Motor racing is a team sport, but it’s the drivers who get the glory.

The unsung heroes of any team are that very special breed, the mechanic.

Here is a tribute to those spanner twirling maestros.

This is the latest in our series of  photo specials showcasing the stunning images from the Cahier Archive. The collection, by photographers Bernard Cahier and his son Paul-Henri are part of a massive collection of 400 000 originals of which 17 000+ pictures are currently available on their website.

Images: TheCahierArchive©

Buy prints of these photographs from just $49

Best of the Cahier Archive: The Mechanics is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Bradley Price is a man after our own hearts. Founder of Automobiliac and life-long car nut, he has just added to his retro motorsport resume with the release of a series of timepieces inspired by the golden age of motoring.

The collection includes three watches – the Veloce, Brescia and Vallelunga. Each watch houses Swiss Made Ronda movement in a 42mm brushed stainless case and is finished with sapphire-coated K1 glass and a leather strap. Quality construction combines manly motoring materials like stainless steel and leather to produce confident, elegant timepieces that are as well put together as they look.

The design takes inspiration from the instrument panels of vintage Italian racers to create timepieces that celebrate classic motorsport with a sophisticated and mature look. Each design is distinct and seems to recall different periods or aspects of motoring and motor racing, which makes for a balanced and varied collection.

I love the clean, sophisticated and striking look of the Vallelunga with the white dial, though something should be said for the Veloce, which looks to rev to a very healthy 13,000. This, I imagine, is the timing equivalent of going up to 11.

Check them out on the Autodromo website here

Images provided by Autodromo

Handy: Autodromo Motoring Watches is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The Motorsport Retro Facebook page is a source of incredible knowledge, history, and media. Our Facebook fans have an amazing ability to create, find, and share iconic images of motorsport’s magic moments and machines, and have built a colossal collection of classic captures through sharing them on our wall over the years.

These posts are in honour of our Facebook fans, and their collection of beautiful cars and motorsport moments.

It’s an uncharacteristically soggy day here in Sydney, so we thought we’d heat things up a touch with a gallery of our favourite flaming exhausts, with a few spectacular sparks and hot engines to round things out.

Speaking of hot engines – check out our previous ‘Best of Facebook’, Best of the MSR Facebook: Classic Formula One Engine Photos, here.

All credit goes to our Facebook fans. Join them on our Facebook page here, and spend some time meeting some legends of classic motorsport, chatting, and perusing their piles of pictures.

Best of the MSR Facebook: Flames is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Jim Rathmann, the winner of the 1960 Indianapolis 500, has died at the age of 83.

Jim’s fame came about through a fantastic run of success at the Indy 500. He finished second in the legendary 500-mile race in 1952, ’57 and ’58, before winning the race in 1960.

The 1960 race has gone down as an all time classic when Rathmann driving a Watson-Offenhauser beat Rodger Ward in a race long duel.

Jim Rathmann, winner of the 1960 Indianapolis 500, dies aged 83 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Watch as Colin McRae has a huge moment and goes backwards down an escape road at 80mph in his MG Metro 6R4 on the Donegal Rally in 2006.

The moment occurs just after the 4min 20 mark as McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist were mixing it with the modern WRC machinery on the Carnhill Stage.  Afterwards McRae exclaims “fucking hell, that was lucky!” to which Grist says “Jesus!”

Stick around until the end of the video to hear Nicky Grist explain the reasons for the spin.

Video: Colin McRae + MG Metro 6R4 + biggest moment ever = crazy is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Brian Redman laps Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rennsport Reunion IV in a Porsche 908/3. Turn it up.

The sound goes out of sync in the middle, but it eventually returns and as Redman catches the 917 it makes for a really great video.

via Road and Track

Video: On board with Brian Redman in a Porsche 908/3. is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Lewis Hamilton will wear a special tribute helmet inspired by his hero, Ayrton Senna, at tonight’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

He isn’t alone, with Rubens Barichello also planning to waer a Senna inspired lid for what will be his 325th, and possibly final Grand Prix.

