Hysterical racing team is go for launch

griff851

Race weekend coming up, the Big Chill, jobs to do or what. 62' 250 engine built by uncle Ian himself just recently (just not going to go on about how long it took) The Gowanloch coat of arms is on this baby. He used his old head from his own fire breathing race bike of the 70"s, this thing has all the stuff.
The other is a hi comp 450 desmo 72' well close enough. Owned by a mate Brett. Lucky me he's done the TT on a 600 a few times. (The bloke whom I mentioned when I made a comment about the first rider of the season biting the dust.)
The 250 ridden by its owner Pete. Very very fast bloke. His Greenframe visited for a while back.

Old mate Trev has the 350 with his rider Dave make up the rest of the team. 2 Pantah TT2's things will join in soonish, could've had 1, but its just not going to make it.
Got a race team, just like WSB, but with way less cash, and really really old machines. 😄 Even got an R&D section which is experimenting with glue and intakes, our own flow bench (thats it under the box just above the 89 in the first pic). Man got it all. Test tract (I have a really long drive way). Got a tech section, engineering section that has lathes older than combined age of each of the singles. Got it all. Might change my name to Enzo…...

The 851 and the old bevel sit patiently waiting for attention. See I like twins, I like working on twins. Two singles make a twin. I'm still in the zone.

wgsvintage

It's obvious you're having too much fun. The red bar ends on the #89 bike are absolutely not period correct, and you are leaving yourself wide open for a nasty protest. They should be removed and passed along to someone who would use them properly (me). I'm desperate for a pair. Ask Ian.
Bill

griff851

I'll ask around.

griff851

Had a chat to uncle Ian, no luck on the bar ends.
I took the 250 out for a short spin today. Ok I've ridden quite a few ducati's over the years, shit loads actually. I'm sorry for cussing, but fuck me, what a weapon. Power comes on around 7k and the front wheel is just up. Bloody hell. Words fail me, and the thing spins out to 12k. Can't wait to do some miles running it in. I feel... Privileged. Uncle Ian is a god. What gets me is loons you to add nitro...wow.

MarkT

Griff-

What a cute pair--front end goes up at 7K- a lot to love.

Mr.R

As was related to me by the top Ducati single tuner in the UK/Europe (Nigel Lacey), it's very easy to get well over 120 mph from a 250 Ducati, the secret is getting them to stay together...
Nigel builds motors that last the Isle of Man MGP/Classic TT and still finish well against all of the 2 and 4 stroke Japanese bikes.
IIRC? He built the fastest ever Classic Ducati single to lap the TT Course.

Steve R

griff851

Yes Nigel is a great guy, I've been in contact with him quite a lot over the last few months. He's been very interested in what we are doing, very helpful, and has a great deal of respect for Uncle Ian.
As I go through life playing on bikes, jets, washing machines or anything else, I've found its always best to deal with the blokes that actually know what they are doing. That way when I stuff it up, at least I know why. 😄

hauge

The guy (woman) who does the organazing in the workshop on hollyday?? 😉

Lovely bikes!

griff851

What are you talking about? I hate that chase lounge. Ever buy something that doesn't fit, but the wife just loves it. Other side is not too bad. As for dress wearing... I might occasionally drop into a frock and a good set of heals. But only for going out to flash places.
Got some miles up on both bikes today. I miss my 851/888. And my bevel. I am not a single's fan I'm afraid. The 450 would be my choice. The 250 is for well.... Let's say other sick puppies.

Mr.R

Hi again Griff,

I've just recalled a fact about the bike that Nigel built the motor for, that's still the fastest around the TT course...
The owner/rider put it up for sale at the Bristol Classic Bike Show and I had a good look around it, he was asking £15,000 for it (several years ago now). Later that afternoon I bumped into Nigel and chatted about it, Nigel raised his eyebrows at the asking price saying...
"He's taking a loss on that, we did £5,000 on the cylinder head!" 😯
The inlet port had been welded up and remade to mimic Pantah down draught porting, the valves were both at Pantah angles, it was flowed by Nigel and had twin spark plugs.
Everything on the bike was "State of the Art" for a Classic race bike and all made by the top boys in their field.
It was a thing of beauty and I almost lusted after it, but even at the bargain price of £15K it was out of my league/price range.

