Web site updates

[peter rafter]

for you cycle nuts (Bob, John E, Simon B, Jonathon E, et al)
Re racing drivers and their off piste antics/dalliances, (what those boys got up to in those days). This from an earlier era and equally demanding sport,
Extracts from a book on the 1923 tour de France.
"Bicycles had only two gears, thanks to a sprocket on each side of the rear wheel, and to change gear you had to stop and flip the wheel over by the side of the road. It was a time when riding more than 250 miles in a day was normal. Riders would start as early as 2am and ride on until night.
cyclists “rode on dynamite” — they dosed themselves with a mix of chloroform and cocaine to boost their energy and endurance. Some would stop in cafés, covered in the dirt of the road, spare inner tubes draped over them, for a simple lunch of soup with a glass of red wine or beer before returning to their bikes
regards

[Bob Bull]

No outside assistance was allowed, one leading rider had his front forks break, and persuaded a local blacksmith to let him use his workshop to repair them, which he duly did doing all of he wok himself. He was disqualified because the blacksmith's young son worked the bellows on the forge.

[Jim Mountain]

cyclists “rode on dynamite” — they dosed themselves with a mix of chloroform and cocaine to boost their energy and endurance.

Sounds like an extract from Lance's autobiography!!!

[Bob Bull]

In 2003 Tour d France the 3rd stage was a 'Team Time Trial', where the whole team rode as one, the first five riders across the line were all given the same time, which was added to their overall time. This often lead to the first five places in the race being the five teem members. As Lance Armstrong' US Postal had won the TTT, they assumed the race lead, and Columbian, Hugo Pena became the Yellow Jersey. Pena was a 'Domestic' 'Gregario', Water Carrier, there to work for Armstrong. Wearing the Yellow Jersey would have been a dream come true, the first Columbian to wear it, he would have been enormously proud, however, he was merely a servant, and so we saw on TV the leader of the Tour de France stuffing water bottles down the back of the jersey to take back to his team mates. This, for me, demonstrated just what an egotistical, self regarding individual Armstrong was. A member of his own team, a lowly helper wearing the Yellow Jersey that he had come to claim, a team that was formed and sponsored by the US Postal service to win the Tour de France with Armstrong the man to do it. Sending Pena back to collect bottles was a deliberate act to humiliate him and in so doing dishonoured the tradition of the Race. Every year regardless of team or individual rivalry, the wearer of the jersey is given every respect, to deliberately scorn tradition out of personal spite, told me all I needed to know about a man later revealed as a drug fuelled cheat, not just using performance enhancing substances, but making it compulsory for his team members. A nasty piece of work.

Bob.

[Jim Mountain]

Bob, I agree on most points, but what people seem to forget, in that era of pro cycling, most of the top guys (Simoni, Millar, Hamilton, Basso, Ullrich etc) where doping in one way or another, Armstrong just happened to be a better cheat than the rest of the peloton.

Jim

[Bob Bull]

Jim, I agree there was a lot of doping around at the time, although it was beginning to get more dangerous to do so, ie being caught, however, in Armstrong' case it was at whole new level, if I understand it right, a professional approach that was the basis for his success. Much like Russia always cheated t every sort with government sponsorship.
For me the Pena incident was the most blatant, but he was always sniping at rivals who challenged him, do you recall the stage of the
TdF when his handlebars got caught in a spectator's handbag on a major climb, and he had to stop to sort it out? His main rival Jan Ulrich instantly told the leaders to slow down and wait for Armstrong, as the right thing to do, (typical of the etiquette of cycling), as soon as Armstrong came up to the dawdling group he instantly attacked,, catching them unawares, he took advantage of others good intentions.
Only an A.......!

[Mary Lindsay]

Results for Bentley Drivers Club Silverstone are now available via the Morgan Challenge website.

[Mary Lindsay]

The latest points table after BDC Silverstone is now on the Morgan Challenge website.
http://www.morganchallenge.co.uk/Points ... wards.html

[Jim Mountain]

F.Y.I. there is a pic of Ian Sumner/Billy Bellinger in this week's Autosport (BDC report at the back). If someone could let them know in case they want to buy a copy before Wednesday.

Jim

[Mary Lindsay]

There is a great selection of photographs of BDC Silverstone available via the Challenge website. These are all courtesy of Tripos Media and we are very grateful to them for their efforts on behalf of the Morgan Challenge.
http://www.morganchallenge.co.uk/Pages/gallery.html

[Mary Lindsay]

Photos by Chris Dicken and David Stallard Photography are now linked from the Morgan Challenge website.
We are grateful to both for their efforts on behalf of the series.

The results for Oulton Park are also available via the Challenge website.

[Mary Lindsay]

The latest points positions after Oulton Park are now on the Morgan Challenge website.
It's getting very exciting!

[Mary Lindsay]

The final points table, photos of our new Challenge winner and photos of Croft are now all on the Morgan Challenge website.

Well done Jim Moutain!!!

[Mary Lindsay]

A list of all award winners in the Morgan Challenge for 2023 is now on the Morgan Challenge website.
http://www.morganchallenge.co.uk/Points ... wards.html