Retro Moto TV - behind the scenes

What an amazing day, two 500cc Manx Nortons and a TZ750 prepared for action at another days filming for a TV project we've been working on recently. We were all gathered

        at a private estate in the state of Delaware where our gracious host cheerfully welcomed our noisy little party.

Former AMA Pro roadracer from the 1970's, Gary Fisher gives the TZ750 a try for fit before we get under way filming action sequences. Cinematographer Ed Buffman listens to "the Fish".

This TZ750 sports a Spondon frame and numerous upgrades that are evidence that this machine has been developed for the last twenty plus years. It is still competitive today and was last raced mid-August 2011 at the classic races at Mosport, Canada.  

Fisher was the first American rider to try the TZ750 at the Yamaha test facility in Japan. He was there with Kel Carruthers to help shake-down the new bike, the prototype of the TZ750A.

Rusty Bigley shares a story with our gracious host, both sharing an appreciation of all things mechanical, whether they have two wheels or four. Rusty's girlfriend Shari shot these photos while we were getting the cameras and audio equipment set up. Thanks Shari !

The producer takes a moment to savor the big TZ.

Michael checks out the one-owner Indian Four, put on loan for filming when our trusty Triumph 'failed to proceed' after the first take. Thanks Brip.

When it came to time to jet, Mike's weapon of choice is the MV Agusta Brutale 750. That  FBF exhaust really gives the bike it proper voice, a raspy bark.

Despite the menacing look, show host Matt Smith really liked the Indian. The pre-war gas pump works too.  

Let's see: Left hand throttle, foot clutch, hand shift, wide bars, sprung sadlle, art deco styling.

The most desirable of all road Indians.  

The crew kicked it into high gear and spent two fun-filled days filming the trailer. Give it a look.

             Click the link below to view the trailer for Retro Moto, the Classic Motorcycle show. 

                                                       http://www.edbuffman.com/?cat=38

         All rights Retro Moto. Created by John Lawless, Ed Buffman, and Sheldon Brown.   

                                                                            

Cook Neilson at Simeone Museum

 Cook Neilson and renowned neurosurgeon, Dr.Frederick Simeone with the Ducati 750 Super Sport, "The OverDog", a pre-production 750 now owned and restored by Roy Kidney.  

That's Cook in 1977 on the Ducati, winner of the 1977 AMA Daytona Superbike race. This race was as critical to the Bologna-based manufacturer's ambitions for the big-bike market as Paul Smart's win at the Imola 200 in Italy a few years prior.

This night was also a special reunion for Cook and Charlie Kowchak. The last time the two speedsters saw each other was a chance meeting in 1973 at the dragstrip in New Jersery.  Prior to that Neilson and Kowchak set a land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1969, where their bike, a highly modified PS class (partial streamliner) Harley-Davidson Sportster set a World Speed record at 190.8, the two-way average, with the second clocked at over 192 mph, eclipsing his own 1965 record of 153.mph..

The former editor of Cycle magazine tries out his old Harley after a forty plus year absence.  In the background the photography of world-class photographer Dawn Deppi. Dawn owns  Eye of the Beholder, Inc, a photography and marketing company in the Philadelphia area. Ms. Deppi supplied the photos for this blog post unless otherwise noted.

 Ms. Deppi jumps in for a photo with Cook.

 Photo by Bill O'Connell, 'Rally Meister' of Radnor Hunt Concours.

 

 

 

As the evening wound down, I was privileged to interview Cook for the crowd. His resume is lengthy and his achievements many. The 2006 AMA Hall of Fame inductee was a gracious and well spoken guest. He concluded his remarks with a reading of his 1997 article " The Reunion", a look back at his time at  Daytona Speedway twenty years after his historic win on the Ducati 750. He made sure his longtime cohort and former Cycle magazine editor Phil Schillng was credited for his efforts in the project that has come to be the defining moment of both of their impressive careers. His sincerity was matched only by his modesty in his own achievements, preferring to heap praise on the talented individuals who helped make his life so rich in experiences. 

The Ducati 900cc GP Due project, one of the many machines that are on display until September 8, when the exhibit closes. This amazing Alex Ortner built Ducati is one man's interpretation of the ultimate Desmo track day weapon. Photos of the Due and Red Bull Ducati supplied by Gilbert Patterson.

Contributor Gilbert Patterson also brought along the Red Bull sponsored Ducati 996 featured in these photos from Daytona Speedway a few years ago.

You don't question authenticity when Doug Polen's World Superbike AGV helmet is presented for display from Larry Ferracci, son of Eraldo Ferracci. Polen and Ferracci won both the World Superbike series and the AMA Superbike series on the potent Ducati 851.

Please visit http://www.simeonemuseum.org/ for details and hours of operation. The Ducati exhibit continues until Sept 8, 2011 when the motorcycles are transported to the nearby Radnor Hunt Concours for judging. Dave Hailwood, son of the late 'Mike the Bike ' Hailwood, MBE will be our special guest at that event. Details can be found at http://www.radnorconcours.org/     

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the late Claudio Castiglioni, a central figure in Italian motorcycle brands during the last three decades, MV Agusta, Cagiva and Ducati. Godspeed Claudio.

1936 Matchless G90 Super Clubman

The 500ccSuper Clubman, a rare bike indeed, seven are known to exist. The single cylinder sports machine features hairpin valve springs, a high compression piston, polished flywheels and connecting rods and ports. Claimed top speed was in excess of 90mph for the Plumstead, London built machine.

Current value? Six figures and counting. This is a blue-chip motorcycle investment can be ridden and admired.  Try that with your Treasury Bonds.

 

  Matchless was founded in 1899 and was purchased by AMC in 1938, which continued to produce the brand until 1966. It had a history of racing success, including an early win at the Isle of Man TT races with the founders son, Charles Collier.

     
The devil (and the dollars) are in the details. When compared to the AJS in the background, it becomes instantly apparent that the Super Clubman was in another league, hence the tenfold increase in comparable values in todays market.

Team Obsolete Harley-Davidson XRTT Mid Ohio 2011

The Brooklyn based Team Obsolete may be best known for it's stunning MV Agusta collection, but there's a deep affection for Harley-Davidson racers too. Owner Rob Iannucci has one of the best collections in the world, including the ex-Cal Rayborn XR-750 machine that was brought out last year with Cal's son to lay down some parade laps on.

This year, it was back to business with TO regular rider Dave Roper, one of the fastest, most consistent winners on the vintage scene for the last couple of decades. But every now and then, even an experienced pilot like Dave can get caught out. Turn one at Mid Ohio is no joke. It's a blind apex left hand turn under the bridge at the end of the short front straight. Overnight rain had left the traction level dicey during the brief practice session Sunday morning.  Dave had a low-side get off that he was able to walk away from and the bike was only lightly damaged.

Roper saw to it to amend the sign that was hastily tacked on the team's George Beale built Bennelli 350/4 replica when that machine also was damaged earlier in the weekend.  A race  fan knocked the bike off it's stand in the pits. Ouch !

" Cheep !  1975 Harley 909 XRTT for sale" proclaimed the sign.  It helps to have a sense of humor about these things.

Within an hours time the team was hard at work, getting the machine ready again for the next race.

 What a brutish bike it is ! Jam packed with that booming V-Twin and  a couple of enormous carbs hanging off the side. The other side sports two equally massive exhaust pipes up high for exceptional ground clearance.   

The KR and the XR series of Harley-Davidson road racers are as American as it gets and proved their worth during their time in the late 1960's and 1970's. They are desirable and highly sought after collectibles too.