Steve R

griff851

Just got back. Wow guys, had it all. The 450 had 2nd,1st,3rd,4th,4th,7th in ascending order in singles period 4. The engine held together and didn't leak to badly. The rider, old mate Brett hasn't been able to race for some years, due to a pay phone he was installing fell on him and did some serious neck damage. He use to be an A grade rider and seems to known by ever man and his dog. The TT carries a fair bit if weight over here it seems hey. 😄 I'm just glad to see his little smiling eyes as he had a temperary stay from the pain while he had a hoot. Worth every second of the hours I put in.
Several of his mates turned up including a bloke called Chris McRae turned up. An ex uncle Ian apprentice who turned into the fastest guy on a 450 in Bear's for many years. Has 40 dukes and tuning shop and currently racing a hypermotard 1100 motor in a TT2 frame in NSW or something. The guy knows stuff! I impressed him with my adjustable fork preload insert made from $2 worth of pluming stuff from the hardware store. Old dogs are always up for new tricks it seems. 😄

The 250 had it first track session. And that's what it turned into. I had the inlet choked with quick air filter. Made the engine carry on like a rev limiter but forced Pete below to stay below 8. Seems fate had something to do with it as Pete had his first off in 30 years of being fast on a bike on the road. The intake foam saved the engine from the grit and gravel the bike collected. Finally took it off for the last two races and let the wild horse go free, and as expected Pete gave it some and took out all 4 of the 250's and was hunting down the other bike, the 350 ridden by Dave. One more lap and he would have had him easy. I set the rev limiter to 11000 can't wait to see how he goes when I give him full power, same goes for Brett. I only gave Brett 7000 because I didn't want him going off on a new engine either. Took out the offset key last week knowing racers and pilots just can't help them selves.😄 "yeh yeh i'll take it easy, new engine I got it." Bullshit you will. Like alcoholics promising not to have another drink. 😄
So anyway overall a surprisingly good weekend

Stranger still than the success we appeared to be having, was the email Pete got from his mum and dad who are holidaying in Canada. They'ed just had dinner with Mick Doohan who was there with is wife and kids holidaying in the same resort. So I got Pete to ask them if they'd ask Mick if he was coming to Lakeside in Sept. I reckon our Pit at lakeside is going to get interesting over the weekend. Should have uncle Ian, probably Mick, he did a lot of time there in the early days proddy racing. Troy's coming I'm pretty sure, he'd have to pop in for chat the way things seem to going. Going to have to take the 851 and add a bit more class to the pit. All a bit weird really. Grass roots racing, cool as hey.

griff851

Team drama. My winning rider has withdrawn injured. Torn elbow tendon. His bike has been torn down for upgrades and pending parts.
250 blew a big end during test ride at 10700. Nigel Lacey has come through with a con rod kit up to the task. It's English, but that's ok as the Tornado had Italian wings, so I don't see any rejection issues. Engine sent to uncle Ian 1300km away. In 2 weeks it's got to back or it curtains for the big national historical 50th anniversary meet. Pressure is on. We have a back up bike, the 350, but it's hard work for the rider and the pit team. ie me.) the new addition TT2 has gone back to the dyno a second time. I'm waiting results from its rider.

crowster69

hang on you sent a motor to uncle ian and you want it back in two weeks.It took my mate 3 years to get his back.Hope it works out for you.id like to see this tt2

griff851

And? With faith you can move mountains apparently. Just testing the concept. Two weeks to go, con rod kit airborne 5hrs ago, 22-23 hours until touch down. Then the slow part of the process..
It's not a real TT2, the real TT2 belongs another bloke, but I don't think he's racing.

griff851

With great thanks to Nigel Lacey (ok possibly the greatest singles guy on the planet apart from the fact he is a pom) the engine is on it's way back. See with faith you can do amazing things. I get it Friday or Monday, at the track Thursday. 285 entries and 38 side cars. New modified track, first round of Nationals in 11 years and 50th anniversary of bike racing at Lakeside. Game on.

griff851

Ok great plan, all went well except. Freight company blew it. Engine is at the other end of the country and practise starts tomorrow. There is hope. It might turn up on Friday. Just don't know how I feel about road testing in the country late at night with no lights and overcast sky's. Might strap a torch to my helmet and see how I go. Swearing was invented for events like this.