OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: Michael Moore on June 30, 2013, 01:47:07 am
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In the 1960-80s there were a variety of people in the USA and England who made dirt track, MX, trials and/or road race frames. With the "DIY" attitude common in Australia and New Zealand I'd expect there were people in those countries who made frames too. I did some searching here and I couldn't find a thread on period frame builders in Australia and New Zealand. I didn't spot an article on the subject when I went through my copies of VMX.
Terry Prince did the Egli-style frames and there were the McIntosh roadrace frames and Kelvin Franks frames, but those are the only commercial builders I know about. Tony Foale built a few frames for his personal use when he was in Australia but he didn't make frames commercially until he moved back to England.
I'm interested in learning about any other Aus/NZ frame builders. Photos of the frames would be appreciated.
cheers,
Michael
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In NZ there was Sparton, looked very metisse like. Bazza or Firko should be able to find a pic of 1.
The number 20 or so was mentioned at 1 stage for total number built, I remember seeing 1 in Auckland in the mid 90s when I rode up there a couple of times & assumed it was a 1 off but someone put up a photo a while ago of another & a brief story about them
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Thanks Tony. Searching here turned up "Wanganui Spartan" and with that Google gave me a 750 roadracer:
http://www.barrysheenetranstasman.co.nz/latest-news/35-blast-from-the-past-sparton
http://www.motorcyclesport.co.nz/documents/tw/Old_MX_Bike_Memories.htm
https://www.facebook.com/greytownracingteam
There's also an interesting home-built 500cc single roadracer on the GRT page.
cheers,
Michael
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Hey Tony, there's some Kiwi built bikes just down the road from you, I took Bill there last year when I was over and he opened up a shed I hadn't been in before and it was full of cool bikes.....what a waste though....they have been sitting there for years and he probably wont do anything with them.
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just wrote a long winded reply & F$"%$%^kn pushed the wrong button & lost the lot GRRRR. Guts was--Steve Roberts from Wanganui built the Spartan [i rode a mates ally pre unit t100 a bit]. Steve built quite a lot of them i think to take AMC's & Triumphs. He is an absolute gentleman is Steve & is famous for restoring a lot of things on 2 & 4 wheels. If i recall right, he was living down wellington way [Ohariu Valley] & teaching panel beating or [something related] at a Polytech down there back then. Was a regular mx competitor on a Husky too. Steve received the [i think] Inventor of the year award on tv for building [what was it called!!] plastic fantastic gsx 1100 that road racer Dave & [or] Neville Hiscox raced. Someone may know more or put me right on details--all good. Cheers. ps, was two road racers he built--think one was [correct me please] carbon fibre based & other was an ally monocoque type frame--long time ago.
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Hey Morley, what was the name of the frames made I think in Christchurch for MX and roadracing? Steve Roberts also modified all the 74 RH/RN factory Suzuki's to the lay down shock position for Coleman's the Suzuki importers.(the steering heads where modified as well)
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Hi, the ChCh one was probably built by Alistair Sabiston i'd think ['El Sab']. Just put his name up to spelling & came up with pics worth looking at in 'Nelson Photo News' from back then. No 123 feb 6th 1971. Link here, hope it works. [ Nelson Photo News > Issues > NPN123_19710206 > t1-body-d25 ]. Cheers.
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yes i remember the first modifies RH/RN [RH i think that day] turning up at Whakatane Xmas meeting & i had the first elsinore--fair phyched me out that did--[not that i was in the hunt with 'Ivan Millar' anyway]. just looked great, & of course he just buggered of into the distance which rubbed it in even more haha. Must go, cheers.
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El Sabre Triumph.....Made in NZ.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/El-Saber-500MX-twin-008_zps8fcce76f.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/El-Saber-500MX-twin-008_zps8fcce76f.jpg.html)
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That's it Firko, the bikes this guy has are amazing, not many people know and even less have seen them....ill take photo's next time I'm over there.
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Of course on dirt track (short circuit) there was a flurry of activity amongst the pipe-bending community both amatuer and professional after the first of the Hagon grass track frames appeared on the local scene.
