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Thread: Castrol 6-hour Katanas ex-Aussie?

  1. #16
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    Having just pawed through my collection of 1981 and 82 Australian Two Wheels magazines it turns out that no Katanas (750 or 1100) raced in the 1981 Castrol 6 Hour. The race was held in October and in that months magazine is an article on the first available road test of the 1100 demonstrator.

    In none of the magazines is there any mention of spoked wheel 750 Katanas.

  2. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Katman View Post
    Having just pawed through my collection of 1981 and 82 Australian Two Wheels magazines it turns out that no Katanas (750 or 1100) raced in the 1981 Castrol 6 Hour. The race was held in October and in that months magazine is an article on the first available road test of the 1100 demonstrator.

    In none of the magazines is there any mention of spoked wheel 750 Katanas.
    I remember Bob Toomey racing a GSX750 in the '81 6 hour along with a few others, the only other Suzuki's I'm aware of that year were GSX1100's. Katana's didn't make an appearance until '82 and they were a mix of 750 & 1100's and then the following year the Katana 1000 was introduced because of the capacity limit. '84 saw a couple or 3 Katana 750 pop-ups in the race and then that was the end as '85 saw the first GSX-R750's compete.

    Sounds to me like someone is having a stitch up, 750 Katana's being turned into 1100 clones was common place back then (mainly just a seat change) and it wasn't unusual for people to fit wire wheels to 1100's and 750's especially as the donor hubs etc were readily available then.
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  3. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by cs363 View Post
    Sounds to me like someone is having a stitch up, 750 Katana's being turned into 1100 clones was common place back then (mainly just a seat change) and it wasn't unusual for people to fit wire wheels to 1100's and 750's especially as the donor hubs etc were readily available then.
    I've seen a website where they went into a bit more detail about the wire wheel 750, they did build then as a homologation special for racing

    I didn't bookmark it though and now I can't find it
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  4. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by cs363 View Post

    Sounds to me like someone is having a stitch up, 750 Katana's being turned into 1100 clones was common place back then (mainly just a seat change) and it wasn't unusual for people to fit wire wheels to 1100's and 750's especially as the donor hubs etc were readily available then.
    Can you recall what production endurance race was held at Baypark in 1982?

    The photos I have show the bikes and riders lined up for a Le Mans start with two or three spoked wheel Katanas with 750 seats. I'd be surprised though if the Hiscocks, Robert and Bob were actually on 750s considering there's CB1100Rs in there as well.

    (Only a week to go before my infraction points reduce sufficently to allow me to post photos as attachments).

  5. #20
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  6. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by 98tls View Post
    Yeah, that's where I got all the above pics a while back (looking for CBX pics, lol)

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  7. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Katman View Post
    Can you recall what production endurance race was held at Baypark in 1982?

    The photos I have show the bikes and riders lined up for a Le Mans start with two or three spoked wheel Katanas with 750 seats. I'd be surprised though if the Hiscocks, Robert and Bob were actually on 750s considering there's CB1100Rs in there as well.

    (Only a week to go before my infraction points reduce sufficently to allow me to post photos as attachments).
    I'm pretty sure that was the Dunlop 2 hour, because I raced my 550 Katana in that race though can't remember the year - I think they ran it for 2 or 3 years but not sure, too many cold ones dulling the memory tonight!

    Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes

  8. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by cs363 View Post
    Yeah, that's where I got all the above pics a while back (looking for CBX pics, lol)
    Lol,if its CBX pics your after ive a mate in Auckland with one (amongst other very nice older stuff) who may well have some links etc,try pming Les (TLDV8) Fwiw.
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  9. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by cs363 View Post
    It was a pop-up, picture attached of Robert aboard the bike
    and lookit the leathers he is wearing(right shoulder)

  10. #25
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    Here's some pics for you, the aforementioned 550 Katana at Bay Park (not sure if this was that event though Katman), my 750 and first 1100 Katana
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    Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes

  11. #26
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    And a couple of pics of the Wellington Motorcycles team having fun at what I think is Ruapuna though might be Teretonga. Pretty sure I remember one of these bikes (possibly Toomey's) having a 750 seat on it at one stage, possibly as the result of crash damage?

    Talking of crashing, Pete (Crasherfromwayback) is probably the guy to solve the 750 wire wheel question, he could check with Steve Dundon who is bound to know.

    Also a pic of Hiscock's McIntosh Suzuki (at Bay Park) I found in one pile of pics
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    Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes

  12. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by cs363 View Post
    Here's some pics for you, the aforementioned 550 Katana at Bay Park (not sure if this was that event though Katman), my 750 and first 1100 Katana
    My old man bought a brand new 1100 in the day,i was pretty young and still remember my first sighting of it,before that thing it was all Nortons and bevel drive SS Ducs,though he must have passed many comments on it the only one i remember was "its the only bike ive ridden 2 up at 120mph that actually did something when i twist the loud peddle".
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  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by 98tls View Post
    Lol,if its CBX pics your after ive a mate in Auckland with one (amongst other very nice older stuff) who may well have some links etc,try pming Les (TLDV8) Fwiw.

    I've got plenty of CBX pics (and parts etc, lol) but I'm trying to find some racing pics from that era, doesn't seem to be much about. But I might give Les a try, thanks

    Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes

  14. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by 98tls View Post
    My old man bought a brand new 1100 in the day,i was pretty young and still remember my first sighting of it,before that thing it was all Nortons and bevel drive SS Ducs,though he must have passed many comments on it the only one i remember was "its the only bike ive ridden 2 up at 120mph that actually did something when i twist the loud peddle".
    Yeah they certainly were impressive in their day, as were the early GSX's - never seemed to make much difference whether you were 1 or 2 up!

    Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes

  15. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by cs363 View Post
    I've got plenty of CBX pics (and parts etc, lol) but I'm trying to find some racing pics from that era, doesn't seem to be much about. But I might give Les a try, thanks
    I know for a fact he does have a few,hes over in Aus building a bridge at the mo but checks in when he can,am sure he will get ya sorted.Very clever bloke.
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