OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Vintage Track => Topic started by: JAP 454 on May 01, 2011, 06:58:34 PM
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Back in 1975 me mate, Tony Day, and me brother, Jim ( jimg1au on this forum) decided to go to Bendigo for a two day Longtrack meeting. We had never been to a longtrack before so were a bit apprehensive. Anyway, race-weekend rolled around and we packed up the XR and trailer with Tony’s Hagon-Jap and and my Elstar-Jap, Tony , Jim , EA and the two sprogs in the Ford plus all the fuel and gear and headed south on Friday night.
What a trip, done a radiator in, etc. etc. but got there early Sat. am and went to look at the track. Asked a fella at the Showground where the motorbike track was and he pointed at the wooden fenced, half mile trotting track that looked huge to us. Bloody hell!! Back to the bikes, rummage in toolbox, 19 tooth engine sprockets found and fitted, add 10 percent nitro. We were gunna show these Mexicans.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/JimTDinpits.jpg)
Jim and TD in pits Sunday
Scrutineering done and we got a copy of the programme. Bloody hell! We’d been put in A grade. Asked the organizer, Clarkey, “why?” as we were both B grade in New South, “You’re interstate riders, so you’re A grade” !! Round one to Victoria.
Now, A grade was populated by fellas like Ray Owen, Clarry Jones , Gary Chasemore, Nigel Boocock etc. etc. You get the picture. So there was two fairly nervous, but fired up, B graders in the pits.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/CharlieRayOwenRomsey.jpg)
Ray Owen chasing Charlie on a 125 twin at Romsey
As we were sitting on the fuel drums, shitting ourselves just a little bit, this thing rolled into the pits. An old Fairlane, I think, arse dragging on the ground, towing what looked like a long, covered, race car trailer. Some lads jumped out of the tow car, raced around to the trailer tail gate ramp thingy and put their shoulders to it, while some one else pulled the pins. Tailgate down and all these bikes fell or were pushed out. There were 125, 250, 350 and 500 chookies and sliders, speedway solos, Junior and Senior sidecars. They were one riders bikes, Clarry Jones had shown up.
During the meeting, Clarry had 4 or 5 blokes standing on the infield holding his next bikes in the correct race order. Mad bugger didn’t seem to stop all night !!
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/ClarryJones.jpg)
Clarry up it for the rent
Anyway, A grade practice was called. Tony and I were already down at the dummy grid and we get off first. Down the front straight second time, handlebars an inch from the “safety” fence at some ungodly speed, full noise into turn one. “Phaark, this’ll do” I thought . Tony drifted high up on the cushion, me down lower, when this banshee wailing thing shot between us at warp factor ten and promptly disappeared down the backstretch. “What the F%^K was THAT” ???.
Back in the pits a crowd was gathered round it. It was Booey on Charlie Edwards’ TR2 350 road racingYamaha powered Hagon, and they were pulling the back wheel out, to replace the Barum that had chunks the size of the palm of your hand ripped off it. Jim pit-crewed for Nigel and Charlie all night. One race, one tyre rooted as Booey was riding the fence, literally. Jim got real good at Hagon rear wheel removal and tyre and chain fitting that night !, also making Booey cups of tea.
At the end of the meeting, Clarry Jones cut some hot laps on the thing, his comment after. “I’ve got to have one “
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/CharliesTD.jpg)
This bike is similar to Charlies 350, comes from Townsville
OK, heats of the A grade 500. Tony qualified in his heat, however, my heat scored the water cart just before us. Still confident, fronted to the line. Away to reasonable start then promptly got filled in. Now, I wear specs and was used to oil tracks, so off with the goggles, then filled in again. “Sod this for a lark” No other option, I pulled onto the infield, really pissed off.
Sunday arvo finals
As Tony’s JAP was making ominous rumbling noises and I missed out on the final, there was an obvious solution. Tony ran # 455 and I ran # 454, so change one number and he’s in the final with no one the wiser.
