1970/71...MACH III Style !!!!!

[nudemetalz]

Kept looking through old albums and found these !!!!
They were titled "1970-71 season at Ruapuna - 1/2 production race"

He (Dad) is the one on with the green helmet (I know, hard to tell with B&W pics)on that 3-cylinder beast from Kawasaki !!
Dale Wylie (on the Commando) and Owen Galbraith feature in those pics too if that means anything to you older guys here on the forum.

Bugger being this photographer on the outside of a corner !!!

[Mr. Peanut]

Oh man, I wanna go back! :(

[Jantar]

That first photo on the T500 Titan looks a lot like Alistair Perry, with that face mask and white helmet.

[nudemetalz]

That first photo on the T500 Titan looks a lot like Alistair Perry, with that face mask and white helmet.

Just had a look on the back of the photo and it says it's "Guy".
That would be Warren Guy. He and Dad raced against each other back then. Warren went on to run motorcycling at Ruapuna in the 80's and 90's plus I did one of his road-riding courses in 1985 to get my full licence.

[Maha]

Oh man, I wanna go back! :(

Yip.......you can almost smell it...!!:Punk:

[Ixion]

Sigh. Racing was FUN back then. No plastic anywhere, howling two strokes engines, smoke, no brakes. They don't even have tape over the lights.

Just jump on y' bike, ride to the track, race y' mates, and ride home.

The next day jump on the same bike, ride a few miles, head off road, spend the afternnoon trail riding, and ride home.

The next day, jump on the same bike, and ride to work.

Somehow it was so much more fun that way.

[RantyDave]

Holy shit. Men were men and helmets were rudimentary. You brave buggers.

Dave

[Paul in NZ]

Holy shit. Men were men and helmets were rudimentary. You brave buggers.

Dave

The handling was a bit different too... Must have taken some balls (not to mention some room) to try and ride around the outside of a Kawasaki Triple...

[Crisis management]

I'm with Paul....I had an H1 for a brief period in the late 70's, scariest handling bike ever! I sold it after an afternoon ride round the Firth of Thames saw me weaving from gutter to gutter trying to go around corners, talk about a hinge in the middle!

Your Dad was a far braver man than me :Punk: :Punk:

[Pwalo]

Ahh the old Mach 3. The speed, the acceleration, the sound, the smell, the handling. The only bike that I nearly shat myself on.

Yep bring back the good old flexi frame days. Every corner was a new adventure.

[beyond]

The infamous widowmaker :)

No full face helmets back then either. Imagine sliding down the track using your chin for brakes. The dirt, the flies and midgies whacking your face and getting stuck in your teeth.

Real bikes back then...... until the GSX1400 came along of course. :shutup: :dodge: :dodge:

[Motu]

Full face helmets were around,but they were harder to find than Levi jeans (when a pair of Levi's wore out the label would be picked of and sewn onto a pair of Wranglers,label slaves even in the '60's),they cost 3 weeks wages or more too.But we didn't need them on the street,so who cared?

[Paul in NZ]

A mate of mine had a white BELL full face and we were in awe of it... I started with a helmet I found in the back of the garage - it was made of cork covered with leather and had a little peak - wish I still had it. It did up with snap domes that were completely useless but still...

First new one I purchased was a powder blue (oh the shame) jet style with a snap on vision that distorted in the wind and made everyting look wibbly wobbly - but that was OK 'cos we were all on mind altering drugs anyway so it kinda cancelled out.

[Pwalo]

A mate of mine had a white BELL full face and we were in awe of it... I started with a helmet I found in the back of the garage - it was made of cork covered with leather and had a little peak - wish I still had it. It did up with snap domes that were completely useless but still...

First new one I purchased was a powder blue (oh the shame) jet style with a snap on vision that distorted in the wind and made everyting look wibbly wobbly - but that was OK 'cos we were all on mind altering drugs anyway so it kinda cancelled out.

