Norton - The Ultimate Ride MK3 brochure, who are the dudes

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Madnorton

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In this brochure towards the back are the factory sponsored Norton Triumph Racing Team, it shows the bikes and the riders, quite young. Are they still about? forum members? don't be shy, we understand the hairstyles of the day!!

The bikes are heavily modified, but have upright Commando engines, do they still exist, anyone on here have one or rode one?
 
Neat brochure! I think any Commando engine can be fitted 'upright' into an appropriate frame by modifying the inner primary case, i.e. fill and drill new holes.
 
I got that brochure when i bought my bike. Still have it. It is a nice piece.
Jaydee
 
I looked a bit to try and find Norton involvement in AMA GN racing...I did find this:
https://www.cyclenews.com/2018/02/article/archives-first-one-brand-national/

"It’s amazing to think it took 21 years for the series to have its first single-brand national.
There was a perfect storm that day in Indiana, to set up an all Harley day at the national. By 1975 the powerful British brands of Triumph, Norton and BSA were basically closing down and very little support was given to the AMA Grand National Championship in ’75 with Mark Williams getting limited backing from Norton."
 
the guy with the #98 bike is John ("Little John") Hateley. When the factory team folded, they gave the bike to John, and I bought it from him shortly after. By then it had one of the factory short stroke 750 race engines, which was why I bought it. I rode it up and down the street a couple of times, and then pulled the engine for use in my road race PR. I later sold the rolling chassis, and it eventually ended up with a friend in Texas who was restoring several ex-factory Triumph and Norton flat track bikes.

Ken
 
I believe Rob and John are still around, but Mark died a while back. You can find more info on any of them with a few Google searches.

Ken
 
Amazing, stuff so quick, I'll make some notes and to the archive with the brochure. The lack of support ties in with the state of Norton at the time.

The brochure is a nice one, did they really believe all that they say about the bikes, I'm not so sure.

Thanks for the info.
 
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