In what has become a bit of a trend amongst current F1 pilots, a number of drivers are running new designs for this grand prix, including Sergio Perez, Felipe Massa’s (100th Ferrari race helmet), Vitantonio Liuzzi’s (blackboard helmet) and Kamui Kobayashi’s (Linkin Park helmet).

Video: Hamilton salutes Senna with tribute helmet for Brazilian GP is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The Monza circuit in Italy already has so much atmosphere, but Max Papis wrote a new chapter last week, lapping the old banking in a Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup car – with his old F1 and CART pal Alex Zanardi.

Anyone who has been to Monza feels the history just walking through the gates. The banking is the first visit for everyone. The steepness of it is unreal, and to think in 1957 and 1958 the “Race of Two Worlds” had Formula 1 cars racing against the best of USAC’s Indycars. Just thinking of it now almost 50 years on is insane – but they did it.

Max, as you have read in “Superheroes wear red gloves” (and if you haven’t read it, why not?!) is a passionate man for life and racing, and for him to take a NASCAR Toyota Camry to the Rally Monza was a special moment. Being a sedan, there was a passenger seat for Max to give rides around what is effectively his home track when he grew up.

Among his passengers were his mother, his wife Tati, and one of racing’s most inspirational men, Alex Zanardi. The Italian, a former two-time CART IndyCar champion, who lost both of his legs in a crash in 2001, was fresh from winning the Handcycle class of the New York Marathon as he prepares for the 2012 Paralympics in London. His determination is undiminished.

To say Zanardi was impressed with his trip around Monza with Max is an understatement. “Hat’s off to all the NASCAR drivers,” Alex said. “And I have to admit, after today’s experience, I’m a little envious… Again, wow, what a beautiful car! I thought I’d had been driving a racecar recently. Bullsh…! That’s a car!”

Max, who wore a Marco Simoncelli #58 helmet in respect to his MotoGP countryman, enjoyed it too. “This was one of the best moments of the day, taking Alex around. He is one special friend.”

By Andy Hallbery follow me on Twitter here @hallbean

Thanks to@Maxpapis

When NASCAR went to Monza… With Max Papis and Alex Zanardi is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Fans of motor racing traditionally get excited about V12 engines.  There is just something about the sound, complexity and power of this configuration that stirs the soul. Enzo Ferrari was of course famous for his love of both flat 12 and V12 designs, however in this clip we find a man called Patelo with a similar passion, who has created a miniaute V12 engine that is quite simply, a work of art.

The V12 engine is hand made using traditional methods, but runs on compressed air injection. The tiny unit displaces 12 cc with the stroke of each piston at just  10mm. The engine is constructed from stainless steel, aluminum and bronze and each part is hand made except the screws.

Showing true style, Patelo dedicates this engine to his grandchildren Sara, Carmen, Jose and Pablo.

Nice.

Video: Miniature V12 engine is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Dick Johnson,  five-time Australian Touring Car Champion (’81, ’82, ’84, ’88, ’89),  three time Bathurst 1000 winner (’81,’ 89, ’94),  Ford folk hero,  and all ’round Australian racing royalty.

Dick sprung into the national consciousness after the unforgettable “rock” incident whilst leading the Bathurst 1000 in 1980.

Not only was Dick quick on the track, he was also famous for his his quick wit and hilarious one liners, often captured on Channel 7′s pioneering race cam. Here are just a few:

“This thing wouldn’t pull a drunken sailor off your sister” After his Turbo failed in his Ford Sierra

“It’s like running a marathon around your clothes line.”  Referring to the tight nature of the Winton circuit.

“It’s like chewing the leg on a chocolate frog, it’s about that much fun.” On driving a Ford Sierra in the wet.

” I suppose Boris Becker couldn’t win Wimbledon with a ping pong bat either, could he.” Referring to his under performing Ford Mustang.

Fast driver, funny guy.

These images continue our series of photo specials showcasing the stunning images from Autopics.com.au. The Autopics.com.au collection is based on the archives of Peter D’Abbs, Lance J. Ruting and David Blanch, and is part of a massive collection of over 750,000 motor racing photographs, many of which are available for purchase on their website.

Buy Prints of these photographs from just $6.

