Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

and to begin with as I felt my way around Loudon on the bike, 1 could actually use it with impunity on a couple of the slower corners: mine presumably must have had a road gearbox, because I never succeeded' in locking the back wheel on the Mathews' bike even under engine braking, you do need to use that to stop at a track like Loudon~ On the sand at Daytona, though, too good a front brake would have been a big minus! Then, when I speeded up, bottom became unnecessary, and I doubt in fact whether they'd have used it at Daytona apart from the fuel stops. The fuel tank, by the way, is larger than for 'normal' Garden Gate Manxes of the period, with a taller shape as well as a left-sided oil tank filler neck which was the side nearest to the pits on the beach course. The primary chain is f~lIy enclosed, with an oil-bath cover to keep the sand out and prolong chain life, as well as a Beart mod entailing little fins brazed on to the pressure plate of the dutch to act as a fan and help cool the chain, which was accustomed on the Manx to running dry and in the open air. This worked, and primary chain failure was never a problem on the Beart Daytona Nortons. With maximum available revs from the longslroke Manx engine of 6000 rpm, I used 5800 rpm in the gears but found myself overgeared for Loudon's short straight even wi th the much lower overall gearing fitted than would have been the case for Daytona. In spite of this, though, the engine fell so smooth and responsive that it seemed as if it was longing to rev higher. With little vibration apparent to the rider, it must have made a wonderful ride for a twohour-plus race, especially with' so much of that entailing the engine being held flat oul. Under the circumstances, the megaphonitis you encounter from the engine lower down the rev scale would never be a problem: this clears bang on 4000 rpm, giving a more than ad~uate power band for a course like Daytona. Sadly, Mathews was refused entry to the U.S. at the Canadian border when he began the journey south to defend his 1950 Daytona title: presumably his hard-drinking habits had got him into some sort of trouble that even the Indian factory couldn't bail him out of. He died some years ago (though not before identifying Carlton Palmer's bike as his own Daytona winner), one of the rough, tough North American racers whose first contacts with the European racing world their latter-day successors like DuHamel, Roberts, Lawson and Spencer would later come to dominate were made in those heady Norton Daytona days. The bike I Iode at Loudon is a testment to that era. • The seven-inch SLS drum brake was effective at twisty Loudon. ~ MX DES NATIONS ! O'l ...-4 Th@ W©UlgjOfS IMJ©m [¥>[l'@fSUn®n©lYlfS IMJ©U©©t1'©fSfS~W@I1ilU ©©Ili1il®fS lr© lr[fo@ llJJl1ilnu~ ~m UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER RT 8, NEW BERLIN, N.Y. MI1 SEPTEMBER 12th & 13th SA NCTIOItED • SANCTIONED First time ever in the U.S. AmericanAiriines The Motocross des Nations comes to America's shores. The Unadilla Valley Sports Center is proud to host the World Team Championships that originated in Europe in 1947. From the far reaches of the world, the best motocross riders from Great Britian, France, Italy, Australia, Belgium, the United States af1Cl other nations will do battle on the difficult Unadilla Vailey circuit. With 19 countries entered to date, the world's attention will be focused on Upstate New York. .Don1 miss a orice-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this hotly contested motocross competition. Practice Saturday, racing Sunday rain or shine. 1st Round Team selection: Bob Hannah, Johnny O'Mara, Rick Johnson, Micky Dymond, Jeff Ward, Ron Lechien. Final selection to be made at a later date. TICKETS: $21 weekend - $25 advance sale at ticketronlteletron (1-800-382-8080 All New England States, NY, PA, OH, NJ, MD, DE, Northern VA) or by mail. Add $1 per ticket for mail orders. $23 Sunday only (available only at gate) $8 per night per person camping. Children 12 or under free when accompanied by an adult ** ** Gates open 3 P.M. Friday For more Information & Mail Orders: UVSC, Box 5119, Edmeston, NY 13335 (607) 965-8784 Motel Info (Theresa): (607) 334-3238 Numerous motels and campground accommodations are available within a 45-minute drive of the circuit. Make all reservations as soon as possible. Discount Air Fare American Air Lines: For discount flight" from anywhere the US for this event call 1-800-433-1790 and ask for ·Star Record # S64816. in NO: Alcoholic beverages aUowed on grounds NO: Glass containers, fireworks, scaffolding or off-road vehicles I t SIfGID_1S &.",.. NHRAI ••• _ as.. NJ.JuIf 12 ,.PwoSlOck .... DAVE SCHULTZ ID8A 8 CIT d , 1M .... c ,! Oft I 1IIrItiou... 20-21 :rz It I_Ie A' r...., .... (SHOEI) 1Iea.ic.tfG 2 'III SItOBSAF£1'\'~T1ON 'I', 22211 e-, I.oa' • CA 9ClO8!I 1213l477...., RF Task Five' 23

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