Fresh from announcing his return to TT competition as Ryan Farquhar's teammate, Keith Amor will also contest the Classic TT presented by Bennetts in August.

The Scots ace, who retired from racing at the end of the 2011 season, will continue his comeback riding Tony Dunnell-prepared Nortons in both the 500cc and 350cc Classic TT events.

It will be the 42 year-old's Classic machinery debut but the Dunnell machines have plenty of experience around the Mountain Course and Dunnell is one of the most respected classic bike builders in the UK. Former factory Honda rider Amor takes over the seat vacated by Conor Cummins, who rode for Team Dunnell at last year’s inaugural event.

Cummins was forced to retire from the 500cc event last August but took a solid seventh in the 350cc race and whilst he has a lack of Classic race experience, Amor’s diminutive stature and knowledge of the Mountain Course should mean he’ll be challenging for podiums in both races.

Adding his name to the provisional entry list for the 500cc and 350cc Classic TT Races, the five-times TT podium finisher adds further spice to an already mouthwatering line up that promises to be even better than the line up in the inaugural year's event.

Dunnell himself has a long association with the Isle of Man, first as a competitor in the Manx Grand Prix and, in later years, as a sponsor and entrant. After a four year layoff, Tony returned to the Isle of Man in 2013 and has clearly embraced the Classic TT movement as he will be providing Keith with the latest specification 500cc and 350cc Manx Nortons along with spare bikes for each class.

Speaking about his Classic TT plans Keith Amor commented: “I was at the Classic TT last year and was gutted to see all the other guys having so much fun out there and I really wanted to be involved. In fact, it was one of the key reasons behind my decision to come back to racing. I feel honored to get the chance to make my debut on a classic bike with Tony Dunnell who builds some of the best Manx Norton's around.”

Tony Dunnell added: “We really enjoyed the Classic TT last year despite having to endure a number of mechanical issues throughout the fortnight. Conor (Cummins) was a joy to work with and whilst we are disappointed that he has to miss the event this time around, Keith Amor is an ideal replacement and we look forward to working with him. We managed to find the problem that plagued our Classic TT once we got home and we will be giving Keith bikes that should be capable of finishing on the podium.”

Following warnings of icy weather, road safety charity the IAM is offering driving tips for the frost and ice from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Some bits of the country have already had a first taste of this year’s winter. That means it’s time for the rest of us to start thinking about how to deal with it too.”

Rodger offers six tips to drive confidently in icy conditions:

1) Keep to the main roads as they’re more likely to be salted. Also bear in mind that after the frost has gone, ice can remain in areas which are shaded by trees and buildings – and it forms there first, so be careful in the evening as the temperature drops.

2) It may seem obvious to say – but every year people do forget, so ensure you have de-icer and a scraper. And don’t be one of those people, still out there, who only scrape a small area and drive looking through a slit – clear the whole screen to be able to see properly.

3) If the road is slippery when you start off, do it in second gear, releasing the clutch and accelerating gently, avoiding high revs – this will help prevent wheel spin. As you drive, stay in higher gears to help avoid wheelspin. In an automatic be gentle with your feet, and use whatever gearbox features that the car handbook says will help in slippery conditions.

4) It seems obvious, but cars go in ditches every winter because drivers haven’t taken icy roads seriously enough. If it’s cold outside treat wet looking patches with great care – they could be ice, not water.

5) Stopping distances are increased by up to 10 times in icy conditions, so leave plenty of distance between your car and the car in front - plan so that you’re not relying on your brakes to stop - on ice they may not do that for you. If it is really slippery slow down early and use the gears to do it.

6) If your car loses grip and starts to slide sideways, take your foot off the accelerator, and point the front wheels where you want to go.

Rodger said: “These are just a few pointers to start you thinking. Being mentally prepared as well as having the right equipment is vital, so think about any problems you encountered last winter, and what you need to do to avoid them or overcome them if they recur this year. Be prepared for the worst – icy conditions will affect accelerating, steering and braking.”

59 Club Renewal Day with Mick Duckworth
9am - 5pm
Sunday 2nd February

On occasion of the 59 Club's annual "Renewal" day at the Ace on Sunday 2nd February, author Mick Duckworth will be on hand not only signing copies of the seminal book, "Ace Times - Speed thrills and tea spills, a cafe and a culture", he will also be signing copies of his new book, "Triumph Experimental: Doug Hele and his Development Team 1962 - 75" recently published by Norman Hyde.

Mick's all new 208 page hard back book, with 165 illustrations, tells for the first time the full story of chief development engineer Doug Hele and his men at Triumph Meriden motorcycle factory and later at the Norton - Triumph research centre.

www.normanhyde.co.uk
www.the59club.org.uk

www.ace-cafe-london.com

Scottish ace Keith Amor will continue his racing comeback at the 2014 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy, with rides in both of the Monster Energy Supersport Races.

Amor, who recently announced his return to the sport as part of Ryan Farquhar's KMR Kawasaki team for the bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT, will ride the Site Sealants B&W Racing Honda CBR600RR in both of the 4-lap races.

The Falkirk rider, who now bases himself in Cyprus, has always excelled in the ultra-competitive Supersport class with four of his five TT podiums coming in the 600cc Races, with his first in 2008 in what was just his second appearance on the Mountain Course. Further rostrums were taken in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He also set the fastest lap of the opening Supersport Race in 2010 with a lap of 126.909mph, making him the seventh fastest rider ever on a 600cc machine.

