Posts: 153
Threads: 20
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Nov 2015
Everyone has a dream bike that they would someday like to own. I'm very fortunate in that my ambitions are modest and therefore affordable. The bike of my dreams has always been a J.A.P. engined vintage speedway bike, this one dates from 1947. I bought this bike in April of last year and have just completed the engine rebuild and it is now ready for methanol and firing up. In England speedway is a race of four laps of a quarter mile oval cinder track. The bikes have no brakes and no gears, the only controls being a throttle and a clutch. Engines are 500cc single cylinder units with long stroke for plenty of torque. I'm not sure if you have speedway in the US, I suspect flat track is your equivalent. What you do have is one of the worlds best speedway riders in Greg Hancock who was world champion in 2014 and who shows no signs that his mature years are going to slow him down.
Posts: 3,872
Threads: 186
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Dec 2013
Great bike Paul. Speedway racing, like flat track, is exciting and unfortunately a rare thing in the US. Congrats on the restoration.
Posts: 1,029
Threads: 64
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jan 2015
Amazing bike Paul. Never seen anything like it. I really appreciate period restorations, whether they are bikes, cars, furniture or buildings, you did a great job. How fast are you going into corners with no brakes ? do you drag your feet ?
Questions answered, gotta love You Tube.
Posts: 153
Threads: 20
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Nov 2015
(01-18-2016, 11:29 PM)Chapomis_imp Wrote: Amazing bike Paul. Never seen anything like it. I really appreciate period restorations, whether they are bikes, cars, furniture or buildings, you did a great job. How fast are you going into corners with no brakes ? do you drag your feet ?
Questions answered, gotta love You Tube.
Corners are 60mph+ and everything is sideways. Only left hand turns so only one footpeg on the right. Left boot is dragged and is fitted with a steel plate. Only heros need apply and I'm not one.
Posts: 1,029
Threads: 64
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jan 2015
Just watched a few videos....never considered moto racing as being a contact sport:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxA-bXo7bmA
Posts: 153
Threads: 20
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Nov 2015
(01-18-2016, 11:49 PM)Chapomis_imp Wrote: Just watched a few videos....never considered moto racing as being a contact sport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxA-bXo7bmA
It's not all like that but you might notice that Pedersen was at the centre of quite a few of those clips. Some of the old clips show circuits without airbags on the perimeter. All tracks used to be like that and when airbags were introduced many fans complained that this was making the sport too soft!!
Posts: 1,020
Threads: 51
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Aug 2013
Gawd, I love that. I dig watching Speedway vids, it occasionally pops pup on MAVTV here, and have been aware of the sport sine the '70's. That is a sweet machine.
Posts: 193
Threads: 12
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2015
Very nice restoration! Wow, those guys that race these bikes are some tough dudes.
Posts: 2,590
Threads: 28
Likes Received: 6 in 2 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Mar 2013
(01-18-2016, 08:54 PM)Paulb_imp Wrote: Everyone has a dream bike that they would someday like to own. I'm very fortunate in that my ambitions are modest and therefore affordable. The bike of my dreams has always been a J.A.P. engined vintage speedway bike, this one dates from 1947. I bought this bike in April of last year and have just completed the engine rebuild and it is now ready for methanol and firing up. In England speedway is a race of four laps of a quarter mile oval cinder track. The bikes have no brakes and no gears, the only controls being a throttle and a clutch. Engines are 500cc single cylinder units with long stroke for plenty of torque. I'm not sure if you have speedway in the US, I suspect flat track is your equivalent. What you do have is one of the worlds best speedway riders in Greg Hancock who was world champion in 2014 and who shows no signs that his mature years are going to slow him down.
We do have speedway here. Most of the tracks are in California. Remember Bruce Penhall?
I've been to a few speedway events over the years. It's quite possibly some of the most exciting form of motorcycle racing I've seen.
The cool thing about speedway is that the rules specify a very simple bike. No fancy technology allowed, not even electronic ignition. Your '47 J.A.P. could give current bikes a run for their money.
Posts: 2,542
Threads: 125
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Mar 2013
Very cool. The only name that comes to mind when I think about speedway racing is Bruce Penhall, which is probably going back a bit in time.
