Norton Manx 350

Recent images of next year's Manx race bike. The bike is a combination of an early '54 frame with a '59 350 short stroke motor. Check back soon for more updates before testing starts in the new year...

Mallory Park Test Day - NSU Norton

These photos were taken at the recent Mallory Park test day on March 22nd - first time out for the NSU Norton! The new machine performed faultlessly apart from a trapped breather pipe that meant a little oil began escaping through the filler cap - an easy fix. The new bike replaces the NSU Sportmax replica that I campaigned in the VMCC Economy Appliances Championship in 2011.

Mallory Park is a relatively simple track but one that takes time to perfect. From the first gear bus stop chicane to the very fast Gerrards, it's a track that demands a combination of slow and fast bike control. My favourite corner has to be the devils elbow, a slightly downhill left-hander just before you cross the start/finish straight. One of the other great things about Mallory is the number of 'lines' at each corner. The track is quite wide, allowing plenty of overtaking and even spectators are well catered for thanks to the raised viewing banks.

The NSU Norton is a 250cc NSU Max engine, cradled in an un-modified Manx Norton featherbed frame. The first thing you notice is the front mounted oil tank, located low, out in front making the most of the cool air-flow- it also helps maintain a low centre of gravity. The next major difference to the original Norton layout is the drive-side. Located on the right-hand side, instead of the left, the NSU engine/gearbox unit is also self-contained.

Heading out onto the track for the first time the NSU gearbox is as sweet as a nut. Fitted with Sportmax cams, the engine thrives on revs and only past 3000/4000rpm does it come on song. The following 4/5 laps gave me chance to enjoy the fantastic handling while running-in the new engine. The first race is in 3 weeks time back at Mallory Park, I can't wait!

Norton Dominator racer

Originally capable of producing upwards of 50bhp at around 8,000rpm the works Domiracer was a very capable machine.

In the 1961 Isle of Man TT rider Tom Phillis took a Doug Hele-developed Domiracer to third place and lapped at over 100mph. This was a first for a twin-cylinder pushrod engine.

1956 Norton Domiracer

Once the Bracebridge Street race shop in Birmingham closed in January 1962, Norton abandoned the Domiracer project and the works Domiracer and factory spares were sold off to Paul Dunstall. Dunstall continued to campaign the 500cc twins with riders Fred Neville, Dave Downer and Syd Mizen, up until 1964.

This example features a 1956 wideline frame with Dural engine plates, Manx type swing arm, Hagon shocks, chrome short Roadholder forks with alloy damper tubes and a Seeley alloy top yoke. Front wheel is a WM2x18 Akront with Norton hub and a Triumph 2LS backplate. The rear wheel is WM3 Akront with Norton hub and cable brake. It is worth noting that the brakes are very effective!

1956 Norton Domiracer

The engine is Laystall short stroke (68x68), with one piece period race crankshaft fitted with polished and shot-peened Commando rods, SS camshaft with lightened followers, running 10.5 - 1 with Powermax pistons, gas-flowed head with lightened and polished rockers. The carbs are twin rubber-mounted (GS750 stubs) 28mm Amal MK2s. Total loss coil ignition system. Bob Newby clutch and belt primary drive with fibreglass primary cover. Close ratio 4 speed gearbox and custom-made, 2-into-1 Mason Racing exhaust.

I can't wait for a test ride once the 2012 season gets into full swing!

1956 Norton Domiracer

Blue NSU racer

Norton International - Norwegian style

My lovely Norwegian friend Wenche (pronounced Ven-ka) trying the '37 Norton Inter for size.

Norton Domi-Racer on Ebay

I spotted this interesting looking '59 framed Domi-Racer on Ebay this evening, how many have you seen painted green? Yours for £5,500.

The fibreglass tank would have to go! Some tasty parts though.

The owner states that the '53 motor comes with high compression, large valves and an alloy barrel. There is also a belt primary drive conversion and a close ratio 3rd gear.

Norton Flat Tanker

More details of the side-valve flat tanker, coming soon..

1926 Harley Davidson 1200c OHV Model J

Sold by Bonhams Auctioneers at the Hendon RAF Museum in 2010 was this angry looking 1926 Harley Davidson 1200c (74ci) OHV Model J racer.

