Re: 100+ horsepower Norton 750???
Dances with Shrapnel said:
I can say with confidence that the only things original on an engine such as this would be the timing cover, maybe the oil pump and cam drive, cylinder head casting,
100 useable horsepower with an original Norton head casting on a 750? I hope you don't mind if I wait for this to come from a source I have a little faith in....
And I would not agree that fullauto heads and Maney cases etc. are a blessing at all. There is a much simpler and more practical way that vintage racing can be done that will not continue turning it into a millionaire's sport.
1. Limit the carburetors used in vintage racing to the original carburetors and choke size that the bike came with when produced. So in a pre-1968 racing class, a Norton 750 would have a 30mm Amal Concentric or a stock spec monobloc etc.
2. Limit cams to production profiles and springs to stock rate. Production boreXstrokes only. Saves engines, gearboxes etc..
3. Drum brakes only that are correct for the period. No disk brakes in pre-73 racing classes except on those bikes that had them as OEM equipment, and then they must be OEM parts or direct replacements to original specs. 1967 and earlier classes will use original equipment single leading shoe brakes unless originally supplied with something else.
4. Limit compression to 9:1 so everyone can use pump gas and make it easy on engine parts.
5. Transmissions to original spec, all parts interchangeable with originals and number of speeds limited to original amount.
6. Tires with original tread patterns used in the 60s, like Avon Gp and Speedmaster etc. Lessens load on chassis and keeps speeds down.
7. Historical documentation showing your type of bike was used in the type of competition in the era. If someone wants to run a particular engine/chassis combo, then they can prove it is historical or keep it on the trailer.
8. Real historical bikes will be granted exceptions. If someone wants to bring a real old race bike in and can document it ran with special modifications, like the Al Gunter disk brake Buddy Parriott used on his Manx in the early 1960's , then great.
Okay, now you are vintage racing.
Not making so much power, not using up parts so quickly and eliminating the incentive to develop ridiculously expensive parts that have nothing to do with what was raced in the 60s and earlier. The emphasis can be more on history and riding.