Old Photos, Daytona 1974

[redbirds_imp]

With Bike Week just around the corner, I was looking over some old pics I took there at the "200" back in 1974. I rode down that morning on my R/75, took in some of the local color in town (like the "well lit" Harley) and spent the rest of the day at the track. Agostini won if I remember correctly.

 

[the Ferret]

Cool pics and some well known racers.

Wonder watt ( get it) the output on that Harleys alternator is? Jeezalou that's a lot of lights

 

[redbirds_imp]

Cool pics and some well known racers.

Wonder watt ( get it) the output on that Harleys alternator is? Jeezalou that's a lot of lights

Castro, Roberts, Aldana, Agostini, Duhamel, Pasolini.....it used to be a very important race with international stars taking part. The last photo of Cecotto from Venezuela I believe, he was very fast and an up and coming star but was tragically killed in a race later that year.

 

[the Ferret]

I remember when Cecotto died. Yamaha was very keen on him.

 

[davidsargee_imp]

I remember DuHamel seemed to crash just about every other race, he rode for Kawasaki for a long time, til that 700cc Yamaha inline 4 took over everything. Yamaha teased the public with a prototype street machine based on that race bike, it was a two stroke inline 4. Basically two RD350s joined together. Sigh, that would have been a fun bike.

Ferret, do you think you would have been interested in a two stroke inline 4?

 

[redbirds_imp]

I remember DuHamel seemed to crash just about every other race, he rode for Kawasaki for a long time, til that 700cc Yamaha inline 4 took over everything. Yamaha teased the public with a prototype street machine based on that race bike, it was a two stroke inline 4. Basically two RD350s joined together. Sigh, that would have been a fun bike.

Ferret, do you think you would have been interested in a two stroke inline 4?

Yep, he was there.

 

[davidsargee_imp]

Cool, brings back memories.

 

[Guth_imp]

Man, those are some awesome photos!

 

[the Ferret]

I remember DuHamel seemed to crash just about every other race, he rode for Kawasaki for a long time, til that 700cc Yamaha inline 4 took over everything. Yamaha teased the public with a prototype street machine based on that race bike, it was a two stroke inline 4. Basically two RD350s joined together. Sigh, that would have been a fun bike.

Ferret, do you think you would have been interested in a two stroke inline 4?

Well heck yea... I had a 73 RD 350 Yamaha and a 76 GT 750 Suzuki although an inline 4 two stroke would have to be tuned more like the GT 750 than 2 RDs to be rideable lol

 

[davidsargee_imp]

Friend of mine had an RD350, modded the heck out of if. Bored, ported, polished, big carbs, expansion chambers. Was like riding a little bucking bronco. But it would give 750s fits, (except for the H-2). I was riding an H-2 back then, and would have probably jumped on that Yamaha had they produced it. Those bikes were a lot of fun.

 

[redbirds_imp]

I miss all the wonderful two stroke street bikes from back then. Simple machines loaded with performance. My kid brother had an RD250 that was sneaky fast and handled as if on rails.