Images: Autopics.com.au©

Autopics is having a 50% off sale on photos and great race DVD’s. The sale ends tonight at midnight. Click here to see the specials.

10 of the best from Autopics: Dick Johnson is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

A record grid of up to 38 high-powered open-wheeler racing cars will be a spectacular highlight of the 23^rd annual Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport organised by the Victorian Historic Racing Register from 9-11 March 2012

An expected 35 thundering Formula 5000 V8-engined racers from the 1970s, including leading cars from New Zealand, the USA, Canada and the UK, will be joined by several former Formula 1 cars from the 1980s in races at the meeting, each of which will feature a rolling start.

Another highlight will be the huge field of former Group C (1973-1984) and Group A (1985-1992) touring cars, with seven-time Bathurst winner Jim Richards and four-times Australian champion John Bowe amongst the drivers on the planned 40-car grid.

The ‘Class of 1972’ will be a further feature of the meeting, marking the 40^th anniversary of Peter Brock’s memorable Hardie-Ferodo 500 win in a Holden Dealer Team Torana XU-1 – the first of his record nine Bathurst victories.

A special painting created by noted Australian motorsport artist Mike Harbar showing Brock’s Torana leading John French’s second-placed XY GT HO Phase III Falcon and Doug Chivas driving the third-placed Chrysler Charger is being created specially for the meeting and will be auctioned for charity.

The 1972 race was notable as the last Bathurst where competitors were allowed to complete the full distance without a relief driver and it was the only time the big three Australian manufacturers all had representatives in the top three finishers.

The 2012 Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport is also on track for another 500-plus entry, with those received to date at the same level as the all-time record received for the 2009 meeting.

The meeting will again be supported by Shannons, CoolDrive and Penrite, with race officials supplied by the Victorian Mini Club.

Other highlights of the meeting will be: -

• Celebrations of 60 years of Lotus engineering

• The appearance of several special cars flown in from the Porsche Museum in Germany

• Displays by up to 40 different car clubs and their members

• An anticipated record number of trade stalls.

The Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport remains one of the largest and most respected motorsport historic motorsport events on the international calendar.

It was recently short-listed in Octane Magazine’s inaugural 2011 International Historic Motoring Awards, coming in just behind the Goodwood Revival in the prestigious ‘Motorsport Event of the Year’ category.

More meeting details can be found by visiting www.vhrr.com

Record Open Wheeler and Touring Car grids for 2012 Phillip Island Classic is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Yes it’s true. In December 1992 Emerson Fittipaldi persuaded Ayrton Senna to go to Phoenix Firebird Raceway in America to test his CART Indycar Penske.

That December in 1992, Ayrton Senna’s Brazilian’s countryman and fellow World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi tempted him (two days before Christmas) to test his CART Penske Indycar in America. The timing was perfect, as being the festive holidays, it hardly made the news in Europe. It was extremely under the radar.

Here is a Brazilian TV news interview from that test. Watch it and their smiles and reactions, then read the transcript of that interview, and about just how close Senna came to joining the Indycar series. Imagine him versus Nigel Mansell in Indycars that year? Those were the days.

My special thanks to Geraldo Rodrigues Jr for the translation, and www.sutton-images.com for the pictures

Q: That was an historical moment to say the least. Ayrton, what did you feel?

Senna: I think racing cars are like drugs in our blood and when I got really close I felt that very special feeling. They started the engines to warm up, and I remembered the time when we looked at Formula 1, and I think the virus has woken up inside me after being a little numb. Watching Emerson drive gives me a very strong feeling, And now, we’ve tested the car, although it’s a slow track because of technical characteristics and the car runs in a very particular way, but it feels really good.

Q: What do you think of his first test?

Fittipaldi: I’m very happy, for us it’s an historical day having Ayrton here having his first Formula Indy experience feeling, as he already said it’s important to feel and enjoy, and I think he liked it very much and I’m sure that soon he’ll be here with us, it’s just a matter of time.

Q: Is that true?

Senna: Yes, well, I think so. Before I tested an Indycar my expectations didn’t match with what the real thing is. One day I’m gonna win with this car, it’s just a matter of time. As he said, we have to wait for the right moment, for the right time to participate in the races here in the US.

