Yamaha Two-Stroke Threesome

This collection of Yamaha two stroke production racing motorcycles includes a 1969 Yamaha TR2 350, a 1979 Yamaha TZ125 and TZ750. The TR2 was the first production racer to take on the factory bikes at the Grand Prix level. 1969 was the year the 150 mph 350cc was launched and this machine is number 19 made. It still has matching frame and engine numbers, in fact, all three of the these bikes do. Owned by Jacques DuPont, aka Jack, it was lasted raced by Timmy Sussman in the 1972 Daytona 200 and was sent to the Isle of Man for the T.T races at some point, but no confirmation of results has been located thus far. It was recently sold from the original owner's family after being laid up since 1973.

 

In 1973, 500cc FIM World Champion Giacomo Agostini famously left Italian manufacturer MV Agusta for Yamaha. He took a stunning victory on the Yamaha TZ750 in the Daytona 200 race in 1974. Yamaha domination had began in earnest then and lasted for more than a decade at the speedway.

 

The TZ125 is a single cylinder, water-cooled 125cc two stroke with monoshock rear suspension. Weight is a mere 165 pounds and top speed in the range of 120 mph.

 

 

The TZ750 is one of the last mono shock ' OW31' replica's made by the factory. The TZ750 was made from 1974-1980, about 500 in total. Initially, they had twin shock rear suspension before getting upgraded in 1975 to the monoshock. Besides revised exhaust pipe routing that became a signature of the incredibly fast racer, numerous other changes, it was now capable of speeds in excess of  180 mph.

 

Yamaha TR2 production racer

1969 marked the introduction of the TR2 348 cc production racer from Yamaha Corporation. Starting with serial number 900101, the two stroke, twin cylinder engine featured twin carbs and a 5 speed gearbox bike also featured a featherbed Manx style frame and proper, massive drum brakes front and rear. Making 54 hp and revving to 9,500 rpm, the 111 kg. machine was capable of speeds over 150 mph.

 

 

 

I received a call a few months ago asking me if I had any interest in a TR2, one that had been in same family since new. The original owner, Jacques "Jack" duPont, of Delaware was ending his long career as a racer when the TR was launched in the spring of 1969. He immediately purchased one to race in the USA's AMA road racing series. I'm still doing the research on specifics but a few things are known. The bike was shipped to the Isle of Man to be raced in 1969 or 1970. It's crate was damaged en-route and the fuel tank cap was crudely but expeditiously repaired. The bike was last raced for the duPont's by Timmy Sussman. It was an early production, numbers matching motorcycle in 'as last raced' condition.

After a few prospective buyers opted out but the more I read the more I was intrigued, I had to have it. The TR's had enjoyed much success and would be succeeded by the TR2B and TZ350 in quick succession. Yamaha was entering it's 'Golden Age' of International road racing domination. Riders like Kel Carruthers, Don Emde, Rod Gould, Phil Read, Jarno Saarinen plus countless others realized they had a potential Grand Prix winner if they followed the exhaustive maintenance schedule and applied some creative tuning. Within a year, the dominance of the TR2 and smaller TD2 led to nearly entire grids made up of Yamaha branded motorcycles. If you wanted to win, you rode a Yamaha.

 

Eventually, Yamaha would replace the TR with the TZ series when water-cooling became the next great leap forward. A few years later, with the "Giant Killer" getting outgunned increasingly dependable larger capacity offerings from Suzuki and Kawasaki two-strokes, Yamaha unveiled the next arrow in its arsenal, the legendary TZ750. Thus began the next chapter in putting the average rider on world class equipment at a price nearly everyone could afford.

Simeone Museum 2015 Classic Motorcycle Collection

The 7th Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance Collection at the Simeone Museum was a celebration of the finest BMW, Land Speed Record and Police Motorcycles.

Photographer Dawn Deppi captured all the action at the Kick Start Party on Saturday, August 15. She also shot the image of the poster bike this year, David Markel's immaculate 1928 BMW R42.

 Guest of Honor Cook Neilson, former editor of Cycle Magazine was on hand to talk about his experiences racing against BMW's during the early days of AMA Superbike competition. His Ducati, 'Old Blue' was tuned by longtime friend and colleague Phil Schilling and went toe to toe with the mighty Butler & Smith BMW's during their peak years.

Earlier in his career, Neilson drag raced a Harley-Davidson and eventually made record setting runs at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on the bike. He was there when Bob Leppan piloted the twin Triumph engine powered Gyronaut X-1 to record speeds.  

The Britten V1000 powered White Lightning streamliner was on display minus it's engine, but showing off it's meticulous engineering underneath the skin.

Harley-Davidson tuner Charlie Kowchak was recognized by Cook Neilson for his efforts over the last fifty years.

A threesome of pre-war BMW's

"The Guppy", a Suzuki Hyabusa LSR that still holds the record of the world's fastest naturally aspirated sit-on motorcycle at 254 mph. Owner Larry Forestall and pilot Mark DeLuca were on hand to demonstrate the machine.

Peter Calles brought a pair of Italian lightweights to the event. The 1949 Gilera and 1957 Ducati Elite were top quality restorations that are reflective of Peter's passion and work.

The 'Worlds Fastest Motorcycle", the Gyronaut X-1 still holds the record (245.667 mph) for the fastest Triumph in the world. Designed by Alex Tremulis, designer of the Tucker automobile and numerous other cars, it has been restored to it's former glory now.

The Britten V1000, one of only ten made. Still as shockingly beautiful and innovative as when it was launched more than twenty years ago.

For more information on the Gyronaut X-1, check out :

http://www.gyronautx1.com/