I'm sure 'slides,' 'Foss' and others can rattle off a list of various highly succesful and otherwise efforts.
cheers pancho.
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Gavin Martini has an el Sabre B50 that's got a very different frame, very Maico oriented. Gavin keeps it at his home on the NZ bottom island and keeps his Metisse here. Multi cultural VMX ;D.
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Hasn't GMC made a couple? :) J
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Not in the 60's to 80's Jerry 8)
I think the main reason Aussies didn't do much back then was because we didn't have decent access to quality materials, 4130 etc.
It was around but hard to source and expensive.
Same deal with 6061, even today it's bloody hard to find over here.
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Geoff have you got any pics off the maico /copy frames you have made?
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There were a number of backyard builders manufacturing copycat Hagons in the sixties. Some were pretty nice, others were dangerous crap. I had an Aussie made Taylor frame that was very similar to a Hagon Sand Tracker and the welding and little details were actually better than the Hagon original. Jonesy's got a couple of Aussie made speedway frames that look pretty neat as well. Of course, because 4130 and Reynolds tubing was hard to find, they were all made from seamless mild steel, but so are most UK speedway and grass track frames come to think of it.
There was a mob called P&R that made nice TZ frames (among other stuff) back in the 80's. I have a vague memory of seeing a custom framed YZ125 at an Amaroo Park MX in the early 80's and recall thinking how trick it was. I'm almost certain it was a P&R frame. I can also recall a bloke in my club, Annandale-Leichardt that worked for Qantas who built a sweet Maico-ish chro-mo frame to suit his Yamaha SC500 engine in about 1975. He'd gone to the US and brought back Arnaco shocks and cool translucent plastic 'guards and a B50 BSA style tank that we'd yet to see here. I went overseas myself not long after and when I returned 6 years later the bike and its builder had left the club, and presumably the sport. It was a beautiful thing, all TIG welded using Maico forks and a rectangular tubing swingarm with 45 degree laydown shocks. A photo of the bike appeared in Revs or AMCN at the time.
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Bob Martin in Victoria built a fair few one off's and specials.
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/006-3.jpg)
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Another of Steve Roberts' works of art, a semi-monocoque TR500 he built for Keith Turner to take back to Europe for the 1972 GP season.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img824/3443/keithgrace.jpg)
A Frepin chassis for a TZ350, Christchurch-built by Begg Engineering wrench Fred McLean and Peter Pinion.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img27/3445/dscf0371w.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img515/9923/dscf0365n.jpg)
They also knocked up a frame for Paul McLachlan's TZ500.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img594/4713/frepin1.jpg)
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Wobbly has just rebuilt that Frepin frame hopefully Trevor Discombe will ride it next January at the Island Classic. Couldn't forget John Britten
(http://www.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/britten-v1000.jpg)
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As Pancho and Firko pointed out, in the '70s there was a plethora of copies of the Hagon Sandracer frame made for Short Circuit, there was one, that to me, stood out from the rest which was the Don Stafford copy of the Pommy Elstar frame, the Alstar.
A very close copy but with detail differences like better forks and taper roller steering head bearings instead of a bush etc.
Jim sent me this pic of one.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/AlstarTT_zps94bf673d.jpg) (http://s854.photobucket.com/user/JAP454/media/AlstarTT_zps94bf673d.jpg.html)
Foss
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What about the WA made Kerr frame lots of early Twostroke motors fitted for the stockbike class over here
Glen their was one Frepin kit raced at Wannero by a Pom think it was sold when he went back to the UK ????
Cheers
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I don't know much about the Kerr frames, # 60, but I do know that # 710, Kevin Patton from Canberra rode one, with a Yammy two stroker fitted with some success, he also rode a JAP powered KSS frame
Foss
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Glen their was one Frepin kit raced at Wannero by a Pom think it was sold when he went back to the UK ????
Yep, that is the one pictured with the TZ350 in it Murray, it now lives in Welshpool. Those pics are quite recent.
