frames

HI all

just have a few moments, noticed Mikes comments on Keiths Flexi flyer ? what happened to this you still have it keith. if it was given back as it was too heavey "WHY" ?

I was just looking at all the old photo's again noticed most are on plunger type frames is this because all that was available and the swing arm type was still not available as the plungers are so heavey well they look it.

mike asked me on face book about WHAT HAPPENED TO ANDYS bike - we have the cases the crank flywheels.
The main shafts, barrel, tank, seat, fairing and all the rolling gear was all "junked", then after 190 years racing we we sold it on, in a much better engineered and modified trim, with our current engine, I recently well ! we purchase the engine back in about 2007 just after I went to croft and saw those tornado's. the frame was stollen /mistaken for an LC 250 or so I believe this what we think happened when theaves broke in and took a load of LC BITS along with the frame.

Progress 175cc - we are making good progress with ED's spare engine a 175 we have finished the crank but had lots of isues with the cases found many cracks round the timing side output bearing housing, every time we welded it we found another crack finally have it after four attempts, some one playing sledge hammer with something. !!


all seems quiet on here and face book recently ?? why"

I have just been looking in from time to time, also good news we are planning our second midlands Bantam racers gathering, for anyone who wishes to attend and all or anyone is welcome, the main criteria is you have to bring with you something of technical interest, We had 7 or was it 8 racers and dad held the coats ? at the last meeting it was a great succes, and Mike kindly attended to give his support.
Seems we are (under request) debating weather to have it a week before the first practice day or just after and before the first race meeting.

? anyone got preferences please let me know on this as I will arrange tea /coffee again etc.

Keith where were you "Meribel stand up" grand Nord - no reception just ringing out but I have seen your short ski utube sadl to say Keith "its a good job we did'nt meet "as I would have got cold "waiting for you "OLD MAN" - !ouch" I would advice you stick to exhausts, seems you have more a lot more abilities in this area. lol

best regards Derek

The Flexi Flyer was Keiths old Bantam, which he used on his return to racing 93? Shortly afterwards I lent Keith a motor(cases needed finishing), In 95 I lent Keith 002 in 2000 we did a deal on 002(which had become 004) after a big off at 3 sisters). By this time i had my spare motor back. At the end of 2000 the amount outstanding on 004 was 200quid? (we we're really counting just guessing) So I said can I have the bent 002 frame and the Flexi's wheels and fork to rebuild 002 with my spare engine, Which means i sold 002 twice!!

Never seen a plunger bantam race - I asked George Todd about racing a plunger and he said it was better than a rigid! Have you noticed Andy Checkleys (Gerry Pell) bant is a D1 frame but converted.

Derek just organise a Midlands meet as folk generally don't comment on the forum. Why not Easter time?

Regards Mike

Hi Mike

Plunger frames "thats interesting" ref George saying plunger is a better bet than a rigid frame, maybe we should try one out, but I think Mr Pickering has one out on track last year ! must ask him to comment on how it handles.

The Midlands Meeting, "your right on the replies and comments now days "seems people dont like commenting", but I have five or so text and private p'm's so seem's you are correct -that a pitty.

Flexi flyer - yes quite the sales'man "Mike" (maybe we should call you Rodders lol ).

the fest 1000- sounds really great, only just heard the news "WELL DONE" to you Mike or was it a joint effort !.lol

I hope your well and ready to go - when do we get regs to entre mallory only a month away.

anyone

Best Regards Derek.

In Classic Motorcycling Legends #30, Autumn 1994 there´s an article by Bill Lomas with a snapshot showing him riding the Walsh Bantam which is wearing a works Guzzi (full) frock and plunger rear end.

I´ll get Ed to display it if my effort fails...

Cheers!

thanks john - lookforwards to the photo's

whats the weather like where you are, I have a shipment comming from your end is gets dameged, by frost ?

derek

Just the one picture Derek -- is from an article by Bill Lomas when in Australia with Dickie Dale and the Works Guzzis...

Weather here was wonderful for walking -- bright sunshine and temperature well below zero -- for a fortnight. Although above zero the last 3 days have been awful. Soft snow with rain -- just rain now. Suicide to go far by feet.

Take care,

Cheers!

Forgot to mention when i went round to Keiths to pick up 002 frame etc(years ago) he had already straightened it and repaired it! What a good chap.

Derek 1000 bikes? you've lost me? i don't know what you are talking about....

Regards Mike

I refer to the post mentioning Andy Checkley and the ex Gerry Pell frame.

This machine was built by Graham Berwick and Dick Hunter in approx 1973/74. It had a D1 frame loop because that was the lightest available frame lopp legal at the time. The swing arm was fabricated from rectangular section steel tubing. I think the long wheelbase was intended for IoM TT use. I posess a side view b&w photo of it, taken in the paddock at Llandow, circa 1974. I will scan this, and send to A. Brown, Esq. in the hope that he will insert it into this post......

Until then, all the best

Pete

Just for Pete! Hunter the man!

Mr Webmaster will be along shortly, to insert the correct picture. I think most will find it an interesting frame.

alan wrote:

Just for Pete! Hunter the man!

