somewhere I should have been on the bike

[AussiXS11G]

lucky bugger ..... I was in the grips of the first wife, with 2 small children, and in a motorcycle desert........

[tripodtiger]

It was!  Our group sat on the north east part of the spectator area. Overlooking 'Stop' corner.  I was barely 18 and had travelled down with a bunch from the University of New England MCC.  I didn't ride my 250 but jumped on the back of Simon Wells' (I think that was his surname) R100S for the weekend.  Brian Beveridge rode his H2, using about twice as much petrol as anyone else.  'Kog' Godfrey was there, I think he rode an RD350, as he didn't get a Triumph 'til the following year.  John Rooth would've been on another R100. Bill McKinnon on a 750 waterbottle, Grant Roff probably on a Suzuki Titan.  I got pissed as a nit on Black & White scotch (student special) whilst sitting in that park overlooking the bridge at Windsor and I have no idea where we stayed.

I have a clear recollection of watching the Avon XS11 blowing a cloud of oil smoke going up Bitupave Hill and Mike the Bike riding knees tucked in around the right hander onto the start straight.

I also recall, when the XS crossed the line first, being stared at rather contempuouslyby Simon when I cheered, albeit was a minor chirp rather than a wild hooray!

Riding home, along the Putty Road in the dark.  Just a stream of sinlge headlights.  No one cutting anyone up, all the bikesjust going nose to tail.

Up the New England we were overtaken by a Velocette Thruxton.  I'd never seen a Velo before.  I don't know that I'd even heard of the name.  And I remember being amazed at how this old pommie bike could be passing us on a near new BMW!  I didn't realise that the Velo was probably only a few years old.

And I remember being reminded, by BMW owners, that the XS had actually done less laps than Hindle (or Atlee) (quick,checkmy book!) in '77.

Fond memories.  Life was pretty good back then.

And I dropped out of uni the following year.  Too much pretty good life, in hindsight.

[AussiXS11G]

this would have been the place to be on the day for sure

http://www.deejay51.com/six_hour_1978.htm
http://www.deejay51.com/six_hour_1979.htm