rocketonarail
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- Gloucestershire,England
Lino Marchi and Massimo Laverda
Archive stuff
- Thread starter rocketonarail
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rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Bill Ivy`s works disc valve water-cooled two stroke V4 125 , the first 125cc machine to lap the TT course at over 100 mph ( 100.32 to be exact )...
Timed at 127 mph .
This was in 1968 ... this was all too much for the boring b*st*rds at the FIM who then brought in the twin cylinder six speed maximum rule , also outlawing the 50 cc twin cylinder 14 speed Suzukis....Thanks a bunch guys.....
Timed at 127 mph .
This was in 1968 ... this was all too much for the boring b*st*rds at the FIM who then brought in the twin cylinder six speed maximum rule , also outlawing the 50 cc twin cylinder 14 speed Suzukis....Thanks a bunch guys.....
rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Space Frames in 1975...
Looking at the duplex rear chain reminds me ( yes I`m off down memory lane again ) ...
Bought the Mirage from Avon Bikes...about a week before I picked it up a guy who worked there ( not Dennis ) called around to my flat one evening with some sale related paperwork...
Dressed in greasy black Belstaffs he arrived on a red 1200T with a sidecar attached .He wasn`t very tall , even shorter than me , so I guessed the sidecar filled the same sort of role that those training wheels did on the back of a kids bike when they were learning to ride ( ie...to stop him falling over when he came to a stop ) .
However he told me he was going to get rid of the 1200 and get a 900 Sei , which of course had a duplex final drive , just like the Space Frames here...
A few weeks later I called into Avon Bikes one Saturday morning and stood by the counter was this guy , stood with one hand on his hip , the other on the counter staring wistfully into space wearing clashing coloured FULL LEATHERS , complete with matching neck `chief...( you have to bear in mind back then most of us still rode around in grubby denim or Belstaffs , full leathers were just for Barry Sheene...)
Anyway there he was , like a resplendent butterfly newly emerged from his Belstaff cocoon...I tried to attract his attention but he was so busy posing I doubt he had even realised I was there...
Another Avon Bikes bloke was a chap who kind of resembled the actor Michael Redfern who I think owned an SFC...( the bloke that is , not Michael Redfern )...
Looking at the duplex rear chain reminds me ( yes I`m off down memory lane again ) ...
Bought the Mirage from Avon Bikes...about a week before I picked it up a guy who worked there ( not Dennis ) called around to my flat one evening with some sale related paperwork...
Dressed in greasy black Belstaffs he arrived on a red 1200T with a sidecar attached .He wasn`t very tall , even shorter than me , so I guessed the sidecar filled the same sort of role that those training wheels did on the back of a kids bike when they were learning to ride ( ie...to stop him falling over when he came to a stop ) .
However he told me he was going to get rid of the 1200 and get a 900 Sei , which of course had a duplex final drive , just like the Space Frames here...
A few weeks later I called into Avon Bikes one Saturday morning and stood by the counter was this guy , stood with one hand on his hip , the other on the counter staring wistfully into space wearing clashing coloured FULL LEATHERS , complete with matching neck `chief...( you have to bear in mind back then most of us still rode around in grubby denim or Belstaffs , full leathers were just for Barry Sheene...)
Anyway there he was , like a resplendent butterfly newly emerged from his Belstaff cocoon...I tried to attract his attention but he was so busy posing I doubt he had even realised I was there...
Another Avon Bikes bloke was a chap who kind of resembled the actor Michael Redfern who I think owned an SFC...( the bloke that is , not Michael Redfern )...
rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Roger takes on Leonard....you`ll have to read this the other way round ( you`ll probably have to enlarge it ).....It was Setright who started it...
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Martin Christie takes the road test 3C(E) across to France to cover the ( French) round of the World 500 cc Moto Cross Championship )...( 1975)...
It`s come out a bit all over the place but that`s your hard luck...it`s getting late and I`m starting to get a bit tired and irritable...
It`s come out a bit all over the place but that`s your hard luck...it`s getting late and I`m starting to get a bit tired and irritable...
rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
RGS on display in London......Cartoon (I know how he feels right now ).....Plus the SFC John Nutting rode back from Breganze to London (and I think ended up with Slaters and raced in the TT , and then was written off in a crash , or something like that ) .....
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rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
And finally.....It`s 1975 , it`s the British round of the World Trials Championship ( based in Europe obviously , where else do you think it would be ? )....and it`s a photograph of me ( !!! )....Yes really...that`s me , fifth from the left peering over the top of some blokes helmet ( could have put that better but never mind )...see enlargement for clearer view...
Rather getting in the way is Malcolm Rathmell on his Bultaco , tackling Eau de Nil , a 1 in 1 and a half rocky climb in the Mendip Hills near Bristol .
I was roped in as a travelling marshal , the idea being that each of us would be allocated an entrant who we would then shadow and provide assistance to if need be .