Tony got a great start in the final. About mid pack in turn one, improving to run just off the leading three as the race ran on. Booey, on Charlies thing, bolted away in the lead. I was thinking, “If someone blows an engine or falls, Tony’s in for a podium here” but, coming off turn four, running for the flag, the Elstar bucked and slid up to the fence, sitting TD on his bum. Race finished and I went over with the pick-up wagon to discover Tony was OK but the Jap had coughed its guts up big-time. All that was left usable was the timing cover, magneto, and surprisingly, the head, the rest, crankcase, bits of the barrel etc. etc. was scattered all over turn four. We had to do an emu bob before the rest of the finals could be run.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/Bendigomemories.jpg)
Memories of Bendigo
Booey had fallen from his speedway solo earlier in the night, rolled along the top of the “safety” fence and flopped back onto the track. Red flags everywhere, ambulance goes over, to discover Booey had, amongst other things, several broken ribs. They tried to take him to hospital but he protested, saying in his best broad Yorkshire “ The folks have paid to see me fooking ride, and see me ride they fooking will” He finished the meeting, won and was then taken to hospital. One tough cookie !!
Aahh well. That started my addiction to long oval tracks and cured my addiction to nitro. I wasn’t ever all that good. Just a mid pack B grader but I enjoyed it all. Still do!! but from the other side of the fence.
Foss
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Thanks for reliving the memory Foss, i loved every word of your post. such a shame these type of meetings are very scarce now, i would love to find a tardis and take that era in (as a spectator though )
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Foss,
Ripper story, just to short :D
Could read this "real story" stuff all day long,
thanks.
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great stuff foss!
cheers!!
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Great story Foss, I was spectating at that meeting and indeed saw Booey thrown on the full from the pole line to the fence by that whaling Yamaha slider. I could not beleive he could continue racing that night but as you said he went on to win. I saw Clarrie ride it after the meeting also and had a look at the back tyre when he came in, it was stripped almost bare.
It was one of the most exciting meetings I have ever witnessed. We used to go up each year on either boxing day or New years day I can't remember which. Another spectacle i saw up there was Phil Crump with a 5ltr plastic container strapped to his speedway bike for the 25 lapper blowing everyone into the weeds. It's a shame we can't still have these type of meetings. You only had to be at the Speedway all weekend at HBBB to realise how popular this type of racing/show is. Thanks for posting this story.
Regards Stan.
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Now that you mention it, Stan it was the Yammy Booey fell off ,cos now I seem to remember one some coming up with a spare set of Hagon forks for it, it was an exciting meeting, 36 years ago but one I will never forget.
Foss
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Great story mate.. reminds me of the 70's when we used to go to the Brisbane Ekka speedway test matches between the Poms and the Aussies. :)
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Great story Al, thanks for posting it,
Pete.
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After seeing the speedway bikes out at broadford over easter weekend and the amount of spectators enjoying the riding it puzzles me why their is`t more race meetings held through out Victoria, years ago it was so popular, l loved going to Melbourne showgrounds it was a long track. There should be more speedway meeting happening.
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A start would be to investigate and support the SSRaV club in Victoria ;) http://www.ssrav.org.au/ A Home of many orginal classics and riders.
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Fantastic story thanks so much for that 8) 8) , But you've all forgotton to mention the most memorable thing about these bikes "SMELL" :D...ahhhh love it !! good stuff :-*
cheers A
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it was the sound that was the best thing that yamaha bogged down at the start and as nigel wound it out it changed note. great to hear. from last of the start using the wood fence as traction to first great stuff
i dissapointing memory is waking up in the dusty pits with flys up your nose
an other meeting i liked very much was a test between england and australia at nepean wiggy doing monos down the finish streight in the lead again great stuff
jim
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Interesting shot of jones on a RT2mx
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Jim Hairbear, shit you've had a hard life ;D ;D ;D
Great story Foss and you're 100% right about Booey, he was one tuff nut.
I remember him headbutting Australian team manager ( Jim Airey ) at Jerilderie Park Newcastle during a test match in the early 80's, when asked why he replied, he offered his forhead to me, in his broad accent.
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Jim the indelible memory I have of the poms vs oz meet at Nepean was the fastest, best looking upright slides around the speedway bend I have ever seen! Chris Pusey at the controls.
cheers pancho.
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wally
did he have a spotted helmet at that meeting.yes he was great to watch bet wiggy is my fav
jim
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Yep , Jim . Chris Pusey wore dotted gear , hence the nickname, " Polka Dot" Pusey
Chris Pusey, the two Wiggs Julian and Simon and another Pom, Chris Carr , I think, saw them all at Nepean or Griffith , all bloody good showmen as well as spectacular riders , with Simon taking top of the bill in my opinion.
