Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2020 i Classic Racer

Why the WOB? Dear CR Just dropped by to say how much I enjoy Classic Racer and the icing on the cake for me is the crossword. Many hours spent (with the help of Google trying to decipher the clues), my only peeve is that the clues are in reverse (white on black). Surely most of the readers of Classic Racer are in their senior years, and have failing eyesight, making it difficult to read the clues. As an old time typesetter and graphic designer I can’t possibly see the reason for it being that way. The type size is not the problem it’s just the fact it is in reverse (WOB). Surely, if you feel the need for using reverse why not do all the guff about winning a…

After taking a year out, George Hogton-Rusling is back. Last year George took a sabbatical, and barely sat on a race bike. The popular Yorkshire lad, whose infectious smile never seems to stop, is committed to a full year of racing on Peter Hercberg’s 750 and 930 Triumph triples as well as the powerful Suzuki XR69 – a machine on which he has already achieved considerable success. On his last full season with the XR he not only won the prestigious Wheatcroft Trophy at the Donington Classic festival, he also won the King of Classic series in 2017. George said: “I’ve certainly missed it, and am really looking forward to getting back and having some fun.”…

Ducati enthusiasts have a chance to get their hands on a classic piece of engineering thanks to E–N Products – the ultra-rare 1976 Marzocchi racing fork. In 1976 Marzocchi built a new version of its popular 38mm fork that had been used by several manufacturers on their production motorcycles.These new forks were immediately recognisable from the previous version, the slider was longer, but the most recognisable difference was the two-bolt fixing on each leg for the front mudguard as opposed to a four-bolt fixing on the earlier model. Additionally, there were numerous subtle changes to the external geometry of the fork, but these were not so obvious. According to a contemporary Marzocchi product catalogue the new forks were intended as an aftermarket upgrade for Honda 750 and Kawasaki 900 machines,…

As we went to press we heard that gifted rider and engineer Peter Williams had been admitted to Bath hospital. Best known for his long association with the works Norton team, he played an instrumental part in the development of the Commando. Sponsored by John Player, the semi–monocoque framed Norton went on to win the 1973 F750 TT. His racing was cut short after a nasty accident the following year at Oulton Park, but his interest and involvement in motorcycles and all things engineering never stopped. We send get well wishes from everyone at Classic Racer.…

JPS Norton Monocoque  It may only have competed for just one racing season, but those few short months in 1973 were enough to secure the John Player Norton monocoque a place in the history books. Four of these motorcycles were built in total.Three made it out in anger, one of them the prototype which ultimately gave birth to the rowdy trio.The monocoque chassis out-perfomed expectations so much that these bikes were attributed to a short-lived revival of the company’s image on track. In truth, this was the very essence of what would, ultimately, go on to be the JPS bikes of the racing future. Both the motorcycle and the racing team wrapped around it were equally prototypes. At the time when the stainless steel-framed JPS monocoque was stretching its legs,…

Austrian engineer Harald Bartol started young, at the age of 19, building and tuning the 50cc Puch special he began racing with in 1966, finishing second in his first-ever race before carving a reputation for himself by using his inherent skills to tune the bikes he raced with some distinction. For 1972 Harald acquired the ex-works Suzuki RZ64 twin on which Germany’s Dieter Braun had won the 1970 125cc world title, and Barry Sheene had finished a close runner-up in the 1971 world series to Angel Nieto’s Derbi. With Suzuki long retired from 125GP racing, Harald had to make all the spares needed to run the bike himself, and tune it too – to such good effect that he finished seventh in the 1972 125GP World Championship on the Japanese…

Riding a motorcycle on the road that goes from the Adriatic Coast to the city of Recanati is something special. About 15km long, from sea level to about 300m above it, with fast corners it is easy to ride and focus only on the best line. On the sides of the tarmac are wide and inspiring meadows, the wind moving the grass in perfect harmony. In the first half of the 1970s, on this same road, Uncini used to push hard riding a Laverda SFC. He had no idea about becoming a rider, or about racing in the world championship. But he was soon noticed by Mario Ciamberlini, who told him more or less these words: “If you want to survive, stop doing this and let’s go racing in proper…

Six days later the action moved north to Armoy, where, thankfully, there was no sign of the torrential rain that forced the abandonment of last years races, in fact it was clear skies and sunshine all weekend long. The Armoy circuit is located at the northern tip of Co. Antrim, not far from the Giant’s Causeway. It’s a very fast, sweeping circuit of three miles per lap and it provides plenty of variation to keep riders focussed. Dominic Herbertson took pole in the Junior Classic race on his Honda 350, but clutch issues forced his retirement very early in the race, so we never got to see what might have been. Instead Barry Davidson and Ed Manly got stuck into a two-way battle, which saw Manly raise the lap record…

