QUOTE (Russell Burrows @ Sep 22 2009, 15:15)

Hi Freddy, I'm afraid I can't help with any information, but perhaps you can assist me: when did Rod Coleman race factory Nortons?
The following is the answer of Rod Coleman himself
Dear Freddy,
The Norton I rode at Mons was the first of the new Featherbed racing models and had not been seen in Belgium before. So that Fergus Anderson and other riders said it was a works model. Particularly when he found it was as fast as his works Moto Guzzi. I rode this same Norton just 4 more times. In the Dutch TT, Belgian Grand Prix, French Grand Prix and in Switzerland where it was first place again.
After those races was invited to be a factory rider for A JS for the Ulster Grand Prix, Italian Grand Prix and at Silverstone in England.
For the 1952 racing season I did have the option of being a factory rider for either Norton or A JS. I chose A JS because their standard touring motorcycles were superior to those of Norton plus my contract with A JS stated that I could have the sole New Zealand franchise for their standard motorcycles.
The 1953 racing season with AJS was very frustrating so I agreed to change to Norton. But shortly after this A JS purchased the Norton factory and made me stay with them. However Norton did agree to send me a works engine for the 1954 New Zealand and Australian season. I used this to win the New Zealand TT & the Australian TT. As well as all the other races I rode in New Zealand. All of these results are in the back of my book "The Colemans".
Hope this is what you wanted but if you wish to have more information please let me know.
Kindest regards,
Rod