Foss
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Simon was the wheely king but I don't think he ever rode at Nepean.
Was the meeting Chris Pusey rode at Nepean a Test Match?
The meeting I remember him riding at Nepean was almost rained off and didn't get under way until the afternoon, everyone hung around because Pusey was there and he definitely put on a show.
It was tongue in cheek Jim, you've definitely aged disgracfully.
Good afro, you could've been in the Mod Squad.
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hey Foss, Great story on Bendigo. Great to see a pic of TD as well. I found this site courtesy of JERRY. Fantastic memories. As soon as i saw JAP 454 i knew who it was! I first met you at West Wyalong in 1974/75. I was a skinny kid with yellow hagon Jap and a yellow ossa 250 slider.#29. I was with my dad Ron Eastham. We were beside each other in the pits. I've got shitloads of photos etc. etc. I've even got photos that you took of me and ones that dad took of you!! When i can work out how to drive this thing i'll start putting them on. Being mexican we got used to Clarrie turning up at races with a bike for every event! We used to piss ourselves laughing. Clarrie joined in as well. Great bloke and rider especially on the sidecar. As for Charlie Edwards , he was my hero .I first met him at West Wyalong in 1966 . He was there with his mate Les Lewis with a couple of brand new Hagon Japs. They were from Hay N.S.W. That 250 Yammy screamer that he built was awesome!! and that gives us some more stories to tell. Re. Romsey grasstrack .
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Hey Slides,
You're right about Simon not being at Nepean, there was a video around of a meeting at Melbourne Showground ?? third of a mile I think , you may know where it was ,anyway Simon was really putting on a show, wheelying down the straight and turning the bars before putting the bike down as he was already in the turn , lap after lap. Awsome stuff.
I may still have the tape , I'll see if I can dig it up. also there was another tape around with Karl Maier in Oz , when interviewed he says "I haff not ze time to vork on my enchin, you know" my son still comes up with that saying
Foss
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just read my first ever post and have to make a correction. It was at Narranderra where i first met Chas. '65/66.
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Welcome aboard Mark,
Checked your profile , cos the # 29 rang a bell , Bloody hell, another blast from the past !! great to see you on here, when I found out who slider29 was , rang bro Jim and told him.
Please if you have any fotos, post em up, I'm getting very low on pix , and it's good to share 'em around.
Foss
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thanks for that steve
it was a long time ago i was sure it was simon but may be it was just julian.i went to all the tests at nepean they were great
dad was a acu official then (now called ma)
jim
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hi al, ithink i,m in heaven yeehaa!!
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Welcome Mark, have you checked out the Classic Dirt Track topic in the Foto section yet?
There are a host of great shots in there and we'd love to see some of your photos.
Steve
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Foss, regarding photos, I,ve got over 100 that are good from about 1974 to 1980. I've also got super 8 film put onto disc from the mid 60's including the great Charlie Edwards at West Wyalong poppin' monos on his Jap circa. '65/66
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Hey Slides.
Yeah I have checked it out. fantastic. I'll be sure to put mine up ASAP. I should get them up in the next week or so.
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Welcome aboard Mark,
Checked your profile , cos the # 29 rang a bell , Bloody hell, another blast from the past !! great to see you on here, when I found out who slider29 was , rang bro Jim and told him.
Please if you have any fotos, post em up, I'm getting very low on pix , and it's good to share 'em around.
Foss
once there on the net there out there forever. if you guy have post other wise they can be lost forever. would be a shame if they just died out never to see the light of day, or worse turn up years later and no ones left around to label them for the future. get up fellas.
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Well, Well, It just goes to show this forum is Bloody great !!!
I've just had an email from Godden 79 which confirms that,the photo I posted earlier in the thread,
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/CharliesTD-1.jpg)
IS Charlies Bike !!!
Yep, you got it, the one that Booey rode, jimg1au worked on, Clarrie Jones rode, and the one that blew TD and I into the weeds !! and created such a stir in Pommyland !!
Story is that Les lewis Jnr bought it off Charlie, converted it to 250cc TR2 specs and moved up to Townsville.