Q: You mean nothing is defined for 1993?

Senna: Absolutely not. The fact that I came here does not mean that I have something already fixed for next year. We’re in a situation where I have to evaluate the alternatives in the matter of my own career and due to Formula 1’s difficulties, and Emerson’s “pressure” I came to check it out. I’m very happy I could experience how driving an Indycar feels even on a track like this because I have more data. So when I have to make a decision, being tomorrow or in 60 days, I’ll be able to make a better decision about the subject.

Q: You never hid the fact that Emerson is a great idol for you. The fact that you came here under his “supervision”, what do you think about that?

Senna: (laughs) It’s not just because he’s here with me, but Emerson is responsible for the dream, not only mine but lots of Brazilians who liked races and had the opportunity to evolve, I had a very privileged position because I could really see what Formula 1 was about. It was a dream for me and I got there relatively fast and could taste what F1 felt like and he’s greatly responsible for that because it was his time, when he was winning GPs and the championships and we, younger drivers, went with his flow. After all these years I think Emerson did an amazing job, got through hard times, built a new life here in the US, advertised Formula Indycar not only for Brazil but for many other countries, won the championship and made all of us interested in what Formula Indycar was really about.

I was in F1 and started to pay more attention and he has finally brought me here. I was in Brazil chilling out, thinking about a beach, a jet ski and here he brought me, to Phoenix in the middle of the desert! It’s all his fault!

Q: You are always opening doors, and now, brought Ayrton Senna to Phoenix but you have two F1 and one CART championships on your back, right?

Fittipaldi: I think it’s a very special day for me, I’m a big fan of Ayrton, I watch every single F1 race, thousands of Brazilians who are his fans follow his steps and so it was a very special day.

By Andy Hallbery Follow me on twitter @hallbean

Again huge thanks to Geraldo Rodrigues Jr, Sutton-images.com and www.GPweek.com

Ayrton Senna: Penske Indycar driver! is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The 1953 Austin-Healey 100 Special Test racing car involved in the worst crash in motor sport history sold for a record-breaking £843,000 ($1,341,000) at a Bonhams auction last week.

“This is a fantastic result for the Austin-Healey and a world record for any car of this make at auction,” a spokeswoman for the Bonhams auction house said.

The disaster at the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1955 saw 84 people killed after the Austin-Healey was clipped by a Mercedes, which then flew into the crowd.

The car, which also competed in the 1953 24-hour race, was impounded by French authorities after the accident before being released back to the Donald Healey Motor Company 18 months later. It was then repaired and restored before being bought by last Thursday’s seller for £155 in 1969.

The car remained unrestored in the owner’s barn in the north of England for 42 years until it was brought to auction.

Images: DailyMail.co.uk

 

Austin-Healey at centre of 1955 Le Mans disaster sells for $1.3million is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The 31^st of January, 1970 and the 1970 World Sportscar Championship is ready to burst from the line at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Porsche had won the International Championship of Makes in ’69, but Daytona marked the start of a new season, packed with tension, anticipation and possibilities.

Porsche had their 908s and 917s, Ferrari had the 512. The likes of Mario Andretti, Pedro Rodríguez, Jo Siffert and Vic Elford are behind the wheel.

This magnificent four-part video, packed with classic racing footage and presented by Porsche, recaps the season in gloriously retro style.

Video: 1970 World Sportscar Championship – Porsche Does It! is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Check out this excellent 2012 Can-Am Calendar from Pete Lyons and the guys at Octane Press.

The calendar will look good in any office or garage and here’s why:

“This new, 12-month calendar features 24 historic images taken by American motorsports journalist/photographer Pete Lyons, when he covered the original series for Britain’s Autosport.

A beautiful new “Big Bore” homage to the “Big Bore” race cars of the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series, famed for their practically unrestricted power and technology.

Specially selected for the theme “Days of Epic Power,” these new-for-2012 images display the thundering McLarens, Chaparrals, Porsches, Ferraris and other fabulous machines as they raced in the day.

