Guess the Classic Racer

**Kickaha** · 15th February 2008, 23:03

Originally Posted by T.W.R

4) Who are the riders & bikes? (after the 2nd bike in particular, the 1st is pretty obvious)

2nd bike, Wil Hartog Suzuki RG500 mk2

**T.W.R** · 15th February 2008, 23:05

Originally Posted by Kickaha

2nd bike, Wil Hartog Suzuki RG500 mk2

try again matey

**Kickaha** · 15th February 2008, 23:06

Originally Posted by T.W.R

try again matey

Pat Heenan

**T.W.R** · 15th February 2008, 23:08

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Pat Heenan

nah

Think aussie

**gav** · 15th February 2008, 23:42

#1 photo Kenny Blake, TZ350
#2 Hiscock, Dave or Neville? Dave I think .... ohhh looky, a wire wheel, black piper!
#3 Kevin Magee on the Bob Brown Ducati, Aaron Slight raced that bike as well when he first went to Aussie!
#4 photo Sure looks like Will Hartog to me, he wore white Lookwell leathers and Nolan helmets!

**T.W.R** · 15th February 2008, 23:50

Originally Posted by gav

#1 photo Kenny Blake, TZ350
#2 Hiscock, Dave or Neville? Dave I think .... ohhh looky, a wire wheel, black piper!
#3 Kevin Magee on the Bob Brown Ducati, Aaron Slight raced that bike as well when he first went to Aussie!
#4 photo Sure looks like Will Hartog to me, he wore white Lookwell leathers and Nolan helmets!

#1

yep Kenny Blake on a TZ350
#2 Dave Hiscock & Niel Chivas pairing on the GSX

yep black pipe version, one of five with those & one of 20 with wire wheels
#3 yep Kevin Magee on the BBD, got a full run down on that bike in another mag & I think Robert Holden also had a play on it too
#4

wrong again

**gav** · 16th February 2008, 00:11

#4 looks like your mag is wrong then!
Looks pretty similar to this bloke doesn't it?
And thats Will Hartog .....
Don't think their were any Aussie 500cc GP racers around that era, be after Jack Findlay isn't it?

**T.W.R** · 16th February 2008, 00:39

Originally Posted by gav

#4 looks like your mag is wrong then!
Looks pretty similar to this bloke doesn't it?
And thats Will Hartog .....
Don't think their were any Aussie 500cc GP racers around that era, be after Jack Findlay isn't it?

Apologies

True lols It is Will Hartog and the picture is taken from the 1980 Germany GP at Hockenheim where he actually won the event from Roberts

The article I got it from is about Mike Sinclair the Suzuki Works Mechanic who prepared the bike for Hartog, and who also was the Mechanic for Croz when he 1st went into 500GP.

Mike Sinclair is another credit to NZ

Got a fair bit going on here at the moment so was digging quickly to find a worthwhile piccy to post up

**Kickaha** · 16th February 2008, 06:22

Originally Posted by gav

#4 looks like your mag is wrong then!
Looks pretty similar to this bloke doesn't it?

I was going to suggest that after looking at this when I was told I was wrong
http://www.gsx-r.eu/History_racing_Netherlands.html

**roogazza** · 16th February 2008, 07:28

Originally Posted by T.W.R

right people, right bike

lols though i got that pic from Two Wheels March 81' in an article written by Don Cox and it's all about the quirky handling traits of the GSX1100ET in it's first outings and issues with other items on the bike saying Suzuki had severe quality control problems

We had a few laughs when Dave came back from Bathurst around 80/81 . The Aussies had never seen the big Suzukis win over there. (all Hondas) I asked him what he thought of Bathurst, and it always stuck with me ? "just like the Takas mate, with a laugh, easy " !!! Gaz.

**T.W.R** · 16th February 2008, 10:15

Originally Posted by roogazza

We had a few laughs when Dave came back from Bathurst around 80/81 . The Aussies had never seen the big Suzukis win over there. (all Hondas) I asked him what he thought of Bathurst, and it always stuck with me ? "just like the Takas mate, with a laugh, easy " !!! Gaz.

Sort of explains the casual style on the grid here

There were one or two floating around in Oz though, Peter Barnwell campaigned one at Bathurst in 1980 in the unlimited production class.

The handling quirks were related to proper set-up, steering head tension, wheel alignment, tyre pressures, & heavier fork oil.
The 5 "Blackie" versions were a slight mix with the centre headers being chrome and the outside headers & mufflers black, the centre ones were a different diameter. the also had beefed up clutches, hotter cams, & smooth bore carbs.
The Blackie's debut wasn't to flash with Hiscock's bike blowing a oil seal, Freeth's wrecked a crankshaft, & Chivas' suffering gear selection issues. And the supposedly SP tyres for the bikes wearing out completely after 3hrs (not exactly waht was needed in a 6hr event).