OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: jerry on January 31, 2013, 05:46:56 pm
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Just thinking was there ever an official factory entry and if so how trick was it?J
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Jerry
In Australia most of the state dealers Helped ::) one or two Good riders in mainly Enduros on the Pioneer/SDR Models as that is where they sold most bikes
The Phantom arrived to late as most A grader MX riders had a deal with a FREE Jap brand bike by that time
Never heard of a Factory Ossa rider in Australia
Maybe Phil Young Helped out a few riders in NSW :-\
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I think I may have been the only works rider in Oz but I was wondering about Internationally. Did the Spaniards have something special for their home GP. I think John DeSoto in the states got some help but how modified his bike may have been I have no idea. J
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I think I may have been the only works rider in Oz
NSW OSSA (and Hodaka)distributor Phil Young had Gary Hodge riding his Phantoms and Hodakas for yonks. Phil still has the original tricked up Phantom Hodgy rode in '74 and Gary still owns the red desert Phantom he rode in enduros and desert rallies in the mid seventies. Gary also raced Phils OSSA in the very early days of VMX and finished second only to Ron Dinsdale on Rob Watson's trick Mk7 Pursang in a class 250 field at the first Amaroo VMX in '88
Below: Hodgy's restored OSSA Desert Phantom at Kamp Kevlar CD5.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/classicDirt5_31_zps4ddfec5d.jpg)
Below:
Gary Hodge and the legendary Phil Young at Amaroo in 1988, the only time the bike raced in gold livery and with lay down rear shocks. Phil's an inspiration to all cancer sufferers, being given 6 months to live with an aggressive brain tumor in 1976 he opted for radical surgery where almost half of his brain was removed and he's still going strong and still fiddling with his OSSAs in 2013. Troy Bayliss Classic winner Michael Kirkman rode Phils very trick dirt track Phantom at a few vintage meetings a few years back. Anybody who's ever met Phil will know what a special bloke he is.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Picture002-1.jpg)
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1976 works OSSA
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/1976-CNCrossCorteIngles-OssaPhantom-V_194_1_-905x613_zpsb1da6f4a.jpg)
'Carla' Carlquist on his '75 Works OSSA.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/HakanCarlquistossa77_zpsed9bb62d.jpg)
Marty Moates and Kenny Zarht on the USA factory '77 OSSA's
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/moatesZahtgregrobinson_zps3ebfb702.jpg)
Marty Moates 78 World Championship factory OSSA
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Moates78OSSA_zpsd1aeb2a1.jpg)
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Sorry to derail the thread for a moment, just a couple of quick thoughts I am having ...
1- It's amazing how many riders with an amazing, interesting and dedicated life to motocross there are out there. Riders that many of us will never know or have the pleasure to speak to and find out their history :-(
2 - It's amazing how much history is locked away in Firko's head.
I so look forward to hearing as many stories as I can when I get to various classic motocross events.
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2 - It's amazing how much history is locked away in Firko's head.
It amazes me too John but it's nothing unique, plenty of you guys have a great grasp on our sports past, it's just that I'm passably OK at writing it down. I've got a good retentive memory for stuff that interests me like 60's/70's rock music trivia, motor racing and rugby but I'm pretty hopeless on other shit....My short term memory is woeful, I can never find the 13mm spanner I'd been using just 20 seconds earlier ???.
When I get it wrong, it's really wrong....they're my senior moments as my comrade 'Davey Crockett' calls 'em.
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Jerry
Tell us your story as a factory Ossa rider in Australia Details of Model Phantom raced and what results in MX and the dealer you got the works Ossa from all good stuff to know for Ossa history down under
Phil Young
Ossa LEGEND have a Dyno readout sent from Phil 250cc roadracer rearwheel 43HP
AMAZING
Cheers
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Marty Moates '76 GP2 Phantom.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o82/evo550/phantom_moates.jpg)
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Phil Young
Ossa LEGEND have a Dyno readout sent from Phil 250cc roadracer rearwheel 43HP
Just before Christmas I got a phonecall from a very disturbed Phil telling me that "the rumours of his impending death are not true". He'd been a bit off colour for a few weeks and somehow word got out that his tumor was back and that he was ready to drop off the perch. Turns out he had some sort of virus and while he doesn't get around so well any more, he's otherwise fine. When I told him of the Dirt Track Aussie titles coming up in September at Temora he got excited and vowed to get the dirt tracker (the ex road racer VMX60 spoke of) set up for the meet, saying something about putting some A grade hot shot on it as he'd done a few years ago with Mick Kirkman. I hope he follows through as it'd be great to see the old legend involved again. He's not only the best OSSA tuner in the business, he's one of the sweetest, most genuine people I've ever known. All with 50% brain capacity 8)
Phil's 50hp Road racer/dirt tracker Phantom
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/DMR_stiletto_zps6635e03c.jpg)
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I have no doubt a '76 or '77 Ossa would be at the very least competitive in pre 78 after riding my 74 250. That thing is a bullet and handles twice as good as a green stripe. Even the brakes are very good.
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That's it, I'm rolling out the Ossas, if someone with half a brain can tune them, I must be a chance :D
Sorry in advance guys-I had to say it.
