Castrol Six-Hour?

[Katman]

Does anyone know where I could get my hands on the tape 'On the Limit' about the Castrol 6 Hour? I'm trying to gather as much info on the history of my wire wheel kat and I'm wondering whether it might have taken part in the 1982 race.

[Ivan]

I got it on DVD might get ya a copy and send it to ya

[Dadpole]

As I recall, they would have been first registered as "used". If you have the original reg details, that is one indication.

EDIT: Wellington Motorcycles may still have the records (frame no. etc.)

[Katman]

The first registered owner was Dundon & Gill M/cs (aka Wellington M/cs) and they 'owned' it for about six weeks. It struck me as strange that they would register it in their name if they didn't have a 'use' for it.

[Dadpole]

Sounds like it may be one they used. I think (Alzheimer's kicking in) they had 3 bikes for the 6 hour. Anyone please correct me if wrong.
Congratulations on having a "Wobbly Wheel Banana" anyhow. Great bikes in their time. A mate had one when they came out, and I had to fit go-fast parts in my gsx1100ez to overtake him.

[Katman]

I'd heard that Dave and Neville Hiscock had one each and Robert Holden and Bob Toomey shared one, so that would fit in nicely with your theory of three. I also seem to remember that Dave trashed his at some stage and that may fit in with the fact that mine has had the frame replaced at some time in it's life.

[nudemetalz]

My old man had two and neither were 6-hour specials. He did however clubman race them at Puke. The were both brand-new in Auckland so wouldn't be your one, Katman.

[Katman]

I got it on DVD might get ya a copy and send it to ya

Hey Ivan, you got me all excited and now I feel all let down. You know there's a name for woman that do that!

[gav]

Bike shops often register them and put them in the fleet as demonstrators too, so any young Tom, Dick or Harry gets to trash the arse off them well, maybe ..... Thought if it was a race bike they would have used it for longer than six weeks? Would have raced it for the rest of the season, too?

[Katman]

Yeah you're sure to be right gav! What the the fuck would I know having been rabidly keen on the history of katanas since the year dot!

[nudemetalz]

I've been keen on them too since their conception.

This is me back in 1982 as a 12 year old boy sitting on my old-man's Wire-Wheeler while he prepares them for the day's racing.

[Katman]

Now that's a photo for the album!

[nudemetalz]

Glad you liked.
Did you notice the crankcase protectors ?
These were fashioned in the workshop at Mike Vinsens. Thankfully he never had an opportunity to try them out but from what I believe (esp on the LHS) this was a weak point when they went down.

[Katman]

Come in Ivan........

[Dadpole]

Those crankcase protectors were popular. Used a set myself, as the alternator was very vunerable. Many an 1100 was picked up only to find the cover broken. They worked well when sliding front wheel first, but dug in sometimes when the bike spun around

Don't think any wire wheel models were used as demo bikes. Seem to recall they sold as soon as they were available.