Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[Amberjack1234]

A lot of stuff back then

he worked for a boat dealer ( Jackson Bros) in Melbourne who raced Konigs on the water
https://www.odd-bike.com/2013/04/kon...-underdog.html

The rules for the Daytona 200 back in those days were a lot looser you could run pretty much anything if you could stuff it into a bike frame. I saw an experimental Honda 250 six Cylinder they’re in the 250 GP Class somebody said they were only four or five of them made the Pistons are about the size of your little finger or the US dime.BestPart of Daytona in those days where is the show in the infield you had to be there to believe it. And the 200 in those years the Dominant bikes were the Harleys of the Harley Davidson race team and the triples of triumph and BSA. In 1970 a Honda of dick Bugsy man hey 750 Four cylinder four stroke surprised everybody and won. We were working on a 500 cc triple Kawasaki two stroke that year

[Bob V]

We were working on a 500 cc triple Kawasaki two stroke that year

Got to love them even 52 years later...

[FUJIMO]

...was one of my favorite t-shirts in '69...

[Bob V]

And 1972 saw the introduction of the 71 hp Kawasaki 750 H2. The original "Widow Maker."

[Amberjack1234]

And 1972 saw the introduction of the 71 hp Kawasaki 750 H2. The original "Widow Maker."
This is absolutely right! Those bikes back and 68 or 69 and through the 70s you either Rode them or they rode you !!!

First worked on one in 1968 and 69. These bikes had a torque curve from hell. You either rode them or they rode you

[jackiewilson]

[QUOTE=Amberjack1234;3349011]First worked on one in 1968 and 69. These bikes had a torque curve from hell. You either rode them or they rode you[/QUOTE

Pruett had a pair of Kawasaki scramblers —- green . First he gave me the little 250 , i looked down my nose at it and told him i would take the 500 and he could take the small one . He looked at me and said “Jackie are sure about that “. told him i wouldnt be seen dead on a 250 KWACKER——- . OK -HUMOUR ME he says . You can have the 500. AFTER you take the little one up the hill. Bear in mind we are deep in the florida swamps with no leathers . Just jeans and a leather jacket with a baseball cap for headgear. I took off up the hill on that dog nasty 250 KWACKER ——-absolutely could not believe what happened when i got a tad over ambitious with the throttle . That damn bike was the meanest -feistiest— most vicious, crap sounding machine i ever sat my bum on . Doubt if it had top speed of 75—- was the close ratio box and what you could [and could not] do with it that was utterly frightening . I had been used to big English four stroke bikes —-everything that rolled from Triumphs ,Nortons . BSA’s and Vincent’s . Was totally unprepared for two stroke power .
I allowed PRUETT to use the big one —didnt even want to try it for size .
Did road test a 900 Kawasaki PRUETT when took me to see his friend the KWACKER dealer. Had to be the best ride of all time .

[Amberjack1234]

No title[QUOTE=jackiewilson;3349017]

First worked on one in 1968 and 69. These bikes had a torque curve from hell. You either rode them or they rode you[/QUOTE

Pruett had a pair of Kawasaki scramblers —- green . First he gave me the little 250 , i looked down my nose at it and told him i would take the 500 and he could take the small one . He looked at me and said “Jackie are sure about that “. told him i wouldnt be seen dead on a 250 KWACKER——- . OK -HUMOUR ME he says . You can have the 500. AFTER you take the little one up the hill. Bear in mind we are deep in the florida swamps with no leathers . Just jeans and a leather jacket with a baseball cap for headgear. I took off up the hill on that dog nasty 250 KWACKER ——-absolutely could not believe what happened when i got a tad over ambitious with the throttle . That damn bike was the meanest -feistiest— most vicious, crap sounding machine i ever sat my bum on . Doubt if it had top speed of 75—- was the close ratio box and what you could [and could not] do with it that was utterly frightening . I had been used to big English four stroke bikes —-everything that rolled from Triumphs ,Nortons . BSA’s and Vincent’s . Was totally unprepared for two stroke power .
I allowed PRUETT to use the big one —didnt even want to try it for size .
Did road test a 900 Kawasaki PRUETT when took me to see his friend the KWACKER dealer. Had to be the best ride of all time .

I was riding bulls tacos at the time for a local dealer who is also a Kawasaki dealer that got sent bikes by the factory to take to DaytonaI was riding bulls tacos at the time for a local dealer who is also a Kawasaki dealer that got sent bikes by the factory to take to Daytona every year every year

[jackiewilson]

So I’m sat in the trusty Lexus waiting to exit the scrap yard when this guy pulls in next to me with this hooked up to the back of a fancy SUV . Asked him what he was doing with it ???? Told me he was weighing it in for scrap!!!!!!!!! SO WHAT WOULD YOUR NEXT MOVE HAVE BEEN ??????????

did i mention the rest of the bits like saddle —brake discs were all in the back of the car .
Guy was intending to restore it ten years ago and had never gotten around to it.
Guess what i did. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jackiewilson]

Festival of speed finished yesterday— this is the BMW display in front of the main house. Previous years have seen MERCEDES —-PORCHE——FERRARI——ASTON MARTIN . Al have had their cars up in the air at one time or another —-i have made several of these concepts over the years . Did take one to Goodwood one year but it mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth
Guess somebody somewhere likes my work. !!!!!!

[Amberjack1234]

Deal

So I’m sat in the trusty Lexus waiting to exit the scrap yard when this guy pulls in next to me with this hooked up to the back of a fancy SUV . Asked him what he was doing with it ???? Told me he was weighing it in for scrap!!!!!!!!! SO WHAT WOULD YOUR NEXT MOVE HAVE BEEN ??????????

did i mention the rest of the bits like saddle —brake discs were all in the back of the car .
Guy was intending to restore it ten years ago and had never gotten around to it.
Guess what i did. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jumped on a deal like a jockey on a fast horse I wouldn’t pass it up either !!!

[Amberjack1234]

Trying to make out that thing but it is a Norton commando correct

[Amberjack1234]

When I was going to college in 1964 the guy had a Norton commando and another guy had a Vincent Black shadow Both in pristine edition. Got to ride both of them. But rode him like a baby. Vincent truly scared me. But both were smooth compared to the Quackers

[jackiewilson]

trying to make out that thing but it is a norton commando correct

nope its an early honda 650 gold wing.—- rare as hens teeth nowadays !!!!!

[jackiewilson]

When I was going to college in 1964 the guy had a Norton commando and another guy had a Vincent Black shadow Both in pristine edition. Got to ride both of them. But rode him like a baby. Vincent truly scared me. But both were smooth compared to the Quackers

VINCENT Black Shadows are the bike equivalents of a DUESENBERG. Fetching an eye watering £80,000. For a pristine example .
Closest thing to that is the BROUGH SUPERIOR . Lawrence of Arabia crashed one and every BROUGH for sale today claims to be the one ——-hence the price tag £100,000 Plus.

[FUJIMO]

...amberjack...these little monsters were popular in south florida as well, the hodaka's, in the late sixties, early seventies...