I was teamed up with Felix Kranstover , a seven foot tall surly German who was competing upon a Montesa .
Needless to say he had disappeared into the distance before we had even reached the first section...my excuse was that my Rickman Six Days was out of action (again ) , so I was forced to use my Honda SL125 , a fine little bike , went over the top of the Gap Road in the Brecon Beacons , Talybont , Sarn Helen , Monks Trod to Strata Florida and countless muddy Gloucestershire byways on it , but obviously a little out of it`s depth in this company .
A mate of mine riding a Dalesman Scout was shadowing French Trials Champion Charles Coutard and told me Charlie fell off twice between sections , which made me feel a little better , although this was hardly surprising as many entrants complained of the severity of the trial , some of the inter section going being more difficult than the sections themselves .
At one point travelling between sections I found myself following an estate car ( this was on tarmac obviously ) and sat in the open tailgate looking at me as I followed was Kawasaki Trials Team manager Don Smith , himself a handy trials rider...He shouted at me to follow their car to the next section , but I shouted " No it`s ok " and nipped by...Maybe I should have followed , impressed him with my riding style , and ended up being offered a works ride with Kawasaki ....perhaps we`ll never know.....
Rather getting in the way is Malcolm Rathmell on his Bultaco , tackling Eau de Nil , a 1 in 1 and a half rocky climb in the Mendip Hills near Bristol .
I was roped in as a travelling marshal , the idea being that each of us would be allocated an entrant who we would then shadow and provide assistance to if need be .
I was teamed up with Felix Kranstover , a seven foot tall surly German who was competing upon a Montesa .
Needless to say he had disappeared into the distance before we had even reached the first section...my excuse was that my Rickman Six Days was out of action (again ) , so I was forced to use my Honda SL125 , a fine little bike , went over the top of the Gap Road in the Brecon Beacons , Talybont , Sarn Helen , Monks Trod to Strata Florida and countless muddy Gloucestershire byways on it , but obviously a little out of it`s depth in this company .
A mate of mine riding a Dalesman Scout was shadowing French Trials Champion Charles Coutard and told me Charlie fell off twice between sections , which made me feel a little better , although this was hardly surprising as many entrants complained of the severity of the trial , some of the inter section going being more difficult than the sections themselves .
At one point travelling between sections I found myself following an estate car ( this was on tarmac obviously ) and sat in the open tailgate looking at me as I followed was Kawasaki Trials Team manager Don Smith , himself a handy trials rider...He shouted at me to follow their car to the next section , but I shouted " No it`s ok " and nipped by...Maybe I should have followed , impressed him with my riding style , and ended up being offered a works ride with Kawasaki ....perhaps we`ll never know.....
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Alzero
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- Location
- Slow traveling
I’m loving the duplex final drive chain!
Quite a fad in the 70s. Notably made by JPX.
Paul
Andy J
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- Location
- Isle of Man
And he was helmetless as far as I remember.
I think the success of the Slaters/Avon Bikes Formula 500 demonstrator, fitted with some lights and a number plate, persuaded Roger that there was sufficient demand to build the Montjuic, which ironically was probably raced more often by owners than the F500s, which in turn were often transformed into road bikes. I think quite a few F500s and ex-race Montys were probably sold on to punters not knowing their history.
Andy J
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- Location
- Isle of Man
I think I remember the guy you mentioned, but can't quite recall his name. Hopefully it will come to me. I do recall Kiwi Ian Smailes working there for awhile before setting up on his own. He had previously worked at Slaters for a short time.
The Michael Redfern look-a-like was probably Alex Frost.
rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
I`ve heard of Alex Frost mentioned within the ILOC and also in conjunction with the factory trip in 1980 , but I didn`t know he worked at Avon Bikes ( if indeed this was him ) , which would have made him fairly local to the Bristol area I guess ?...I always assumed he was more London area for some reason .
In the Bike article covering that Factory trip there`s a sort of grainy black / white photo which kicks the article off , and one of the riders shown does resemble the guy I`m thinking of slightly...whether it is him I wouldn`t know...
As for the 1200T combo guy , if he is still around and reading this hope he doesn`t take it too personally...only slightly poking fun and they are good memories...
Ian Smailes is someone else I`ve heard of but never met (as far as I know )...His business was located in Sussex Place in Bristol I think , or nearby , somewhere I would have thought I would have called in looking back , but never actually did .
The original Fowlers of Bristol showroom was located just around the corner in Grosvenor Road and was attacked / looted / ransacked during the St.Pauls riots of 1981..., prompting their move to the current location .
Never noticed any increase in the numbers of locals walking around the streets wearing Rukka jackets or HondaStyle leathers though...