Lenny is in touch with Charlie , he's still in Hay and Lenny been sending some of this stuff from the forum to him, Charlie is rapt !!.
Lenny gave me Charlies phone numbers so I'll ring him and say G'day.
What a blast from the past, eh??
Foss
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Terrific stuff boys !! After just reading this thread it brought back heaps of memories of racing some of these great riders in the early 70's.
I think Julian Wigg was the best Pommie to race Short Circuit in Australia. Later, his younger brother was a better Speedway rider.....and a real nice guy...R I P Simon......As for Charlie Edwards......a top rider with innovative machinery....Here's a result sheet from Amaroo Park in 1971......as a C grader at this time I was rapt to get a 3rd place in one of the heats behind Doug Platts and Les Lewis ( no relation ). I was riding my flying DT 1 at this meeting. There are some great names in this result sheet......has anyone found the Tardis yet ?
(http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp45/triumph51/AmarooNSWRound1971_zpsc3da9bb6.jpg)
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Alvin in 1971 at Amaroo Park !!
(http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp45/triumph51/AmarooPark1971_zpsfca533ac.jpg)
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That Yammy that Charlie put together was awsome. The sound, speed and the rooster tail it produced is still pretty clear in my memory. I've got a photo of Phil Crump at Romsey on the 350 water bottle. Jeezuz!! ya should have seen that thing go. I'll post it soon ;) And Johnny Dewhurst on the RG500 water bottle Faarkin' hell. Crazy stuff back then.Every year the speed nuts would come up with something faster(hopefully). They would sneek into the pits with a cover over their new secret weapon and a crowd would gather for the unveiling. When the covers came off there would be gasps of disbelief,chuckles,lots of laughter and a lot of bullshit and stirring. It was bloody great.
Charlie will tell you all about it Foss I'm sure. Great times then. Not to much red tape to contend with
cheers Mark
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Interesting result list , Alvin.It seems that the NSW S/C Champs were run over a number of rounds BITD and the legends that were riding in that round !!.
Another thing that struck me is that Douggy Penrose is listed as riding a CSD in the Ultra Lightweight and Lightweight, now that's gotta be Clement Sorrel Daniels bikes, the tuning whizz from down the 'Gong way, have you got any clues on that , Pete ??. 'cos I thought Clem was a road race tuner.
Foss
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Interesting result list , Alvin.It seems that the NSW S/C Champs were run over a number of rounds BITD and the legends that were riding in that round !!.
Another thing that struck me is that Douggy Penrose is listed as riding a CSD in the Ultra Lightweight and Lightweight, now that's gotta be Clement Sorrel Daniels bikes, the tuning whizz from down the 'Gong way, have you got any clues on that , Pete ??. 'cos I thought Clem was a road race tuner.
Foss
Clem was a good short circuit tuner before turning to road racing. I rode a CSD special at Wambanumba in Young many years ago. It was an MX100 Yamaha with one of his tricked up 125 twins in it. It was super quick but not a great handler, but I still managed second in the final behind Fraz - he didn't lose too many races on the Ron MacKenzie Bultaco.
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Charlie Edwards & Nigel Boocock in England ( TR3 in Hagon Frame )
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/godden79/CharlieandNigel_zpsa1079ccf.png)
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What a pisser of a pic , Lennie, two absolute legends !!
Foss
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Nigel Bookcock & Charlie Edwards
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/godden79/NigelampChas_zps6984015e.png)
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Dunno much about cars , Lennie, but is that Charlie's Charger in the background ?? Rumour says he still has it, bloody hell they look young in that shot, but then, I guess we all did back then !! thanks for posting the piccys.
Foss
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Dunno much about cars , Lennie, but is that Charlie's Charger in the background ?? Rumour says he still has it, bloody hell they look young in that shot, but then, I guess we all did back then !! thanks for posting the piccys.
Foss
Hey Foss, Yeah thats the Orange( vitamin C ) Charger in the background,Chas told me years ago all his passengers' Fingerprints are still embedded in the dash Ha Ha,
I have a couple more pics somewhere here ,Stay Posted !!!!!
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Chas & Les Lewis jnr. After the Hagon , The TR3 was setup in an Elstar !
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/godden79/1977_zps011e0643.png)
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Awesome nostalgia, thanks Len.
