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

[Tossa]

Great Mark, what really gets me from this thread is the fact that basically everybody seems to have taken the sprite and just re badged it and called it something made in their country.  How similar they all are.

[mx250]

Lackey recalls the short-lived ride as a good machine.
He says, “I think I won every race, or my class in every race we entered on the American Eagle.


" From Ed Youngblood's http://www.motohistory.net

Brad Lackey and the Eagle
(8/13/2004)

Our story about Jack McCormack and American Eagle (Motohistory 7/30/2004) brought back memories for a number of readers, and information about the venture continues to emerge. For example, one of Brad Lackey's early “factory sponsored” rides was aboard an American Eagle motocrosser. Lackey's first sponsored ride had been a dealer-sponsored Sachs with help from the distributor in 1967, then in 1968 American Eagle recruited the up-and-coming star through Bay-area dealer Bill "Biscuits" Verbiscio. AE provided the machines and Verbiscio maintained the program under the auspices of Cycle Town, his dealership.

Lackey recalls the short-lived ride as a good machine. He says, “I think I won every race, or my class in every race we entered on the American Eagle. They were very excited about it and bought full-page ads in Cycle News.” Pictured here is one of those ads, with a reference to “Brad – the brat – Lackey.” (I'll bet Lackey is happy that name did not stick with him through his professional career!) However, the business problems at AE described in our previous Motohistory story brought an end to its affiliation with Lackey after the 1969 season. Lackey rode for a short time on a sponsored Montesa, then moved to CZ, on which he broke onto the national scene in spectacular fashion in the Trans-AMA series in the fall of 1970.

There is an interesting story about Lackey's appearance in the inaugural Trans-AMA connected with important historical events that are described in some detail in Part Four of my History of Motocross currently appearing on the AMA Pro Racing motocross web site. 1970 was a “transition year” for FIM affiliation in the United States, since it was being shifted from MICUS to the AMA. When Lackey applied for his AMA professional license in 1970, it was refused on the basis that he was too young. However, he already held an FIM license which had been issued to him by MICUS to ride an Inter-Am event. So Lackey rode the 1970 Trans-AMA under his MICUS/FIM license. Under the rules agreed to for the transition year, the AMA was obliged to recognize and accept previously issued FIM licenses, so Lackey was allowed to compete. He toured the circuit with fellow CZ rider Sonny DeFeo, demonstrating the talent and determination that made him America 's first motocross world champion in 1982."

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/5648094_FDSB9#354021551_ifpMf

[JC]

As far as I can tell, those early 405 A-Es were actually only 351cc (78.75x72); the same as the 360 4sp Husky. The later 405 Sprite & A-E w the disticntive barrell were actually 399cc (84x72). They never were actually 405cc.

Also the Alron was always badged 400, not 405, tho it was the same motor of course.

[VMX247]

Spoke to a few vmxer's at the Nationals and the more I believe that there was probabley under 50 Alrons made.
cheers S&A WA via coffee shop Maleny Qld

[JC]

Tell us more pls - if yr home from the Nats now.

[firko]

Spoke to a few vmxer's at the Nationals and the more I believe that there was probabley under 50 Alrons made

You're right Alison...........waaaaaaay under 50

[JC]

Yeh... my thot's too - under fifty or under fifteen!?

Huskyevo has found another 400 in Qld & may have solved the "WA development rider Ron Johnston" bit too. But we're still a long way short of 50.

However, tell us more Alison

[firko]

I spoke to a bloke over the weekend who remembers the Alron with Maico forks and laid down shocks that raced at Amaroo Park around '90/91.
The guy told me that he answered an ad in the Trading Post for a 400 Husky and when he went to the blokes house (in Curl Curl or somewhere similar on Sydneys Northern Beaches area)] he saw the Alron in the process of being pulled apart in the garage. My mate reckons the bloke told him he was breaking the bike up because 'the bastards won't let him race it'. My friend checked out the Husky, decided not to buy it and left. The Alron was never seen again to our knowledge. When I asked if he could remember the address where it was my mate replied that he wasn't even sure of the suburb, let alone what street. All he remembers is that it had an ocean view from the backyard.

[Tossa]

Lets see way under 50, yep would even say under 20.  Family consisted of Sid, Ron, Alan and Linda.  Linda married Alan Hayes, who was the supposed welder (that's how they got him in the country, as a required worker) funny how he'd never touched a welder.  Alan Hayes sold me a Yammie VStar at Causeway Yamaha, about 4yrs ago and we had a good chat about the good old days and my dad and the T&E Club.  Sorry to say Alan passed away in bali about a year later

[VMX247]

"Good lord "sometimes you get a big responce when you post and some times you get none...    
Just general chatting really at events, that there isn't that many out there--I was being very generas in that there maybe around the 50 mark.
After the events/conversations and bikes I've seen/had in Qld in the past 3 weeks I suspect that there are more VMX pre 75 bikes than you and I could ever guess at..those garage Queens are a very real thing.    Long live pre65/pre75 
Alison via Cairns 

[Tossa]

"
Alison via Cairns 

You just helped to stir the thread again and get it firing!!
Great to hear from you both.  You want to check out my property up there and don't forget to go up the hill to kuranda a stunning place.  Yorkies Knob Yatch club for brekkie!!!

See you at Wandering

[JC]

Hey, thats my 'neck of the woods' - I'm up on Atherton Tableland. Love to have a chat w you WA VMX guys while yr up, if yr still up here. PM sent

[VMX247]

Sorry JC have come off the Atherton Tableland and the beautiful Coffee/tea works museum etc,now at Cape Tribulation,after chatting with a rider on a DR 400 whom hadn't riden for 30 years and decided to do the big Cape York trek with 12 other Suzukis- through 80% offroad and deep sand and was feeling his weiry age       .
Heading back to Cairns and then home tomorrow and can post some pics up off the VMX tour.
cheers Alison and Streven via Daintree National Park. 

[EML]

Hey Alison, did you get some pics of the BSA 250 at the proserpine concourse, I checked out the oil tank/side panels and thought of your sidecover problem as discussed earlier in this thread. The guy hand built both items and made the tank more slim line and the covers were alloy and had a hand rolled edge that made them look original-ish. I'm sure you would have noticed them.
Can I ask how Steve is after his week of lust in the north???
Wish him luck at Wanderinginging(sounds like an Abo on walk-about)

[Husky500evo]

This was the BSA 250 at the Proserpine show & shine.