Kevin Kerr's a good soldier, there's a feature on his Goldie flat tracker in VMX #27.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img546/9499/rfr7.jpg)
And a yarn about him at http://www.vmccwa.com/stories/kerr.html ;)
Supersenior 50 gets a mention...
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(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/Frepin20Yamaha20Blue_zpse756baf8.jpg) (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Lozza85_2007/media/Frepin20Yamaha20Blue_zpse756baf8.jpg.html)
The rebuilt Frepin in Wobbly's workshop
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Nice ! This Frepin has just been restored in England. They're everywhere !
(http://imageshack.us/a/img12/718/vfsx.jpg)
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Don't have any photos but I had one of Lindsay Urquarts first centre hub steering road race outfits. Built for Ron Bergmeir, ridden at the Avalon Air base meeting when the internationals came in the 70s. Ron blacked out on the back straight hit the hay bales and broke his back. After lying on a rsj from the air base for 20 minutes and unable to move realised he needed a bit of help from the old St Johns. Frame ran a cb750 Honda motor and passengers floor pan served as the tank with an electric pump to feed the carbies. Very trick with the centre hub steering. Had no room for it when arriving in Qld in 93 and gave it to the gentleman running the British bike shop in Beaudesert in exchange for some ccm parts. Partnership split and I have no idea where it went. Another one through the fingers! Unsure if Peter Lucock was one of the proprietors? He used to be out Jimboomba way and did a fair amount of motor work for Vern Grayson. ( 2 guys lost their lives on the bike so perhaps it was a good one to let go)
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i have a very special slider type frame built from all pre 60 parts
1955 bantam front end including stearing head and wheel laced in 23"
1955-58 ariel swing arm rear end and wheel
all joined together and raced by the builder at nepean in the 60s
my brother jap454
gen art senior 350 ariel
1955 rotrax jap tank
been in the family for a long time
jim
454
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it now lives in Welshpool.
Is that the same Kerr Speedway bike at the Perth show ?
Photo our pre75stand.
http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=21184.15
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Rays
Goldie Kerr frame :) :) :)
One of the same
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Those are some interesting photos. Thanks for digging them out.
cheers,
Michael
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Foss can you remember when Don built the Alstar. I bought his centre port godden weslake in late 78 and raced it 79 and 80. Went to speedway in 81. Can't remember seeing the Alstar racing. Certainly looks the goods and I wonder whether Don built it or had someone fabricate it for him.
Rosco86
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I seem to remember "Cole" Slider Frames at Old Bar. Sometime during in the Seventies, I think. A pommy immigrant, rings a bell. Yes a bloke by the name of Cole.
I am pretty sure they were taken to court for some sort of copyright issue.
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Rosco. that pic of the Alstar Yammy TT500, appeared in Trail and Track, August '76, the article is mainly about Don's 4V JAP head, which has been covered on this forum.
In the article is this " Don built the frame, neatly chromed , and formed the engine mounts for the TT 500.
I don't know how many Don built, I bought an Alstar diamond of him to replace my Elstar diamond wrecked at Young. fitted straight in, no worries except for having to source a 19mm steering head bolt to suit the taper roller head bearings.
Foss
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I seem to remember "Cole" Slider Frames at Old Bar. Sometime during in the Seventies, I think. A pommy immigrant, rings a bell. Yes a bloke by the name of Cole.
I am pretty sure they were taken to court for some sort of copyright issue.
Howard Cole ??
Foss
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Yeah, I cant remember his first name, but I am certain they were called Cole Frames and I am also certain they were more or less an exact knock-off. I knew a bloke who had one and I am certain there was a Court Case over being a copy ???
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Mick D, What you may be remembering are these Cole engines, most internal parts were directly interchangeable with the corresponding JAP parts, there-in lay the problem you mention.
Mostly fitted to Elstar frames, there were a few around at one time, here is a pic of my Cole, incidently fitted to a Paul Sly Aussie built frame !!
