Motorcycle racing transporters

Found this

http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream

Found this

http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream

Good one!

Unfortunatey I do not have a photograph but many years ago when everything was in black and white Dave Croxford had a Jag which was converted to a pick-up.

Unfortunatey I do not have a photograph but many years ago when everything was in black and white Dave Croxford had a Jag which was converted to a pick-up.

I remember a guy from the north think his name was dickinson using an undertakers heartse motor and also Phil Read turning up at Snetterton with 2 works Yamahas in the back of a Ford Zodiac estate car Bill Ivy gave him a hand to unload them as I believe one might have been for him.

I remember a guy from the north think his name was dickinson using an undertakers heartse motor and also Phil Read turning up at Snetterton with 2 works Yamahas in the back of a Ford Zodiac estate car Bill Ivy gave him a hand to unload them as I believe one might have been for him.

Someone used to turn up to club meetings at brands with a hearse also. Don't know if it's the same person. I don't know if he ever came dead last or not.

Thanks to all , much appreciated , and a happy new year to you !

I remember RD 400 hot shot Mark Edge turning up at Croft and other Northern tracks with his bike in the back of a Reliant van, you wouldn't see that these days.
Greg

Personalised registration on a van? SMH - originally issued 1947/8.

LD van was 1954-60. http://www.austinmem...e72/page72.html

Edited by Geoff E, 01 January 2012 - 22:34.

Thanks to all , much appreciated , and a happy new year to you !

Bjorn not sure if you are aware of this ex Sheene transporter holiday. Its just about to be repainted in its original 'Team Suzuki' colours.

http://www.bike-stay...en-charnie.html

Bjorn not sure if you are aware of this ex Sheene transporter holiday. Its just about to be repainted in its original 'Team Suzuki' colours.

http://www.bike-stay...en-charnie.html

Clearly the link seems to be 'down' at this time so here is their press release.

If you are a motorcyclist and thinking of somewhere different to stay in 2012 why not take a trip down memory lane and spend a few days in Barry Sheenes ‘team Suzuki’ race transporter.

Just 30 minutes from Le Mans in the village of Neuvillette-en-Charnie in the beautiful Pays de Loire is La Haye, a B & B run by motorcycle enthusiasts Darren and Debbie Morrison.

Make no mistake this is no ordinary ‘Pension’ however as you will find when you stroll down to the lake which is also owned by the Morrisons.

Parked alongside it is Barrie Sheenes 1980 ‘Team Suzuki’ Daf motorcycle transporter now converted into 3 bed accommodation complete with mains water, electricity and drainage.

The 30 foot transporter once used by Sheene when he was a works Suzuki rider now sports uPVC windows, a kitchen area and satellite T/V and its tail lift has been revamped as a deck with a seating area overlooking the scenic lake towards Le Mans just 30 minutes away.

Motorcyclists can park there bikes undercover if they wish or make use of the full workshop facilities if necessary.

The Morrisons purchased the ex Barry Sheene Racing Ltd vehicle index number EDP 777V in 2005 essentially to convey their belongings to their new address in France but had no idea it was owned by Sheene.

The discovery was made a year later when a neighbour who happened to be another famous ex racer of the 1960’s Dennis Ainsworth told them it belonged to Sheene.

Dennis had just been interviewed for a new Sheene book and in it was a picture of Barry and the lorry that made them realise what they had.

Dennis now living in East Anglia had raced and beat some of the great riders of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s and was a Honda works rider before he crashed at the Dutch TT in 1964 and he had in fact sported the number 7 on his bikes prior to Sheene.

The accommodation which is complimentary to other rooms that are available on the farm is open to anyone who wishes to stay either in self catering or just as a B&B and the Morrisons contact details are darren.morrison@wanadoo.fr or telephone them on 0243 21 88 07

Links
http://www.bike-stay...enepitstop.html

http://www.bike-stay...Sheene_Pitstop_

...does anyone have a shot of Laurie Saddler's bike transport (early 70's - mostly Brands Hatch)...if not can anyone remember?...just a little challenge - as I remember clearly!

Adrian G

Clearly the link seems to be 'down' at this time so here is their press release.

If you are a motorcyclist and thinking of somewhere different to stay in 2012 why not take a trip down memory lane and spend a few days in Barry Sheenes ‘team Suzuki’ race transporter.

Just 30 minutes from Le Mans in the village of Neuvillette-en-Charnie in the beautiful Pays de Loire is La Haye, a B & B run by motorcycle enthusiasts Darren and Debbie Morrison.

Make no mistake this is no ordinary ‘Pension’ however as you will find when you stroll down to the lake which is also owned by the Morrisons.

