Maria Costello winning Daytona on Norton

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jseng1

jseng1

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Check out this great photo of Maria Costello (taken by Lisa Theobald) who won several races (Bears 750 class) recently at Barber & Daytona on Dan Rose's Seeley built by Kenny Cummings & Jim Comstock. This is one of the fastest long stroke 750s around and has all the best ingredients including many JS parts such as lightweight pistons, stage 2 radiused cam with lightweight lifters, Beehive valve springs, Full auto head with extra full race porting by flow master Jim Comstock, TT Ind 6 speed gearbox, Maney cases & cylinders etc. Congrats to everyone who put so much time and effort into this project. Kennys bike is very similar but without the 6 speed and with Kenny weighing 50lbs more than the ultra lithe & slippery Maria - he watched her pull away on the banking. You can see Kenny just behind Maria in the photo - both wearing #1 plates. Makes me wish I had something like that to chase around the track when I was racing. Check out her lean angle and the proximity of her handbrake lever to the ground.

Maria Costello winning Daytona on Norton
 
Thanks jseng1

Lovely photo of a great racer. Didn't know she was out there (Daytona). She has gone well recently on a range of classic racers.

Chris
 
Reads like components to a flying saucer! Way to go for all of you extremist$. I can feel the G's in her laid over powered turn.
 
what was that bike that won the second day at barber. :-) hats off to kenny and maria for a great time and fun racing. Great job with these bikes all who took part.
 
Great post, It's good to hear of these bikes still being competetive, testament to the original design and to all the successful upgraded aftermarket parts available. really gotta love it, Cj
 
phantom309 said:
what was that bike that won the second day at barber. :-) hats off to kenny and maria for a great time and fun racing. Great job with these bikes all who took part.
Click to expand...

YES
 
hobot said:
Reads like components to a flying saucer! Way to go for all of you extremist$. I can feel the G's in her laid over powered turn.
Click to expand...

It would be nice if vintage racing were actually vintage, but at this point there are many things working against it. Some of these are that all motor-racing eventually goes to the wealthy on flying saucers, another is that someday the supply of vintage engine and chassis parts had to run out.

I know some old racers with their old bikes who would race but can not afford it being on Social Security etc., and then if they did make it to a race, they would be riding real old bikes against much improved replicas. This would not bother them though, as the experience of running around a track on their obsolete bikes would be good enough for them.

Funny how vintage racing was created so people could see and experience obsolete machinery again on the track, but now obsolete machinery is obsolete for vintage racing!
 
No question - any racing involves lots of money and time. Most vintage racing includes classes for stock bikes which does help keep the vintage in vintage racing. Jim
 
Yes. Most places there are options for original and modified bikes.

But as time goes on the original bikes become more and more susceptable to major engine failure. Alloy gets weaker with time and there is nothing you can do about it. (Re heat treat ??)

Friends of mine raced an absolutlely genuine Mk 8 KTT down here in NZ for two seasons. It is Arthur Wheelers old bike. But they only parade it now or do the occasional special race because they do not want to damage the original genuine motor. Inside is all modern but it still has original cases, barrel, head.

John
 
Alas can't go back home either by tires or attire of the real vintage era. Jim Comstock's racing photo shows him in full face helmet like an early astronaut wore.
About the most true to their faith and age are the Indians. Tracks have vastly improved to I read and see. I'm gestating a special with sci fi like ingredients so it will mostly only look Norton Commando-ish on the outside but to me its still of C'do faith retaining the frame and isolastics and Roadholders and big ole IS tank on 360 twin.

Its still push rod air cooled beasts using themselves up with brave riskers hard at the spurs! The most pleasing thing to me in cycling are the G's in turns, I can barely get them on my modern or my '72 before upsetting things happen just when it gets like on a swing set or water skiing, so leave that to real deal racers.

Its interesting to feel these racers at ease between heats but they become focused manics on the track which can be sensed for a time after they return. Sizzling adrenaline junkies. i'm so glad there's enough crazies to support their needs.

Maria Costello winning Daytona on Norton


Maria Costello winning Daytona on Norton
 
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