Classic Racer - January/February 2020 - Preview

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IT’S THE LEGENDARY

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www.classicracer.com where legends live on...

WIN!

TTHIS BEAUTIFUL SHOEI GLAMSTER HELMET

#201

State St e Art!

The inside story, 40 years on

What it takes to make a moderrn Classic TT racebike

“I knew nothing and then got distracted...” ” Original playboy Gianni Rolando on Grand Prix in the 1970s

PLUS

+

// Dr Joe and the 350 EMC // Amazing archive photos // 90 years at the North West // The story of the CRMC Part Two

January/February 2020 £4.50

LEADING FRONT

The Elf5 500cc GP machine in GLORIOUS detail

WHAT’SINSIDE 006 Classic Racer archive More photos, and this time there are three of them, from the depths of the Classic Racer archive. With three we get to span the decades that bit more, this time through the lenses of Nick Nicholls and Mark Wernham.

014 Crossword Another chance for you to stretch the racing memory banks and have a pop at completing the CR Crossword. A fine way to fill a cold, dark evening when the racing season seems so very far away.

016 Readers write Missives aplenty from you, and your thoughts on racing, the future of racing and the racing world in general. Absolutely zero bakery chat going on here. Guaranteed.

018 Paddock Gossip Malcolm has been getting down everything that he finds most interesting from the four corners of the paddock so we can bring it to you here on these pages of Classic Racer.

024 Line Art Another excellent example of the art from Mick Ofield’s masterful eye. This month it’s a T120R Triumph that falls under the spotlight of Mick’s attention to line detailing.

026 SUBSCRIBE It’s a two-fold type of benefit when you subscribe to Classic Racer – you get the magazine for less money than if you buy it in the shops and it’ll arrive at your house (or wherever you choose to have it sent) ahead of the issue being placed on the newsstand.

And it’s also occurred to us that it means you don’t have to step outside into the ice-cold drizzle that has currently wrapped itself around us all, too. So that’s three-fold actually. Yes, three.

030 Silver Dream Racer

038 Dr Joe and the EMC 350

40 years ago a talented young Nick Freeman inherited a prototype motorcycle after the death of his brother. The rest is history. But the actual story of what went into making the most famous racing motorcycle film of all time isn’t well known. As it’s our favourite film, where else but Classic Racer for such an homage? Altogether now: ‘It’s a prototype, Cider…’

From humble beginnings, prewar, to a racing force opined and applauded by some of the purest racers on the planet. Dr Joe Ehrlich emigrated from Austria to the UK in the 1930s and set about making the first in a long line of exquisite race bikes. Here’s the story – and the rid rideable 1938 beginnings of it all.

ISSUE201 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 EDITOR Tony Carter jclements@mortons.co.uk PUBLISHER Tim Hartley thartley@mortons.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Malcolm Wheeler, Nick Nicholls, Mark Wernham, Alan Cathcart, Kel Edge, Stuart Barker, Mick Ofield, Jeffrey Zani, Phil Aynsley, Norm DeWitt, Ross Mowbray, Gary D Chapman, JonoYardley, Phil Wain PRODUCTION EDITOR Sarah Wilkinson DESIGNER Michael Baumber PICTURE DESK Paul Fincham Jonathan Schofield GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER Sue Keily DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Billy Manning

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Paul Deacon CIRCULATION MANAGER Steven O’Hara MARKETING MANAGER Charlotte Park PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dan Savage COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Nigel Hole EDITORIAL ADDRESS Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR UK WEBSITE www.classicracer.com GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES 01507 529529 24hr answerphone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES Jane Skayman 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk

ADVERTISING Kate Hayes 01507 529576 khayes@mortons.co.uk

050 Gianni Rolando

A mate of Sheene’s, he knew nothing of the racing world as he got faster and found success. Such naivety and such a lust for life – sometimes literally – combined to produce a story of the time that just couldn’t be repeated today.