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The Sock
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- Location
- London, England
Alex Frost didn't make the trip. He lives in the Bath area and I'm still in touch with him. The Cast List of the grainy opening shot:
1.Jim Lindsay (Deceased)
2. Phil Todd
3. Me
4. Neil Todd
5. Hilary (Deceased)
6. Angela
7. Karen
8. Alan J Bell
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rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Sorry to hear about Hilary , and also Jim Lindsay who we`ve mentioned before...It was number 8 who I thought might have resembled Alex Frost ( or at least the chap I remember from Avon Bikes )...turns out it was Alan Bell !...just shows how wrong you ( or rather me ) can be...
BTW did Alex really own an SFC , or did I get that bit wrong as well ?
BTW did Alex really own an SFC , or did I get that bit wrong as well ?
The Sock
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Alex (Centre, with Laverda hat, bottom photo SFC's rear behind the Alpino) did, in fact, own Adrian O'Meara's old SFC750, with which, and whom, I travelled to the Le Mans Bol d'Or, on mine, in '77. Ade sold it to Alex in '79, when he bought his 1200. Funnily enough I met Adrian a couple of weeks ago, at The Black Swan, Ockham at the 4th September Breakfast meet.
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rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Nice photos , especially the bottom one , Joined ILOC in `86 , didn`t meet but remember some of the names from reading LVV : Adrian , Ray Sheepwash , Dick Hutton , Ricky Capanni , Clem , Chris Nowicki I think , Mick Hart etc...
I`m guessing that`s Adrian fourth from left in bottom pic .
I thought I was right about the SFC , can`t remember how / where I heard it ,whether it was from Alex or someone else mentioning it .
A few weeks after Avon Bikes closed down I was up at Cropredy when they were still at the Wharf , on a Saturday morning , and felt someone tap me on the back of the head ( I`d taken the Bell Star off ) ...Turned round and it was who I now know to be Alex Frost .
He had driven up in a Mazda pickup with about three Laverdas in the back...presumably unsold stock from the now defunct Avon Bikes which Cropredy were taking on .
We were never on first name terms because I had taken going directly to Slaters for spares and so on , mainly to avoid Dennis who had the habit of trying to sell you a Motoplas frame kit when all you wanted was a set of plugs ( slight exaggeration , but he was a bit like that ) , but we did kind of know each other by sight , he obviously recognised me up at Banbury .
I`m guessing that`s Adrian fourth from left in bottom pic .
I thought I was right about the SFC , can`t remember how / where I heard it ,whether it was from Alex or someone else mentioning it .
A few weeks after Avon Bikes closed down I was up at Cropredy when they were still at the Wharf , on a Saturday morning , and felt someone tap me on the back of the head ( I`d taken the Bell Star off ) ...Turned round and it was who I now know to be Alex Frost .
He had driven up in a Mazda pickup with about three Laverdas in the back...presumably unsold stock from the now defunct Avon Bikes which Cropredy were taking on .
We were never on first name terms because I had taken going directly to Slaters for spares and so on , mainly to avoid Dennis who had the habit of trying to sell you a Motoplas frame kit when all you wanted was a set of plugs ( slight exaggeration , but he was a bit like that ) , but we did kind of know each other by sight , he obviously recognised me up at Banbury .
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Andy J
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- Location
- Isle of Man
Here's a picture of Alex on the SFC.
Andy J
Hero member
- Location
- Isle of Man
rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
In the Bike magazine article it was Alec , never sure if that was right but I see on the SFC fairing it says Alex , so Alex is correct then .
In the mid `eighties Windy Corner had a couple of SFC`s ( both Electronicas I think ) up for sale at £3500...still quite a bit of money back then I suppose , but even so....
Spoke to John Fallon once at Made in Italy over the phone about the SFC replica he had / has for sale , it`s the one with the 17 inch wheels which makes it look a bit odd , especially at the front viz a viz the front mudguard....he told me it`s a bit of a stretch from the seat to the bars... this is over the phone , so I didn`t realise I sound as if I have short arms as well as short legs...
On the way up to Slaters would enter Monmouth , cross the Bridge on the River Wye ( no sign of Alec Guinness ) and then you would be staring directly at Mead and Tomkinsons before diving into a sharp right to take you up towards Buckholt and Hereford .
Can`t remember when they ceased trading but it must have been in the mid `eighties at a guess .
In the mid `eighties Windy Corner had a couple of SFC`s ( both Electronicas I think ) up for sale at £3500...still quite a bit of money back then I suppose , but even so....
Spoke to John Fallon once at Made in Italy over the phone about the SFC replica he had / has for sale , it`s the one with the 17 inch wheels which makes it look a bit odd , especially at the front viz a viz the front mudguard....he told me it`s a bit of a stretch from the seat to the bars... this is over the phone , so I didn`t realise I sound as if I have short arms as well as short legs...
On the way up to Slaters would enter Monmouth , cross the Bridge on the River Wye ( no sign of Alec Guinness ) and then you would be staring directly at Mead and Tomkinsons before diving into a sharp right to take you up towards Buckholt and Hereford .
Can`t remember when they ceased trading but it must have been in the mid `eighties at a guess .
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