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/Cole_zps7830a864.jpg) (http://s854.photobucket.com/user/JAP454/media/Cole_zps7830a864.jpg.html)
Foss
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Wow what a beautiful bike, neat bit of history. Do you still have it?
Man, so much water under the bridge, it is so hard to remember.
The bloke that owned the bike I am talking about is father to a son-in-law of one of my exs, I would rather stick my dick in a hornets nest than ring her.
The bloke would be in well into his fifties, first name Mark. Surname ??(now I will be up all night trying to remember it).
He lives in Tarree, raced it a lot at Old Bar.
Yes I see what you mean about the engines, bloody beautiful, and it would explain it Foss, but I particularly remember it because Mark argued specifically that the frame was made by a pommy immigrant called Cole, descendent of a racing family in England. Where are the Cole engines from? England by any chance? If so? it might be the same family?
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Yes Mick, the Cole is a Pommy design, by a quirk of coincidence from my home town, Birmingham, If you google Howard Cole you'll find a video of him on a mini speedway bike, made by his father, at Birmingham Perry Barr Speedway when he was 4 or 5 years old
I think Howard is in OZ and I don't recollect any Cole frames, however ??
Foss
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Very Interesting, If I could remember this blokes surname I could call him. Anyhow,
there is another bloke up this way called Billy Rowlands that has also made a few slider frames(clever bloke). He was very sick last year with a rare exotic bug, took a lot to identify it. Thought he was a goner, but I bumped into him recently and he has it sorted and was on the way back up, even down in the workshop again doing an old Honda up to get his hand back in. He was thinking of making frames again with my mate Dave as being the gun welder.
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Cole engines were British, made by Howard Cole Senior. His son moved to Australia and probably built the frames.
Howard Cole Senior was the Midlands distributor for JAP Speedway and Grass Track engines and also operated a repair and tuning service. Through his wealth of experience he knew all the strengths and weaknesses of the engine. The speedway JAP was prone to oil leaks and dirt could easily find its way inside the engine, often leading to a major mechanical breakdown? so, Cole designed and built his own speedway engine, based on the JAP unit.
He set himself a brief to make the engine more reliable than the JAP and to make an engine that needed less servicing. The Cole engine featured fully enclosed valve gear, stronger castings, a redesigned barrel with liners for the piston and the push-rods and a stronger steel con-rod, which had always been a weak spot on the JAP engine. Many of Cole's new parts were interchangeable with the JAP items.
Cole had three different cam profiles available for his engine and there was an option of having magneto or coil ignition. The coil equipped engine had a different timing case to house the points. The compression ratio could also be changed to suit the conditions by using one of three compression plates between the barrel and cylinder head .
The engine was readily available for the start of the 1972 season and cost ?185 for the coil ignition version or ?195 for the magneto version. The Cole engine found infamy in following years with the revelation that some engines actually measured 600cc!
[Images not available]
In previous years, Howard Cole Senior had produced a number of mini-speedway bikes for his motorcycle mad son, Howard Cole Junior. The first of these, produced in the 1940s, was a perfect scale replica of a post-war speedway chassis, right down to the miniature Webb forks. The most interesting feature of the bike though was the "lay-down" engine, a good forty years ahead of its time.
Howard Junior was the mascot at Birmingham and Wolverhampton speedway in the 40s and 50s, and would ride his mini-bikes wearing full leathers and a helmet bearing his initial "GHC" (his full name was George Howard Cole). Howard junior progressed to full size bikes and actually took to the track at the age of 15 under the assumed name of "Kid Bodie". Unfortunately for him, his headmaster was a keen speedway supporter and rumbled him. Once he had turned 16 Howard Cole Junior fulfilled his ambition to become a speedway rider, turning out for Wolverhampton, Stoke, Long Eaton (1965), Cradley Heath (1966), Kings Lynn (1967-1972) and back to Cradley again (1973-74) before retiring from the sport. His spell at Kings Lynn was his most successful, becoming a recognised heat leader and reaching the World Final in 1969. I have it on good authority that Howard Cole Junior has since emigrated to Australia where he works as a schoolteacher, I wonder if any of his pupils "bunk off" to race motorbikes?