056 In detail: The Elf5 Grand Prix machine Far, far more than just a whacky-looking front end – the Honda was the epitome of nonfactory, semi-supported racing prowess on the largest stage possible. Up close in the studio, you get a better idea of why this motorcycle was very special indeed.

SUBSCRIPTION Full subscription rates (but see page 26 for offer): (12 months 6 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £27.

Export rates are also available – see page 26 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value AddedTax.

078 The Story of the CRMC – Part Two Let’s go racing. With the organisation put together, there was nothing more to do than to get everyone out on the track to see what was what. How exciting!

085 90 years of the North West 200 From the beginning to now, the course has long been a stalwart of motorcycle racing’s folklore and road-riding yardstick.

068 How to build a Classic TT racebike Back to our friend Andy Molnar for a behindthe-scenes expose on what goes in to making a potentially race-winning Classic TT motorcycle in the modern era. A fascinating glimpse into the magic of modern retro mountain racing.

ON THE COVER O

CR’s C resident snapper extraordinaire, Gary D Chapman, went to se ee the metalworkings of Andy Molnar up close and came back with w these stunning images of a motorcycle that will grace the Mountain M in 2020. Isn’t it just so pretty?

DISTRIBUTION Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001.

USA SUBSCRIPTIONS

CLASSIC RACER (USPS:706-150) is published bi-monthly

by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $30 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to CLASSIC RACER, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@ classicbikebooks.com Printed by William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton ISSN No 1470-4463 © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

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CLASSIC RACER ARCHIVE

6 ClassicRacer

Photograph: Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive

As if on rails.

YEAR: 1974 // LOCATION: DAYTONA, USA There’s seldom a wasted corner in racing. If you can’t find out something new about yourself, your bike or your tyres when you’re out there lapping alone, then there’s a chance that you can learn something – anything – by watching another rider

getting it right or wrong in close proximity.

Here No.37 has the best seat in the house to do some upclose learning.

In his prime, we present for you all one Agostini, G on his way to a Daytona win. Cool.

ClassicRacer 7

CLASSIC RACER ARCHIVE

Making it look easy.

YEAR: YOU TELL US // LOCATION: SNETTERTON, NORFOLK Some days it all comes together – you’re great away from the line and you just know that you’re the man/men on this particular day.Try as they might, they aren’t going to catch you.

Just relax into it, enjoy the speed and don't grab

8 ClassicRacer

at anything. It'll come, it'll come – even if the face visor really squashes your nose up like a flattened tomato.

Bryan Rust (driver) and Alan Bedford (passenger) really do make it look easy on the 998cc KGB Imp. Bravo, chair chaps.

Photograph: Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive

ClassicRacer 9

Team.

Mates.

CLASSIC RACER ARCHIVE

Photograph: Mark Wernham Collection at Mortons Archive

It was the final year of WSB action forTeam GSE. New regulations had got the back up of team owner Darrell Healey and team manager Colin Wright – the plug on the global assault was pulled, the squad would not be coming back to World Superbikes.

In the season, it had looked so bright for race fans. Chris Walker and JamesToseland both able

ClassicRacer 11

to fight toe-to-toe were also both able to toe that team line when they had to.This wasn’t a lone gun type of deal, what Wright managed to a fine point was more like an on-track doublebaralled shotgun.

Of course, the one – most basic – rule of professional, two-manteam racing still applied above all else: Beat.Your.Team. Mate.

YEAR: 2003 // LOCATION: MONZA, ITALY

CLASSIC RACER ARCHIVE

Photo: Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive

Bunch of racers In light of Percy Tait’s passing, an image from his heyday seemed appropriate in this issue of Classic Racer (a full feature on Percy will appear in the next issue).

This is the 1976 Texaco Heron Suzuki works squad, with Percy on the left next to Barry Sheene whilst John ‘Noddy’ Newbold and John Williams take up the other positions in this racing – and fashionable – foursome. What a brilliant snapshot of motorcycle racing time.

