ACE CAFE RADIO

    dimanche 6 octobre 2013

    Honda seven fifty 98 Badseeds

      

    BSA TRACKMASTER


    BSA A65 Trackmaster by Bill Bradshaw, resurrected by Dave Schostkewitz of Classic Cycles, New Jersey.
    If there’s a growing trend in custom motorcycles today, it’s towards street trackers: road-legal versions of the flat track bikes that raced in the 1960s and 1970s. With small tanks, wide bars and fat tires, they’re good-looking bikes stripped down to the essentials.
    Machines like this lovely BSA Trackmaster, resurrected by New Jersey’s Phil Capozzi, are the archetype. And this BSA has the history to match its purposeful looks. “About 35 years ago, back in my college days, I was introduced to a guy named Bill Bradshaw,” Phil recalls. “At the time, Bill owned and wrenched on BSA flat track bikes at racetracks up and down the east coast.” It was the time of riders such as George Richtmeyer, Dave Singleton and “Rowdy” Rick Stone. Phil hitched a lift with Bradshaw’s crew, helping out with the bikes. “To this day I’ve never forgotten the sights, sounds or smells from that great adventure.”
    BSA A65 Trackmaster
    Fast forward to 2009. Phil paid a visit to Bradshaw at his Connecticut home, and talking about the old days rekindled the flat track fire. “I decided then and there I had to have one of my own. But it’d been years since Bill worked on those BSAs: The parts were scattered all around, with many lost to time and fading remembrances.”
    Phil returned home with boxes of parts, determined to collect as many of the original fragments as he could find. “I wanted to turn a great memory into a three-dimensional reality. The idea: build a BSA from as many original pieces as possible.”
    With help from Bradshaw and Rick Stone over the next couple of years, Phil managed to source a Trackmaster racing frame, a Bates seat, and Ceriani forks (including triple trees). He also located authentic tires, Borrani rims, Kennedy quick-change hubs with knockoffs and, best of all, an original fiberglass gas tank with intact paint.
    BSA A65 Trackmaster
    To help build the BSA, Phil roped in Dave Schostkewitz of Classic Cycles, the go-to guy for vintage British bikes in New Jersey. “Dave built a strong motor. Since this was going to be a street tracker we settled on a reliable A65 650cc setup with some neat upgrades, both old and new.”
    For extra power, Dave installed an original Spitfire cam and new Mikuni VM roundslide carbs, duplicating those used on the original BSA race motors. For dependability he used a Bob Newby Racing billet clutch assembly/belt drive, a Boyer electrical system with a high output alternator, and a li-ion battery.
    “The two sets of original pipes I had were beyond repair,” Phil reports, “so Dave handcrafted new megaphone pipes that mimick the originals.” To keep it in the family, Dave’s son fabricated the new rear fender.
    BSA A65 Trackmaster
    The frame needed considerable work. The original swing arm was lost and the Trackmaster replacement needed extensive remedial work. Fatigue cracks and ugly welds from back in the day were cleaned up, new tabs were added, and the complete frame was nickel-plated once again. For stopping control, a new Wilwood brake caliper and master cylinder were used—at the rear wheel only, in true flat track fashion. “Dave also used his last ‘new’ original Amal throttle to make this bike do what it’s made to do—Go!” says Phil.
    For Phil, the finished product is a step back in time. “It’s even better than I could have ever imagined,” he says. “I can’t express my excitement to have come full circle on my decades-old dream of having an original Bill Bradshaw BSA to call my own.”
    Photography (c) 2013 Erik Landsberg.
    BSA A65 Trackmaster
    via BIKEEXIF

    ISDE : Double succès pour les Français

    Motocross racing action from the final day of the 2013 ISDE in Sardinia, Italy



    En tête des ISDE depuis le premier jour, les équipes de France engagées dans le Trophée Mondial et Junior n’ont pas faibli, pour renouveler leur succès acquis l’an passé. Cette sixième et ultime journée n’a pas abordé de rebondissement, les positions ne changeant pas sur le podium ; Américains et Italiens accompagnent les tricolores en Mondial, alors que Italie et Grande Bretagne montent sur le podium junior.

