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Author Topic: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?  (Read 11438 times)

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Offline Koncretekid

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Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« on: February 13, 2017, 11:31:33 AM »
I have often wondered what the motorcycle speed records were before the OHC invasion (mostly pushrod records before that time), as I wasn't involved then.  Do I really have the fastest 500cc PG and PS-PG ever recorded?  Probably not, but I think the old pushrod records got buried when faster OHC and 2-stroke motors started to outrun them. I think it was Jess Thomas that claimed to have set the 500cc record on a Triumph back in the 60's at something like 128 mph with all stock Triumph parts, but that record is no longer shown.  At some point SCTA and AMA added the Pushrod Only classes which more or less started the records over again.  I tried to find a list of the records before the OHC bikes of the mid 60's came along with no success.

Anybody keep the old records so we can compare?

Tom
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Offline jacksoni

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2017, 05:06:31 PM »
I have a 1981 rule book with 1980 records. There are the odd Triumph, BSA and Harley mixed in with the Hondas and Yamahas. You would have to sort out the engine/frame classes. If you want I could scan and post or email to you if that would help.
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Jack Iliff
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Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2017, 10:00:34 PM »
Tom, what classes are you interested in?  I might have what you need.










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Offline Koncretekid

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2017, 06:49:01 AM »
What year did the organizers add the pushrod classes?  1981 would be interesting, but 1970 would be even better.  The OHC Hondas came onto the scene around 1965 and the other big three introduced their hot 2-strokes around that time as well.  I know Jim L. would have been there around that time with his CB450, and he set records.

I'm mainly interested in the 500, 650, and 750, M and A classes where the old British bikes would run.

Tom
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Offline TheBaron

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2017, 07:58:32 AM »
Please, Please include the 350 class as well,,,,,, I'm running a pushrod 350 in M ans A now, and would love to know what was going on with them in that era....

Robert in California
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Offline jacksoni

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2017, 08:40:54 AM »
I see pushrod class in 1990 rule book but no records in those classes, suggesting that might be the first year. It was not present in 1987. sorry am missing the 1988 and 1989 rule books. attached the record pages from 1981.
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Jack Iliff
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Offline jacksoni

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2017, 08:43:54 AM »
Pages- sorry file size problems to sort out
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Jack Iliff
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Offline jacksoni

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2017, 08:44:52 AM »
page 2
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Jack Iliff
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Offline Calkins

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2017, 09:41:14 AM »
Being a fellow Brit bike lover, this is going to be an awesome thread...   :cheers:
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Justin Calkins - Iowa Falls, Iowa  USA

Offline TheBaron

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2017, 10:38:42 AM »
Big Thank You !!

As I've suspected,,,,, Two-strokes, flatheads, pushrods, and OHC motors put in the same bathwater....

So, in that era if you were riding a 500cc and under bike it pretty much had to be a factory off the shelf racing two-stroke to have much of a chance at a record...

4-5  hp per cubic inch of the two-strokes is twice what 4-stroke could do in that era.....

Thank goodness for the Vintage and pushrod classes of today.....

Robert
The Baron Race Team
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Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2017, 11:45:06 AM »
These are AMA records from 2008.  The only pollution from an OHC British bike is the embarrasingly slow 1000 cc MPS-P record from my rookie year.  Note that the new Nortons made in Donnington are pushrod engines.  The Triumphs built before 1990 are all pushrod.  There are earlier British OHC engines like the Matchless 500cc G-50 and the AJS 350cc 7R.  Also, some Norton single cylinder motors are OHC.  An OHC Rudge holds a record or two at Pendine.  There are lots of British two-strokes like AJS Stormers, Greeves, Excelsiors, Arial Leaders, Normans, etc.  A James 100cc two stroke holds some AMA records.
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Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2017, 11:46:38 AM »
More AMA records.
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Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2017, 11:47:55 AM »
The last page of AMA records.
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Offline Stan Back

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2017, 12:18:34 PM »
All this just goes to prove that we need the SCTA to recognize that bike records need to be segregated by size of engine, number of cylinders, decade of manufacture, type of fuel, combustion system used, wheelbase, amount of streamlining, shaft or chain drive, weight of rider, and color of seat.  Every one needs a fair chance of a record with the bike he has chosen to ride.
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Offline TrickyDicky

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Re: Motorcycle Speed Records Before the OHC Invasion?
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2017, 12:41:48 PM »
Quote from: Stan Back on February 14, 2017, 12:18:34 PM
All this just goes to prove that we need the SCTA to recognize that bike records need to be segregated by size of engine, number of cylinders, decade of manufacture, type of fuel, combustion system used, wheelbase, amount of streamlining, shaft or chain drive, weight of rider, and color of seat.  Every one needs a fair chance of a record with the bike he has chosen to ride.

I was with you until "color of seat".  How does that affect top speed?
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