The Roof Rack Story | Graham's Fine Win (With a little help) | Graham Weigh's Wyvern 3 Day Points Win | How did No Hands Norman get his nickname?

The Roof Rack Story

1980. Five of us were racing in Cardiff, so we decided to go down on Saturday night after I had closed the shop. There was Scotty, Phil Evans, Keith Jones, Russ Harrington and me. Phil was very fussy about his tubs getting scuffed and had a set of wheel covers to protect them, and insisted they stay on. Five bikes on the top of the CX estate looked really cool , just like a pro team !! Off we set. listening to my 11 minute "like a Hurricane" Neil Young track, which was recorded back to back on a 90 minute cassette for continuous enjoyment.

Just as we were approaching the M6 on the 56 the whole rack parted company with the car! We saile on for a mile or so braking from 80+. The rack came to rest in the middbble lane and thankfully no cars hit it. We backed up (as you do on a motorway) and retrieved the whole thing. The wheel cover had acted like a sail and at the critcal speed launched the rack like a windsurfer. The only real damamge was to Scotty's bike which amazingly was in the middle of the rack surrounded by bigger bikes. We had to go back to the shop and repair his bike then set off at a more controlled pace.

BTW Phil won the race and I was 6th, both of us in the winning break.

Graham

Graham's Fine Win (With a little help)

I think the year was 1990 at an evening handicap race on a circuit around Lloc, Holywell.

During the mid to late 80's Graham Weigh was kind enough to help us (Norman & Keith) out with equipment etc so to show our appreciation we decided that tonight's race was going to be won by Graham.

With the race being a H'cap and Keith and I both 1st cats, our first job was to chase down a 3-4 minute gap to get to front of the race. From the off we went flat out and with about 10 miles to go the race was all together. Variuos riders now tried their luck but were soon chased down by Keith or myself, with about 3 miles to go one rider was up the road. The plan now was that Keith and I would chase him down and as soon as we caught him Graham would make his move. We drove hard on the front and closed the gap, Graham immediately made his move opening up a reasonable gap, he was away! As he approached the only climb on the circuit he was starting to rock, the effort was starting to tell! Keith and I were doing what ever was necessary to nullify any attacks from the bunch. Graham rolled over the top of the climb, legs burning! with just a short decent to finish, he'd won, well done Graham a job well done.

Apologies to Colin Bryan

Norman Hughes

Graham Weigh's Wyvern 3 Day Point's Win

Anyone who travels to the track with Graham would of been told the story of his Wyvern 3 day points win. Usually it comes up as we leave McDonalds and he has a strawberry milkshake in his hand.

Graham's finest ride came in the 1981 Wyvern 3 day. The race was always held on August bank holiday and was always the biggest race in the country that weekend.

Graham's move came in the crit on the second day. He got away with a rider called Branton Wild who was a top international rider winning a lot of races that year. The two of them were away for most of the stage sharing the work but somehow Graham always seemed to be on the front as they crossed the finish line. On the second day myself and Graham missed the break but somehow we both managed to get across to it. Graham was in fine form once again and continued picking up points and winning the points prize. I was not having a very good race as I had just taken over the lead in the KOM when I dropped an oil can in my wheel and ended up at the local hospital.

Graham and the lads picked me up from the hospital on the way home from the prize presentation and then I had to listen to the story of the race all the way home.

How did No Hands Norman get his nickname?

Well it was 1984 Normans first season, he was riding in a 3rds and junior road race somewhere near Rhuddlen when he suddenly found himself away in a small breakaway group. As they came towards the finish line No Hands was obviously feeling good. The group of riders came sprinting towards the line when, with about five meters to go, No Hands threw his hands up in the air! As he shouted YES YES YES, a guy called Simon Flood, Port Sunlight Wheelers, suddenly came sprinting past him. Since that day he has always been known as No Hands Norman.