KONIG The story of the bike that changed minds DAVE ALDANA “Just a kid in skeleton leathers..” PHILLIP ISLAND The first big classic kick-off of the year, down under YZR5 Naked and up close. Real close. With the Yamaha France bike. The next issue of Classic Racer is on sale on April 16,2020, at the same place you found this issue that’s in your hand, right now. And a fair few others. Probably.…

Dear CR Good article on the ‘old singles’ – I’d like to throw in some ideas for consideration. Firstly an ‘old single’ is a Manx Norton, an AJS 7R, a BSA Gold Star or a G50 Matchless and must be exactly as they came from the factory. They can be stripped and rebuilt by a specialist technician, must retain the same bottom end, the same bore and stroke and the same valve sizes that they were originally fitted with, and, above all, must be in the same frame/chassis that they were originally built with. The ignition must also be original and with a four-speed gearbox. If any of these models came from the factory with a forged piston and not a sand cast one, this will be eligible. The only…

RICARD IS UP FOR SALE Legendary circuit Paul Ricard is up for sale – again. Currently owned by the ex-wife of Bernie Ecclestone, Slavica Ecclestone, the circuit is a going concern with an airport and two hotels included. JORGE IS BACK When does a rider really retire? Not now for Jorge Lorenzo.The three time MotoGP world champion is back withYamaha from Honda and is about to start a test-riding career for the factory. HASLAM IS FAST Leon Haslam poked a finger in Kawasaki’s eye after it dropped him from WSB last season, by being fastest on the Honda at the WSB winter test at Jerez. It was the first time out for the new Fireblade racebike. ROSSI IS ‘RETIRED’ Valentino Rossi has been dropped from the 2021 Yamaha Factory MotoGP…

It’s a weird sensation, writing a column for Classic Racer this issue, after the departure from our publishing company of Malc Wheeler. Malc has been such a cornerstone, not only of Classic Racer (and many publications across many years), but also of my career. Without Malc asking me to move into the editor’s seat here at CR, I wouldn’t be writing to you now.Without Malc asking me to edit the annualTT behemoth that is Island Racer, I wouldn’t have had many years of Island enjoyment doing that either. When I had a more ‘visual’ job on a race weekend, be it in a pitlane or studio working with brilliant people like Keith Huewen, James Whitham, James Haydon, Charlie Hiscott and the rest of the biking telly crew, it was always…

These were the words of Andy Molnar, who owns and runs Molnar Precision Limited. Andy and his company are known and respected around the world as manufacturers and builders of high performance classic motorcycles for the road and track. For the past few years, as well as Andy having the occasional outing on one of his machines, his son Richard has campaigned the bikes with not inconsiderable success, last year winning the 350cc European Class on the 350 Manx Norton and a very respectable third in the 500cc Grand Prix Class, again on a Manx. For 2020, Andy is delighted to have South African-born Phil Atkinson as part of the Molnar team. Phil is an accomplished top level rider, who has achieved stunning results aboard a wide range of machinery,…

ClassicTT Race schedule Saturday, August 29, 2020 Race Day 1 Schedule 11:00 – Free Practice (All CTT Classes – one ;ap) 12:45 – Dunlop Lightweight ClassicTT Race (three laps) 14:30 – Feature Parade (one lap) 15:30 – Bennetts Senior ClassicTT Race (four laps) Monday, August 31, 2020 Race Day 2 Schedule 10:15 – Free Practice (All CTT Classes – one lap) 11:15 – Locate.im Junior ClassicTT Race (three laps) 13:15 – Classic Racer magazine ClassicTT Lap of Honour (one lap) 14:15 – RST Superbike ClassicTT Race (four laps) 16:30 – MGP Newcomers Race (four laps)…

Engine: Watercooled, parallel-twin, rotary-valve, two-stroke with 180° crankshaft and six transfer/three exhaust ports Dimensions: 54 x 54mm Capacity: 247cc Output: 76bhp at 12,000rpm (at rear wheel) Carburation: 2 x 37mm Mikuni flatslide Ignition: Zeeltronic electronic CDI Gearbox: Six-speed Yamaha Clutch: Multiplate dry Yamaha Chassis: Aluminium tubular duplex cradle frame Suspension: Front: 40mm Kayaba telescopic fork; Rear: Braced extruded aluminium swingarm with White Power monoshock and rising rate link Head angle/trail: 27.5°/110mm Wheelbase: 1330mm Weight: 104kg with oil/water, no fuel Brakes: Front: 2 x 260 mm Brembo stainless steel discs with two-piston Brembo calipers; Rear: 1 x 200mm Zanzani aluminium disc with single-piston Brembo caliper Wheels/tyres: Front: 120/70-16 Avon AM22 on 3.00in. Marvic cast magnesium wheel; Rear: 150/70-18 Avon AM23 on 3.00in. Marvic cast magnesium wheel Top speed: N/A Year of…