Parked alongside it is Barrie Sheenes 1980 ‘Team Suzuki’ Daf motorcycle transporter now converted into 3 bed accommodation complete with mains water, electricity and drainage.

The 30 foot transporter once used by Sheene when he was a works Suzuki rider now sports uPVC windows, a kitchen area and satellite T/V and its tail lift has been revamped as a deck with a seating area overlooking the scenic lake towards Le Mans just 30 minutes away.

Motorcyclists can park there bikes undercover if they wish or make use of the full workshop facilities if necessary.

The Morrisons purchased the ex Barry Sheene Racing Ltd vehicle index number EDP 777V in 2005 essentially to convey their belongings to their new address in France but had no idea it was owned by Sheene.

The discovery was made a year later when a neighbour who happened to be another famous ex racer of the 1960’s Dennis Ainsworth told them it belonged to Sheene.

Dennis had just been interviewed for a new Sheene book and in it was a picture of Barry and the lorry that made them realise what they had.

Dennis now living in East Anglia had raced and beat some of the great riders of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s and was a Honda works rider before he crashed at the Dutch TT in 1964 and he had in fact sported the number 7 on his bikes prior to Sheene.

The accommodation which is complimentary to other rooms that are available on the farm is open to anyone who wishes to stay either in self catering or just as a B&B and the Morrisons contact details are darren.morrison@wanadoo.fr or telephone them on 0243 21 88 07

Links
http://www.bike-stay...enepitstop.html

http://www.bike-stay...Sheene_Pitstop_

Joey's Transit refurbished

http://www.bbc.co.uk...reland/18102241

Joey's Transit refurbished

http://www.bbc.co.uk...reland/18102241

It's a replica Renn, not the original refurbished. Saw it in the paddock at the NW200.

It's a replica Renn, not the original refurbished. Saw it in the paddock at the NW200.

You are correct, the ability to read clearly provides an advantage

Think it's an Austin LD, I remember them 'cos all the F1 stock car boys used to scour the scrapyards for them, seems the back axles were perfect for their creations.

Used in speedway here too. In some occasions up until very recently

Think so, Barry, and he then jacked in riding them as he thought they were too slow. Perhaps not one of his better decisions.

The Suzzi was slow until Degner defected from MZ with the factory secrets.

Please have a read of Stealing Speed about the MZs and pulse jet rocket engines that the exhaust theory was based on.
The MZ team was not allowed out of east germany after Degners defection.
Walter Kaden was the father of all two stroke tuning since then.

bit late with this, but can any one shed any more light on the futuristic motor home in yendors post #9 way back in 2009 ?

bit late with this, but can any one shed any more light on the futuristic motor home in yendors post #9 way back in 2009 ?

Post #6 - this one

thanks geoff ! thats the one. still not got the hang of cut & paste & including images.

mike in canada

That's Rudi Kurth's transporter, he was a master of innovation, even for his off track creations!

The Suzzi was slow until Degner defected from MZ with the factory secrets.

Please have a read of Stealing Speed about the MZs and pulse jet rocket engines that the exhaust theory was based on.
The MZ team was not allowed out of east germany after Degners defection.
Walter Kaden was the father of all two stroke tuning since then.

Read "Stealing Speed" recently. A great read and wonderful insight.

Sentimental favourite of all racebike transporters....


Not too quick, not too spacious, woeful vacuum wipers....but I couldn't count the number of times the old Thames brought me home reliably, safely and probably too pissed from bike meetings in the 70s....

Sentimental favourite of all racebike transporters....


Not too quick, not too spacious, woeful vacuum wipers....but I couldn't count the number of times the old Thames brought me home reliably, safely and probably too pissed from bike meetings in the 70s....

And with a Zephyr 6 or Zodiac engine and high ratio rear axle they could motor on too!

Post #6 - this one

It's based on a Citroen DS21 chassis with a widened track. Besides having room for the outfit it also had a kitchen behind the front bulkhead. Driver and passenger sit either side of the
engine, very low down. Quick and economical and entirely home constructed, well it would be with Rudi!

Sentimental favourite of all racebike transporters....


Not too quick, not too spacious, woeful vacuum wipers....but I couldn't count the number of times the old Thames brought me home reliably, safely and probably too pissed from bike meetings in the 70s....

