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When the Norton Race Shop , which had been developing the ' DOMIRACER ' Twin
was disposed of in the Factory Move (1968 ? ) the frames , perhaps seven , were
disposed of , with other assets ,to Paul Dunstall.An aftermarket fittings and
fiberglass ( the 'new fangled' ) supplier . Some people strike it lucky .
The development work , unpublisised , on the TWINS & the Compact Twin loop
Norton designed ' feather bed replacement ' Twin Cylinder Raceing Frame were
amoungst his acquisitions .
The Frames were not put into production by dunstall . The ' drainpipe ' Commando
was his 'modern' attempt at progress . frame building not being an inexpensive
exercise.
However , the 'Dustall Twin Norton' that set the 24 Hr Record at Montherly ,
(see French N.O.C. site for 'Montherly' , a bid being attempted to prevent its
destruction, as per Brooklands at the hands of the R.A.F. (or British Government)
in W.W.II , its banking demolished for runway lengthening and not made good
post war . was a ' WORKS DOMIRACER ' Frame ,as THEY were the only factory
to produce or have produced them. Thus they were lost to Historians in the
change of propriitor and assumed to be " 500 c.c. Norton Twin " Racing Frames.
The probability that they were other than a Parrallel Development to the
Commado project , doesnt stack up.My presumption was that Dunstalls
' Gift Horse ' was misslayed by history .
Presumably still have pictures from this still , along with 'Paul and His
750 Fame' , the domiracer already overlooked. To find one of these
Original , or track all of there Fates would bear thought .
Dunstalls production for the ' cafe racer ' inspired market were his
" Dunstall Equiped " 650 and Atlas based , tuned and fitted machines,
and Later the Commando , "810 " kits , and ' disc Brakes ' ( Twin Front )
Seely and Rickman Marketed Commando Suitable Frames ,
The Seely some types , the Rickman Co-incidently , as it
was a ' pre-unit ' frame , in conception . For the Matchless
O.H.C. single , serving for the Twin as did the Factory
A.M.C. frame for this Engine in the P II and P II A .
However ive yet to see more than one picture of a period Circuit racing
Rickman Commando (engined) Machine. With its large Chrome moly
frame Tubes , aircraft standard production , Large dia. and heavy
duty Front End and Disc Brake , a fairly formidable piece of machinery
one wouldve thought. A ' fair sized ' rider being accomadated for
with its ungathered distribution of Cycle Parts . One aspect
seldom praised journolistically .
The DOMIRACER , on the other hand , IS gathered Together as it were.
Designed to the Racing Maxim of ' If its not there , it Doesnt weigh anything '
all supurflous material was done away with at the Drawing Board stage .
A rider much over 5' 8 " is unfortunately going to start appearing overly
lankey on this machine. ( next thing his knees will be Hanging out ) . !
However a sub 12 Stone rider would be able to " crawl under the paint "
therefore reduceing frontal area and Drag sufficently for a mildly worked
? commando based engine to Capture the WORLD 24Hr Speed record .
Dunstall was Known for his ' Hemisphered ' head reangled inlet HEADS,
which parralelled the works " P . R ." head. presumably the tooling was
part of his cache, as A.M.C. at that time , did not consider the
' Commando ' in their lights as a ' racing machine '. twins race
development tooling disposed of , as to Dunstall - removed ,
remains SCRAPPED . bother .
Matt.
Dunstall Motorcycles
1968 Dunstall Dominator 750
This Is The Fastest 750 In The World
On 5th September, 1967, at Monza, Italy, a new 750 c.c. class 1 hour record was set by Rex Butcher riding a standard fully equipped Dunstall Dominator. The record has been raised to 126.7 m.p.h. New records for the 10 and 100 kilometre distances were achieved at the same time
