Sprite-UK/American Eagle-USA /Alron-AUST

[JC]

Gee Mark, I would have said the heads are quite different. Shape of fins, angle of fins, edge of fins & probably number of fins are all quite different.

[firko]

Of course I'm not saying they're exactly the same John. Mine are for Yamahas. I posted the photos to display the casting style by ACK. The cutaway fins on the A-E are easily achieved by grinding but more probably they are a different pattern. While it might not be ACK who manufactured the heads, it most definitely wasn't Sprite. ACK was merely brought up as an example of the type of stuff small manufacturers were doing in the USA. The job at hand is to find out who cast the heads. My tip is ACK but who knows?
I'll let you know when I find out.

[JC]

OK. The "dead ringer" comment misled me.  The ACK casting looks to me to be a cut or two above the radial head on the Sprite.

Here's another possible scenerio - the radial head was cast to suit the size of the later Sprite barrels (which look to be larger than the earlier ones) so they look 'irregular' on the earlier barrels. Hipkins had QC issues at his foundry which could account for the perceived diff in quality between the radial heads & the barrels. Diff batches, diff quality.

[firko]

My suspicions were wrong. Apparently the radial head is a genuine Sprite article. A bloke who had a bit to do with them back in the day confirmed that the early head ran a tad too hot so the radial was developed to try and overcome that.

[VMX60]

JC, Allison & Firko,

Furthering the research on the Alron story -

Had great help from a long time VMX member who supplied me with the original program from 1974 listing the only printed Alron entry is a 250 entered in the 250 race at state title level from 1970 - 1975. As you can see it is an Alron listing but doesn't show what model bike (in the 250 race). The rider was R. Weir #334 C grade.

There is no other 400 entries in his program collection.

Maybe the 400 raced at Club level events, as no one can remember one at an open event.

Cheers

[VMX247]

Wonderful news vmx60.
.#183 eight broke ribs and healing well.Rode Bridgetown Grass track.
#162 still heavily involved with Manji ,20yr daughter is racing now and winning. 
#69 Husky man and happy to have his old #69 back after we had it for a few years 

A few familiar names there (still riding in the vmxwa club) and also a few from T&E club which is where Tossa/Barrys father was busy on the T&E committee back when. 


Some vmx folks are out at the West Australian Symphony with a free concert on the Perth esplanade(foreshore) where they will play the 1812 overture using the Swan bells and 7 Field Regiment (105mm howitzers)..in other words sipping Margaritas under the evening sky with the girls     
cheers S&A WA

[number8]

JC, Allison & Firko,

Furthering the research on the Alron story -

Had great help from a long time VMX member who supplied me with the original program from 1974 listing the only printed Alron entry is a 250 entered in the 250 race at state title level from 1970 - 1975. As you can see it is an Alron listing but doesn't show what model bike (in the 250 race). The rider was R. Weir #334 C grade.

There is no other 400 entries in his program collection.

Maybe the 400 raced at Club level events, as no one can remember one at an open event.

Cheers

What ever happen with Shane Kirkpatrick i remember him racing in Qld in the late 70's on Suzuki's

#8

[JC]

Many thanks VMX60,

I suspected as much, but thats the sort of conclusive evidence I was looking for.
Have previously spoken w Roger Weir

[firko]

The plot thickens....the only one seen in open competiton over here in NSW was Brian Clarksons 405 so it could be assumed that less than a handful ever made the track in fair dinkum open competition. I saw more Coopers and Wassels on the track back then and they were as rare as shite too. It all backs up the now pretty clear picture that less than a dozen bikes were ever produced. Good one VMX60.

[Tossa]

Some vmx folks are out at the West Australian Symphony with a free concert on the Perth esplanade(foreshore) where they will play the 1812 overture using the Swan bells and 7 Field Regiment (105mm howitzers)..in other words sipping Margaritas under the evening sky with the girls     
cheers S&A WA

One wonders why one bothers to tolerate the riff raff of todays society, whilst trying to enjoy a little bit of culture!!!  I feel besmirched!!

[Tossa]

I remember one 400 Alron racing at northam, state round, I think in 1974

[VMX60]

Allison

Reading the old 70s programs is like a roll call of the current over 55 Wandering vmx start line no wonder the over 55 class are so quick they never forget how to ride

John
The one thing that still cannot be confirmed, if R.Weir was racing a phantom motor or a SDR fitting with a phantom top end  1974 being the 1st year of the phantom  just unable to believe Alron had complete phantom motors in 7th April 1974 ?

8
Shane is the son of the Husky Aust importer back then race Auto Huskys for years over here A grade MX plus rode enduro later on  On the Auto black tank 420 auto in the MX track Bunbury sand AWESOME

Cheers

[VMX60]

Hey Tossa

Just reading a program
Narrogin Dandaloo 25th march 1973
Event 4 366cc over
Number 89     B. Mitcheson     Husky     T/E

Any idea who was riding the 400 Alron
Cheers

 

[Tossa]

Yes that was the legend himself MR T&E just 'dad' to me!!lol

No i don't know who was riding the 400.  But i know my old man was there and I emntioned the fact.  he might remember

[JC]

I remember one 400 Alron racing at northam, state round, I think in 1974

It may have been Roger Weir as he rode both 250 & 400 Alrons. Bob Johnston had gone back to Qld by then

John
The one thing that still cannot be confirmed, if R.Weir was racing a phantom motor or a SDR fitting with a phantom top end  1974 being the 1st year of the phantom  just unable to believe Alron had complete phantom motors in 7th April 1974 ?

I agree - not a Phantom engine. The guys I spoke to were fairly sure it was an MX engine tho - probably a Stiletto engine. Tho it remains a possibility it was one of SDR-engined "development bikes"

Just re-looking at the programme, since it doesn't list what everybody rode, its not really the conclusive evidence I tho't it was