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Ducati Test |
History on Wheels (page 5) One factor would have helped out, though, and that's the way the Ducati brakes, compared to the heavier fours of two decades ago. For a start, the Italian bike's cast iron Brembo discs and two-pot black calipers were the benchmark stoppers back in 1978, and though you must squeeze pretty hard by modern standards to make them work well, they do stop the bike OK on their own. However, add in the ingredient of desmo engine braking, and now you have the potential to outbrake modern Supersports into a tight turn like the Mallory hairpin, all without the concern of possibly tangling a valve, thanks to Ducati's trademark positive valve operation: thanks, Dr.T (as in Taglioni...)! Just remember never to use the hefty rear disc, so as to avoid locking the rear wheel on the overrun as you do so: no slipper clutches in those days! Considering Steve Wynne says Mike also never used the rear brake, it's a bit of a surprise that he didn't save a lot of unsprung weight by fitting a smaller, lighter rear disc - or perhaps this was a factor in helping the back end to sit down as well as it does over bumps? Whatever, with the Girlings set to their softest setting, the Ducati must surely have been a great ride by the standards of the day over a bumpy course like the Isle of Man's, as my close-up encounter with Mike at Schoolhouse Corner seemed to confirm. Now I know that is indeed the way it was. . . Back in 1982, a year after Mike's tragic death with his young daughter in a particularly needless car crash he was in no way responsible for, I helped organise the Tribute to Mike Hailwood meeting at Donington on behalf of track owner Tom Wheatcroft, which brought massive support from star riders whom Mike raced with like Read, Taveri, Anderson, Surtees (for whom of course Mike raced cars successfully, too) and many others, as well as assembling a huge selection of exotic machinery that Mike had been associated with. But the one bike I tried hardest to arrange to come there proved elusive: you guessed it - the TT-winning Ducati stayed locked up tight in Japan. But now, on the 20th anniversary of what the majority of his fans will agree was Mike Hailwood's finest victory, thanks to the generosity of the Auriana brothers the motorcycle that made that possible will be seen and heard again in action on the TT Course. Mike the Bike would have thoroughly approved. . . * * * * * |
