Pure Rotary Bliss....
- Thread starter Tornado
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Tornado
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One might say "She's a Buxom Beauty", 'Eh?
jbruney
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That booger screams. I'm wondering what his top speed was on that run. I've only wound one to about 130 or so years ago, before I thought about growing old, and those road stripes appear to be going by much more quickly than they did at that..... I was waiting for the sonic boom there for a second, or for the ground to fall away as he gained altitude.
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Fast Eddie
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At some time in the ‘80s I went to watch the club racing at Darley Moor, the kind of thing we’d do most weekends. Nothing special.
Back then, you’d still get the odd hero / idiot trying to compete with his Bonnie, Commando, etc in with the GSXRs etc.
Walking around the paddock we saw a small crowd gathered around a caravan awning, I could see something with Norton on the tank and at first glance I assumed it was one of the aforementioned hero’s / idiots. I actually admired these guys and their bikes so homed in for a closer look.
It was the rotary on what turned out to the the factories first ever race outing.
That thing sounded magnificent. I remember describing it sounding like a V12 two stroke!
Later, when they got the JPS dosh we’d go and watch them humiliate the big boys teams. Remember, this was the ‘80s and most teams and riders looked like a cross between a power ranger and a failed fashion student project. And most of the bikes on the grid sounded the same. Then you had the Norton’s... all black... unique sound... in front... awesome.
A fantastic, if short, period to be a Brit bike fan !
Back then, you’d still get the odd hero / idiot trying to compete with his Bonnie, Commando, etc in with the GSXRs etc.
Walking around the paddock we saw a small crowd gathered around a caravan awning, I could see something with Norton on the tank and at first glance I assumed it was one of the aforementioned hero’s / idiots. I actually admired these guys and their bikes so homed in for a closer look.
It was the rotary on what turned out to the the factories first ever race outing.
That thing sounded magnificent. I remember describing it sounding like a V12 two stroke!
Later, when they got the JPS dosh we’d go and watch them humiliate the big boys teams. Remember, this was the ‘80s and most teams and riders looked like a cross between a power ranger and a failed fashion student project. And most of the bikes on the grid sounded the same. Then you had the Norton’s... all black... unique sound... in front... awesome.
A fantastic, if short, period to be a Brit bike fan !
trident sam
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I saw the Rotaries race many times, the sound at full chat was blood curdling
That’s my bike now, well the frame and swingarm is the engine was swapped for the water cooled works engine# RCW1 and wide centre gearbox, it’s in Robert Dunlop livery in Australia.
Fast Eddie
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Wow. Well done you. A proper piece of Norton history right there in yer shed!
What do you do with it, road, race or museum ?
