Hello from France

Hello to all !
I come only now to see how Bantam are still on tracks.
I look mostly on technical question.
I came after thinking about an old book I have from the 70's with presentation from Dave Amos.
I look for more info and I have the good surprise to see that even with questions for the future, Bantam are on track and performance is incredible.
I will try to understand how the Bantam racing went through and what was technical changes.
Few words about me ; I am Jawa CZ fan (do not throw stones !) and I finally built a track Jawa (I am also preparing more for the future).
I ride on roads to commute or for fun and on track for fun.
I send you lots of regards.
Fred

...Fascinating!!

Hello you all !
John,
I am not very surprised to see what I think to be a racing RT coming from Germany. Where does the picture come from ?
Are you a british guy lost in Germany or ?
I hope to understand more about racing Bantam and if I can give what i know.
Regards.
Fred

Yes FredJaw -- lost in Deutschland...
Too long a story for here -- if I got into it I´d be verbally jumped on from all heights.

Very proud -- crow like a rampant cockerel every time I see that photo copy of myself... Me winning my very first ROAD race!! {[(only a Novice race, of course!)]}

Now, pay attention! that picture is me rounding Mansfield -- fantastic left-handed corner -- which after the downhill section at Cadwell Park is where I could pass no end of other riders because `Icarus-1´ (DIY Bantam number one build) had `Lip-Service´ (enough to satisfy the scrutineers) to what everyone else call brakes.

All the best,
JayBee....

Hello you all.
Germany is not home for you but you could compare RT with your Bantam.
Schorlau in August was one good place to meet RT fans and builders/riders.
Congratulations, for your first win/race. I think the serie was long and not finished.
I have read few words about Icarus1.
We say brakes are only for cowards (I prefer to have a quite good brake in the front and I never use rear to avoid mixing my mind, I have a right shifting Jawa).
Fred

Hey Fred! that win was 43 years ago -- not yesterday.

Front brake is most effective because of weight transfer to the front wheel when braking but my excessive flab did hardly anything to better Icarus-1´s retardation -- like my leathers & boots -- black taped everywhere -- Lip Service for the scrutineer....
Cheers!

Hi FredJaw,
Sorry I have not replied as your email accidently got erased, can you send it again and I will post up your pictures for you.
Best Regards,
Alan

Hello you all !

For Alan, no trouble, I see Internet is funny those days. I send again.

For John, for sure, having good brakes does not improve me in a true racer. I know I am something special (not coward but just not fast). My leather was already quite scratched when I got it).
Yes front brake is for sure a lot more efficient but some use of back also helps to enter corners. I do without (as I mostly commute with standard Czech left shifting bike).

I again ask for information on some info about Bantam racing along the years.

Thanks for your efforts.

Fred

Hi Fred!
I have told this story thousands of times before -- I´d intended to build a small hovercraft and got persuaded to go to Snetterton to see a Vintage motorbike race and there were these little bikes that Post Office telegram boys used to have to deliver telegrams out there on the track -- screaming along at a fair speed -- sort of racing, as it were. Of course, not a hovercraft -- we´ll build a racing Bantam my persuader said and be bound to find some loon to ride it ...
Well, getting it to work properly meant hours and hours of practice around Brands Hatch because we didn´t have the use of a dyno and that already had me in the guise of the loon so the next step was obvious --

--- haven´t been the same since.

I mean three gears, no power until the engine is screaming at 7 -- 8000 rpm and all that misguided flab to move -- all very silly really.

But I have 6 trophies to prove I just didn´t dream it all...