My Dad still had his old cork helmet when I started riding. He made me buy a new helmet. Red jet style, with a motocross peak and goggles (oh yes).

My last helmet before I stopped riding back in the early 80's was a lovely sky blue Nava with the self closing visor.

Remember Line 7 motorcycle gear?

[CM2005]

wow... i was never there, but i miss it.. i saw some pics of the marlboro series too... awesome.

[MikeyG]

Those are somw nice pics. Look really good in b&w. Wouldn't mind some copies for the office wall

[roogazza]

Full face helmets were around,but they were harder to find than Levi jeans (when a pair of Levi's wore out the label would be picked of and sewn onto a pair of Wranglers,label slaves even in the '60's),they cost 3 weeks wages or more too.But we didn't need them on the street,so who cared?

I had some of the first Bell's in NZ and I can remember returning from Aust with white "Stagg" brand leathers. At the time I can only remember a few in white, Perry, Discombe and some guy on a Mach 3 , Kingston or some such name.
Anyway, I had to make the Bell's look second hand or used to get them into the country. Some may remember , they came in orange or white ! Gaz.

[Motu]

I had a white pudding basin - I don't care if Stirling Moss had one,even back then I knew they looked bloody stupid.My first full coverage helmet was some white locally made thing,I used that off road and when helmets became compulsory on the road it got a flat black paint job with pink flames....we did anything to make the helmet look uncool.My first full face was a Centurion (very fitting,because did you know I was a Roman Centurion in a past life?) it was just an open face with a chin guard stuck on and checkered tape to cover the join.

[slowpoke]

Sigh. Racing was FUN back then. No plastic anywhere, howling two strokes engines, smoke, no brakes. They don't even have tape over the lights.

Just jump on y' bike, ride to the track, race y' mates, and ride home.

The next day jump on the same bike, ride a few miles, head off road, spend the afternnoon trail riding, and ride home.

The next day, jump on the same bike, and ride to work.

Somehow it was so much more fun that way.

There's nothing stopping us doing it now, we've just gotta get the right bike.
I think nowadays the bikes and tyres are a bit more specialised, designed for a more narrow intended purposes (did someone say "niche market"?) making it a lot more difficult to use it outside their intended design....but it can be done.
It used to be a "jack of all trades, master of none" approach to a certain extent, whereas now I reckon they aim to master one trade and bugger the rest.
Ducati Hypermotard anyone.....?

Oh yeah, love "ye olde tyme" pic's

[merv]

I had some of the first Bell's in NZ and I can remember returning from Aust with white "Stagg" brand leathers. At the time I can only remember a few in white, Perry, Discombe and some guy on a Mach 3 , Kingston or some such name. Gaz.

Alan Collison was another that had white leathers that I remember.

[Paul in NZ]

Remember Line 7 motorcycle gear?

What - the PVC stuff you wore and got drenched from the sweat?

[Pwalo]

What - the PVC stuff you wore and got drenched from the sweat?

That's the stuff. Worked really well if it was pissing down but really cold. Otherwise it was a toss up if you were going to get wetter because of your own body heat.

Another reason it's good to be a biker today. Who'd have thunk it. Bikes that handle (Mach 111 - ahhh I'm going to die), tyres that grip, disk brakes that actually brake, and wet weather gear that works (mostly). Oh happy days.

[nudemetalz]

In my generation, Belstaff's were what we wore. They weren't that waterproof....

[Motu]

But I didn't ride Jap bikes in those days,so had none of those problem....and wet weather gear was soft core.

[Paul in NZ]

But I didn't ride Jap bikes in those days,so had none of those problem....and wet weather gear was soft core.

True - Line 7 gear was waaay to expensive (and a bit too flash) for me so I had a yellow PVC parka and leggings a guy on the wharf got me a five fingered discount on. A bottle of meths got rid of the 'Union Steamship Co' on the back. (still got them too)

Besides - if the rain got through the two pairs of greasy jeans you knew it was time to go home.

