The Diary of a Ducati Engineer - News

Autumn Newsletter

nospam@example.com (Edina) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:52:47 +0000

This is a copy of the first of our quarterly newsletter from the Lacey Engineering website. If you wish to be added to the list, just create an account (you dont need to buy anything to do this) and you will get newsletter updates.

We have now been "live" with our online shop since the Spring this year and we would like to alert you to the many new products now listed on the website. In that time a lot of people have been in touch, many to ask if we stock particular products. We have found that there is a demand for cycle parts and as we did have some in stock we have now added a section for this with over 40 items listed - and YES if its there, its in stock. We try to send goods out immediately on receipt of paid order by first class recorded post, insured if requested and appropriate.

As the product list is growing we were finding that the page was getting too long for the screen, so we have left the main exploded diagram items on the front page and added a "click here for more items" button, which takes you into a visual screen rather than a boring old list - I hope you like it. Any comments are always welcome if we can make the site better. Other products under consideration (time and finances allowing!) are 250 road pistons, (Borgo type) chains and sprockets for singles (front and rear) and rod kits for 900 bevels. Also 87mm pistons for V Twins and 450’s.

We do have a NEWS page and a few articles are posted there (including this newsletter) but we do invite you to add comments and open up discussion. You just click on “comments” at the end of the article and you may then enter your thoughts and shortly after that they will appear on line.

We have sold 2 customers' bikes and a lot of interest was expressed in these. If you have a bike which you would like to sell, please do let us know, we may be in the position of buying it for "stock"!

The second hand and clearance section is next on the list for our attention. We have added a few items, but will be keeping this topped up in the future. What you see on the website is really only the tip of the iceberg for second hand engine components, it’s always worth dropping us an e mail in case we have something lurking in the back room that you may be searching for, in fact there may be a whole 350 race engine appearing soon!

At the moment payment is via paypal, but if you do not have a paypal account, cheques are also welcomed. If you prefer to pay by electronic methods we would be pleased to give you bank details and you can pay direct. Just use the contact us form and we will arrange as required. You can of course phone or e mail us with your requirements and we will take the order that way if you prefer not to use the online ordering.

It's getting to the end of the racing season in the UK. No-one can say we have had the best of summers for racing, unless of course you like to skid about in pouring rain! Hopefully next season will be better.
We would like to congratulate all our customers who took to the roads of the Isle of Man this year. Many good lap and speed trap times were recorded. Doug Snow looked very promising with a fast first lap of 95.08 but unfortunately he later crashed in that session bringing his 2008 Manx to an early finish. Very fortunately he was not seriously injured and is making a good recovery. Congratulations go to Bob Millinship and Chris Swallow for gaining replicas in less than ideal conditions. There were lots of other good results within the short circuit racing this year. Not only Nigel Palmer who once again made the CRMC season an exciting spectacle, (especially in the rain) but amongst others, Brian Robson, Rich Hawkins and new to Ducatis, Ian Steltner all put up good performances. Congratulations also go to the ever superb John Hynes for winning the 250 Championship – a rider who prepares and builds his own engine. We recently spoke to another customer, Roger Birkenhead who also prepares his own engine and has had wins in both the UK and in Belgium at Chimay and Gedine, so congratulations to Roger.

A last word of warning - The main page of the site does say that Nigel undertakes engine tuning and rebuilds, but please be aware that at the moment he is booking major work in for August 2009. Smaller jobs such as crank rebuilds may be fitted in, but probably nothing more than that. We would be pleased to book any work after that date. If you are curious about what goes on in the Lacey Workshop, you could watch out for the next issue of the Classic Racer coming up soon. We recently had Graham Lawler here for the day, and he has written an article about us and this will be published mid December for the Jan/Feb issue. Some of you may know Graham via his appearance in various commentary boxes throughout the CRMC racing season.

We hope you enjoy browsing the website and remember we would be pleased to have any feedback or suggestions regarding other things we could include.

