In 1984 Armstrong produced a 250cc Grand Prix motorcycle using a revolutionary carbon fiber frame with the Rotax tandem twin engine. Following the technology being used by the Formula One industry, the frame was fabricated by car constructor Reynard Motorsport. The designers of this bike were Mike Eatough and Barry Hart, they created the first motorcycle using a carbon fiber frame to compete in Grand Prix. It was raced by Niall Mackenzie.
Yesterday when I was searching on the Dutch auction site Marktplaats this bike popped up. I had to look twice, because I always thought that it was scrapped. This is one of the HRD Suzuki TR750's made by Derk Haan who had a company called Haan Racing Development (HRD). It was ridden by Willy Dijkema and Rob Bron and sponsored by Nauta Motoren. Rob Bron raced it at Daytona in 1975 in his famous golden racing outfit as a member of the Dutch Daytona Racing Team. He had some problems with it, first the front wheel broke, after that the crank lost his life and after a 30 hour spannering marathon by Derk and Willy he managed to qualify. After 16 rounds in the race the expansion pipes broke and that was the end of his 1975 Daytona adventure. This is not a factory TR, the engine is a tuned GT750 and the frame is made by Nico Bakker. I did some bidding on the bike, but someone had more luck and after a while the advertisement was removed. Could this be one of Rob Bron his old bikes? Hope to see the bike somewhere in the near future!
This time some pics of a very nice one of special the GPA Suzuki RG500. The builder also owns a Golinelli RG500, take a look at his site.
V8 1500cc Yamaha based two stroke formula car with the chassis built by the Penistone based sidecar legend, the late Terry Windle. The owner of this amazing car was Roger Matthews. He made the 1500cc engine, the 2 TZ750cc engines sat on a home made crankcase housing with a final driven primary shaft into the gearbox.
Here we have some pics of a rather special contraption, a Lambretta classic scooter with a Suzuki RG500 engine. You either love it or you hate it, there is nothing in between.
Updated my Ciba Geigy Suzuki photo set with some great articles and tests about this amazing bike!
These articles are written in Dutch.
The one and only Cagiva that makes use of a state of the art carbon fiber frame, the Cagiva C590. Raced in 1990 by Randy Mamola.
