Racing engines of bikes and boats

The 500 cc double overhead cam Manx Nortons, so mighty an engine that it also spawned a very competitive Formula 500 Race car in the early postwar years in Europe. Additionally, the Manx was also a world champion sidecar machine and a motocross bike as well. But is was road racing where it made its legend, with Geoff Duke winning the Isle of Man TT and the 500 cc World Championship in 1950 and remained in production until 1962. It was a stable on the tracks of the continent in the 1960's with a final Grand Prix podium coming in 1968, years after production ended.






A rare dual carb Koenig racing two stroke outboard boat engine from the famed German company. Rider Kim Newcombe raced boats and then would use this same two stroke technology to build a 500 cc Grand Prix racing motorcycle and was very competitive in the year of his tragic death at Silverstone in the UK.

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Classic Racing Motorcycles at Roebling Road Raceway

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association or AHRMA welcomed vintage racers from across the USA for the opening round of the 2011 classic racing series at Roebling Road Raceway, near Savannah, Georgia on March 8 & 9. Whether your preferance is American, British, Italian, or Japanese iron, there was so much to choose from.





Longtime motorcycle dealer and racer, Tom Kerr and his wife Peggy
brought this 50cc Ariel to campaign in the "Classic 60's" class.





Roebling Road is near the coast and the combination of sandy terrain and pine trees is tough to beat. The track surface offers more grip in the wet than most tracks in the dry due to its unique mix. This is so far removed from the experience at big tracks like Daytona where concrete and asphalt dominate.  







Early morning shadows and bright sun awaits Gary Maucher on his Indian Scout when the first practice session opened up. Gary ran every session and two races per day on the Indian without problem.





This strange Moto Guzzi, dubbed, "the Raven" tells a lot about the effects of Cabin Fever during those long winter months. So much work done to accomodate the new inline positioning of the V-Twin engine.





The Harley crew let the big twin warm up in the early morning sun.





Tasty Triumphs are a favorite of the classic crowd anywhere you go.





Indian Chiefs and Scouts still doing battle with the Harley-Davidsons  in "Class C, Hand Shift" Class .





Early 1970's Ford Econoline window van from Johnnys Vintage Cycles
adds to the vintage vibe in the paddock.





Between races, Gary Maucher checks over the Scout, one of the oldest bikes on the grid.





That's Barbara Connors Harley K model being prepared for action and below, a "Harley" of a different type that Dave Roper uses to great effect in the 350 GP class.





The number 1 plated Seeley framed Norton owned by Kenny Cummings and
ridden to victory in the premier event by Tim Joyce.





Team Hansen hits some snags with it's Honda 450 twin during the meet, but is likely the fastest Honda of it''s type in the USA.



A BSA Goldstar is displayed prior to it undergoing a thorough rebuild for "Classic 60's" class racing.



If you like classic motorcycles and want to see them in action, or race your own vintage bike, please visit an AHRMA race soon. Check out http://www.ahrma.org/ for complete schedule and information.

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Great Racing Nortons

You can almost smell the Castrol Oil  and hear the megaphones roar!  Let's check out some great production racing Norton motorcycles I've encountered in the past few years. Here's a few that fired my imagination. In this first group we see a 1962 500cc Manx with rider Dick Miles pushing off at Mid Ohio Vintage Days.






Below is a pre-war Inter with a rigid frame and girder forks. This particular bike has been raced on the Isle of Man in 1937 and was then raced in New Zealand for many years, winning a National Roadracing Championship.












Below is what may be the finest original long-stroke manx in existence, owned by racer Gary Maucher.




Daytona 2010. JL,  Peter Jacobs (ex-Cycle magazine), Dick Miles & ex- AMA Pro racer Gary Fisher, son of Ed Fisher.


Behind the scenes at shooting for the TV pilot for The Classic Motorcycle. We're about to take the Lex Dupont Manx out for some passes on the airport runway for the cameras.  


The man himself, legendary Grand Prix tuner Nobby Clark fettles " The Old Boy" at Roebling Road 2010. Rider Alex McLean swept all events entered on this Stu Rogers-built pre-war 500cc Norton Inter.








#22 Alex gets the holeshot and immediately pushes hard on the 'Old Boy', lapping the much newer 1948 Garden Gate International at Daytona 2010. 

After having problem getting the bike in gear on the start line at Mid Ohio Class C vintage race, I was on a charge to make up time, finishing in second place. I'm just passing #42  AMA Hall of Fame legend Ed Fisher (about age 80 at the time and still on the gas!) on his Triumph 500 racer. Ed's bike is very similiar to the one he won the 100 mile National at Laconia on in 1953.



This is an excellent video for those interested in the Garden Gate Norton Manx and
 early post-war racing on the Isle of Man.  One of many great motorcycling classic films from Duke Video. 

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The 1961 Norton Manx

After selling my 1949 " Garden Gate" Norton 500cc International a few years ago, I found the perfect Manx project to try the much sought after Featherbed Norton frame and 500cc dohc engine combination at last. The 1961 Manx I purchased came from New Mexico after being in storage for nearly twenty-five years. It has a noteworthy west coast racing history with original owner John McLaughlin (AMA Hall of Fame member) and then Tony Murphy, also known as the " King of Willow Springs" Raceway. Due to its chromed frame, it has become known as The Silver Bullet.

















After figuring out what was needed, parts orders were placed and the work
 could begin in earnest. Dick began the task of checking every detail before the build up.








Prying those 40 years old tires off in a cold garage was a chore!








The double overhead cambox exposed. 






Production racing motorcycles from the early pre-war period require the talents of s skilled
machinist to get the many tolerances correct.



Anything that was missing or in need of replacement was sourced from Ken McIntosh in New Zealand. Ken sells virtually all parts for the Manx and even complete machines either in standard form or offering the latest in upgrades.  In fact, Ken supplied the Manx that 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz raced  during a recent visit to New Zealand. All parts are of the highest quality in fit and finish.  














So much of the Manx's secrets of success are in this picture. The set up of the Rex McCandless 'featherbed' frame and the timing gears of the dohc 500cc single.





That's a genuine Ray Petty brake muff on the front end. The late Petty was regarded as one of the most successful Manx tuners of all time.


It was a happy day when we brought the bike to completion.
Seeing the sun again after many years in boxes and garage storage, it was a sight to behold.

 Minutes later we were taking it for a test run up the alley.





When I got the bike, it was fully dismantled and in need of a rebuild. I was fortunate that an fellow manx racer and marque expert, Dick Miles, lives nearby and agreed to take on the project. Without his help, I would be lost. The photos will take you from start to finish over the one and a half year build which brought us to the first race at Roebling Road Raceway, near Savannah, Georgia in 2010.








A minor issue regarding sidelined us and it would be months later, in July before I got to really race the bike for the first time at Mid Ohio, where I finished 3rd in the 500 Grand Prix Class on both Saturday and Sunday. It was an experience I'll never forget. Long live the Manx.







Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah Georgia
AHRMA "Classic 60's" Class 3rd place on day 1 and 2nd place on day 2 



Excellent Classic 60's class race action with John and Alex McLean both on 1961
Manx Nortons early in the race.
McLean went by for the win at half distance.



Action photo by Dawn Deppi, Eye of the Beholder photography





                                                    

                                                                 

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