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Good work Firko. Its starting to make sense now, Thats what Marks argument was about, Marks bike was the other way around it had a Jap engine in it. The argument was that the frame was made by Cole not the engine and that was why he used to urgue with everyone about it I reckon ;D.
Actually there was another bloke up here, Mick Walker. Hell of an outfit captain, absolute wildman. Very clever at producing all sorts of frames, not just tricycles.
I think maybe the thing is that there may have been quite a few backyarders repairing, replacing and reproducing frames and frame components. especially speedway, sliders.
Think about it, these things don't exactly look as tough they would survive end for enders, or hitting the wall that well :-\ not even once without bending, would they?
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Very Interesting, If I could remember this blokes surname I could call him. Anyhow,
there is another bloke up this way called Billy Rowlands that has also made a few slider frames(clever bloke). He was very sick last year with a rare exotic bug, took a lot to identify it. Thought he was a goner, but I bumped into him recently and he has it sorted and was on the way back up, even down in the workshop again doing an old Honda up to get his hand back in. He was thinking of making frames again with my mate Dave as being the gun welder.
Would that be Bill Rawlinson from Newcastle "Rawlo" frames
Builder of many Junior speedway bikes
And straightener of my senior frames?
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Yeah, that's him SON, see the trouble I have with surnames ::) ;D
I must have been thinking of Yamaico Pete, Now theres another one!
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i sold a cole jap engine at newcastle swap um err back in the 80's for $150,kept the amc R gearbox for my matcho roadracer,remember a big guy, after me telling him $150 remarking 'shit i got a shedfull of that crap!!', ::), :P
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I have several Rawlos,
Bill calls in about once a month depending on his. Or Joan's health.
Lots of good stuff in his shed,
Lots of good knowledge in his head,
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I don't know much about the Kerr frames, # 60, but I do know that # 710, Kevin Patton from Canberra rode one, with a Yammy two stroker fitted with some success, he also rode a JAP powered KSS frame
Foss
Hi Al,
Kevin had a Kerr Bultaco which he sold or traded to Kevin Fraser and I got it from Kevin in about '73. I think from memory that the Yammy twin was in a home made frame, possibly by Doug Bryant, but could be wrong on that one.
Here is the Kerr buried behind a '66 Montesa and a '72 Maico - all awaiting restoration when I move house.
Pete.
(http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii534/yamaico/DSC00794_zpsde0db7cf.jpg) (http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/yamaico/media/DSC00794_zpsde0db7cf.jpg.html)
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Aussie built speedway frame... ;D
(http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii534/yamaico/DSC00798_zps2bacbf37.jpg) (http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/yamaico/media/DSC00798_zps2bacbf37.jpg.html)
(http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii534/yamaico/DSC00796_zps5786cd79.jpg) (http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/yamaico/media/DSC00796_zps5786cd79.jpg.html)
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Yes, Pete, Doug Bryant did build some frames, I saw one at Damo's place , Damo is # 720 Kelvin, a mate of KP's, son, It was pretty well buggered , spent years very close to salt water, after I posted that about KP, Kerr Bully kept popping up in me mind , so there you go, I guess memories of KP's Yammy twins get locked in ya memory.
It will be great to see the Kerr Bully brought back to life, a bit of OZ history, eh ?
You had a Cole Elstar, maybe ?? my memory says you may have !!
As far as the Aussie Jawa Speedway frame goes, whatzit ??
Foss
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Now theres a Speedway set up I reckon I could still ride Pete. ;)
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Yes, Pete, Doug Bryant did build some frames, I saw one at Damo's place , Damo is # 720 Kelvin, a mate of KP's, son, It was pretty well buggered , spent years very close to salt water, after I posted that about KP, Kerr Bully kept popping up in me mind , so there you go, I guess memories of KP's Yammy twins get locked in ya memory.
It will be great to see the Kerr Bully brought back to life, a bit of OZ history, eh ?