ClassicRacer 13

Compiled by: Ben Rumbold, MotoXwords

6

#

WIN THIS AMAZING NEW

SHOEI GLAMSTER HELMET WORTH £399.99!

Put your racing knowledge to the test and complete the puzzle to be in with a chance of winning this great prize.

Good luck!

I

t’s so new that these won’t be in the shops until March 2020 (so you’ll have to wait for yours until then if you’re our lucky winner), but you can bet that the beautiful new Glamster is going to be an instant modern classic and it’s certainly up to the job of racing either on track or going a bit quick elsewhere.

To be in with a chance of winning this stunning lid, simply complete

Across 1 & 4:

(correctly) this Classic Racer Crossword and send it in to us (details provided on the opposite page). We will pick the winner from an upturned helmet crammed with correct crosswords – and that person will get some super-cool retro-Glam for their 2020 riding season. The Glamster comes in plain colours which cost £399.99 whilst graphic options sell for £499.99.

28: Belfast academic body that sponsored Jeremy McWilliams in GPs during the late 1990s.

(6,10)

Shoei Glamster Specification

29:

Renato, runner-up in the inaugural 125cc world championship when only Italian riders scored points. (4) This time it’s a Frenchman who was successful in green – see elsewhere in this magazine! (5)

Shell: Organic fibre and multi-composite fibre in various layers for a shock absorbent shell with optimum rigidity EPS Liner system with multiple densities CPB-1 Visor: Clear vision in many conditions, shield outer has a classic look, 3-position adjustment Double D-Ring fastener 3 different shell sizes: 1. XS-M 2. L 3. XL-XXL Completely detachable and washable lining Multiple venting and extraction: Inlets at the chin and forehead, outlet at the rear You can learn more about the complete Shoei range, including the new Glamster helmet at www.shoeiassured.co.uk

founded by an exiled Austrian after the Second World War, that won a handful of TTs. (3) 3:

How you might describe a rider with an effortless style. (6)

4:

Long-running GP that lost its world championship status five years before the Isle of Man. (6)

8:

Traditionally held at the Day Of Champions prior to a British GP to raise money for charity. (8)

10:

_____ Racer, Costa Rican bike makers who sound a bit mad. (6)

33:

See 41 Across

34:

5:

German 14 Down brand that got taken over by Pirelli the 1980s. (8)

Yamaha model raced by many future stars in its own early 1980s series. (2)

37:

6:

12:

How you might describe the old Transatlantic races. (5)

Providing instant clear vision when removed from 5 Down. (4,4)

They’re lighter than goggles and attached to the lid itself. (6)

38:

13:

Deep-pocketed famous father of a famous Mike.

(4)

Mr Mudford, one of New Zealand’s finest early racers who won at 4 Down. (3)

American champ whose first three GP years saw him 22nd, 16th, and 8th in the championships. (8)

7:

Brand with the tuning fork logo. (6)

9:

See 1 Down

12:

Who you would hold a racing licence with down under. (2)

11:

14:

17:

Honda team that fielded 1 across and is now successful in world endurance. (3) Until the use of satellites it wasn’t common to see bike races here. (2)

19:

First man to lap the Isle of Man at over 100mph on a 125. (3)

20:

Venezuelan racer who won two 125cc GPs but tragically died in a GP at Hockenheim. (4,9)

24:

One of Australia’s best for a couple of 70s years in green. (5,8)

39: 40:

What Bazza wanted us to splash all over. (4) Vital people to get results in the age before transponders. (3,7)

41 & 35 Down & 33 Across: While Belgians have consistently led the off-road GP world, this four-time GP winner remains their most successful on tarmac.

