ventilation make them absolute crackers. The feel and protection offered by kangaroo leather are unparalleled... Plus, no more black sweaty hands, the leather is dye-stable!
Once worn in mine have been mostly touch-screen friendly.
Sizing is as easy as wetting the bed – just measure across the palm at the widest point in centimetres, that's your size!
This Kenny Roberts (senior) Replica hat was signed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed some years ago. On this KR2000 (mid-eighties) we see the beginnings of things we take as bread and butter fittings. Brow and exhaust vents and covers over the visor pivot points are fitted to the cheapest and nastiest lids. Gone are the press stud closure of the face shield with detente lugs holding it closed.
We think this is the 1979 bike on his way to win his second of three consecutive 500cc Championships. Kenny Roberts's name was synonymous with Yamaha and his trademark paint scheme still shows through on some of today's designs.
Also a first that can never be bettered, he was the first American World Champion.
DRY BAG RUNOUT
A new SW Motech Dry bag range is on its way so we have a limited number of the old stock bags to head out the door at around two drinking vouchers off.