The news that nine-time Isle of ManTT-winner Charlie Williams – a recent victor of the Goodwood Revival Classic race – will be racing the Alta Engineering 250 Bartol in the 250/350cc two-stroke motorcycle event at the 2020 Goodwood Members Meeting on March 28/29, will be another great test of Harald Bartol’s engineering skills – and Alistair Taylor’s talents in extracting the latent performance of the Austrian-built rotary-valve two-stroke motor. Who’d bet against him winning the 250cc class on the bike? No pressure then Charlie……

Giacomo Leopardi is a classic of Italian literature, deeply linked to Recanati, Uncini’s city. On a particular day in the August of 1982, on the head of the statue of Leopardi placed in the main square, a helmet suddenly appeared. It was red, white and blue. A giant replica of the one Uncini used. That was a period of great enthusiasm in Italy, because the national soccer team had won the world cup a few weeks before. Their shirts being blue, exactly like Uncini’s bike, exactly like the sky above Recanati, while thousands of people gathered around the statue of Leopardi. The horns and drums of the local band playing, it was the big party for Uncini, who was getting home after the race where he clinched the world title…

Yes, it is true. Just enjoy the Classic Racer Crossword, ensure that your correct answers for each and every clue are placed firmly in the corresponding white boxes, cut out your completed entry – or photocopy the page and send it to us, we don’t mind – and you could be the winner of this fine piece of motorcycling modern retro kit. It’s as simple as that. All the correct entries will be placed in the upturned receptacle and from there, one winner will be drawn. Good luck and get cracking with the crossword! The details Available in sizes from 38 to 52, the Hawker leather jacket is made from thick buffalo premium leather, looks like it’s just stepped out of the 1960s and is at home on or off…

Stuart Graham, a winner on both two and four wheels, has enjoyed a successful and unusual racing career, and will share his stories in front of a live audience at the 40th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show on April 25/26 at Stafford County Showground. Born into a racing family, Stuart’s father was Les Graham, 1949 500cc World Champion and IOM TT winner. Although Les was killed in a fatal accident in the 1953 IOM TT, Stuart was not deterred from following his own racing dreams and went on to achieve great success. Racing motorcycles from 1961-1970, Stuart progressed from 250 Aermacchi, to 350 AJS 7R & 500 Matchless G50, racing in his first IOM TT in 1964. Impressive performances in the early 1966 GP, including placing 2nd to Agostini…

A man accused of driving on closed roads for the 2019 TT has appeared in court. Robin Bromley-Martin, a resident of the Isle of Man, was still driving his car on the Mountain Course, when the roads were closed at 6pm on Tuesday, August 20, during practice for the Classic TT/Manx GP. When he reached Quarry bends, he was stopped by marshals and directed into the Wildlife Park parking area, but instead of leaving the course, he turned around and drove off at speed back towards Ballacrye. Marshals at the Ballacrye road junction were able to get him to leave the course at that point. Mr Bromley-Martin was subsequently arrested at his home nearby and was kept in custody for the night. Upon questioning during the court appearance he stated…

BDO Accounting Group has been announced as administrator to Norton Motorcycle Holdings and Norton Motorcycles UK, as well as two other companies owned by Stuart Garner; Donington Hall Estates and the Priest House Hotel. Garner bought the company in 2008 and at their Castle Donington base produces a number of high-quality machines, including the Commando, Dominator and Atlas. The company has also had a number of attempts at building a road race bike that was capable of winning the TT. Although never quite successful, they did manage to achieve the fastest lap of the Island by a British motorcycle, with a lap of over 130mph. The current financial crisis has been instigated by being pursued by the HMRC for £300,000 in unpaid taxes. The future of the 100 employees currently…

Probably best known in the racing world for his work with Triumph, Percy also had considerable riding experience with the Royal Corps of Signals White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team whilst on National Service. Having been born to a farming family, geographically close to Meriden, Percy went to work at the factory in 1950 aged 21. From there he was put to work in the experimental department with a selection of hand-picked engineers. It was here that Percy was encouraged to go racing by his manager, Frank Baker. Once the racing found increasing success, Percy became a rider for Doug Hele, working on chassis tuning and development. Whilst he racked up the big miles on road bikes he was still racing and carrying out farming obligations. Percy estimated that he had…