Kelvin Franks

[vmxken]

As well as the profile of Kelvin in issue 13, I interviewed him in regard to the Yamaha Pro-Fab 125 twin in Issue 37, the Franks Honda 125 in Issue 39 and for the Tommy Croft article in Issue 44.  Kelvin contributed to all those articles.  He provided me with quite a few original photos of many of his projects so I may do a 'spread' in Issue 53.

Regards

Ken - VMX Magazine

[John Orchard]

As well as the profile of Kelvin in issue 13, I interviewed him in regard to the Yamaha Pro-Fab 125 twin in Issue 37, the Franks Honda 125 in Issue 39 and for the Tommy Croft article in Issue 44.  Kelvin contributed to all those articles.  He provided me with quite a few original photos of many of his projects so I may do a 'spread' in Issue 53.

Regards

Ken - VMX Magazine

That'd be great Ken  :-)

[firko]

                                             
                                              Jeff Jennings aboard the Franks Honda
                                             
                                              Magoo also rode the bike.
                                             
                                               Kelvin produced this 200cc Carabela powered trials bike in 1970
                                             
                                              Kelvins trick XR80s were ahead of their time.

[pancho]

 In some of the earlier editions of VMX mag there were profiles of riders and personalities from our sport which seems to be missing from later editions.
 Those of us who have been around bikes for a fair while remember that most of the personalities that we knew or knew of were involved in all or most aspects of the sport.
 So I would like to see more stories about personalities great and small from the motorcycle scene while we can.
 cheers pancho.
 
 

[vmxken]

Hi Pancho - if you go to this page of our website

www.vmxmag.com.au/08_what_bike/vmx_what_bike_listing.html

and scroll to the bottom you'll see all the riders/legends that have been featured so far in the magazine.  There's no way there's less now than earlier issues.  As noted above for example, there's been three other interviews with Kelvin Franks in later issues, besides the initial profile in the earlier issue.  I am always keen to do as many profiles as possible.

Regards

Ken

[Lozza]

Sad day
God Speed
Kelvin Franks

[VMX247]

warning old thread

[Zakk]

Kelvin gave me the same shirt, i used to wear it over my leathers before we had some badges made up



i still wear it

[Zakk]

Kelvin gave me a couple of his old MX shirts over the years

here's one of his originals.. straight out of 1967 i'd say


here's the one he used to give to any juniors riding his minibikes

it actually fits me tightly, i'd say the teen MXers in SoCal are fairly large 

here's a Maico top, i can't remember when he said he'd got it as i can't recall him ever saying any of his bikes were Maico powered. although Kelvin did use to say " one year Maico made 'Bitchin' MX bikes, although really it was the Japanese making klunkers in '81 " 


and here's the one pictured above when i used to wear it over my leathers while roadracing, i wear this one when i'm riding my MX bikes now.


here's how my leathers looked once we got the patches made

this shot was taken at MacPark in MtGambier when we finally won the SA Historic Unlimited RoadRacing Championships in 2006/07

[VMX247]

Now there special memos to keep.
good for you, Franks Friend   

[firko]

I just came across this...........http://pelicanguanomotorsports.com/1974frankshonda125.html

[Rusty]

warning old thread

Was a familiar sight - unfortunately often a FMF racer, a Competition Cycles bike (Dave Carlson), a Miller Mano shirt and maybe a works Honda or Yamaha too 

Fortunately the Franks bikes often ran at the front though.

[Freakshow]

Here you go Zakk..

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=562297413810937&set=a.562296473811031.1073741936.100000920495079&type=3&src=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F182817_562297413810937_897052895_n.jpg&size=960%2C640i

[VMX247]

Second in....Carlsbad 125 pro class ..thanks Vintage Factory fb

[Zakk]

i've posted this pic previous in another topic, but....
here's Andy Northrop on Kelvins CR250 engined bike, slightly different shirt this time....