(6,2,8)

Down 1&9

Down: Traditionally the basis for deciding the grid for big races. (10,5)

2:

British bike-maker,

14:

The bit that touches the tarmac. (4)

15:

The last four letters of the name of pretty much any German circuit. (4)

16:

The Samurai of Slide. (4)

18:

Vital machinery in your local Saturday night Scooter Grand Prix! (5)

21:

To overtake. (4)

22:

Usually where a bike’s main wiring is based. (4)

23:

Swiss wizard who had a far better career as a

Moto2 manufacturer than as a GP racer. (5,5) 25:

Okay, so this rider is present-day, but his WSB achievement this year is historic enough! (3)

26:

Tricky final corner at Donington Park after the addition of the Melbourne Loop. (8)

27:

White and yellow branding sported by Niall Mackenzie at the height of his GP career. (2)

28:

Commonly-used helmets by top riders in the 1980s, now a budget brand under AGV ownership. (3)

29:

Harald, Austrian who, similar to 23 across, was more successful working on bikes than racing them. (6)

30:

One of New Zealand’s finest latter-day racers whose sole win came at the exit of 26 Down. (6)

31:

David, Silver Dream Racer director. (6)

32:

How the 14 down of a drag racer’s bike gets treated before he even starts! (6)

35:

See 41 Across

36:

Premium Japanese helmet brand. (4)

Don’t forget!

HERE’S THE LEGAL BIT THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW To be in with a chance of winning, fill in your details and return the completed crossword to: Classic Racer January/February 2020 Competition, Mortons Media Group Ltd, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Competition closes: 9am, February 13, 2020

Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name:

Surname:

If you don’t want to cut up your issue of Classic Racer, then we will accept a photocopy of the completed crossword and the completed form.You can keep your CR pristine and intact.

We will print the answers to this issue’s puzzle in the next edition of Classic Racer – you can find the answers to the last one below.

The terms and the conditions

Address:

To be in with a chance of winning, fill in your details on the form and return the completed crossword to: Classic Racer January/February 2020 Competition, Mortons Media Group Ltd, MortonWay, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Competition Closes: 9am, February 13, 2020

Town/City:

County:

Postcode:

Country:

There are no cash alternatives available. The winner will be the first name drawn at random from the Classic Racer helmet. Terms and conditions apply. To view the privacy policy of MMG Ltd (publisher of Classic Racer) please visit www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Email: Telephone:

The answers to last issue’s Classic Racer Crossword: Across 1 Grand National Championship, 9 Up, 11 Nello Pagani, 14 & 44 Down Loris Capirossi, 15 Bol D’Or, 16 McIntyre, 19 Horton, 21 Swingarm Pivot Point, 24 Ken, 25 Stanley Woods, 27 BSA Rocket, 30, 32 & 33 Kawasaki Heavy Industries, 35 Filice, 36 Speedometer, 40 Sergio, 43 Rhencullen, 45 Davide Tardozzi, 48 Spring Cup, 50 Freddie Frith, 54 Aki, 55 Chesterfield Yamaha, 57 Katayama, 61 Mousse, 63 Dutch, 64 John Surtees, 66 Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari

Down 1 & 35 Down Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha, 2 Akira, 3 NSU, 4 Ian Simpson, 5 Alloy, 6 Argentina, 7 Hand, 8 & 60 Down Pier Francesco Chili, 10 Pembrey, 12 Night, 13 North West, 17 Roth, 18 MG, 20 NGK, 22 Ninja, 26 Dieter, 27 Buy, 28 Rinne, 29 Ui, 31 Walter, 34 Levior, 37 & 62 Down Pre Unit, 38 Oran, 39 Rut, 41 Guzzi, 42 Alain, 46 Eddie Lawson, 47 Deflated, 49 Clearance, 51 & 23 Down Indian Scout, 52 & 56 Across Jim Moodie, 53 Lega, 55 Celso, 58 Title, 59 Stasa, 65 One

Classic Racer, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR.

CRletters@mortons.co.uk

facebook.com/ClassicRacerMag/

If you want to get in touch…

... please do. We read every letter, email and comment sent to us and we enjoy hearing from you whether you’ve an event coming up, a motorcycle you own or you just want to let us know about some something you find interesting in Classic Racer’s world.