I remember Carlos and Les jnr going hard at several times and Charlie, say no more, dead set legend.
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That British Lions solo team (Boocock) came to West Aust and whoops ass in 74.
Score 59 to Archers 31 :o :'(
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Dunno much about cars , Lennie, but is that Charlie's Charger in the background ?? Rumour says he still has it, bloody hell they look young in that shot, but then, I guess we all did back then !! thanks for posting the piccys.
Foss
Foss The Charger E38 was Restored by my brother David a few years ago, and eventually sold through Shannons auctions ( note the number plate )
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/godden79/chargercarshow007_zps79941c54.jpg)
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Interesting result list , Alvin.It seems that the NSW S/C Champs were run over a number of rounds BITD and the legends that were riding in that round !!.
Another thing that struck me is that Douggy Penrose is listed as riding a CSD in the Ultra Lightweight and Lightweight, now that's gotta be Clement Sorrel Daniels bikes, the tuning whizz from down the 'Gong way, have you got any clues on that , Pete ??. 'cos I thought Clem was a road race tuner.
Foss
Foss talking about Clem Daniels,My good friends Bryce and Glen Davies restored one of Clem's 125 Batam's (CSD 3 ) here in Griffith into road race trim.It was purchased many years ago by Glen from one of the Ohem Brothers from Junee,Here is some of the story on that bike.
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/godden79/Bantam_zpsbabaeccc.jpg)
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I first met Charlie Edwards in 1966 at Narranderra short circuit. I was 8 yrs old. I saw Charlie's Hagon Jap for the first time. I was hooked.
I went there with my Dad and his mate Harry Rowe who raced sidecar. My two brothers went also along with Harry's passenger
Dave Howard. Charlies bike was parked in the pits beside Les Lewis snr's bike. They were identical apart from the race number.
789 for Charlie's and 786 for Les' . Charlie was my idol from that day,...still is for that matter. Any way I grew up and started racing
short circuit and raced Charlie quite a few times. Never beat him though,...he was a gun rider. The image of those two Hagons is still vivid.
Another thing that I remember is that Charlie wore nice white overalls over his leathers back then.
I think he was a professional pilot as well. Thanks Len for posting the pics and info .
regards Mark
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Hey Foss
Great story, brings back some great memories for me. As a family we used to go to Bendigo every Boxing night to watch the races. We used to stay in a camper van at the track on the hill at the top end of the pits. I had the good fortune as a kid to see Phil Crump win that 15 lapper I think it was with the spare jawa tanks mounted on the front and one either side of the original tank. I saw terry Rooney and Dean Taylor racing sidecars, Rod Hunter and Chris Kelly on his the bultaco Astro, Bernnt Persson and Gary Guelimi as a B Grader. I also went to the International there when John Titman, Phil Crump, Ivan Mauger and most of the Australian team rode. One day Mitch Shirra rode a Weslake with twin carburettors on it and I think I still have a photo that I took during interval of that bike somewhere. But I have never seen anything like Clarry Jones on a Hagon using what looked like Honda monkey bike tanks. At first I laughed and then was amazed at how quick he was. In later years I rode many meetings there and was unfortunate to have blown up my pride and joy on the main straight with one lap to go whilst leading the First heat of the Victorian Short Track Titles. I know how you guys felt after blowing a motor.
Rick
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t465/rw490/920a8909.jpg)
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t465/rw490/e8b41bc8.jpg)
The rod cut the engine bolts and we had to tie wire the motor to the chassis as it was sagging when on the trailer coming back to Wangaratta.
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Thats a big blow-up Rick !!!, sorta goes to prove the Big Bang theory, huh ??
Now I'm worried 'cos I've got a Wessie to work on !
" The rod cut the engine bolts and we had to tie wire the motor to the chassis as it was sagging when on the trailer coming back to Wangaratta."
Know how that goes mate, we had to strap the engine plates together to get the Elstar back to Goulburn !!!.
I've always reckoned if ya dont blow an engine or fall off once in a while, ya probably not trying hard enough !!
Foss
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Great story about Australian Dirt Track, why do our local rags keep rehashing stories predominatly US based when WE have so many interesting bikes!
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Just a quick entry from my phone to push this thread up the list guys so i can revisit
It on the computer when i get time.
Too hard to read on phone
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Great idea will do the same