    The world title and victory for Ogier/Ingrassia / Titre et victoire pour Ogier/Ingrassia


    Not only did the 2013 Rallye de France-Alsace see Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingras / sia (VW/Michelin) claim the first world title of their career*, but it also brought them their seventh win of the season. Dani Sordo (Citroën) and Jari-Matti Latvala (VW) were second, while Sébastien Loeb bowed out of the sport with a score of nine world crowns and 78 victories to his name. Thanks for everything, Seb!
    The 2013 Rallye de France-Alsace will no doubt be remembered in years to come as the backdrop to Sébastien Ogier’s first world title and to Sébastien Loeb’s swansong appearance, but it also delivered an exceptional fight for victory between five drivers in horrendous weather conditions.
    To prevent Ogier from taking the 2013 title, Thierry Neuville absolutely needed to win Thursday evening’s Power Stage in the streets of Strasbourg. In the end, the Belgian was beaten by a margin of seven-tenths of a second by Dani Sordo whose performance automatically handed the 2013 Drivers’ crown* to Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia.
    The following morning (Friday), the newly-crowned champs appeared (understandably) to have their minds on other things as Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena switched to attack mode to claim three fastest times and take the overall lead.
    Friday afternoon’s loop then saw Ford/Michelin’s Thierry Neuville make a judicious tyre choice (hard-compound Michelin H2s) which helped him to win all three tests and ease into the lead, ahead of Sordo and Latvala.
    As heavy rain blew in over the region, Sébastien Ogier was in a far more offensive mood on Saturday. A string of four stage victories enabled him to make up his overnight deficit and challenge for the lead after Neuville lost air when a tyre became unseated in an impact with a kerb. That allowed Sordo to recover first place after SS13, before Jari-Matti Latvala eased ahead on SS14. When action resumed on Sunday morning, the provisional top four (Latvala, Sordo, Ogier and Loeb) was covered by just five seconds after 255km competitive kilometres!
    We woke up on Sunday morning looking forward to a thrilling four-cornered showdown to the north of Strasbourg, near Loeb’s home town, Haguenau. The locals were deprived of a chance to cheer on their hero, though, when the Frenchman rolled his Citroën on SS15. The same stage saw Sébastien Ogier take the lead thanks a phenomenal drive, and he went on to collect his seventh world class win of the season, and the VW Polo R WRC’s first on asphalt.
    “The weekend was incredibly high on emotion for us. We made sure of the world title on Thursday and now this victory today. A huge thank you for all your support,” he declared at the end of the last stage, the second attempt at the Haguenau super-special.
    The Frenchman was joined on the podium by Dani Sordo (Citroën) and Jari-Matti Latvala (VW), while Thierry Neuville (Ford) was fourth. Evgeny Novikov (Ford), Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën) and Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) rounded off the top seven.
    Mads Ostberg (8th, Ford) was delayed by a late brake issue and finished just clear of the WRC-2 winner, Robert Kubica (Citroën RRC), whose job was helped when his chief rival Elfyn Evans picked up a puncture early on.
    In WRC-3, Quentin Gilbert led from SS4 to the chequered flag to claim his first win of the season, ahead of Sébastien Chardonnet and Keith Cronin. The result clinches the class’s 2013 title for Chardonnet.
    (*) subject to the publication of the official results by the FIA.

