Multiple TT winner Charlie Williams and Zach Burns have successfully completed a 1035-mile journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats on Rudge Ulster motorcycles, raising more than £5000 for their chosen charities, Classrooms in the Clouds and the TT Riders’ Association.
Both the 1934 and 1928 models ridden by Charlie and Zach came from the extensive collection of Mike Farrall, and although the journey was relatively trouble-free, one incident occurred just south of Carnforth on the A6 when, for no apparent reason, Charlie’s machine expired on a roundabout exit.
Mike, who went along as back-up crew, quickly diagnosed the problem as a broken inlet pushrod, and although he didn’t have a rod of the correct dimensions in his comprehensive spares kit, he did have one that was too long and too wide in circumference.
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A generator was quickly brought into service to power an angle grinder and the pushrod was soon cut to length. Charlie then put it into a cordless drill and spun it while Mike ‘turned’ it down with the disc grinder.
The bike was soon running again, and the riders had no more trouble for the final 500 miles.
“I’d like to thank all at Team Farrall for the tremendous back-up they provided, Jonny Towers at Moto Direct for supplying my RST riding gear and, most importantly, all the people who supported us with their generous donations,” said Charlie.
Read more News and Features in the August issue of OBM – available now!