You had a Cole Elstar, maybe ?? my memory says you may have !!
As far as the Aussie Jawa Speedway frame goes, whatzit ??
Foss
Your memory is good Al. Had a Cole Elstar but didn't have a lot of luck with the Cole motor so I went back to an 84S in the Elstar frame - much better.
The Kerr is high on the list. It still runs, just needs a tidy up.
The little frame is a cocktail blender.
Now theres a Speedway set up I reckon I could still ride Pete. ;)
We'll fire it up next time I see you Steve. ;D
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Doug Bryant and his brother? built up the 125 Yammy twin that Ian Williams rode I think. Also K.P's methinks also.
Came from Canberra?
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Got it in one , Mark!, Doug and Wayne Bryant, Waybry Engineering I think, Pete ??
Foss
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Dead right. Very cluey guys. Sure knew how to get the little Yammy twins cracking.
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Also had a Cole Elstar which I bought from Don Stafford in late 75. Campaigned it in 76, gave it to Andy Horne to ride a couple of times . Felt my 440 Maico and his Elsinore had more power. Traded it in on a godden weslake long tracker which I still have. Presently converting to a 2 wheeled braked setup and then hope to let the son loose on it. Will be next year though as I'm off to the uk in aug/sept and will miss the Temora meeting. Looking to take it north to Maryborough when I get back. When it gets off the bench I only have a flat tracker, 2v jawa, hagon jap and a ccm/speedway jawa to get to work on. I think I need to retire to get the time I need to do them, work sucks, but it does pay the bills.
Rosco86
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I think Peter and Colin Laws were making slider frames recently. His son I think mentioned it on here a while back.
That would be worth checking out.
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Edgar Phipps told me at the Show'n'Shine that Colin Laws is building him a slider frame.
Yamaico Pete's blenders have set the standard for such equipment throughout the VMX movement. I may have built the first blender back in the early 90's and Slakewell took the technology to the next level but Yamaico Pete was the man who injected a bit of show quality engineering genius into the genre. Besides the Jawa speedway model there's Maico and Yamaha versions. Everyone who's attended a Kamp Kevlar Margarita piss up at Classic Dirt will know how Pete's little blenders perform.
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colin has a 125 slider he made he rode it last year.but the engine gave him trouble
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colin has a 125 slider he made he rode it last year.but the engine gave him trouble
I think it has a DT1 motor Jimmy.
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He has 2. The reliable one is the DT1.
Both frames are nice.
He should build one with a Yammy 450 in it and ride that!
Come on Col, I dare you!
cheers pancho.
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col has 2 his son has 1 and yes 1 of cols is a 125
the reliable one is the 250 yam
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The pics of Dons sliders were taken in the very late 70,s. he made about a dozen of the frames , the one photographed has a Yammy TT500 motor that was raced by his brother Bert (195), the bike in the background (193) is of coarse Dons. I showed him the pics a few months ago, was amazed and told me the stories.
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Thanks for the info #92, Here's a pic of Don's own bike fitted with the Richard Bendell / Don Stafford 4V head, also check out the external dampers on the lower fork legs.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab106/JAP454/DonsJAP_zps9a85a430.jpg) (http://s854.photobucket.com/user/JAP454/media/DonsJAP_zps9a85a430.jpg.html)
Foss
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Steve Roberts from Wanganui built the Spartan [i rode a mates ally pre unit t100 a bit].... He is an absolute gentleman is Steve & is famous for restoring a lot of things on 2 & 4 wheels... Steve received the [i think] Inventor of the year award on tv for building [what was it called!!] plastic fantastic gsx 1100 that road racer Dave & [or] Neville Hiscox raced. Someone may know more or put me right on details--all good. Cheers. ps, was two road racers he built--think one was [correct me please] carbon fibre based & other was an ally monocoque type frame--long time ago.
FINALLY found the pic of the alloy Roberts monocoque, she's a beauty, built to resemble the Katana of the day. As Morley mentioned, ridden with great success by Dave Hiscock.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img809/5775/ykuz.jpg)
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That shot looks to be from the boxing day races in Wanganui at Suzuki's 50th from memory, the plastic fantastic was parked right beside it.