Thanks Alan - Great to see a picture of ol' iron wheels at speed.
Regards, Dave

Great!

Fantastic picture of streamlining the rider´s body at its best.

Good to see you Dave! How are you then young man?

Cheers!

JayBee -- for John-Boy!

Two Very interesting frame pictures from the Pete Tibbitts album.

Jones Harris Model.

Hunter Berwick Machine
Interesting frame variants!
and the tablets were very strong.....
Alan

For Jones Berwick model, read Jones-Harris model.

For Hunter Jones model, read Hunter-Berwick model

Dont know what Alan was on last night, but it must have been mind altering stuff!

All the best

Pete

BIG front brake as well. Compare with Dave Hunter´s Ol´Iron Wheels -- but did he ever use brakes anyway??

In that frame pic -- Lot of tubes hither and thither and along with square tube swinging arm reminds of the BITZAs on grass and Reg Castle´s SA was also square tube. Advantages if any ????

Re streamlining and Dave Hunter´s avatar -- Dave looks more streamlined WITHOUT the fancy skirt Ol´Iron Wheels is wearing in the bigger picture.

Cheers!

john bass wrote:

Re streamlining and Dave Hunter´s avatar -- Dave looks more streamlined WITHOUT the fancy skirt Ol´Iron Wheels is wearing in the bigger picture.

I think not John. Did you know road tests on the Arial Arrow (gold sports model) showed that the bike was faster without its flat perspex fly screen.

The streamlining problem was always elbows outside knees as you can see.
Dave

Ned! I´d say your frontal area -- as per your avatar, on here -- was greater than that of Dave´s avatar. Elbows an´all that!...
As you intimated the number plate is probably the only bit that presents a Flat-Plate effect to the wind -- all the rest of bits poking out are somewhat rounded and hence a bit streamlined...

The Wobblyman and I were too heavy to start with -- too rounded, you might say!?-- to be properly streamlined at any time. And therefore be any form of competition against the likes of brothers Dave & Dick, Mick Scutt and many more other of the seniors but we had our own Intermediate battles which made up the remiss of ever being a permanent Senior. We both graduated to 250s anyway....
If those poor little Bantams could speak they´d have groaned every time we flopped aboard....

Fun though!

Just broke another 2012 resolution -- there was to be no more sickly nostalgia. I´ll blame it on Dave Hunter!!

Ned! It was his bruvver, Dick, what was responsible for me breaking your bike during the `81 Parade -- Dick gave me two fingers and I was trying to give him two back ...!

Cheers!

Here's another take on the Formula Bantam frame, Designed by Micky Scutt Built by Tom Miller and Pete Styles, and I'm guessing input by Ned Quirey. And ridden by many folk over the years... And there are 9 of them about currently. But many have changes/improvements/mistakes? over time...

?? 001, 003 ??? And what engine are u putting back in ?? You have so many options I can't keep up lol

It's the original 'Number one' but with 'series2' mods (higher top tube)
giving room for a Reed Valve set up - without having an ugly scalop out
of the underside of said tube. It will have a RV engine installed shortly!

With or without a rad ???

No comment

Hi Ian

I spoke to Mike Powe by phone last night, apparently his eng is very soph cated, It has a T C wi h and R C al cont led via a infa r uplink to a covert military satalite called , B s a F m la B n m racer, unfortunatly I did not get all the details, whilst driving, "Im sure not a stones throw from your location Ian in the smoke", anyway I think it needs a little more development, to improve reliability of its uplink vi f c k werband, as we got cut off, I think his battery was flat or somthing else that needs assistance.?

Hi Mike "before we got cut off, I think I had established "you know"!! finishing off! "before we got cut off", its very important other's don't!!!!!, on this point, pm you,

and "your not surposed to know!!and ref the reviewed interest, "this is good" dont knock it, "yes lots alteria motives, well not established yet, we will see, and there are bound to be some politics involved !!!!! somewhare, and your correct sadly all down to pennies", "talk on this soon".

I bet your going to say I have no idea what your talking about," like a good MP.

"off to do some meandering now, actually Im back at worcester Uni "started leasons" on wait for it "corporate and PR machines within gouvermnet"
now who said my "PR skills need some work!!"

sadly my lapp-top is missing a few K words here its kep pad s not working correct y "and its new" ! so there are typo errror i can not see my appol gise for this .!

rgds Derek

mjpowell wrote:

Here's another take on the Formula Bantam frame, Designed by Micky Scutt Built by Tom Miller and Pete Styles, and I'm guessing input by Ned Quirey.

Hi Mike. Very little input from me other than how we could attach fittings. Sticky and Tom have a far greater understanding of frame geometry than me. Somewhere in my old grey cells I seem to remember the Norton featherbed influenced the the fork rake.
But there is something in the photos that Pete and I did design and it looks like it's still my original one. The folding paddock stand !
You might understandably think it was done to save space but that was just an added bonus. Sods law had it that whenever Tom, Pete and I were loading the vans one of us would end up trapped with the stand up our flared trouser leg. Blooming annoying for the person trapped but amusing for the other two.