Published by Octane Press and professionally designed by Tom Heffron, this year’s product is a premium piece that does justice to its subjects. Sized BIG like the old Can-Am itself, the pages are 17 inches wide by 11 high (43cm x 28cm), meaning the calendar measures 22 inches (56cm) tall when open for display.

Grab one for $29.99 at  octanepress.com or directly from Pete’s site

2012 Can-Am Calendar: Days of Epic Power is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

What a year of motor sport it has been for Australian racing legend John Bowe, celebrating his 40th year in motor sport in true style, wrapping up the 2011 Touring Car Masters series title on the streets of Sydney Olympic Park.

Coming into the final race weekend of the season, seven rounds completed, Bowe sat at the top of the points score with a seemingly comfortable 61 point lead, the series title his to lose. It had already been a year of outstanding achievements for the iconic racer, with 12 race wins, four round wins, five pole positions, a bank of reverse grid charges to the take chequered flag, setting three lap records (Bowe also holds the record at Winton and Symmons Plains for the series) and having led more competitive race laps than any other competitor this season.

For a true blooded racer, the question was, take it easy and secure the title, or race to the end and put on one more show. Bowe displayed the perfect balance of both over the final three races, never out of the challenge, but never on the verge of a risk, keeping himself and his WesTrac/Wilson Security Racing Mustang ‘Sally’ in the head of the pack battles all weekend long.

Maintaining his consistent season long form, Bowe and his Savy Motorsport crew didn’t miss a beat, the 1969 Mustang treasure right where they needed it to be, and Bowe in the zone, fully aware of what was at stake.

Bowe dominated the opening race, taking the lead from great mate and highly credentialed competitor Seton, never looking back as he drove on home to add another seven laps led to his name, another race win and further valuable points in the buffer for the series title lead. Having serviced his trusty entry in the hours of break that followed, Bowe would line up from tenth for the second race, the reverse grid top ten – a format that has been a rewarding challenge so far this year, but this final time around, was it really worth charging through on the tight Homebush streets. A great start had Bowe into seventh in the opening laps, taking on reigning champion Richards for sixth, but playing it safe, he crossed the line in seventh, not willing to take any risks against his highly skilled title contenders.

The final ten laps of the weekend, became the final nine, with Bowe happy to drive on in third and enjoy a comfortable race as he watched the battle rage between Miedecke and Seton up ahead. As the chequered flag fell on the final race, of the final round, Bowe brought it home in third to settle his account having led 105 of the 236 race laps completed, almost half of the competitive laps banked by the series this season, taking the silverware to become the thoroughly deserved 2011 Touring Car Masters Champion.

John Bowe #18 – TCM Champion/Class C series winner
“It’s good, I’ve never been in it to win the series or any of that stuff but the people who are involved with sponsors and team from Savy Motorsport who prep the car – they’re all very dedicated and this win is for them.

“I love racing in this category and I love racing against Andrew (Miedecke) and Jim (Richards), now with Seton, the Tilley boys and Stack all in the top group – they’re all good, hard racers, but they’re fair so I enjoy that and all the cars are at such a level that to win this championship in possibly the most challenging year yet is just brilliant.

“This is great for my people. Owning the car has been slightly debilitating for what I’m used to and I realise I’ve had a charmed life, but I bought the car from Drew (Marget) who did a terrific job in processing the build of it (Mustang) and here it is four years later, still very competitive.

“I don’t necessarily love this track too much as it’s so hard on the car and when you own it, you feel the creaks and groans, but it’s been a good weekend.

“I’ve raced against Glenn (Seton) since 1985 and he’s very well credentialed, with such a great car that’s fast so I qualified second. I expected him to be up there and we expected to be going strong, I guess I’m lucky he didn’t turn up earlier in the year!

“The weekend here has been a battle, and with what was at stake, I had to take it easier and not take an silly risks and really hurt the championship that was so close so I drove a bit like a Nanna to not have any dramas, then this morning I went as hard as I could.

“It’s been another great year and I’m looking forward to next year’s program – I like the program as the tracks suit our cars more with the way they behave on the big open circuits, so it’ll be another tough year but ‘Sally’ will have a makeover in the off season after maintaining her very sensibly this season.

