11 replies to this topic

[k4racer]

does anyone remember Dave Macey from the 70s. I believe he built a 4cylinder bike that was featured in one of the magazines of the time. I would be gratefull for any info.   martin

 

[Robin127]

I think he built an 8 cylinder 250, the "Macey 8."

[k4racer]

I think you are right robin. thank you. the only other thing I know is that he used to live on canvey island. he was a mate of my pal dave saltwell

[tonyed]

Googled Dave Macey- all I got was a bunch of pasty faced losers on 'Arsebook' or 'Linkedin' who probably couldn't build an Airfix kit let alone an 8 cylinder engine.

 

Is it just me or are others of you concerned that this world has gone to the dogs, full of grandstanding nobodies.  

 

However Mr Macey (not the ones boring the world with tales of their bowel movements) did build an eight cylinder plus several others with no more than a shed, file, mole wrench and imagination (more than you could say for the British motorcycle industry of the time)    

[Paul Collins]

Was he by any chance the guy who built engines using a multiple of something like NSU quickly cylinders onto his own billet crankcases?

There was an engine over here in Murrays Museum which I think was a straight 4, and I'm sure I saw either drawings or possibly even the cases for an unfinished V8 project using the same parts, it's a long time ago since I saw it, but I'm sure the accompanying story mentioned a garden shed engineer, I remember seeing it about 20 years ago and being very impressed with what I saw.

[k4racer]

like tonyed I have waded through all the rubbish on the internet. what I did find was a reference to a bill macey from Essex who built a couple of engines 8 cylinders of 30cc each. I believe these were 2strokes and in fact I think made it into complete bikes. what happened to those days when a man went into his shed with a bit of metal and a file and came out with a motorbike.

[serafini]

The bikes in in Murrays Museum at the Bungalow were the Fruins. The 1957 125 single and the 1962 200 cc four are now in a private UK collection. The 1962 125 twin remains with Peter Murray in his new museum in Santon.

 

The 200 cc four which Murray owned is Fruin's own complete bike.

 

Fruin also offered the four cylinder engine for use into a kit bike. One engine was probably raced in the 1960s and eventually put into an MV frame and that bike has been for sale a few times over the last 20 years.  There is actually another engine also in private hands.

 

The Fruin V8 crankcase went elsewhere when the Bungalow museum closed 10 years ago.

 

There are a few Fruin 50 cc racers about as well.

[Robin127]

I saw a complete "Macey 8" at a racing show at the Ally Pally in the late 80's/early 90's, it looked like it had been stored in a shed for 20+ years, which in fact it probably had.

[billlawrence]

The bikes in in Murrays Museum at the Bungalow were the Fruins. The 1957 125 single and the 1962 200 cc four are now in a private UK collection. The 1962 125 twin remains with Peter Murray in his new museum in Santon.

 

The 200 cc four which Murray owned is Fruin's own complete bike.

 

Fruin also offered the four cylinder engine for use into a kit bike. One engine was probably raced in the 1960s and eventually put into an MV frame and that bike has been for sale a few times over the last 20 years.  There is actually another engine also in private hands.

 

The Fruin V8 crankcase went elsewhere when the Bungalow museum closed 10 years ago.

 

There are a few Fruin 50 cc racers about as well.

I am sure I saw the four cylinder bike at Sammy Millers museum I may be wrong as I was walking around in a bit of a daze so many bikes to see    Bill Lawrence    

[GTPRacing]

Sammy does have a 50cc four cylinder two stroke in his museum, I paid a visit last summer whilst in Hampshire.  If I remember correctly the bike was a Mitchell. Each pot was 12cc and it had four carbs too!

[billlawrence]

Sammy does have a 50cc four cylinder two stroke in his museum, I paid a visit last summer whilst in Hampshire.  If I remember correctly the bike was a Mitchell. Each pot was 12cc and it had four carbs too!

wish I had a closer look but so much to see and wife at the door     Bill Lawrence

[Russell Burrows]

wish I had a closer look but so much to see and wife at the door     Bill Lawrence

 

 Oh dear, that sounds familiar.