In his five previous years of TT competition, between 2007 and 2011, Amor took no less than 13 top ten finishes and won 14 silver replicas. His fifth TT podium came in the Superstock Race of 2009 and he is currently the 12th fastest rider of all time with his lap of 130.177mph set in the 2011 PokerStars Senior TT Race.

The team will be run by Amor's former mechanic, Brian Hull, who, more recently, has been backing Irish youngster David Haire in the Irish Short Circuit Championships to great effect, the combination winning the Supersport title in 2012 and 2013 and taking second and third in the Superbike series in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Speaking about the news, Keith Amor commented: "Brian offered me the chance to ride in the Supersport Races, which have always been my favourite class and I just couldn't say no. I've enjoyed the best days of my career on a Supersport bike at the TT and I am confident that I can still give a good account of myself. I'm working hard on my fitness at the moment and looking to get my weight down to the sort of level it was the last time I raced there, which I think is going to be critical on the smaller bikes."

"At this moment in time, I don't have any plans to race in the 1000cc Races, and I am currently working on a programme with Ryan Farquhar and Brian of what races and testing I will be doing in the build up to the TT."

Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 TT Races. Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets are sold out but there are still TT Fan Zone Grandstand tickets available at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park during practice and race days. Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets. All tickets are available from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

The Wheels 2 Work concept received a vote of confidence this week with an endorsement from Transport Minister Robert Goodwill, who was pleased to announce that the number of schemes has risen 35% since 2012. At the beginning of 2013 there were 24 schemes. There are now 33, with several others in the pipeline.

Speaking at the Wheels 2 Work Association’s (W2WA) second annual conference in London on Wednesday 22nd, Goodwill sympathised with the “chicken and egg situation” that exists for people who are unemployed in the countryside and can’t afford transport, which prevents them from getting jobs. He stated: “Wheels 2 Work is one solution to that problem. That’s why we have supported schemes through ... the establishment of the Wheels 2 Work Association.”

The Minister also welcomed a new handbook, launched this week by the W2WA, which sets out best practice for running a scheme. The Minister summarised this as: “Clear, concise and includes everything you need to set up a new scheme or improve the running of an existing initiative.”

He also related a story about how he had been a W2W “pioneer” himself, in buying a former young employee a motorcycle, the cost of which was deducted from his wages each week.

Chairman of the Wheels 2 Work Association Nigel Dotchin says the Minister sent clear signals regarding funding: “Innovation and working in partnership seem to be key elements in a successful funding bid. The Minister mentioned the importance of working with Local Enterprise Partnerships several times, which Wheels 2 Work schemes looking for funding will need to take on board.”

Endorsed by young politicians

The W2W concept was also endorsed by 19 year old Gabi Ohlsen, the Young Person’s Representative on a Parliamentary working group set up to tackle rural isolation. Gabi is a staunch advocate of affordable and accessible travel for young people, and came to address the conference to offer her support. She considers the Wheels 2 Work concept is the most appropriate way to tackle a lack of transport for those living in the countryside, who may well have unemployed parents too. One study she highlighted described these as a growing “rural underclass”.

The group Gabi belongs to have looked at a number of alternatives to provide rural transport, but W2W seems to be a favourite: “Wheels 2 Work is effective and innovative as it helps on an individual basis, serving individual needs. It’s much more cost effective than running a bus to all the different villages and hamlets. I thoroughly believe that all young people should know about it and have access to it, if they are in need of the service. The fact is there has been very little political discourse on rural isolation, even though it affects many many young people.”

Schemes also received good news regarding saving money:

· A ‘standard unit of delivery’ has been compiled through collating average costs from all schemes. This will allow schemes to know what others are paying for the same services and so seek better deals.

· Protective clothing can now be bought at nearly half the price some schemes have been paying for it, thanks to a procurement programme, which saw Oxford Products Ltd win the tender. Procurement for other services will be looked at for the future.

What is Wheels 2 Work?

Wheels 2 Work schemes are run independently by councils, charities, social enterprises and sometimes dealerships – offering the loan of a moped, motorcycle or scooter to people who would otherwise not be able to access work relying on public or private transport.

Young people get help with the right training and they are issued with protective clothing, which they have to wear. This means they are introduced to motorcycling in a safe and structured way and the schemes have excellent safety records as a result. Typically these help young people, who live in rural areas, but increasingly the schemes are opening in urban areas too.

Mobile carers are one group who are often keen to take up this offer, as it offers a cost effective way of getting between clients. These schemes literally change lives, offering mobility for economic and personal use, thereby reducing social exclusion on both counts.

Where does the Wheels 2 Work Association come in?

This is funded through a Department for Transport grant. The W2WA was launched 12 months ago, to help spread best practice (this is vital to ensure the long term survival of schemes.

New wave of W2W schemes

W2W first began in the 1990s with Countryside Agency funding, but many schemes did not survive (falling to a low of 24, from a height of around 60). Building in a ‘self sustaining’ element is key and the schemes which have survived the longest have managed to do this. A number of additional schemes are in various stages of development, but will swell the numbers in the next 12 months.

www.wheels2workassociation.org