BSA Bantams in the Isle of Man TT Races, 1963 & '65

for those with facebook

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.299151183460562.68557.100000970493719&type=3


some truly wonderful Bantam TT photo's think George wants to share them so if someone can upload to this site that would be brilliant, maybe contact him first though.


Seasons greetings and happy new year to all

Tony

if who ever can upload them, go for it George is fine about this.

Derek

great photo's george many thanks best regards adam

Come on guys, someone upload them on here please. I refuse to go on "face book" (nothing but agro from what I hear)

Thanks George - great to see some of the old (young!) faces

what happened to the photo's ?

Don't know - they have just disappeared !

will try again

Mick

mike loaded in the other page here for

Like this one - from left to right its Mole Benn, Roy Bacon, Fred Launchbury

Looks like Mole has D1 forks and a pair of D1 front hubs back to back

Anyone got any idea what the hubs are #65 and 66 ?
Ariel Leader ?

Derek is the text from 'tuning for speed' based on info given by A.E.Rose?
Les Eggs has sent me a 'Tuning details sheet' that John Sawer had A.E.Rose
fill in (1982) whivh is interesting ref bridged exhaust ports and the like in 1953!
Must copy it for Chris B to get up on site its excellent reading!! Will return soon
Les.

Mike

Hmm I have to say Mike I'm not sure who rote it, It may have been "Rose"- but Im sure its not from Tuning for speed but is actually a motorcycle paper article 1953.

I would also be very interested to see the article ref Bridged ports from Lez eggs.

John the hubs on the two watercooled bantams look the same but i do have the original artical on Terry Braceweight water cooled bantam from Motorcycle news aboyt the same year as photo, it may say in this what his front hub was,? I will check it and report later for you.

rgds Derek

I have a reprinted copy of the afore mentioned article from January 7, 1954 (older than me !!) Motor Cycling .
It was indeed written by A.E Rose

Similar advice from George Todd article in June 28 1956

Clever idea on the Mole Benn bike with the brake, does anyone know what the fairing is on the Roy Bacon 49 Bike?


Eddie

Hi Ed,
On the faring question (49-ref been said this is Roy Bacon), does anyone knows what these fairings are, you could email or face book Roy Bacon to find out Ed, but studying the bikes both 49, and 56 (56 with lower modified section) are both Bantam have the same fairing, as does the 56 bike a HONDA white fairing behind Fred as he sits on his bike with his coat on, to his left is a Honda with the same fairing, it may be a Honda or pattern aftermarket fairing.?? anyone!

my thoughts on fairings
I think these fairings are really nice and very period looking, while a lot of the new ones made do look nice, my opinion is they are not as period looking as they could be. I think this would be very important for the bantam class to create interest in the future, some of the new fairings I feel don’t give us the marketing value we could have, if all were persuaded to fit period looking types rather than modifying RS 125's, I think it would be good to have a class fairing or at least persuade new starters to have period types especially the 175 class, Now please I'm not suggesting we should or all need to change, but its easier to get interest in our class when the bikes at least look period, I have had discussions with other bodies who have criticised this aspect in our class current format.

it would be good to debate this see what others think, and from this a criteria laid down for when changing fairings to avoid the RS type or really modern looking fairings.

not sure what others think on this subject anyone

rgds Derek

Fairings- erm.. interesting..

I.O.M. interested racers ..Have you followed up the Southern 100 lead JB talked of?

I am just back from the volcanic lakes in Süd Eifel where it rained instaed of snowed and was an almighty C-U of a holiday. Expensive too -- Oh my dears! all that lovely lolly wasted on a lot of rain....

Re The IoM and Bantams ...

George Peach the Sec of Southern 100 Club -- who run the pre TT road race meeting at Castletown IoM, told me they have NO 125 race for 2012 yet it was pubnlished as such in previous years. He said if 15 Bantams would be entering in 2013 he´d consider putting on such a race. I put forward the notion that it could be a Vintage Up-To-250cc event in which the crowd would be treated to Velos, BSAs, Rudges, JAP Specials and maybe an Excelsior or two being beat-up by Bantams and stressed that these 250 vintage racers are getting the wind-up with the way the Bantams get past them....

I think it needs some more backing from VMCC lads than just the Bantamers, because -- quite obviously -- to make it a Special race the Club requires a substantial grid.

On the other side... is Jurby airfield where it could be arranged, during a normal Practice Day to have a "Pit Lane Session" for a set group of riders to go out for a short period and make a race of it ...

But, AGAIN, ESSENTIALLY it is a matter of a substantial number on the grid...!!?

Wonderful pics -- last time I saw Roy he wearing wellies riding a Bantam in the `81 Parade...

Hi John could I just say what a great job you have done on this.

There must be more than 15, ?

John - I'm going to work there for a day or two, have you a contact -could you hook me up at all please.

regards

Derek

Only Son Slick -- Slick Tuning -- he´ll probably be too busy to be polite but if you say Bantam he´ll probably speak ... He´s got his workshop at Andreas Field and if you go watch out for green mice (Kawasaki green). No! joking apart it´d be worth a visit to his W/S see his dyno and innovations -- Then you can tell me, `cos I was last their in `05... He´ll treat to a cup of coffee ...!!

You could, of course, speak to Daughter Kate who would no doubt help with directions -- both their numbers in the phone book, of course. Which brings me to George Peach, secretary of Southern 100 club -- perhaps you could talk to him about racing Bantams. I don´t think he knows much about their performance by the way he writes....

I´ll phone Slick and warn him -- although he´s used to blokes dropping in at all `busy´times.

Cheers!

Derek? how should I introduce you to Slick? As a maker of things -- I mean -- I know you´ve made pistons and gears -- or did I get that wrong too?

Slick can´t be too busy -- unless he´s off testing in Spain as he has done in the past with a team -- tell me about yourself and I shall give the Slick a buzz....

Slick was his nickname when he was apprenticed to Jimmy Wells. Jimmy reckoned it was because you could always tell where my lad worked (or WAS) last -- by the `Oil Slick!´ on the bench, on the floor even in the tea and the Loo -- the lad himself claims it was because the Ducati Italians -- and Foggy -- reckoned he was fast and accurate!!

Cheers!

No No introduction to club meeting organisers ! but trully happy to have a bear with anyone.

How to introduce me, ! thats a hard one, if you new me! its easy, I will think about it an P.M you.

Derek