I had three of these in all - wonderfull machines ! One of them I bought for £15 - slapped new shells and rings in her and she took us (and two bikes) all over the country without missing a beat! Regular long hauls from South Wales to Cadwell, Brands and Snetterton, no problem! Went to Thruxton once with three of the standard 15inch wheels and one 13 inch wheel (on the front) that we borrowed from a mates Dad's Consul. Pulled to one side a bit but got us there and back! Flat-out most of the time (a good 70mph) with great fuel consumption. Amazing reliability from the old three-bearing crank Consul engine!

I had one used more oil than petrol! its in a hole in a field just off M40 near the M25 junction now, poor old girl! Had some laughs in her though.

I had one used more oil than petrol! its in a hole in a field just off M40 near the M25 junction now, poor old girl! Had some laughs in her though.

Back in the mid-70's I travelled to a meeting with a friend who had a Thames, every now and then he would pop the centre engine cover open and top it up with oil as we were driving along.

A restored Thames with Zephyr 6 cylinder engine and 4 speed box was auctioned in the UK recently, went for about 25,000, I dont recall them being quite that good... I kept an old Honda rear shock under the seat of mine to hammer the gear linkage when it found its way into 2 gears at once, not an ideal state of affairs

A restored Thames with Zephyr 6 cylinder engine and 4 speed box was auctioned in the UK recently, went for about 25,000, I dont recall them being quite that good... I kept an old Honda rear shock under the seat of mine to hammer the gear linkage when it found its way into 2 gears at once, not an ideal state of affairs

Was it dark green and smelling of bread & did you buy it in the UK? If so I apologise. If you sold it all I can say is you b*****d! But despite the gear linkage & having to run with the heater on full blast in the summer (to keep engine temp sensible), what a piece of kit for us clubmen. I recall some memorable 100mph + trips in those iconic race "trucks"

Is this the smallest factory race team ever ? All 5 elements are present in this photo.



HW

Is this the smallest factory race team ever ? All 5 elements are present in this photo.



HW

Rider, machine, designer, mechanic, transporter.

Nice one Andy !!

Is this the smallest factory race team ever ? All 5 elements are present in this photo.



HW

Well, this s a factory team, but, on the back cover of the book "LAZZARINI" http://giorgionadaed...odotto_407.aspx there's something better: two men, one bike, one small cart, some camping items.

The caption reads: "Team Lazzarini fighting for the 1973 World Championship, this is the Swedish event.
In the picture we can see: the Rider, the Designer, the Team Manager, the P.R. Officer, the Chief Mechanic, the Mechanic, the Telemetry Operator, the Pit Wall Signalling Man, the Truck Driver, the Spare Parts' Manager, the Hospitality Manager, the Cook and the Dishwasher.
The LPG-powered Fiat 238 van, Official Team Truck, is missing from the picture, being in a repair shop not certainly to cure teething problems, but rather ageing problems. Without the van, the tent cannot be erected, since it stands when anchored to the vehicle..."

Which year is the Ossa picture , please ?

Sentimental favourite of all racebike transporters....


Not too quick, not too spacious, woeful vacuum wipers....but I couldn't count the number of times the old Thames brought me home reliably, safely and probably too pissed from bike meetings in the 70s....

Had a high-top camper van type version; great for running up the loading plank and not having to duck down when arriving at the top.

Fuel pump packed up once coming home from Brands; had to sit the race bike's fuel tank on top of the engine and gravity feed the carb.

Edited by pierrepeterpedro, 11 April 2013 - 06:56.

Don Cox' great book Circus Life has many Pictures also showing transporters (1949 plus a decade)!

 

looks like that Yankee actor , was it Clint Walker   ?? , ......................probably Skint Walker now   

looks like that Yankee actor , was it Clint Walker   ?? , ......................probably Skint Walker now   

You could well be right Phil, there was a pic of him on the forum a while back riding a Triumph scrambler, I think it was.

Rothmans Honda Britain 1984

Sorry I can"t locate any photo"s but my "transporters" #1 Ex wd norton 16H + sidecar chassis modded to take race bike & tent 1955/6. #2 ford 10cwt "puddle jumper" van with passengers seat removed to get bike in, camping mats & sleeping bag for accomadation 1957,#3 austin 3 way van absolute bliss, proper bunk + cooking,  washing,& heating + room to spare with bikes removed1958  to 60.Slumbing by to days kit but in those days it was a case of run what you could obtain/afford Probably still had as much if not more enjoyment as they do today.

I am still looking for pictures of transporters , especially the works ones from the 50's and 60's like MV , Gilera , Guzzi , etc. Any ideas where to find ??

Hi Bjorn,

 

If you have access to Facebook, look up this group:

 

Dunlop Tyre Fitters & Technicians (& race vans)

 

Lots of pictures of old race transporters there!

 

 

Thanks for the link , very usefull for me !