The Place

have you kept your licence going geoff or will you have to start as a novice

I would imagine that one lap driving round the TT course despite how many times you have done it would be worth all the trophys up in the attic

If Geoff wants to do that good luck to him

Thanks for all your views. If I had a better way of raising some finance I would do that and keep the replicas. Most probably no body will be interested anyway. I want to get back next year ( if I can ) but it might take longer. I dont miss racing at all realy, I have a great time working with Phil. I do miss the TT though. For a few years I wasnt anywhere near good enough ( physicaly ) but I feel Im ready now. Racing the big bike has drained us financialy but I hope Phil can continue with that somehow. I have still got my licence ( I understand you dont even need an International one now) and I need to get out on a bike this season for my mountain course licence and to see what Im like on an outfit now. I wont go near the TT if I cant make a half decent job of it though. I didnt ever intend stopping racing , we had ordered a long bike off Tony Baker for Phil and myself to share with my other son Michael as passenger for both of us. 2003 was going to be my last Isle of Man year, it nearly was . I then found because of the damage done to my upper back I cant bend my head back enough to ride a long bike Anyway as Beryl said you dont know what is around the corner so I think its time to get some leathers back on, hopefuly .
Cheers .

If thats what you want to do Geoff its nobody elses buisiness(except Bernie).Hope it works out for you.

Hope things work out for you Geoff, shame you live so far away, you and Roy could go to the gym together training


Bill, yes, we have got all my Dads trophies, bless him.

Beryl wrote:

Bill Lymburn wrote:

long legs wrote:if there in a box in the attic , then there obviously not that important to you (well i;m sure they were one day) , sell em , get yourself a new bike and live life geoff , you know it makes sense , it would be great to see you backout

Woa! Woa! Winnie, nobody's saying it wouldn't be great to see Geoff out again, just that's not the route. What happens in another few years when this comeback is over and all record of his previous achievements are gone. I'm not suggesting he can't achieve even more, but that only adds to his previous, it doesn't replace them. His descendants hopefully would love to have them, if not an NEMCRC memorial collection....

I'm with Winnie on this one. You've got to live life!!!!! And I understand where you coming from Bill, but look what happened to my Dad, (Fred Hanks) he did so many things with his life (apart from having 6 kids!!), had a pilots licence, took part in horse show jumping, edited the TT Special newspaper, he won loads of trophies and reps for not only sidecar racing, for speedway, grasstracking, and trials. But as he got older, and realised he wasn't fit enough any more, he couldn't sit back and remember the good all days because he developed alzheimers, and very little, meant anything to him.

None of us know what's in store for us.

So Geoff, get on with it man looking forwarded to seeing you out on track.

I'm with Beryl and Winnie on this. look at my Dad you just never know what's going to happen so live your life. Dad wouldn't part with his and we wouldn't either but it's what ever makes you happy Geoff, you can't take them with you so why not let them go to someone who will appreciates them and helps you out in the process. Good luck

Would it not be possible to rent the whole collection out with maybe some other memorbilia from the Bell family as a stand alone exhibition to varuious museums etc:?:

That way you might be able to raise money and get them back eventually

If you do go down the selling road, start with the bronze, then the silver and keep going until there's just two left and then find another way to raise some cash! TT wins and their replicas are priceless.

john newton wrote:If you do go down the selling road, start with the bronze, then the silver and keep going until there's just two left and then find another way to raise some cash! TT wins and their replicas are priceless.

Totally agree John!!

A lot of money and effort was spent getting those winners reps!!

if any of you lovely sidecar folk would like to buy Geoff an f2 /formula 600 then he won't need to part with his Reps now would he OR just sponsor him one