AS I haven’t actually been around these pages for a week or two - big thanks to Sean Lawless for filling-in, I enjoyed the read - I’d just like to catch-up a bit on stuff that’s been stacking-up in my head!
 
Before Christmas the mx world, particularly the small world that is the northern centre, was as one hit by the sad death, following a mountain bike accident, of the centre’s greatest motocross rider, Norman Barrow. I first noticed Norman when he was riding in what was probably one of his first ever events. It was a grass track, taking place at Haverigg, just up the road from his native Millom. What drew my attention, as a teenager (I was about 13) was a large group of lads, obviously local, jumping up and down trackside, shouting and yelling, “GO ON NORMAN!” in capital letters. The object of all this fuss was a determined-looking teenager riding a 250 Greeves with the throttle wound tight against the stop.
 
A few years later, when I started riding trials, Norman was a leading member of the Bootle Scrambles Club and had a keen hand in most of their trials - along with all those lads who would have been cheering for him that day at Haverigg. As is often the case, one larger-than-life character acts as a catalyst and Norman along with John Leece, Dave Bowes, Antony Brockbank and others were a tight-knit gang pumping life into the club.
 
Norman of course went on to become one of Britain’s best - and best-known - motocrossers, most famous for his exploits on CCM machinery, but he always kept his feet on the ground, continued to work for the club and enjoyed his trials riding. And Norm was a very tidy centre trials rider, best known for his hard and fast straight-line style.
 
Back in the day I loaned Norman my own prized RL325 Suzuki one weekend when he was bikeless but wanted to lay-out a Bootle trial on Saturday and then ride the event on the Sunday. No probs.
 
When Norman returned the bike I fired it up and couldn’t understand why it was running so rich. A quick strip of the carb found that the needle had been attacked by what looked like a rough-cut two-inch rasp! Norman’s explanation? “Well, I couldn’t get on with it and I had to do something. It’s not that bad...(?????)...OK, I’ll buy you a new needle.” I’m still waiting!
 
We often laughed at the incident down the years. If Norm couldn’t get his motocrosser running right he always anticipated my upcoming advice. “And before you say anything, no, there’s nothing wrong with the flipping (only he didn’t say flipping) needle!” he’d hiss between his teeth. Norman always insisted that he had actually improved my Suzuki. He may even have been right as I certainly never got the old RL running perfect. But I always found Norman appreciative of a bit of good natured leg-pulling - and he gave as good as he got.
 
John Leece, his long-time pal, has a much better store of Norman Barrow stories than most and a couple he told struck a perfect note come the funeral.” 
 
Between Christmas and New Year, the Kendal Classic club staged its now annual get together which is whipped into shape by John (Mc)Bethell and Pete Remington and once again a mighty gathering assembled at the Crooklands Hotel, just a stone’s throw from the M6 at junction 36, almost five minutes from home and by taking advantage of a lift from the Myers gang even managed the odd beer!
 
Bill Brown, boss of the Wulfsport empire, infamous Maico importer, well known entrepreneur and general all-round nice-guy was guest of honour and Bill did a stirling job, aided, abetted and gently prodded by McBethell, telling a humourus selection of his life stories. The ones that he dared repeat anyway! Inevitably and rightly, being a fellow northern centre rider, Browny told a couple of his favourite Norman Barrow tales. Said Bill, “If I ever rode away from home and someone asked where I was from and said ‘the northern centre’ the reply would inevitably be, “Barra, that’s where Barra’s from, northern centre!” You could guarantee that some local ace had come off a never-to-be-forgotten poor second best during a brief racing encounter with Norman. He certainly put the centre on the map.
 
Right now however it is flat-out once again into 2012 and already two major but very different off-road series are well and truly underway. On this side of the pond we are already three rounds into the World X-Trial (indoor trials) series with the incredible Toni Bou running away with it - while in the good ol USA the AMA has already racked-up four rounds of the Supercross series, again playing to masive houses. 
 
And with four winners from four rounds, including a first ever SX win for KTM thanks to Ryan Dungey, the interest in the series is only going to grow. There’s enough bad news floating round the world to do us all for a lifetime - so the continued success of the AMA series is a breath of fresh air. 
 
Which reminds me that the opening round of the ACU Maxxis MX champs is just over a month away. New year, new series, 
exciting new venue for the opener at FatCat, Doncaster. What’s not to like? 2012...bring it on!