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StrokerBoy Show Star !
Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 1293 Location: Oop North, UK
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 10:29 am Post subject: Ultimate Streetbike Championship |
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Back in the 1980's, SuperBike magazine teamed up with drag-racer Tony Huck in a bid to make the sport more popular in the UK. It was huge for a few years, and made a handful of people into household names (if your house was into bikes at all) and sometimes top-flight professional international racers. Bill Hunter and Steve Burns were the biggest stars/rivals, each evolving their GSX1100's into ever more trick and powerful machines. This is Bill's iconic Spondon-framed turbo :
It was very inclusive though, anyone could have a go as long as you wore a leather jacket, gloves and a helmet. The paddock was very friendly and everyone helped each other out. You could just turn up on your ordinary road bike or you could build some bespoke stretched turbo'd monster, it didn't really matter unless you were trying to win.
When the first GSX-R's came out, they started to take over from the big aircooled lumps. I had a new GSX-R750G and decided I wanted a go. I sent off my application form and got accepted, my mate did the same with his Katana. Somewhere between then and the race at Blyton, I wrote-off my bike, so ended up taking the tatty KH250 I'd bought to get me to work until the insurance paid out. In many ways this was actually more fun than if I'd gone on the Suzuki, I had people coming up all day telling me how cool my bike was. The KH that arlurt is currently restoring is the same bike by the way. Note my oh-so-fashionable red jacket, drainpipe jeans and the hi-top trainers that the scruntineers made me tape up :
So why have I suddenly got all nostalgic ? Well, Bill's Spondon is for sale on Ebay, although it's a pale shadow of its former self. Tempting though isn't it ? To lots of people, this bike is more iconic than any 500GP racer... |
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arlurt Show Star !
Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 680 Location: North Yorkshire
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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I think the eBay Spondon is rather sad, like taking a Metro 6R4 and “improving” it for reliable road use by fitting a Rover 75 engine and a back seat. I hope whoever buys it moves it closer to what it once was.
Hang on, is that what I've done with this old charger?
_________________ Light is right. |
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StrokerBoy Show Star !
Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 1293 Location: Oop North, UK
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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arlurt wrote: |
I think the eBay Spondon is rather sad, like taking a Metro 6R4 and “improving” it for reliable road use by fitting a Rover 75 engine and a back seat. I hope whoever buys it moves it closer to what it once was. |
I couldn't agree more. It would be OK to keep the oilcooled motor and the forks/wheels (there is no original spec as it evolved a lot) but as a minimum it needs the old bodywork and paintjob re-instating and it has to have a turbo again.
arlurt wrote: |
Hang on, is that what I've done with this old charger?
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Nothing a tin of red paint and some '273' stickers wouldn't sort out... |
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Top-shaggy Show Star !
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 1757 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 12:44 am Post subject: |
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AR125 PHOTO BOMB...haha
_________________ We are where we are... |
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StrokerBoy Show Star !
Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 1293 Location: Oop North, UK
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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That's not actually you though is it Shaun ?...
I highly recommend a RWYB day if there's one near you. Here's me at the Pod racing (and beating, naturally) my mate on our 1100's :
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arlurt Show Star !
Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 680 Location: North Yorkshire
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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I was there too!
I only had a GSX-R400, but it was an RRL SP version.
And even I managed an 11 second standing quarter. _________________ Light is right. |
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emzedder
Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 324 Location: E.Anglia
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Love the AR sprinter, beautiful job ... _________________ If it don't ring-a-ding-ding it ain't worth a thing |
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Top-shaggy Show Star !
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 1757 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:07 am Post subject: |
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emzedder wrote: |
Love the AR sprinter, beautiful job ... |
I can't take credit for the AR, it was built by Martin Dust in Dartford and was being ridden by Charlotte Hayles.. A young lady to look out for in drag racing scene as she is doing really well.
Also see Red Victor 1 Drag team _________________ We are where we are... |
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The Cameraman
Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 608 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:38 am Post subject: |
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Hi Shaun,
is it Hayles or Hales? _________________ Kindest regards
Reggie |
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Top-shaggy Show Star !
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 1757 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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The Cameraman wrote: |
Hi Shaun,
is it Hayles or Hales? |
Spot on Reggie, its Charlotte HALES
Do you know her or her drag racing dad Mark Hales?
They are doing Bonneville in a years time too _________________ We are where we are... |
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The Cameraman
Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 608 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Shaun,
from her dad matey, so I thought I must've been a typo! _________________ Kindest regards
Reggie |
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Top-shaggy Show Star !
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 1757 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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In action and a very proud dad
Waxing Lyrical radio show and podcasts on Thursday evenings are worth a look. Some recent results too. Charlotte is doing really well !
_________________ We are where we are... |
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The Cameraman
Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 608 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Shaun,
cracking stuff. _________________ Kindest regards
Reggie |
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StrokerBoy Show Star !
Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 1293 Location: Oop North, UK
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I was poking round the net today (as you do) and stumbled across a video of the Blyton 1988 round of Ultimate Streetbike. The one I was at. And, if you avoid blinking at 28 secs, there I am, 'racing' Ken Taylor on his GSX1260 turbo. I never even knew this clip existed !
YouTube link |
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Top-shaggy Show Star !
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 1757 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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StrokerBoy wrote: |
Well, I was poking round the net today (as you do) and stumbled across a video of the Blyton 1988 round of Ultimate Streetbike. The one I was at. And, if you avoid blinking at 28 secs, there I am, 'racing' Ken Taylor on his GSX1260 turbo. I never even knew this clip existed !
YouTube link |
Yay !! So you are - taking out the big hitters ..
Brilliant stuff _________________ We are where we are... |
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