[Edbear]

Men were men...




Awwww mate! We still are...:yes:

Great pics, you realise us old beggars'll start reminiscing and sound really sad...:zzzz:

[Macktheknife]

My brother had one of the old Kwaka triples, he loved it, to start with, then he started to realise the 'complications' of the design. He eventually got fed up with it and sold it, bought a J.A.P. 600 single and built a bike around it, my god that thing could boogie.

[Motu]

Besides - if the rain got through the two pairs of greasy jeans you knew it was time to go home.

It took a lot of rain to get through an Army great coat too,and the
Air Force ones were even better.You could turn the collar up and button that thing from the inside of the coat to both sides of the collar - you felt like some girl from the Congo with bangles on her neck....but no rain went down there.

[nudemetalz]

My brother had one of the old Kwaka triples, he loved it, to start with, then he started to realise the 'complications' of the design. He eventually got fed up with it and sold it, bought a J.A.P. 600 single and built a bike around it, my god that thing could boogie.

The very first ones had CDI but don't believe it was very reliable so after that they got points ignition.
The drum-braked ones (H1-H1B) were the fastest and I think the last model KH-500 was the slowest.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[kiwifruit]

awesome photos, thanks for sharing.
my old man had a widow maker, from what he's told me it sounded like a crazy machine :rockon:

[SPman]

:)

No full face helmets back then either. Imagine sliding down the track using your chin for brakes. The dirt, the flies and midgies whacking your face and getting stuck in your teeth.

.
Got my first fullface - an Arai, in Sept 72. Orange. Got it from Sydney and it cost $60!!! Fecking expensive!! My brother borrowed it (and the S2 Kwaka 350 I'd just bought) proceeded to highside at the Torbay shops and came back with the visor and temple area somewhat scuffed. Lucky boy - but not after I'd finished with him!
Then got a white Bellstar a bit later.....
Wet weather gear - oiled parkas.......

[Paul in NZ]

It took a lot of rain to get through an Army great coat too,and the
Air Force ones were even better.You could turn the collar up and button that thing from the inside of the coat to both sides of the collar - you felt like some girl from the Congo with bangles on her neck....but no rain went down there.


Oh god yes - army surplus! I still have a pair of german army trou that I think must be bullet proof. Submariners socks and wollen gurnsey - brill. I had some kind of surplus duffle coat thing that dragged on the ground it was so big... jesus - what a sight it must have been... Oily oiks!

[Edbear]

Yep! The old Army greatcoat, steelcapped forestry boots and the open face helmet with leather face mask and goggles. Why have'nt I got a pic!? Have to check through Mother's photo albums...

[Motu]

We were so good looking back then eh? Better not post a picture or else all these young guys will have a personality crisis.I had an Air Force great coat...nice in blue....but they didn't allow short people in the Air Force,but the Army great coats were available in short sizes.Kinda helpfull if you were a shorter size.I think all this woolen padding must of helped in those prangs....who needed leather when you had the superior qualities of wool.

[Ixion]

That's the stuff. Worked really well if it was pissing down but really cold. Otherwise it was a toss up if you were going to get wetter because of your own body heat.

Another reason it's good to be a biker today. Who'd have thunk it. Bikes that handle (Mach 111 - ahhh I'm going to die), tyres that grip, disk brakes that actually brake, and wet weather gear that works (mostly). Oh happy days.

I've still got (and sometimes wear) a pair of Line 7 bib front leggings. And a fleece lined Line 7 jacket. That was WAY cool back then , normally cost a fortune, way beyond my pockets. I got a "special deal" .

My first bike came with a genuine "Corker Skid Lid". Corker was the brand and "Skid Lid" was the model. A pudding basin with leather bits and webbing inside. My mother constantly nagged me to wear it " Ahhh - Mummmmm!! Everyone'll think I'm a real DORK ".

[Edbear]

We were so good looking back then eh? Better not post a picture or else all these young guys will have a personality crisis.

