Well actually it was 1995 and I have no idea what time of year it was. This is the account of Allan Leivesly (our team boss and mentor to all) to the development of Mary Hinge racing.
The names and dates have not been changed so as to incriminate the guilty.
It was Allan's brothers fault allegedly, He had been to a moped meeting in 1995 and was in complete awe of these little 50's flying round the track at breakneck speeds, the smell of nitrous in the air (ok I'm embellishing a little). So it was back home and round to Allan's. "Allan Allan, we have got to have a go at this" maybe he said something like this, who knows. But anyway to cut a rapidly getting longer story a little shorter it was off to the next meeting, the pair of them with Allan's eldest son Terry in tow. It was Blyton (what can I say to that).
They walked the pits, Chatted and as I guess most people would were hooked.
The intention was for Allan and his brother to go halves but His brother pulled off, I mean Out (oops read that bit wrong), probably due to shear fright at the thought of doing 80mph on a bike designed to do about 30mph. Luckily Terry stepped in and a beautiful partnership was formed.
So they would buy a bike, prepare it themselves and Terry along with 3 other riders would race it. Allan was not to ride as by his very own words has a severely worn hip and a severe case of cowardice.
Class 3 Sports 2-Stroke was to be there class, the choice was made by luck and certainly at that time not by good judgment. An add went in the free paper and before they new it a bloke from Sheffield was on the blower with an MT50. It was bought stripped and low and behold, knackered big end, mains, piston and barrel.
Fortune may have smiled upon the team though as a bloke in Rotherham offered them a MBX50 complete but accident damaged along with a MBX80 rolling chassis. This was the bike to use, so the 80 was stripped of everything unnecessary and the 50 engine transplanted in.
So with the TK carb fuelling the monster they had a flying championship winning bike. 40mph flat out. New PVL ignition, Still 40mph, MBX125 carb and still the bike was flying at 40mph.This is when fortune was once again to smile on MARY HINGE. Allan was introduced at the Cadwell Park charity race to Missuer Norik Abbey (Mik Abbey) tuning guru and now friend to all. Mick Made Allan an exhaust, tuned the barrel, did a bit of tinkering and after many miles on the A!/A19 between Doncaster and Stockton a competitive reasonably reliably race bike was unleashed.
First race, Bad piston and a retirement. Not to worry, Wiseco piston was installed all the way from America, this gave the reliability at the time and Mick started riding for Allan bringing Andy and Paul with him (all later to form there own teams).
During the winter of 1999/2000 a second bike was built with lots of money being poured into it. The frame was acid dipped and sprayed silver with red tank, seat and front mudguard. New clip-ons were added and Allan's own design of top yoke put in place allowing the forks to protrude through the yoke. A new seat unit, tyres, rev counter etc were all added. It looked the business.
As the performance was improved it showed the road based tyres up, Something had to be done. The decision was made to go for 17" wheels and Allan managed to source some Spanish Spec Honda NSR50. Although very difficult to fit once sorted these wheels allowed a better choice of rubber and also allowed the crap rear drum to be replaced with a Disk. This setup proves to work very well and is still within the rules. Allan's only gripe is now we are running a softer compound tyre we go through a set nearly every meeting. Almost to the canvass at Elvington 2 2003.
I joined the team at the last meeting of 2002 and have ridden for Allan since. Allan's younger son Neil now rides along with Matt and Kip. The team is very strong now and following our 3rd in class 2003 season are all looking forward to next season. We now have a team and machine capable of winning the championship.
So all beware, look out for the Hinging Hinge, The Mad Mary, The now ballistic Blue,
It's MARY HINGE RACING.
Most give a mention to Allan's wife Heather for all the great fry ups and cups of tea without which I certainly couldn't function on the bike.