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1971 Phil Read's racing season Yamaha TD2 race bikes.


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#1 kneedragger

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Posted 15 December 2014 - 02:08

Ok I have read and viewed photos of Phil Reads 1971 season I'm getting interested in td2's for some reason it would be cool to have one, and race it in vintage. From the pictures I have seen looks like he has many different set ups one with drum in the rear then twin front disc, another with all discs and some with all drum's some had stock forks others Ceriani forks.

If anyone has anything thing they remember from then please post 

 I would like to know more on the machines and their set ups.

Phils Reads bikes had a shiny custom frame made by a

guy named Cheney, very nice looking next to the factory bikes do you think the custom framed type Phil used out performed that of the factory. Wonder how many he actually had to have for the 1971 season, that's a lot of traveling country to country, some of these races were very far away like the Ulster gp. they must have worked on those bike while traveling how many frames did Phil have made for him.

Is there anyone out there that has made a replica's of Phil Reads 1971 Yamaha td2's

 Rod Gould was a Yamaha rider in 1971 I seen a picture of him using the same front brake set up as Read

the twin disc that must have been the way to go.



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#2 Angus Lamont

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 01:52

Phil Read's engines were prepared by Helmut Fath of URS fame



#3 E30Fan

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 07:56

Hi,1971/2 Ron Herring made a small batch of shiny custom frames for td2's.I think Phil Read had 1,Dave Browning definately had 1.Twin down tube,nickel plated.Drum brakes etc std TD2.

Ron was well respected yam tuner at time.Did a lot of work for Rodney Gould and Phil(and Dave) on their engines.Cranks needed refreshing regularly etc

I think Ron and Rodney worked together on the frames.They were beautifully made,handled well but a bit heavy.

Don't remember any Cheney road race frames during this time but its a long time ago.

Ron Herrings son did well in MX later(with his help I expect)

Regards



#4 Rennmax

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Posted 19 December 2014 - 15:06

Read's frame was indeed made by Cheney, here is a summary a that season


http://www.tz350.net...tories.htm#1971

Edited by Rennmax, 19 December 2014 - 15:06.


#5 kneedragger

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Posted 24 December 2014 - 02:42

I emailed Read and he replied he designed the chassis  that he thought he had put in for 10 units to be made only for him by Eric Cheney.

 what could one of these be worth?

 

I emailed Ferry Brouwer he Replied that Phil only had 3 bikes and that he knew where all 3 were. 2 250's and 1 350.

 I sent him a photo of a tr2 Cheney frame with the engine removed in the pits it had rear drum and a Dunstall frontend brake set up, he replied back that was not Reads bike as the 350 they raced only used the drum brakes in the front.

 

I emailed Simon Cheney and as far as he knew the frames were designed by Phill and only made for him built by his Father the late Eric Cheney he did not know how many, but he knew a owner of one, he had to refurbish for him and he was going to contact the owner of it to try and find out any info on these bikes and when he did he would let me know. 

 

I did notice Rod Gould changed to a Dunstall front end brake set up. pictures from 1971

 

Does anyone know of anyone else that road raced a bike with a Yamaha td/tr Cheney nickel plated frame during or after 1971


Edited by kneedragger, 24 December 2014 - 02:49.


#6 TZYAM

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Posted 08 January 2015 - 13:28

Phil Read's TR2 had twin discs on occasions as well, if you look in Colin Mackellar's book you will see a pic of Phil's TR2 with twin discs



#7 TZYAM

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Posted 08 January 2015 - 13:30

Can you post the pic of the TR2 with the engine removed in the pits, thanks



#8 GD66

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Posted 08 January 2015 - 23:21

Good spotting TZ, that pic of Read's bike is indeed a 350, the drive chain is on the left. On a TD2, the drive is on the right.

#9 TZYAM

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Posted 09 January 2015 - 19:24

That is correct GD



#10 GD66

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Posted 21 January 2015 - 12:03

An interesting analysis of Phil Read's 1970 and '71 seasons here, as summarised by Roger Gowenlock.
You may or may not agree with his season summary, but the article explains a few things.

http://www.tz350.net...ock_stories.htm

#11 ravemotorsport

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 22:38

10563157_1451543618461277_74337883909112

 

The Read TR2 350 Cheney frame.

 

10300954_1451634658452173_51543458353743

 

Read on it in the '71 TT, where he took the lap record, but retired due to a cracked frame... note both wheels off the ground ! . (pic courtesy of FoTTofinders)



#12 tonyed

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Posted 09 January 2016 - 07:25

I have a cutting from my (then) local newspaper The Cambridge Evening News concerning the theft of an ex-Phil Read Yamaha and the photo shows a Cheney framed TD2 (short pipes and RH final drive). The photo shows a Yamaha 4LS upfront with a disc rear. Although it is in black and white it is described as green and white and shows Castrol stickers. Obviously it has been restored by this time. I believe and could be wrong that it was taken from John Mosseys' place at Melbourne near Royston but was found shortly afterwards.

The report states it was owned by a Mr Geddis of Northern Island. There was a £10.000 reward. I am not sure of the date as the cutting does not show the date. However I believe it was in the late 80s/ early 90s. There is a Loctite machine in the background  which could be one of the 750s Parrish rode he lived not far from Mossey at Steeple Morden at the time.

 

In 1972 I was racing my 350 Aermacchi Metisse at a Brands Hatch meeting and in practice was passed by Phil on a TD2 (not sure which frame) or as it was 1972 might have been a standard TD3 . I managed to keep up with him for a couple of laps, however he then pulled into the pits. Try as I might my lap times then dipped dramatically without him to follow. :confused: He might not have been trying to hard but following him was a good lesson.



#13 ravemotorsport

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Posted 09 January 2016 - 10:26

I have being doing quite a bit of research on Phil's Cheney bikes in '71 (esp the 350) and the bikes configuration/set up seemed to have been changed at every event, ie drums front & back,, disk front - drum back & vice versa, plus many other changes and innovations Phil tried to suit the track & get best performance.  Don't be fooled into thinking that 1 particular bike ended the season the same as it started !  ie the above bike is the same 350 as previous post, but toward the end of the season. It has different brakes, forks, shocks & fuel tank (sorry - don;t know who to credit the picture to!)  

 

12185207_1658244967791140_80230650818735


Edited by ravemotorsport, 09 January 2016 - 10:29.


#14 TZ350H

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Posted 09 January 2016 - 21:09

10563157_1451543618461277_74337883909112

 

The Read TR2 350 Cheney frame.

 

10300954_1451634658452173_51543458353743

 

Read on it in the '71 TT, where he took the lap record, but retired due to a cracked frame... note both wheels off the ground ! . (pic courtesy of FoTTofinders)

Dont understand the reference to lap record here.  Phil Read did not lap anywhere near lap record pace in either 1971 250 or 350 tt.



#15 ravemotorsport

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Posted 10 January 2016 - 00:13

Dont understand the reference to lap record here.  Phil Read did not lap anywhere near lap record pace in either 1971 250 or 350 tt.

 

TZ350H - to correct my previous statement.....    

 

The 1972 IOM TT programme printed the Fastest Lap Record for the 1971 Junior TT as :-   P.Read - Yamaha - 100.37mph...  earlier races were indeed quicker but do bear in mind this lap time was from a standing start......  


Edited by ravemotorsport, 10 January 2016 - 00:28.


#16 Classicpics

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Posted 20 January 2016 - 12:23

Phil-Read-Yamaha_zpshctjhsxz.jpg