...who needed leather when you had the superior qualities of wool.



Yeah, I was skinny and handsome once upon-a-time!:yes:

I'm pleased to say I never did have to try out the protective qualities of the Greatcoat! I felt very safe and secure in it though...:sunny:

[Bandit Rider]

Good memories, had a Mach III too. The old "Great Coat" - hadn't thought about them for years.

Have to admit the gear and the bikes are so much better - but not being 18 anymore isn't all good.

[Pwalo]

Good memories, had a Mach III too. The old "Great Coat" - hadn't thought about them for years.

Have to admit the gear and the bikes are so much better - but not being 18 anymore isn't all good.

What, you mean you don't enjoy laughing at the youngsters, and not having to be a dick because that's what teenagers do?

[Paul in NZ]

I remember the first proper boots I purchased for the bike. Jeeze - what a laugh. Tall leather things with a zip up the back and a buckle at the top. More like horse riding boots than proper bike boots. They were utter shite - leaked like a sieve and the inner sole was compressed cardboard or something - literally fell off my feet within a year. Replaced em with the old green river tramping boots until the dog ate one (why always just ONE) and then surplus MOT style boots (commando sole, full length tongue, 3 buckle flap up top) except mine were black and theirs were brown - much better - still got em, still use em.

[Podo]

I had some of the first Bell's in NZ and I can remember returning from Aust with white "Stagg" brand leathers. At the time I can only remember a few in white, Perry, Discombe and some guy on a Mach 3 , Kingston or some such name.
Gaz.

The some guy you referred to was Cliff Kingston from Tauranga, a champion rider (and our local hero). Cliff rode a T20 race kitted Suzuki. There was a posting just after the most recent Wanganui Street races ,which contained photos of the historic display there, most, if not all of these riders were featured.

[roogazza]

The some guy you referred to was Cliff Kingston from Tauranga, a champion rider (and our local hero). Cliff rode a T20 race kitted Suzuki. There was a posting just after the most recent Wanganui Street races ,which contained photos of the historic display there, most, if not all of these riders were featured.

Thats him ! I was at a reunion of old racers a couple of weeks ago and Pete Fleming said he was his hero . (pete was production champ a couple of times around 75)
The first Mach3's were white but that was in Sydney Aust. I don't remember seeing them here. Gaz.

[pete376403]

My first full face helmet was an AGV that I bought from the guy who imported it from Italy. I recall getting stopped by a cop one night and he was going to book me for not wearing an approved helmet - at that time f/faces were not legal. Let off that one, but still got the speeding ticket.

[SPman]

The first Mach3's were white but that was in Sydney Aust. I don't remember seeing them here. Gaz.
The white ones were over here as well - the "100mph down View Rd (Mt Eden)), we all had turns on was a white one with the purple? stripe on the tank and drum brakes. (110mph indicated was the record before having to slow down or risk flying through the lights onto Dominion Rd - the drum brake wasn't very effective)

[MacD]

Remember Line 7 motorcycle gear?

I still have my black one-piece Line 7 rainsuit hanging in the shed. No rain could get in through that, but the sweat didn't get out either! ;) It was an upgrade from the Oilskin gear.

My first helmet was also a red Jet-style with peak. My brother, who's a few years older than me, had a pudding-basin style helmet with domes, but he gave up riding before I started.

No Mach III here though, I was an RD350 guy.

[Silage]

Kept looking through old albums and found these !!!! They were titled "1970-71 season at Ruapuna - 1/2 production race"
He (Dad) is the one on with the green helmet (I know, hard to tell with B&W pics)on that 3-cylinder beast from Kawasaki !!
Dale Wylie (on the Commando) and Owen Galbraith feature in those pics too if that means anything to you older guys here on the forum.


Just who are you calling old, young fella!!

Great pics NM. I have a chat with Owen Galbraith most weeks. He still rides a lot of miles but not on the track any more. Which pic(s) is he in as I will print it off for him.

