Catalina Island Grand Prix

Hortons Norton

Hortons Norton

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I was really hoping to see some Norton's here, but no luck. Lots of Triump's, BSA's and other British bikes I have never heard of. The Island is a buzz with all kinds of stuff going on now. This is the first time they have run this race since 1958, There are sons of racers now entered and even a few guys in their 70's that are going to give it a go. Still hurts my feelings that their are no Norton's, Damn I gotta get a P-11 and enter next year, LOL LOL. Well gotta go back out there and find those Red Bull girls, :shock: Here are a few pictures to see.
Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

There are others but don't know if you guys want them, So im back out to find tose girls,. :D
 
Hortons Norton said:
There are others but don't know if you guys want them, So im back out to find tose girls,. :D
Click to expand...

Horton,
I personally would love to see some more! Thats a great assembly of well cared for classics. I remember reading about tales of this race when I was a kid.

So they are actually racing ? If for any reason there is a lack of interest on this subject you can always PM me.

Gary
 
T95 said:
I personally would love to see some more! Thats a great assembly of well cared for classics.
Click to expand...

I just hope there's a Norton Commando amongst them somewhere, or this topic will be moved to the "Other Classic Motorcycles" section.
 
A few more bikes.
Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

I suppose a couple of historic Harleys won't hurt right? The Black one is a very early side valve with exposed rockers push rods and springs that last raced here in 1958 and the guy that rode it is back to race it again, Really it's true! The second white one is a guy named Jim Jackson, His dad raced here in 1958 and during this time his mom was pregnant with him. Jim has raced like his father and raced this bike back in 1986 and this bike took 4th place in the Baja 1000 mile race in the unliminted class, He thought it would be cool to come here and race where his dad did 52 years ago. The best thing about this bike is that the motor has never been out of the bike and he says it still runs very strong, I just hope he is as I cannot even imagine the muscles it is going to take to get this thing around this course. :wink:
 
Those are some excellent bikes, I especially like the pre-unit Triumphs and the Greeves Griffon (a childhood dream bike)
 
I second that I only ever rode a Griffon once and I never forgot it :D the year before last at the Colombres rally in Northern Spain there was a Catalina Gold star which finished second in the route of 5000 curves, a very impressive motorcycle and a very impressive performance.
 
grandpaul said:
Those are some excellent bikes, I especially like the pre-unit Triumphs and the Greeves Griffon (a childhood dream bike)
Click to expand...

I recall Greeves coming out with the leading link front suspensino. I don't recall which came first in the Greeves line the LL or was it traditional telscopic forks ? I think ultimatly the LL proved to be to heavy. Did Greeves stick with the LL untill the end of production?
 
Few more photos.
Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Dimitri finished first in his class despite a broken front brake cable, He crated this Triumph up in France and had it shipped to Catalina. Great job!
Also the Tiger Cub won it class also, And the BSA placed I just don't know where.
 
Also the big Harley placed 2nd in it's class, Still don't know how that big heavy machine was so fast?
Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix

Catalina Island Grand Prix
 
I love that Catalina / Big Bear.

Greeves used leading links for the longest time; modern Cerianis started replacing them.

...kinda why i like my DKW so much, it's the closest thing i've been able to score...

Catalina Island Grand Prix
 
That black side valve HD belongs to Homer Knapp, of Hollywood Motorcycle MAchine; He is legendary in SoCal for the quality of his machine work and for his knowledge of old machinery and how to deal with the various issues that they present. His shop actually is in North Hollywood, not far from Jay Leno's facility. He's one of those guys who looks far younger than his age.
 
I thought I heard that he had some problems on his first lap, crash? The track was set up as a motocross track. They had huge wup de do's, a water trap thing and some big hills too. It really was not what i thought it would be that's for sure, but it was fun. Don't know if I would go again or not though. There were 2 days of racing I think 12 or 13 different races in all, a few of the vintage bikes never where able to finish a lap, wrong kind of course for these kind of bikes. But some were able to make it around but it sure must have been a test, I heard the lap length was 5.5 miles or so.
 
They should take a lesson from SOME of the AHRMA VMX track set-ups. Old bikes were never meant for whoops and triple jumps (or even double jumps); that just trashes beautiful classics and old riders.

I suppose you can simply roll off the throttle, but I'd prefer a less radical track where the bikes can be spun up without destroying them.
 
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