I recently stumbled across  several images I took of the machine and just had to post them again.

Every part of the motorcycle had been tweaked in the search for more speed, the finish displaying an aged patina that only added to the appeal. Wearing number boards from a relatively recent event, I can only presume the bike runs very well.

Converted to OHV at some point during it's 85 year life, the Harley had straight through pipes, cheese-holed everything and a bum seat that resembled a kind of hernial ballooning! Fitting for a 85 year old machine capable of well over 100 mph.

Ideal as a vintage sprint and display bike, it sold, including taxes for £29,900.

Super Cafe Racer by Taimoshan

The challenge to create the best looking, fastest, most purposeful cafe racer is a long and winding road. There are many subjective variables that need to be addressed but I feel there are several ingredients that are as simple as black and white, or should it be red and silver? See what I mean..

Firstly the frame. Norton featherbed. It just has to be in my opinion. The second most important pieces in the puzzle are the seat unit and tank. Again, they have to resemble original Manx items. Thirdly, clip-ons and rear sets. Beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder but to achieve the desired 'look', proportion, stance-angle, sound and performance all require careful consideration.

Finally the engine, the heart of any motorcycle. Should it be a Norton pushrod single? Harley pushrod? Vincent V-Twin? BSA Gold Star? Yamaha XS? Suzuki GSXR? or the old faithful Triumph Twin? Obviously some options provide more logistical challenges than others but what lump made over the last 50 years would create the epitome of a cafe racer? And slot into the bay of a featherbed frame?

Cardiff based bike builders Taimoshan believe Aprilia have the answer. The Super Cafe Racer is a Norton featherbed cradling a 1000cc Aprilia RSV motor.

The quality of the work appears to be extremely high. The time and effort put into the rear suspension and unit pro link set-up is remarkable. The rear monoshock has no top mounting point on the frame in order to prevent frame flex which can disrupt handling.



The wiring loom, fuel pump, ignition, full engine management computer and throttle bodies all sit 'in tank' under the Manx style unit.

For more information visit the Taimoshan Cycle Works site.

1951 Vincent Grey Flash Replica - Bonhams at Stafford

Based on a Series C Comet 500 single, a striking Grey Flash replica is for sale as part of the Bonhams Motorcycle auction at Staffordshire County Showground on 24 April 2011.

Originally capable of 115mph the racing trim Grey Flash was a formidable and rare racer- only 31 were ever produced. With an output of 35bhp at 6200rpm the works machines never won a TT race but did take several victories on the continent and famously at gave Geoff Duke's Norton a scare at Thruxton with John Surtees at the helm.

This particular Grey Flash Replica is complete with rear cantilever suspension, Girdraulic front forks and would make an excellent period race machine. It carries a pre-sale estimate of £8,000- £12,000.

Mallory Park VMCC - In the paddock

A selection of some of the tastier motorcycles spotted on the lunch break around the paddock at the VMCC test day. Look out for the rare Godet Vincent and Mularney 4 valve Manx..

Mallory Park VMCC test day - 8th April 2011

Some very sunny images of the recent test day at Mallory Park with NSU 250 Sportmax Replica and 500 ES2 'Green Meanie'. The fantastic weather and brand new surface at Mallory provided the perfect opportunity to put some miles on both machines in preparation for my inaugural race later in the season.

The nimble, lightweight NSU proved itself as an extremely capable track machine, (hopefully like the rider in the near future) diving into turns and remaining very stable at higher speeds. Wearing new Avon Roadrider track tyres the strong little 250 was very stable under braking and encouraged ever higher cornering speeds as my knowledge of the track improved.

There were all sizes and ages of machines present, including this pre-war Velocette 350 I'm chasing into Edwine's.

This shiny beast was built by the very highly skilled Mike Pemberton of Pushrod Performance. Beginning with a 1960 Norton 99 Dominator frame, the bike uses a 350 crank, short stroked with an alloy 500 barrel. Combined with belt primary drive, a rather special piston and you have quite unique machine. Nick-named the Green Meanie (a drop of green paint was used to achieve the frame colour), I see it as something of a streetfighter from the 60s...