The future of Paul & Marie Whittaker

[limy_1]

Since it doesn't look like either Paul or Marie seem to be slowing down anytime soon
could this be in their future?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2144884/Pensioners-sell-croft-buy-motorbike-sidecar--enter-TT-races.html

[Kyler]

okay - dumb question - what is a "croft?"

[paul whittaker]

'Croft' small portable filing cabinet of table height, having drop down leaves to use as table. named after the Rev. Sir Herbert Croft, who invented it.
But in this case more likely: A small patch of ground adjacent to a house and used as a kitchen garden, to pasture 1-2 cows, and large enough to feed a family. Or a very small farm as one worked by a Scottish "crofter".
Currently referred to as a "Small holding" usually with chickens and a few pigs, sheep or goats.

It would take me a day to download the clip: I tried to down load the newer Firefox browser and it said 1 day and 17 hrs remaining. Paul.

[limy_1]

In a nut shell Paul the story was of a couple who in retirement sold there farm and went sidecar racing.
The decided their Royal Enfield rig was to slow so they went F2 racing.
They have been competing on the championship circuit and will be headed for the Isle of Man TT to race people less than half their age. If I remember correctly he is 75 and she is 62.

[paul whittaker]

Hi Roger, not that I have any intention of trying either the Island or an F2 at this stage, but I thought there was a 60 year old cut off limit there?

[MGill]

GRANDPARENTS Robin and Annette Daykin have shunned a quiet life content with bus passes to sell their farm so that they can compete in the TT races.

Robin, 74, and wife Annettite, 62, sold their croft in Scotland eight years ago to buy an R6-powered sidecar.

The Daykins, who have six grandchildren, will take part in the Sidecar TT under the banner of Team Past-It, a name coined after a younger competiter told Mr Daykin that he was too slow.

The pair raced in the Sidecar TT as rookies last year, finishing in 27th in the second race with an average speed of 88.803mph.

Retirement rekindled the couple's passion for motorbikes, Mrs Daykin told the Daily Mail: "Neither of us wanted a quiet life. This is our time to go out and have fun." They first entered classic races with a Royal Enfield outfit, but soon became bored and upgraded to the 600cc-powered machine.

Mr Daykin first competed in sidecar racing at the Manx Grand Prix in 1957 at the age of 20. His return to racing was overshadowed when three years ago he found out he had prostate cancer and within weeks broke his neck in a highspeed crash.

He said: "I had a bit of a rough time. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then I broke my neck in a racing accident in Wales. But despite all the pain, it’s safe to say my fortunes really turned around. 12 weeks later, I had fully recovered from both the prostate cancer and the broken neck."

[paul whittaker]

Thanks Matt, Whatever I may feel like doing with my carcass (and I hope they use any salvageable bits available) there is some one else involved here, so testing reflexes against iron railings and stone walls seems a bit way out. To each his/her own. Paul.