An impressive line-up of bikes representing 125 Years of Nortons and seven decades of racing bikes but where are any of the featherbed twins that were so obviously the Clubmens' mounts in the sixties and seventies. Yet again the bikes, that were the choice of apprentices who would spend their hard-earned pittances on HP schemes to ride a bike like the ones that were seen racing and winning, are ignored. Races like the Thruxton 500 Mile, The Bemsee 1000Km at Snetterton and Oulton Park, The BMRCR 1000Km at Silverstone and lots more. So those actual winning bikes are no longer with us but there are plenty of road-bike based featherbed twin Domiracers that filled the grids then and now that could represent the marque. Get a grip. Who could afford to race a Rotary anyway ? It's an insult to call them Nortons at all. howard robinson.
I can imagine that the grid…
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I have some similar thoughts…
I have some similar thoughts Howard, It would be good to have an early Daytona twin or some real Dunstalls from the late 1960's . Even better one of the very few PR 650's that did so well in endurance racing , like the Lawton Wilson 3 years in a row winner. Reputadly lost in the museum fire ( I'm not totally convinced of that!) . I also have an interest in pre-war factory racers like Harold Daniels TT mount.
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Well Peter - Interesting…
Well Peter - Interesting that you should call my criticism of the bikes chosen to represent the seven decades of Norton Racers at the Show as “ moaning ! “ The Dominator in its various guises was the breadwinner for Norton throughout the fifties and sixties so I find it incomprehensible that no Domiracer is present in either of these decades. I have no problem with selecting a 1956 M30 nor indeed a 1961/62 M40 but my problem is with the lack of a Dommie based bike. Of course there are two Commandos for the seventies ( replica 850s ) which I find a little odd when all the winning Commandos were 750s. As I have already mentioned many of us Club racers without deep pockets competed on Dommies in the fifties, sixties and seventies. They have also had a rebirth in Classic racing around the world. Yes - you are probably correct in that many of them suffered blow-ups in the day but there were also hundreds of victories indeed some of them with very famous riders. Who could forget the many wins of Alan Wright on the Northern circuits riding a 500 Domiracer or the magnificent wins of the Uncrowned King of Brands himself, Bruce Syddell, riding his 650SS. More famous perhaps are the escapades of Dave Downer, Griff Jenkins and Ray Pickerell all riding Domiracers for Pa Dunstall. Some of those battles with the Manxes of Steve Lancfield,, Ray Petty, Sid Mullarney were epic with victory often going to the Dommies. Also Phil Read winning the Thruxton 500 Miler on two occasions riding Syd Lawton’s 650SS. So far I have not mentioned the victories of the Domiracers in the US and Canada but there were many scores of wins for the Berliner stable with people like Sonny Angel, Frank Scurria and Kenny Heyes. Heinz Kegler tuned and prepared the bikes and had tremendous success all over North America. So you see I am not just “ moaning! ” I am sincere in my belief that overlooking the Domiracers is unforgivable. Rather than criticise me you should join my crusade or say nothing and concentrate on your Electric Starter conversions for your beloved 850 Commandos. howard robinson
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Evening Howard So you have…
Evening Howard
So you have a quest to get a featherbed twin on the stand at Stafford. Have you approached the organisers of the display? there may still be time to get a bike in there if your nice about it. To criticise the lineup of bikes or more correctly the person/s who have organised the display before asking them is a bit rich. Then again, to add the insult to all Norton rotary owners seems ok according to you. Will you be at the AGM on Sunday? if so, you can raise the subject there
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Bikes to display
All,
Did anyone ask an owner of one of the "missing" bikes if they wanted to/would be willing to display it? I could be that the few that do still exist might not be in a showable condition, or could simply be that some may have been asked but didn't want all the hassle of going there for all I know.
Personally, I really wouldn't want anything to do with setting up/ running a show stand (really not my 'thing') but I must congratulate those who get out and do so. This one seems to be another of those cases of 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' in never being able to please everyone.
Let's all simply enjoy what has been done by those prepared to do the work to make the show stand a reality.
Civil regards to all,
George
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Evening Howard What…
Evening Howard
What progress have you made in your crusade to get a featherbed twin racer on the stand at Stafford?
I attended the AGM and nothing was mentioned about your 'quest' so i take it you didn't attend yourself (or if you did, no question was asked)
It would be interesting to find out how many of these bikes exist now, and like George said, who of the owners, would be willing to show them.
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I can imagine that the grid filling featherbed racers of yesteryear have either blown up and the chassis repurposed i.e. triton etc or have been restored back to road bike spec as that way the value goes up. Be thankful that people are still willing to display their bikes or put it another way, stop moaning!