Over October

Hi achternaam,

By now, most of yers will be gridded up with beers and chippies, ready to watch the GP circuit become a pageant of colour and movement. I reckon I'll probably lean back in a comfy chair and watch it on telly myself as we missed out on having our GP shop this year. We usually don't get to the track when we have the Pop Up Shop on the Island as we're usually shagged and can't risk getting caught in traffic getting back to re-open after the last race. 

I never feel welcome at the track as a spectator like I do at the Superbikes and I hear a lot of punters expressing a similar feeling. I reckon if they could 'photoshop' a crowd in and not have to deal with the pesky public the organisers would be 'happy as Larry' to have the TV rights fill the coffers.

While I'm having a whinge, the Sunday is often a case of 'Raceus Interuptus'. There are some pretty long gaps between races, those of you who've been there for the Island Classic and seen the race directors line up race after race, almost starting warm-up laps as the cool down from the previous race is returning to the pits. It's a long day to wait for 3 events. Our routine is to close the shop during race time on Sunday and go back to our digs. Usually, most of the team do some serious internal eyelid study somewhere between the end of Moto 1 and the first few laps of Moto 2. Working and playing hard catches up the moment you stop, doesn't it!

The new wonder kid Marquez has all pre-wrapped and bagged up this season leaving the Aussie GP a dead rubber. That doesn't mean there aren't scores settle and messages to be sent for next year, great racing is what PI does well. 

Come on Jack, stick it up 'em!

New Spots

Cleaning out my shed recently I came across a couple of lantern mantles. It wasn't that long ago that a Tilley lamp shone a bright white light across a campsite, after phaffing about with fuel, pumping the bloody thing up and burning off the new mantle, 'cause they didn't like to be transported.

Outdoors tech seems to run as fast as the rest of the gadgets that bombard our junk mail and LED lights have come along in leaps and bounds.

The first Black Diamond headlamp I tested some ten years ago stunned me with the 80 lumens of LED power it shot at the bush. Over the decade the output has incrementally increased to the latest Koala dropping, 325 Lumens. 

The functions of the new generation Spot headlamp just beg to be used.

• "PowerTap™ Technology allows instant transitioning between full and dimmed power
• Compact, low-profile design uses three AAA batteries, included
• Brightness Memory allows you to turn the light on and off at a chosen brightness without reverting back to full or mid-power
• Settings include full strength in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red night-vision, and lock mode
• A multifaceted optical lens design
• IPX8: Waterproof-Tested to operate at least 1.1 meters underwater for 30 minutes. If submerged, water may enter the battery compartment and it will still operate; it should be completely dried out after use in wet conditions."

Check out more (including the video on the More tab) on the webpage here

Having said all that, while the lights might have improved outta sight, the people who do some of the designing and/or manufacture can be the same flawed mugs we've all had to get used to. 

I've also bought a set of Bio-Lite lanterns to trial. Two flat dome-shaped discs about the diameter of a tinnie base, they put out fabulous soft, white light over a campsite. The two domes can be strung out on their wires. They have magnets and locating studs to hold the two together. Neat idea... Crap execution. The studs and magnets are too small and the two halves don't hold together.

The top of the domes have an input wire and output hole, the wires are wrapped around a channel that resembles the old cord pull mower start system. The wire constantly pulls out of the slot and the lights head to the ground like an out of control yo-yo.

Get thee back to the drawing board folks.

Up Ya Date

Here's a message for Sena users

With the recent release of iPhone software iOS13, some Sena users may have been experiencing connectivity issues with the following Sena apps: Sena Utility, 30K Utility, SF Utility, RideConnected, and the Momentum EVO Utility app. If you have updated, or plan to update your iPhone to software iOS13 you will also need to update your Sena device to it's latest firmware. This Sena firmware update will allow for connectivity between Sena headsets, cameras, and helmets to Sena apps with the updated iPhone software iOS13. 

Apple will also be releasing macOS Catalina in the near future. If you will be updating your computer to their latest operating system you will also need to re-install the Sena device manager in order to update your device's firmware.

An update link 

No GP Shop

Just a reminder that we won't be on the Island at all this weekend. We've been mucked about with the shop and it was let to someone else underneath us.

Please pass the word around to save some poor bugger riding up and down Thompson Ave looking for us. It's bad enough when we are there, there's always someone who couldn't find their bum with both hands!

Ah, this takes me back. The Trusty Elefant in the UK in 2005, should never have sold it!

Gift Vouchers

I gotta 'fess up here, from my point of view the gift voucher thing giveth and taketh away.

My logical self sees clearly the comings and goings of bill paying funds and handing over product. The other bloke feels strangely, a little resentful when the gift voucher is redeemed. 

Maybe it's the genetics of being born in Yorkshire that's welling to the surface.

At this point mates being what they are would buy heaps of gift vouchers to watch me squirm as they redeem the buggers.

It's your turn - click here, get a chance to wind me up, and get a mate a great prezzy. 

 ; )     

That's about all for now, copyalater