    Ce week-end, Sébastien Ogier et Julien Ingrassia (VW/Michelin) ont non seulement décroché leur premier titre mondial*, mais ils ont également remporté le Rallye de France-Alsace devant Dani Sordo (Citroën) et Jari-Matti Latvala (VW). Sébastien Loeb a disputé le dernier rallye WRC de sa carrière jalonnée de neuf titres et 78 victoires : salut l’artiste…
    Ce Rallye de France-Alsace 2013 restera sans doute dans les annales de ce sport pour le premier titre de Sébastien Ogier, le dernier rallye WRC de Sébastien Loeb et aussi l’exceptionnelle bagarre entre cinq pilotes pour la victoire dans des conditions météo automnales.
    Jeudi soir, Thierry Neuville devait impérativement remporter la Power Stage, une Superspéciale tracée dans les rues de Strasbourg, pour empêcher Ogier d’être sacré dès l’entame de ce rallye. Il est finalement battu de 7/10e de seconde par Dani Sordo qui « offre » donc les titres de Champions du monde des Rallyes 2013* à Sébastien Ogier et Julien Ingrassia.
    Vendredi matin, les néo-champions du monde sont encore sur leur petit nuage, alors que les nonuples champions passent à l’attaque : Sébastien Loeb et Daniel Elena enchaînent trois meilleurs temps et pointent en tête du rallye.
    Vendredi après-midi, un judicieux choix de pneumatiques permet à Thierry Neuville (Ford/Michelin H2 (hard) d’aligner lui aussi trois meilleurs temps et de conclure la première journée en tête devant Sordo et Latvala.
    Samedi, sous la pluie, Sébastien Ogier passe à l’offensive. Le pilote Volkswagen/Michelin remporte quatre spéciales à la suite et refait son retard de la veille, pendant que Neuville touche un trottoir et décoince son pneu arrière gauche. Dani Sordo reprend la tête du rallye à l’issue de l’ES13, puis Jari-Matti Latvala l’en dépossède dans l’ES14. Les quatre leaders du rallye – Latvala, Sordo, Ogier, Loeb – sont groupés en cinq secondes après 255 km chronométrés.
    Dimanche, on s’attendait donc à un formidable match à quatre sur les routes détrempées du Haut-Rhin, autour d’Haguenau. Mais la ville natale de Sébastien Loeb n’a pas eu le temps d’accueillir son héros, parti en tonneau dans l’ES15. Dans cette même spéciale, Sébastien Ogier s’est emparé de la tête du rallye après un chrono époustouflant. Au final, il remporte sa 7evictoire de la saison, la 1ère pour la VW Polo R WRC sur asphalte.
    « J’ai vécu deux très fortes émotions sur ce rallye, le titre jeudi et la victoire aujourd’hui. Merci à tous pour votre soutien », a déclaré Sébastien Ogier, grand vainqueur devant la mairie d’Haguenau.
    Dani Sordo (Citroën) et Jari-Matti Latvala (VW) ont ensuite assuré chacun une place sur le podium devant Thierry Neuville (Ford). Evgeny Novikov (Ford) complète le top-five devant Mikko Hirvonen et Andreas Mikkelsen.
    Mads Ostberg (8e, Ford) a été retardé par des ennuis de freins en fin de rallye et termine juste devant le vainqueur WRC-2, Robert Kubica (Citroën RRC). Son principal challenger dans cette catégorie, Elfyn Evans, a connu une crevaison en début de rallye.
    En WRC-3, Quentin Gilbert a pris la tête à l’issue de l’ES4 pour ne plus la quitter. Il remporte sa 1ère victoire de la saison devant Sébastien Chardonnet et Keith Cronin. Grâce à une 3e victoire en cinq courses, le Suédois Pontus Tidemand est assuré du titre de Champion du monde Junior 2013*.
    *sous réserve de la publication officielle des résultats par la FIA

    Riding The Well Of Death


    1969 HONDA CB750 'El Gato' by Deranged Motorworks


    By guest writer Phil Guy.
    Cypriot Alexandros Hadjicostas got the itch for bikes while tinkering on his humble Honda Chaly in his early teens. It wasn’t until years later though, after he saw Henrik Hansen’s short film on Shinya Kimura, that Alexandros caught the full-blown café racer bug. One problem though: “One thing I had to deal with was that whenever I said the name 'café racer' in Cyprus nobody had the slightest idea what I was talking about” he says. Not one to be deterred, he cast around for a build candidate. It took him a year, but eventually he found the right bike. A 1969 Honda CB750. The bike that last year Motor Cyclist magazine named ‘Motor Cycle of the Century’. He didn’t exactly snag a mint example, though. “When I found the bike it was in a terrible condition after being unused for more than 10 years and missing most of its parts. I had the chassis, engine, carburettors, exhaust and wheels…and that's all I needed. I bought the bike for 500 euro and had a budget of 2000 euro to work with.”
    Alexandros’ vision for the bike was realised by mechanic Adonis Syrimis at Deranged Motorworks. “He was just starting out and wanted to show off his skills using this project,” Alexandros explains. “I couldn't have found a better person to translate my ideas”. Although he spent six months prior to the build tinkering on the design, a few things he was sure of from the get-go. “The colour for the tank and the rear end was clear from the start—I wanted a silver matte paint that would match with the light brown leather of the seat and the Brooks handles.“
    With Cyprus hardly being the hub of café racer culture, Alexandros had to scour the web for the right hardware. “I couldn't find parts easily in Cyprus so I sourced most of them online from about ten different countries. The parts I added to the bike came from Dime City Cycles in the US, as well as Firestone Champion Deluxe tires, Brooks grips, Motolana headlight brackets & engine covers, and a headlight with speedometer from Nostalgia Speed & Cycles. The only parts I managed to source in Cyprus were the indicators.”
    “The final design has changed a lot from my initial ideas, but with my design and Adonis' mechanical skills we manage to create this gorgeous Honda CB750 café racer that we named 'El Gato'.” The sobriquet fits: It’s a poised, serene creature that’s not hard to picture purring through the narrow streets of Cyprus.
    Photograghs by Alexandros Hadjicostas