I KNOW THAT MAN! Dear CR Just read Adrian Pallet’s response to your identity poser (CR #199). I go with all he’s said, barring no 28 who is Middlesbrough lad John Webb who was the man to beat at Croft back in the day, and who Guy Martin definitely modelled his sideburns from. Sadly no longer with us, illness taking him a few years back.

Love the mag.

Peter P Watson

ON THE SUBJECT OF ALIENS Dear CR Regarding Pat Alexander’s proposal in CR #200, I think that first it needs to be decided what is to be (re) created. If the intention is to put on modern races for totally standard machines, so the only real deciding factor is rider ability, then Pat’s proposals look fine.

But let’s not fool ourselves that this will recreate anything which ever existed back in the day.

One only has to read the biographies of the top racers from the classic era to know that the bikes they were racing were far from standard.Whether this was home modification

or, for the top men, factory supplied one-off parts, the winning bikes on the grid were – to use Pat’s definition – aliens.

So the best bikes and riders would be segregated into Pat’s silhouette class, with the standard, slower, bikes making up a grid of their own.

No prizes for guessing which race the punters would be interested in watching!

Andy Overton Doncaster Thank you for the mail, Andy. I wonder if it would actually matter to a potentially larger audience?

With the very nature of racing, every class will eventually evolve in the way you describe. But until it does (and then perhaps comes in for a rules review/ overhaul) would you then have a very easy to understand formula for all involved?

Tony

PS: I’ll bet you’ll get the same response from Mike Redfern in due course.

STAR LETTER PRIZE Remember to keep sending in your letters. We want to hear your stories and find out what you think of the magazine. Each issue we’ll pick a star letter, the writer of which will win a superb package courtesy of Duke Video!

Cloud cuckoo land?

Maico-ing my own way Dear CR Please find enclosed photographs of my recently finished restoration: a 1971 RS125 Maico, single cylinder two-stroke disc valve engine, with six gears producing 28hp @ 11,000rpm, with a top speed of 125mph. The bike features a slimline duplex frame with Ceriani front forks, twin leading shoe front brake.

It was originally bought from new by Fred Launchbury in 1971. Fred converted it to water-cooled and raced it with much success, in club and national meetings, and at the Isle of Man, finishing seventh in the 1972 and fifth in the 1974 Ultra Lightweight TTs.

d then solld the bike to Bill Kirk kwood d wh ho Fred then sold it to my brother George Hardwick in 1980. George rode it, with again, much success for many years, eventually moving on to a Harris Rotax, TZs and an RG500, then onto sidecars.

The Maico was in pieces when I in nherited it and had been used as a template for a new one my brother built.

This bike has been displayed on the NSA stand at the Shepton Mallet show.

John Hardwick Carms That’s a lovely looking motorcycle John, well done indeed.

Tony

Dear CR I’ve been reading Malc’s recent interview with Classic TT-man-in-charge Paul Phillips.

One of the questions was about teams who run traditional single cylinder machines which are now totally outclassed, especially in the Junior Classic race.

Like Malc himself, I remember not too many years ago both the Classic race grids were mostly British and Italian singles which, when ridden by Bill Swallow and Bob Heath, made for some really exciting close racing.

Over time, the road-based Honda K4 twins began to creep in, until now they have virtually taken over, apart from the more recent MV Agusta and Paton reproductions coming along.

To give the singles a chance again, how about a separate race for them run under Lansdowne type rules but allowing race fairings to be fitted?

Let’s get those British and Italian singles back racing and keep that classic atmosphere alive.

I am probably just dreaming and in cloud cuckoo land...

Terry Birch Nottingham

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#48

ISSUE

Forty-eight Autumn 2018

OCTOBER 2018

No. 330 October 2018 £4.30 UK Off-sale date 31/10/2018

MOTO MEMORIES // TECH TALK // MONTESA COTA 200 // BULTACO MATADOR

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