[nudemetalz]

Just who are you calling old, young fella!!

Great pics NM. I have a chat with Owen Galbraith most weeks. He still rides a lot of miles but not on the track any more. Which pic(s) is he in as I will print it off for him.

eerrr,...yeah, maybe not so much of the old then..oops...

That I'm not quite sure, I reckon he would know if he saw them though.

[Rhino]

Kept looking through old albums and found these !!!!
They were titled "1970-71 season at Ruapuna - 1/2 production race"

He (Dad) is the one on with the green helmet (I know, hard to tell with B&W pics)on that 3-cylinder beast from Kawasaki !!
Dale Wylie (on the Commando) and Owen Galbraith feature in those pics too if that means anything to you older guys here on the forum.

Bugger being this photographer on the outside of a corner !!!
I was racing at Rauapuna and Levels at the same time as your Dad, Dale, Warren and Owen. Great photos (Possibly taken by Euan Cameron, a mate who photographed most meetings in that period.).:yes:

As SPman has said, the white tank Mach III was available here. I rode a mates blue tank drum brake model round Ruapuna in about 1973. I achieved 3 laps and the the brakes just vanished.:gob:

[geoffm]

Back in the days when Men wuz Men, and sheep were scared....
I still have a Line 7 PVC 1 piece reainsuit. Sod of a thing to get into over the leathers, but kept me dry in some horrible weather. I got it when Line 7 had a going -out-of business sale post sharemarket crash.
My first helmet was a second hand open face from the secodn hand shop in OSHannesy St in Papakura at the time. I gave it to a neighbour after 1 winter commuting on the mighty B120 and my face damn near froze off. The useless visor deflected the wind underneath. Replaced with a NZ made FFM with the soft and scratchable visors that meant you couldn't see a thing at night
Geoff

[roogazza]

As SPman has said, the white tank Mach III was available here. I rode a mates blue tank drum brake model round Ruapuna in about 1973. I achieved 3 laps and the the brakes just vanished.:gob:[/QUOTE]

Ah its all coming back, Blue stripe on the white tank. The mod I used for the brakes was to use AM4 brake material , or was that on the T350 Suzuki ? maybe the latter ? (Made the drums go gold) Gaz.

[Motig]

Centurion full face from England, Lewis leather jacket,my old mans best dress coat, gymshoes and ski gloves. Life was way simpler then.

[toycollector10]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/toycollector10/classicsJan107/DSCF3378.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

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Bevan's beautiful 500. This is the first year model, I think, note the scalloped art deco style tank. This bike is a credit to its owner.

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2nd Generation full face. The "Darth Vader"

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This is the shizzle, as the yoof of today say. Daves' 750 Kwaker.

Pictures are of some of the bikes and riders of the Classic Japanese Riders in Christchurch.

[Rhino]

Loved the picture of the Yamaha TX650. I had the same year (1973) in metallic blue when I lived in Christchurch.

It was stolen from work in 75 :angry: and found in Greymouth in 78. Luckily it wasn't insured at the time, so it was returned to me by the Police.

I had bought a Kawasaki S2 to use after it was nicked, that was a fun machine, but b****y thirsty. The best I ever got was 24 mpg.:gob:

[terbang]

Wow thats a blast from the past. I spent my life savings on one of those (H2-750). Wrote it off (uninsured) before I turned 17. Back to real jandals for a while after a bit of time mending in concrete.

[speedpro]

Some exagerated stories about those triples. Mates had a range of them from blue or orange 500s, one with alloy denco pipes, to a variety of H2s. I went the RD350(ports and pipes), Honda 750(888cc + everything else), Kwaka 900(1100cc+dbl disc) route. If you got it all wrong they would cetainly bite you though that's certain. Nothing like the sound of a well tuned triple in the power.

[nudemetalz]

Here's the sound of a well-tuned triple....awesome !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTDAd8utBqo