“Such a big thanks to WesTrac, Wilson Security and all of my sponsors, the team at Savy Motorsport for all their dedicated work to keep the car strong and reliable, the other competitors for what has been a big year for the series, and to all the fans who keep us here doing what we love so that they too can enjoy it.”

2011 Touring Car Masters – final points
Bowe 1443
Richards 1393
Miedecke 1386

Images: TouringCarMasters.com.au

Bowe becomes 2011 Touring Car Masters Champion is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

No other brand celebrates its Le Mans success like Porsche.

And why not, with 16 overall victories and countless records they have plenty to be proud of. However, come 2014 when Porsche returns to Le Mans, it will be 16 years since the brand conquered racing’s toughest challenge. Expectations will be high. Can’t wait.

Video: Porsche at Le Mans – The Early Years is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Originally delivered to Corvette legend Grady Davis, this extremely significant 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Race Car will go under the hammer at Mecum’s January 2012 Kissimmee auction.

Davis ordered two of these lovely machines for the 1961 SCCA B-Production National Championship season. Each car sported a 283/315 HP fuel-injected engine, Borg Warner 4-speed transmission, Positraction rear end, heavy-duty brakes and suspension and quick-steering adapter.

This particular car made its debut at the ’61 Sebring 12 Hours, where it was driven to third in the GT 3000 class by Don Yenko and Ben Moore. Eleven wins and the 1961 SCCA B-Production National Championship followed at the hands of Don Yenko and Dr. Dick Thompson, ‘The Flying Dentist’.

In 1990 the car received a meticulous restoration to its full ’61 Sebring glory and it has gone on to win the NCRS American Heritage Award and be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame and Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame.

It is scheduled to be sold on Saturday the 28^th of January, 2012, at the Kissimmee Auction.

Images via Mecum Auctions

Coveted: ’61 Corvette Gulf Race Car For Sale is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Pale blue and orange; Ford GT40s and Porsche 917s – the Gulf livery is one of the most evocative and iconic aesthetics of classic racing. Instantly recognizable, these are the colours of racing royalty.

Nicolas Hunziker is a man well versed in the colours of racing royalty, and he has teamed up with Gulf Oil to bring fans of motor racing and its history a collection of Gulf-liveried apparel.

The garments continue Hunziker’s quest to bring wearable art to motor racing enthusiasts everywhere and feature the iconic Gulf branding as seen through the eyes of his ‘period correct’ painting style.

The collection includes jackets, polos, vests and both long and short-sleeved t-shirts. Each garment is made to exacting standards from high-quality materials. Polos and t-shirts are 100% cotton.

Looks like I’ll have to grab a Gulf Racing Targa Florio 1970 908/3 t-shirt to go with my 917 Monza.

Gulf Racing by Hunziker Apparel is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Filled with the pioneering spirit, on the first of January 2011, Kenny Cummings and Dan Rose set out on an adventure. They had a long list of custom made race parts and a simple goal: to make it to the track with their Seeley MKII Racing Norton motorcycle by the end of the year, and win.

The pair got together when Dan approached Kenny for his help in rebuilding and bringing up to date an original Seeley MKIII Norton 750cc. Bringing that bike within the rules of WERA and AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) competition, however, was a massive project and wouldn’t produce a seriously competitive bike.

Kenny’s bike, however, was seriously competitive. Four-time AHRMA National Champion and professional musician/builder and tuner of racing bikes, he was (is) racing a Seeley MKII Norton that he had built himself. He had the knowledge, experience and contacts to build a beautiful racing bike.

The right contacts and good fortune provided them with a frame hand-fabricated by Roger Tichmarsh – a work of art with the blessing of Colin Seeley himself. Next came a motor to be built from the machined mastery of Steve Maney’s bits, and the project was under way at full speed.

The pair have built a website to tell their story, and it’s really something special. It gives an engaging insight into building and racing a project vintage race bike, the history of the bikes and the people who build and race them, and the community that surrounds it all.

The bike they have built is glorious, and so is the website. Check it out here.

Via Seeley Norton

Images via Seeley Norton

Building a Vintage Racing Motorcycle: Seeley Norton is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.