NZCMRR Classic Festival 2007

[Ixion]

Still going

Woo hoo . Another big two smoker
Techy one. A velo with an alternator! And a very neat conversion too. Note the Zener diode under the triple tree
Caption contest: Mine is "I *know* they're the same colour. But I still think the judges in the Groundsmans' Open will notice the ringin"
Ohh. That's a VERY nice sidevale. 1000cc of side valve.
I'd give it more like 8 out 10 myself
Very nice. I do like those Enfields/

[avgas]

i got there about 1400 today, after seeing manukau. Sat down with dad and a mate and enjoyed the last few racers.
Shit that 350 Bulltaco flew - awesome stuff.
Where were all the classic jappas racing - i was a bit ticked to not see a single Z1 or a TZ race.

[Ixion]

Yes, I'm STILL going.

Not many of those around. And how small and neat and compact it is
Personal reminisence. I had one like that with the bathtub
And mine was a magneto too. Not so common, most had a distributor
Yes. it's a side valve it IS worth a second look
I had a Tiger Cub too, but not a trials one

There was supposed to be some sort of Trials exhibition, but I couldn't find it. Or I missed it cos I was rather late on account of delays to get petrol (Petal is blurdy thristy) , and a broken down Daytona on the motorway. Which was a pity. I've always had trials as one of the things on my "List of stuff to try before I die". I've long since proven that I can't ride fast, so I may as well prove I can't ride slow either.

[Ivan]

did you get any photos of the Triumph Sparton in the Post Classic class or the GRT600 single?

[Ixion]

No, only what I've posted.

[Motu]

Carl Garnet's Spartan? He was there as usual,had 3 of his bikes at the trials display as well.Eric Bone was telling me he went for a leak at 2.30am saturday night and found Carl outside with his engine completely stripped down,even had the crank out.Then I found him sunday morning in the covered pits helping someone with their bike,next time I saw him he was riding his Norton and Triumph at the trials display,the guy has so much positive energy it's scary.

I took my wife this year,it's over 20 years since she last went,and she really enjoyed herself.She got to meet some friends she hasn't seen for a long time,and to meet others she has only heard about....like Eric Bone who was a legend when they both worked at Laurie Sommers,but she never met him,she being only a part time detailer.For some reason she was really taken with Rudges,and spent a long time looking at them.She is a bit more curious than me,and often stopped to ask questions of owners,finding out interesting details.She also showed excessive interest in Enfields,taking photos of every single one there,checking them out in detail and getting brochures....I think her mind is set on a path to final conclusion.....

My short term memory means I've forgotten all the wonderfull machines I was so impressed with,and I didn't take many photos because I was sure I'd remember.The orange Eldorado was stunning,every sidecar was interesting (the Goldflash had an A7 engine,heh,heh) I saw the waterbucket but didn't wander over for a look.Just so many interesting bikes in the spectator parking area.I was looking for photos of myself there Ixion,we probably passed somewhere....I had a lot of old mates in the green Egli pit,and spent some time there.The Experimental BSA is always my favorite,and my wife was suitable impressed being a BSA single fan - there is nothing on this bike that hasn't been played with,and I made Big Dave take a photo of it.A laided down motor,ultra short stroke with a very short barrel,external flywheel,leading link forks,reversed steering head,I am totaly impressed with it.

Got some photos I'll put on tonight.

[Ivan]

Nah I ment Doug Fairbrothers one,
It was a Triumph 750cc Sparton it has blue Norton pipes on it and lastyear it had a Small purple tank It was once a scrambler bike and also broke the world speed record

I was just wondering

This year it had the blue pipes, clip ons, Rear sets, Vesco seat and anew tank on it looked really trick

[Motu]

Did I tell you about the time I found a Spartan frame in the in organic collection? I swapped it for an outboard.

[What?]

.Eric Bone was telling me he went for a leak at 2.30am saturday night and found Carl outside with his engine completely stripped down,even had the crank out..

Carl's Faber Puissant framed Bonneville broke the crank on Saturday, so he was up late building up a motor out of spare parts and some of the race motor. "Just threw it together and hoped", but it seemed to go pretty good - I think he ended up 3rd overall.

[Ivan]

Man these classic guys have my respect.
That is awsome as full credit to them,

Considering they would be tired from riding and those wouldnt be no easy bike to ride the vibrations etc wouldwear you out in a hurry and then spend your night rebuilding your engine maybe have a beer or 2 or 3
THen sleeping


THEN BACK UP RACING


Respect to all of you guys who did it


Haha

Theres not many of them spartons around is there Motu?

[Big Dave]

>>and I made Big Dave take a photo of it.<<

Just for you motu - and there is a nice one of you and the mrs.

My photos of the classics and this sound vid are on www.kiwirider.co.nz




A report from the whole weekend - and some of my favourite pics ever is here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...31&postcount=1

Blow ya away!

[Motu]

Very nice - we were looking for the Scott's ''secret clutch''.

Did anyone see the ''rust rod''? A bare metal rod,you could see the welding for the roof chop and other body work....not a scrap of paint,everything just bare metal.There was a Featherbed,forget what motor,gosh,it may of even had a Norton in it - anyway,it was bare metal too,and maybe just clear laqured.Bare metal and all the brazed joints - might come as a surprise to some that most of the British frames were brazed not welded.

Oh,the Mini Max! What a little gem - a perfect 175 copy of the 250 Super Max,everything just smaller.I didn't know such a thing existed...do they,or did someone make it out of old Honda parts? I have a photo here of a nice MV Augusta,350 I think,there was another smaller model further down.The Morgan with the big Matchless V twin,I've seen that on the road in use before.

I came away from there thinking I don't like modern bikes with their bulk and clutter - there were so many simple plain bikes,engines frames wheels and a seat and bars,all you need.I used to think a Trident was a monster,now it's a small lithe switchblade....many modern 250's seem bigger.

[Motu]

Here's an example of something I liked - just so simple and clean,Roadholder forks and a Commando front brake to bring it up to the late '60's.

I'm sending this photo of the pre unit Bonny to my brother in Canada - in 1971/72 he had a Triumph chop with an 8 stud Bonny head.The motor out of the bike was an ex speedway sidecar,an alky burner and the head was ported with huge valves.I sidecar racer wanted the head and they swapped,the alloy head not being suitable for alky.Anyway,it had extra central sparkplugs,and I never saw another like it.Although it reappeared in the late '70's in a mates parts collection.I have talked to the owner of this bike before,and we discussed the head - he said it had central plugs,and as it was a restoration he had the holes filled and remachined.If you look really hard you can see the new metal.Nice buzz in 2007 to see stuff you held in your hands in 1971.

[Ivan]

thats cool motu,


What a feeling holding something you held 30 years earlier

[slowpoke]

I came away from there thinking I don't like modern bikes with their bulk and clutter - there were so many simple plain bikes,engines frames wheels and a seat and bars,all you need.I used to think a Trident was a monster,now it's a small lithe switchblade....many modern 250's seem bigger.

Yep gotta agree with you Motu. After riding a motard I'm buggered if I know why manufacturers don't make road bikes or more general purpose dual sport machines with similar specs. They aren't anything super special, there's not a huge amount of hp, simple frames, just decent brakes, decent suspension and absolutely nothing superfluous.