What is even more exciting is the guys keeness to put good riders on his bikes and get them out there, as opposed to parking them up-welded to a chromed stand. CUDOS to Phil. 8)
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I have no doubt a '76 or '77 Ossa would be at the very least competitive in pre 78 after riding my 74 250. That thing is a bullet and handles twice as good as a green stripe. Even the brakes are very good.
;D ;D ;D
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And couldn't Hodgey move on that Ossa
Was good to chat with him and Phil at classic dirt Raymond terrace.
Just after Glenn Macquarie ( RIP ) turned B grade back in the mid 70's Glenn, Phil Smith ( both Roy Easts apprentice mechanics at the time ) and myself went to Paul Giles shop in Richmond We said to Gilesy, come to Amaroo on the weekend and watch Glenn flog everyone. He said there's a kid coming down from the bush on one of them Ossa things and I reckon he will win by a mile. Of course we said bullshit, Glenn is riding a sponsored Honda from Roy East. Glenn is unbeatable.
Phil and Gary turned up and won by a mile. It took a long time to walk into his shop again...haha
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Great Photo of Phils Dirt Tracker anybody see it race when Mick rode for Phil
On the Phantom side think that farmer Boug in Vic won a heap of VMX Aussie 250cc championships on a 1974 model ;) ;) ;)
Cheers
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Mick rode an ossa at the bayliss meet at taree last year , had a yamaha tank on it - not sure if it was the above bike or not ? there were only 2 bikes in the class (pre85 ?) no competion but you could see the bike had heaps of poke :o
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Mick rode an ossa at the bayliss meet at taree last year
That's Phil's bike. I wasn't sure he rode it last year. If Micks around at Nats time Phil's just as likely to put him on it for the meet. That's probably the "big time A grader" he was talking about ::).
Here's "Professor" Pete Reynolds on Phils OSSA Phantom in road race trim. Pete built the pipes for all of Phils bikes, fatty pipe on my Maico and the trick pipe I had on the final phase of the 'DT1 from Hell'. Pete now runs a successful guitar store in Windsor, NSW and makes antique valve amps for some of the big guitar names in Rock. He's one of the folks behind the Annual Sydney Blues Festival.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/pete_ossa_zps8b7a4649.jpg)
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Great Photos Firko
Phil did send me a few Photos years ago mainly copys of copys very hard to see any details of the bike
Also sent patterns of Petes pipe to have built locally and to forward on to a UK racer that now has the fastest Ossa roadracer over their in pommy land
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(http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr37/Tony_T12/IMG_2207.jpg)
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Just for the record I was a a very average C grader with a list of 3rds 4ths and 7ths to my name. Phantom was a fast bike with a short wheelbase. Multiple shoulder dislocations and my parents divorce put a premature end to my brilliant career before it even started. J
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Tony
Is that Wildfire Ossa in Australia as it sure look to be Dennis Craine 1966 250cc WA winning bike
Was sold at auction over here in WA about 15 years ago
The Dutchman that restored it worked for Shell oil and sold the Ossa when transfered back home ::)
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Yep, this one is now owned by Ian Spooner in Peterborough S.A.
Dennis Craine does sound familiar and it definitely came from W.A.
I remember him telling me that the guy that raced it moved to WA and possibly worked for Mortlock Suzuki?
Does that sound right?
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Tony
Dennis was a true Manxman TT rider world class when he arrived in WA gave all the local hotshots a riding lesson the Wildfire was own by Ossas Matthews Cycle world
Correct he was the Sales Manager at Mortlocks for years later rode factory supplied Suzuki Every new model TR/RG 500cc even the rare w/c twin tr500
All but brought the Wildfire back in the late 90s for $2500 unrestored it had the factory 24hr tank and fairing fitted passed on it being a 4 speed as the 5 speed model gearbox was a better option to race in P4
The Dutchman replaced all the good bits back to std Wildfire specs Love to find the 24hr tank :P
Cheers
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I had an Ossa motor in a slider. It was a Stilletto 230cc motor and went pretty good. I bought it from Sam Skilling
in Vic. Then we got hold of some roadrace specs from a bloke in Melb. east/suburbs,can't remember his name.
WOW! What a differance. Reshaped the ports,raised the compression, single ring piston with modified skirt, all new pipe dimensions, high octane fuel etc. etc. Very quick with a useable powerband. GREAT motor. Trouble is,...have access to 4 motors but I don't have the templates and specs anymore. My Dad passed away a couple of years ago and my brother and I have searched everywhere for them to no avail. Hint, hint,....another Ossa flattracker would be nice. My brother reckons he would be pretty keen to put one in a good flattrack frame,.......
regards Mark
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My old man still has his Ossa Wildfire in the shed in pieces. Might have to extract it from the cave.
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Mark,
I think I have those specs here. Or at least some specs for Ossa TT engines. I'll check.
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That would be great J.C. We need to keep stuff like this going around otherwise it will be lost.
Along with the Ossa specs I lost was a shitload of stuff on J.A.P. motors.
regards Mark
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Mark
PM your post details and I will forward you all of Phils notes porting /pipe/ jetting /etc
Will the motor be a 4 speed or 5 speed as the later have a better crank set up
Cheers
Murray
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Done. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all concerned.
Kind regards Mark