Best wishes

Nigel (Ducati Doctor) Lacey & Edina (Web mistress, accounts and general tea lady)

All the winners of the prize draws this year.

nospam@example.com (Edina) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:45:37 +0000

We have made a draw at every CRMC meeting this year from a full list of Ducati Single riders at the meeting (including paraders) so that eveyone had a chance to win rather than just the first bikes past the
post. In case anyone thought otherwise, it was not just from the Lacey Engineering
sponsored class!

Pembrey - James de'Raeve

Anglesey - Chris Bayliss

Lydden Hill - Tim Teale

Donington - David Walker (parade bike)

Snetterton- Nick Roberts

Cadwell - Roger Bayliss

Brands Hatch - Brian Robson

Are the lucky winners of the £40.00 voucher to be used on the parts website. Conratulations to you all.

Computer friendly??

nospam@example.com (Edina) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:12:16 +0100

I know we have a number of admirers of the web site who are a bit new to the world of computers and may be a little nervous of buying on line. Please don't think we want to scare you away! we would be pleased to accept any orders either by phone or e mail.

For anyone who would like to make that leap of faith into the information superhighway for the first time, I am at the moment putting together a guide to buying online and using paypal for payment. Hopefully this will help. It will be a document with screen shots etc so won't be like your normal help files so don't worry about that - you won't need a 12 year old to help

It will appear here when available so keep an eye on the site.

Best Wishes

Edina

Posting comments

nospam@example.com (Edina) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:07:34 +0100

Hi,
We have had reports that when people have tried to post comments, you get a message to say that you cannot submit entry - It should work and I think it is just "timing out". If you are taking a while to carefully constuct your thoughts before committing to publish it may do this. To get around this you can type your comments in "word" then open the screen and copy from "word" and paste into the comments box. This should help. If you have a problem, please let me know.

Thanks

Edina

Not enough days in the week!

nospam@example.com (Nigel) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:06:54 +0100

I did have all good intentions of keeping this news page updated with all sorts of information - but with the Manx fast approaching work is just taking over and there are not enough days in the week, never mind hours in the day!

That does not mean to say that I have been just building engines - The website has been very busy and lots of feedback coming in about possible items which would be useful to stock. All these things take time but we are working hard at sourcing a lot of new stock - we want to be able to supply as much as we can to help you all when working on your machines. This will include cycle parts oils, consumables etc. I am hoping to catch up with all this and launch the next batch of items in early September. For those of you who have opted in to the newsletter, Edina will be sending e mail newsletters out to keep you informed of all the changes. If you would like to be added to the list, just set up an account (you can do this without making a purchase) and tick the box for newsletter.

Will be back with another update soon

Best Wishes

Nigel

Replies to e mails

nospam@example.com (Nigel) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:30:08 +0100

Hello All,

I am pleased that people are finding the site interesting. Occasionally I get e mails asking advice etc, and I am happy to try to help when time permits. I do try to reply as soon as possible. On a few occasions, even though I have clicked "reply" the emails are bouncing back as undeliverable not sure how this is happening, but I don't want people to think I am ignoring them. I cannot for obvious reasons give the whole e mail addresses but if you have a provider who ends with "xtr.co.nz" or "tdcads.dk" and have not had a reply, would you please get in touch again and let me have a different e mail address for the reply.

Many thanks

Nigel

Launch of News Page

nospam@example.com (Edina) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:33:40 +0100

Hello fellow Ducati Single Enthusiasts!

This is the first entry of our new "News & Blog" pages. Following popular demand we have decided to add these pages just to keep you all updated with any news, information and race dates etc.

Please be patient with us, we may not get this perfect first time, but think it is the sort of thing which may grow organically with the website. You can reply or post comments which will (once processed) will appear as strings to the main entry.

Looking forward to seeing how this grows...

Best Wishes

Nigel & Edina (webmaster and typist of long e mail replies! )

Welcome to the Lacey Diary!