Both amazing bikes to see & appreciate the workmanship involved
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Spartan back in Steve Robert's workshop, first bike there in 20 or so years
(http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy166/tony27_photo/Spartangoeshome_zpse81e469f.jpg) (http://s788.photobucket.com/user/tony27_photo/media/Spartangoeshome_zpse81e469f.jpg.html)
Engine mounts & a few other parts had been changed which are being fixed now, should be a looker when it's finished
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tony is it your spartan? Mal just bought a TM400
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No Mike, Steve Gallichan sent me a photo of the progress of the 1 he found in Hunterville, had seen better days including needing a swingarm made. Luckily Steve Roberts still has all his jigs etc to make a new swingarm
Is being built up with a T110 motor if I remember correctly
Will look forward to catching up with Mal if he does any of the rounds this year or comes out to the Auckland round
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Glen their was
Kevin Kerr's a good soldier, there's a feature on his Goldie flat tracker in VMX #27.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img546/9499/rfr7.jpg)
She's still out there on show 8)
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r259/vmx247/vmxmagazineKerrframestillaroundonshow_zpsb5597523.jpg) (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/vmx247/media/vmxmagazineKerrframestillaroundonshow_zpsb5597523.jpg.html)
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Steve Gallichan's freshly finished Spartan, I think this is his pre70 racebike & not the other bike he will be doing up for his collection. Steve Roberts wants to make a better looking alloy tank for it
(http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy166/tony27_photo/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12/imagejpeg_0_zps8arpx9g3.jpg) (http://s788.photobucket.com/user/tony27_photo/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12/imagejpeg_0_zps8arpx9g3.jpg.html)
Can't wait to see & hear how it goes
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Tony is that robos old white spartan?
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No, Steve Gallichan found this in very poor condition at the 2nd hand shop in Hunterville, Steve Roberts made a new swingarm & generally got things back to how they left his place. Steve picked up another 1 last year on trademe which is probably going into the collection unrestored
This bike is on display at the Sargent gallery in Wanganui starting next week in a display of Steve Roberts artwork otherwise known as the F1 Suzuki & other bikes he built
I thought Robbo's bike was AJS/Matchless single but I could be wrong as it was about 20 years ago that I came up for the couple of early meetings & saw it
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Exceptional read
http://www.vmccwa.com/stories/kerr.html
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Thanks for this Allison. I'm proud to be part of Kevin's story
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Was over at Steve Roberts place today giving him my 74 swingarm so he can confirm that the subframe isn't twisted after he replaces the rear downtubes & straightens the seat tubes.
He told me there are 4 plastic fantastics, he has the prototype & #4 which was built as a road going racebike with lights etc. The aluminium monoque which was built before these was a 1 off though
The TR500 next to it is quite interesting, the frame & bodywork were never built into a bike back in the day & the owner of them offered them back to Steve a few years ago which he really appreciated. He said he could have made a new frame but to him that would be a replica even though he was the only builder. The motor in it is missing pistons but he has another being built up to fit shortly, now he just needs to find a Spartan & he'll be happy
(https://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy166/tony27_photo/20190722_113500_zpsgvb2hikx.jpg) (https://s788.photobucket.com/user/tony27_photo/media/20190722_113500_zpsgvb2hikx.jpg.html)
(https://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy166/tony27_photo/20190722_113443_zps5p8vxcsn.jpg) (http://s788.photobucket.com/user/tony27_photo/media/20190722_113443_zps5p8vxcsn.jpg.html)
(https://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy166/tony27_photo/20190722_113511_zpscazy5jcw.jpg) (http://s788.photobucket.com/user/tony27_photo/media/20190722_113511_zpscazy5jcw.jpg.html)
(https://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy166/tony27_photo/20190722_113434_zpstsrlvmy8.jpg) (http://s788.photobucket.com/user/tony27_photo/media/20190722_113434_zpstsrlvmy8.jpg.html)