    Off-track antics: James Hunt's road cars


    These days, you expect to see F1 drivers on the road in supercars. James Hunt, however, was an eccentric – not to mention the fact that money was often tight, so his road cars were an eclectic bunch of oddities...
    Take the Austin A35 van that the World Champion famously drove around Wandsworth in South London (he said he loved to overtake Ferraris through the Wandsworth roundabout at night, in the wet), ideal for transporting his budgerigars to shows. And while his bright yellow Porsche 911 3.0 RS was a more traditional choice for an F1 driver, his huge Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 saloon was hardly the nimble sports car you might expect, especially when it spent most of the time raised on bricks outside Hunt’s house – the result of financial hardship.
    If you fancy following in the footsteps of this unconventional motorsport hero, you might want to start by acquiring a car from our selection below. As well as the models already mentioned, we’ve thrown in a rather nice 1967 Mini in honour of Hunt’s attempts to prepare and race one himself that year – albeit not very successfully (it was turned away at Snetterton scrutineering due to the fact that it had no windscreen or side windows). And if you’re wondering why there’s a Rolls-Royce Corniche in the mix, it’s because we love the stories of the Hesketh team rolling up at race meetings in such a car, drinking champagne and generally having fun. As well as winning the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix, of course.
    Photos: Getty/Rex Features

    Hunt's favourites in the Classic Driver Market

    ISDE : Double succès pour les Français


    En tête des ISDE depuis le premier jour, les équipes de France engagées dans le Trophée Mondial et Junior n’ont pas faibli, pour renouveler leur succès acquis l’an passé. Cette sixième et ultime journée n’a pas abordé de rebondissement, les positions ne changeant pas sur le podium ; Américains et Italiens accompagnent les tricolores en Mondial, alors que Italie et Grande Bretagne montent sur le podium junior.
    Assurer, tel était le mot d’ordre pour les Français qui nantis d’une bonne avance devaient simplement gérer cette dernière journée et rejoindre l’arrivée pour s’imposer. Mission accomplie, le baroud d’honneur étant à mettre à l’actif d’Alex Salvini qui après des débuts difficiles termine ces ISDE en beauté tout en connaissant les joies du podium. Côté tricolore les plus véloces ont été Pierre Alexandre Renet (Husaberg Michelin) et Johnny Aubert respectivement six et septième en E2 ; la journée a logiquement été favorable aux anciens crossmen, l’Américain Zach Osborne s’imposant en E1 alors que Loic Larrieu (Husaberg Michelin) dominait les juniors.
    Ces ISDE auront donc confirmé la position dominante des tricolores, l’Italie brillant également à domicile en montant sur le podium des deux catégories ; Américains et Australiens, absents des championnats du Monde d’Enduro ont été de sérieux outsiders, les Australiens perdant malheureusement toute chance de podium lors de la cinquième journée mais plaçant leurs deux équipes dans le top cinq, comme les Américains.
    Côté classements individuels, Antoine Meo gagne la catégorie E3 devant Mathias Bellino (Husaberg Michelin) et remporte également le classement scratch. L’Australien Daniel Milner s’impose en E2 devant Pierre Alexandre Renet, alors qu’en E1 c’est l’Espagnol Cristobal Guerrero qui devance Thomas Oldrati (Husaberg Michelin).
    Classement final Trophée Mondial : 1.France, 21:56.32.08(Pela Renet, Jeremy Joly, Johnny Aubert, Antoine Meo, Rodrig Thain, Fabien Planet);
2.USA, 22:00.23.25(Mike Brown, Kurt Caselli, Thaddeus Duvall, Charlie Mullins, Zach Osborne, Robert Taylor);
3.Italie, 22:10.05.98(Albergoni, Oldrati, Salvini, Monni. Philippaerts, Balletti);
4.Australie, 22:15.03.63(Joshua Green, Chris Hollis, Glenn Kearney, Matthew Phillips, Joshua Strang, Daniel Milner);
5.Espagne, 22:18.15.14(Lorenzo Santolino, Cristobal Guerrero, Ivan Cervantes, Victor Guerrero, Mario Roman, Oriol Mena) ; etc….
    Classement final Trophée Junior : 
1.France, 13:20.44.89(Swan Servajean, Kevin Rohmer, Loic Larrieu, Mathias Bellino);
2.Italie, 13:25.45.81(Rudy Moroni, Giacomo Redondi, Nicolo Mori, Gianluca Martini);
3.Grande Bretagne 13:29.23.26(Steve Holcombe, Jack Rowland, Jamie McCanney, Daniel McCanney);
4.USA, 13:37.09.08(Grant Baylor, Kailub Russell, Andrew Delong, Jessie Groemm);
5.Australie, 13:39.56.43(Ben Burrell, Lachlan Stanford, Scott Keegan, Thomas McCormick) ; etc

    décoration