"Most Improved" award for 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~POST EDIT by Jerry NOV 28 -- SEE last post in this thread- Email me your before and after photos-- once I get 5 bikes before and after I will make an announcement here to the new page for review of the bikes. We will need to have a closing date for photo submission (For now say Christmas Day my time PST). Once closing is reached I will create a POLL so we can vote on the submitted bikes. If I dont get 5 it won't happen-- (probably a good idea to send a plain text email after the one with photos saying you sent them in case I dont get them for some reason) Let me know if you have any other ideas--PM me -- cheers~~~~~~~~~~~ commando (at) accessnorton.com
EDIT END

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Original Post Nov 24 by Grandpaul:

In taking a great idea by Cookie, regarding 71baskecase's resurrection of his heap of rust, I'd like to formally propose a "Most Improved" award contest to close out 2009, with the final vote tally right before Christmas.

I'm willing to chip in $25 toward the prize, and hereby exclude any of my projects from the contest.

C'mon, Jerry, let's DO IT!!!

My vote:





Maybe a good rule is that it only had to be COMPLETED in 2009, no matter when it was STARTED.

I'd also say that anyone should be able to nominate anyone else's bike, including thier own...

This sounds like fun Paul, I'll try to get pictures of my project soon but I've been thankfully so busy at work that it may be 2010 before I even get my new wheels on! Haven't even thought about upulstry for the Dreer seat. I have gotten some frame touch up done & will be glad I did take the time to do it. Some one needs to light a fire under MikeB to get his 750 on the road. I've seen it & it's very cool. Mike?

I will agree with Paul, 71basketcase's transformation is amasing, best I've seen.

It's going to be hard to beat.

graeme

Very cool idea. What is the most sincere form of flatery ?
I'd have to say recognition for a job well done by your toughest critiques, other Norton owners.
I finished my combat in 2008 and love the attention she receives from the public. She takes 1st and 2nd at all shows entered.
But my biggest joy would be to have it judged by my peers, Norton owners.
I need to get some pics on here of my ride.
GrandPaul, I'll see your bet and match it of $25.00 to our holiday winner.
You let me know who to send it and I'll mail same. Just don;t give me your address :lol:
After a recent restoration a Nortoneer could use a little pocket $.
If our winner gets a nice cash prize, he/she could buy a matching Davida helmet 8)
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!
Thee Marshal

I'll toss in $25 too. That guy in England that had the complete rust bucket might beat ya if he gets his going!

I'll toss $25.00 in the pot , do you have a Paypal account?, if not tell me where to send it.

Unclviny

Gentleman & Lady,
Maybe we could get the rebuild covered in a documentary on the Discovery channel or BBC abroad.
With the new Norton in the works interest should become higher in the older orig ones too
What you think anyone got a hook up w/ any television networks?
Just dreamin maybe
Marshal

well, if those guys who build choppers (yuk!) can get a series... why not a special on the original superbike, then and now?

I will NOT exclude any of my work from consideration in a TV gig!

I'm not going to collect any Paypals, it needs to be a forum-based deal. The moderators/admin guys need to set up the deal with a poll after we get several good candidates, and whoever wants to chip in for the prize can do it however they want.

Maybe let the forum keep a cut to help offset the cost of this fantastic resource? This is just an idea, I'd be for it.

Those ill produced and scripted TV shows won't do a damn thing for Norton's except drive up the price of old ones and drag the name through the mud. I'm sure if a chopepr show can make grown men look like whiney, spoiled idiots on national TV, imagine what it could do for a boring married guy with nothing interesting about him except the fact he rebuilds Nortons. Either way I think the world is tiring of seeing this kind of crap on TV anyway. The masses are hungry for the next fad and I don't think motorcycles is it.

The "most imroved" idea is good. Too bad I didn't finish my MKIII or I'd enter it for consideration. Lots of contenders here for sure.

Coco, you still have about a month...

grandpaul said:

Coco, you still have about a month...

Click to expand...

I gave up a little over a month ago as there was snow and it was -10 C up here. Who knew that two weeks ago it would hit +15 C and stay nice. There should be a foot of snow on the ground up here. It's supposed to go to +7 C here today. Needless to say I'm not too happy I pulled the plug so early. Anyway, everything is packed and stored so I can park my car in the garage for the winter. I have my Triumph motor pulled so I can do some work on it so I've been keeping busy with that lately anyway as it is inside my warm house on an engine stand.

Maybe I'll be in the running for the 2010 award.

I'm flattered that my bike started this buzz for a most improved award: currency prize is probably less enticing than having been judged by our peers as a bike worthy of note IMHO.

I vote that the prize be another Norton to rebuild, donated by this group :lol:


technically, I started it for the first time in 2008, but didn't get the bugs worked out till this fall.... (are they EVER really worked out completely 8) )

Karl

I hope not, I always want something to do in the garage. LOL

What a great idea.

I think we need to make it a bit official. I am thinking to have folks email me the before and after photos. I publish them for all to see. Then we vote on the mechanic/bike-- any other better ideas on how I can easily set this up? (I dont want to do too much programming). I can create a POLL here so we can vote on the before and after I publish.

I am not sure how many responses there will be-- email (only2) photos to me. One before and one after shot. Include your name and a SHORT description. I will post them as they come in. After there are 5 responses I will set up the POLL.

Finish date to be decided?

Email photos and description to commando (at) accessnorton.com

cheers Jerry

"imagine what it could do for a boring married guy with nothing interesting about him except the fact he rebuilds Nortons."
Ouch!! the truth is so hurtful! Though it is an interesting passion, old bikes, that is.

I would consider throwing $25 this way, if, and ony if:

Those who enter do so with the agreement that if they win, they donate the cash to a charity of their choice.

We have disabled (physically and emotionally) vets all by the thousands returning to the states, as well as the UK and australia. This train wreck (sorry cookie) of a world economy has marginalized millions of citizens, while those at the top hardly feel a pinch. One quarter of american children don't get enough to eat. The ice caps are melting. The beat goes on.

Sorry to be so blunt, but if those of us who with the means (and I'm no rockefeller) can do just a little, it can make a difference in a big way, especially now.

Cheers,

Don

Sorry for not editing my post well enough, though I'm sure you get the idea.
And btw, for my participation, it should be a recognized charity, unlike my own "Guiness, Pacifico, and Mark West Foundation" :wink:

The poll sounds great. How about finishing up entries and voting for the week of January 1st? Maybe submissions before the end of December? One member could volunteer to hold the Paypals and buy the trophy? I'm thinking about that time of year more of us are off work for a bit and closing the year of most improved in December seems natural.

I like Jerry moderating.
Seems fair to have a neutral.
I'm very interested and will vote.
Since the reality tv series idea received such rave reviews, I'll just wait and vote :lol:
The transformer Norton was a cool youtube video maybe a new line of Norton 961 transformer toys?
You know for the Pepsi generation 8)
Oh well!!!!
Time to take my meds :roll:
Marshal

I think this is a great idea and would be happy to go along with the concensus but completion in the last 12 months might be a bit restrictive and cut a lot of good restorations out. Maybe a restoration in the last five years would see more bikes and more dollars [ and I could put mine in ]. Just adding my thoughts. You could even have 3 photos, before, after and now.
"Now" meaning a photo of the bike out on a ride or at a favourite scenic place.