I've owned this machine since 1978. It was three years old and bog standard. As well as using it for transport because I couldn't afford a second road bike, I entered it in the annual local hill climb in road trim and then began to enter it in races from 1983 onwards, looking outwardly standard. I won the Irish Road Race Championship 500 cc title on it in 1985. Over the years, it gradually became more of a dedicated racer and I thought I would never bring it back to road trim. It had the usual tuning mods but it was nearly always uncompetitive unless it was wet or the course was twisty. I had to ride the wheels off it to get anywhere. In short, it has had a very hard life. When the opportunity to buy a Seeley G50 came along, the little Duke was retired from racing duty. I delayed bringing it back to road trim because I knew there was so much work (and expense) involved. It has been a slow and painstaking build, when I could afford the time.
Here is the old girl in 1985 at a CRMC event in Cadwell Park, England, more or less outwardly stock but with a tuned engine.
Here it is in September 2010.
I am getting close to making some noise, and I am waiting impatiently for the yellow bits to come back from the painter - tank, seat, side panels and front mudguard. I am aiming to get it ready to run in a local non-competitive event at the end of this month.
Here is the old girl in 1985 at a CRMC event in Cadwell Park, England, more or less outwardly stock but with a tuned engine.
Here it is in September 2010.
I am getting close to making some noise, and I am waiting impatiently for the yellow bits to come back from the painter - tank, seat, side panels and front mudguard. I am aiming to get it ready to run in a local non-competitive event at the end of this month.