Stan 'The Man' Smith

I had the pleassure of knowing Stan between 1964 - 1970, I know that he worked at Lynx & assisted with the Lynx FJ also doing a stint with Bob Britten other than that I have no idear of his working life.

If you have any stories of this larger than life person I would very much like to hear them.

Stan was very involved with motor bikes espically his 250cc New Imperial which I once machined a piston for him after the blank was cast in a jam tin then swung around in a circle to achive centerfrugal casting, his exploits welding alloy sheet were just amazing.

In 1964/5 I was very indeted for the assistance that Stan gave me in setting up my Mazda 800 on Amal Carburetors & modifications to the suspension.

I know that Stan was very involved in all disiplins of Motor Sport from Road Racing to Speedway.

It is well over 12 months since I posted this article, there must be many out there that remembers Stan & his involvement in Motor Sport during the 1960-1980 which ranged from Motor Bikes, Formula Cars, Mini & Speedway.

Would like to hear your Stories.

It is well over 12 months since I posted this article, there must be many out there that remembers Stan & his involvement in Motor Sport during the 1960-1980 which ranged from Motor Bikes, Formula Cars, Mini & Speedway.

Would like to hear your Stories.

I cannot add anything personally, but in the late 1950s and early 60s, when the New Imperial special (it was a 1930s Grand Prix NI engine in a 1950s frame in later days) was being raced it was often ridden by Harry Hinton and his son Eric. I think Eric is still about - he would be sure to have known Stan (known as 'Nooge' Smith I believe).

My sometimes unreliable memory says there was a feature article on Stan in Jim Scaysbrook's magazine Classic Motorcycling Australia a few years ago.

The New Imp motorcycle is still in Sydney and in care of someone who has been reseaching both the bike and Stan Smith. I will try to find a name and email address but cannot be sure I still have it. I think the NI owner's name was also mentioned in Jim's artcle. Probably worthwhile you contacting Jim Scaysbrook.

Rob Saward

Thanks for the info Rob, I watched Stan cast a new piston for the Imperial by using the billy can method of pouring the molten alloy into an old fruit can & rotating it around as they used to do to cool a Billy of Tea, when it was cool he then removed the new piston ready for Machining which I did for him on Bob Brittons Lathe.

Then the new piston was installed into the motor & off to Bathurst Easter Races in Stans old Vauxhall Ute very late at night with no heater in the car but he did have a blanked to keep us from feeling the cold, this was about Easter 1966/67

To the best of my memory Eric Hinton rode the bike, with its new 12.1 piston, I believe it finished the race but my memory is not what it used to be.

As rough a person as Stan was it amazed me the respect that he was given for his workmanship by his fellow motor sport friends.

Bob Britten's Rennmax cars have a sort of sequence of build types e.g. BN 1 , BN 2 etc.
and I was advised a long time ago the B was for Britto and the N for Nooge .

Bryan Miller.