Ray Petty Manx Norton

Ray Petty was one of the most respected tuners of the Norton Manx engine. Petty was an accomplished racer himself, getting his start in 1939 on a 250cc Imperial. He spent most of his war time service in the U.K. developing his trade as a skilled engineer working at the Vickers aircraft experimental shop under the tutelage of Francis Beart. When the war ended, both men joined Norton to prepare Manx racing machines. He continued to road race motorcycles too, even winning as International Six Days Trial Gold medal off road. When his racing career wound down, he employed  many top riders of the period, including legendary racer Derek Minter, the "King of Brands" with whom he shared many victories. Such was the fertile mind of Petty that many interesting, innovative ideas found their way onto bikes. This was followed with the inevitable complete 'Petty Manx'.  The last British Championship won by a single cylinder machine was in 1971 on a Petty-tuned Manx. Ray Petty continued this type of development work until his death in 1987.

 

American vintage motorcycle racer Chris Jensen has spent most of his seat time on Ducati's small and large and even Yamaha TZ250's over the last twenty years. He'd been looking for a Manx after throwing a leg over one a few years back at a race weekend.

 

He found a very special one in the form of 'RP3', the Ray Petty Manx #3. It's one of just handful of true Petty built period Manx racers, it one of two being actively raced today. Summerfield Manx in the U.K. started building replica's in the late 1990's, but Chris's bike is the real deal.

 

 

Chris brought the bike to the Iron Oxide Garage for some fine tuning before his next race in a week's time at Loudon, New Hampshire with the USCRA. Long time Manx racer and tuner Dick Miles shared his knowledge with Chris to help dial in the bike to help reach its potential.

 

 

 

 

Chris has spent an significant time in the last year since it's acquisition optimizing the machine. The bike is surely the ultimate development of the Ray Petty dream machine at this moment.

 

 

Belt drive and numerous other modern go-fast goodies blend

seamlessly with the 1971 Petty-built frame.

 

Running 18 inch alloy rims, a Ceriani front end and rebuilt brakes

ensures that the Manx handles very well. The original Petty forks are stored for later use.

 

Modern silencer meets the ever tightening sound regulations with ease and improved mid-range performance and ground clearance over the stock megaphone pipe.  A stock 1961 Norton Manx frame sits in the background, awaiting a rebuild.

 

The Iron Oxide Racing garage will soon be torn down to make way for a parking garage in the name of 'progress' and urban renewal. Oh, the story it's walls would tell if they could talk. So many great cars, motorcycles, racing go-karts, and wooden boats have been worked on here. So many interesting characters have visited these premises, too. The city where it's located has promised to provide the owner with a new space to replace it with, but time will tell how well that plan goes. Well, at least we've got the memories.  

 

 

 

 

The Lords of Laconia

The Belknap Vintage Classic Road Races at the Gunstock Ski Area in Gilford, New Hampshire were last held in 1999. The race was the brainchild of Robert ' Bob' Coy , USCRA chief. It was run on the original Laconia race course where so much AMA racing took place before moving to Bryar Motorsports Park and eventually  Loudon New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Here's a few images from a very memorable weekend on the tight track that runs though the trees.

Classic Racing in Downtown Laconia, New Hampshire

 

Mechanic Mikey seemed to like it. It wasn't so much a race as a parade, but a quick parade and someone has to be up front. Most guys (and gals) wanted bragging rights to say they won on the 'Streets of Laconia'.

The Norton Inter and Randy Hoffman's BSA

A beautiful Honda four cylinder GP replica

They call it a "Chout" !

The Moto Rumi Junior, a gem from the *Frank and Cathleen Smith collection* This exquistite 125cc two-stroke  makes a sound that will make your hair stand straight up.

Moments before the off. When the flag dropped the Norton would not go into gear despite rocking it back and forth as the front group disappeared around the bend. I jumped off and pushed for a bit and hopped back on , kicked it in gear and was gone before they could black flag me.

A nicely restored TZ750 E Model, for display only at this venue it would be pure suicide.

Some of the mighty Norton's from the Northeast.

Bob Coy and his group of volunteers made this event happen.  All who attended had a great time.

Open pipes wailing, we hauled around as quickly as we could, mindful of curbs, trees, railway tracks, manhole covers and whatever other obstacles you might find in small town America.

 

Local businesses, the hospital, banks, the post office and bars had to agree to let this event happen. These are people who clearly love motorcycles. God knows it wasn't for the money.

Belknap Motorcycle Vintage Grand Prix

I had been racing the race-prepped Honda 350F for a year of so when I was invited to participate in the Belknap Vinatge Grand Prix in June 2000, run by Robert (Bob) S. Coy at the Gunstock Ski Area in Gilford, New Hampshire. It is the site of the original Laconia track and later nearby Loudon motorcycle races. Bob brought together a wonderful mix of ex-champions, like Dick Klamfoth, Ed Fisher and many other racers of the original course.

Mechanics were to wear their 'AMA whites', so my brother Michael donned his gear to keep an eye on the bike.  The bikes were brought to the grid with silent engines before the race day kicked off.

Looking pensive as the reality of this 'parading' was looming. The narrow, crowned , bumpy course consisted of a short straight, a sharp left turn, into the forest, and a run up the hill to a 90 degree left turn and a slight down hill, off camber and into another 90 degree left and then a plunge down the long hill hurtling by the straw bales and trees before reaching a first gear left to cross the finish line. 

Sidecars were on hand as well , the USCRA is a hot bed of sidecar racing in America.

That Bultaco looks like a good choice for the task at hand.

AMA Hall of Fame legend Dick Klamfoth #2, with a friend on a Norton Commando. Mr. Klamfoth, aka "Mr Daytona" won on the famous beach course at Daytona in 1949, 1951 and 1952 also won the Laconia 100 mile race here in 1950 on a Norton.

Harley's and Triumphs. Two of the greats to do battle at this track. It was here that Ed Fisher won the first AMA National roadrace on a Triumph in America in 1953.

There were several sidecar teams that featured dad and son, husband and wife and even father and daughter.

Thru the trees, lined with haybales, there was no run-off room, so a measure of reserve was in order...until the flag drops. Then it's every man for himself.

The event lasted a few more years before the USCRA moved it right into dowtown Laconia. That was quite different with 'racing' going on right down Main St. USA. We'll post that story later.