Random 1980s racing pictures

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

Now for something completely different...

This photo bugs me more than any picture i have come across.



I know the track, Argyll Park and i know the rider, my friend Robin but for the life of me i cant remember a aircooled Honda Franks bike and if not for this photo i would of told you one never existed.

Really eats at me that i am at a total loss as to this bikes history and yet have a photo of it. I don't know if it was our bike and he was riding it, we shared bikes a lot we him since he was a big help to us during the week, or if it was his bike but why would he of gotten a aircooled Honda engine if he had it built when he was into watercooling already by early 82?

I have no other photo of it.

[onformula1]

I don't see a kick starter and the pipe is too small for a 1981 CR450 or 1982 CR480 engine, so no big bore and it doesn't look like a CR250 either, so I am thinking 1981-82 ATC 250R engine, it's hard to tell could it be a Nicholson frame with Frank's Accoutrements or full Frank's set-up?

I would LOVE to have it!, great picture, Thanks!

[manbearpig]

could it be a Nicholson frame with Frank's Accoutrements?

thats what i was thinking

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

The rear brake guard and triple clamps are Franks and i am not sure how you would put the jumbo sized rear brake caliper on a normal 250R style frame like a Nicholson as they need a rather unique hub to mount it. It could of been a proof of concept bike that Kelvin built for promotional uses that Robin bought from him but that is just a guess.

I also do not recall any Nicholson frames with the same blue powder coat color that Kelvin used, ugh i all but got smoke coming out my ears i am trying so hard to remember this thing. George tends to not be a great source of info about our racing days but ill ask him about this bike when i next see him.

[xrider]

It is most likely a 1978 cr250 engine. I know of a Franks frame that was setup for that motor.

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

I think we would see the left hand side alloy kickstart lever if this was a late 70s CR, xrider. I have a about 1200 pictures i am now gonna go thru in hopes of finding something on this bike, asked my Dad about it this morning but he could not remember a Honda Franks either.

[onformula1]

I am on my phone right now, but it looks like the black oil fill knob is in the ATC spot, the CR is low and up front.

Sent from my SM-G386T1 using Tapatalk

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

Found another photo of it next to George at a race, its for sure a 81/82 250R engine as you can see the counter balancer in this shot. Looks like it has a aluminum brake pedal and i cant ever recall a Nicholson with one of those..hmmm. I have other photos from this same race and i was racing a 200x still so likely i was a bit young to of been paying much attention to the bikes yet.



The make shift numbers on the front plate make me think this is a bike we are loaning to Robin as why would he show up with his numbers in such a state if this was his bike? And to be honest a new Franks bike was a bit out of his price range as he was a divorced dad raising a son.

[onformula1]

John, is me or in this shot it looks like the swing arm on the R has the chain guide that Frank's used?

Also notice the difference in Simons forks George's looks to have the short ATC/mini bike forks and robin's has the longer slider MX forks.

Sent from my SM-G386T1 using Tapatalk

[xrider]

Nice! That's a new one

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

Some pics for those who want more photos and less blabbing

Start with a bit of Nicholson XR500 to help you through the Monday blues.



Local race at Fremont Raceway in 82. #52 is our friend Robin, #10 is myself on the Nicholson CR480 while George is over talking to the starter..likely telling him if he does not show us slow pokes the blue flag as he laps us someone is getting a fat lip.



@onformula1 - Nice catch, it indeed is his chain guide.. Looking at the same area i notice it has the exact same type of rear sprocket, Trike Racing, that came on my Rotax and is still on it and far as i know we never once bought that brand of sprocket ourselves so that tells me Kelvin built this Honda bike and not us. I cant remember the brand of sprocket we always used but they only came in gold color so a silver one like this stands out to me.

If you notice the CR480 has the long MX fork legs as well.

Me on my 200x at the same race as the photos of the mystery Honda.

[onformula1]

I think your talking about the gold krause sidewinder sprockets, later on the came in different finishes.

Notice most had twist throttles in these pictures, but on this forum it seems to have a big slant on thumb throttles.

I had a twist on my 70, but I started on motorcycles.

The pics are great!

Sent from my SM-G386T1 using Tapatalk

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

some black and whites for the retro vibe

Petaluma Speedway, mid 1982



@onformula1 - did Hi-Point sell sprockets? i keep getting this image of a gold rear sprocket with "Hi-Point" stamped into in my head.

I always used twist in the early days but i like thumb throttles as well, being able to lock your right arm i think helps on really rough tracks and after i broke my left wrist in 87 on a dirt bike i went back and forth between twist and thumb throttles since my left side was now my weak side. The re-grip required to use a twist throttle properly does not feel natural to a lot of people and takes time to develop usually.

[onformula1]

Yes they did rears, countershafts and chain tensioners too.



Sent from my SM-G386T1 using Tapatalk

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

Gold sprocket



That would most likely be it then, Hi-Point west was only a bit over a hour drive from our house and we used to visit them often for goodies. I forget the name of the guy who ran Hi-Point west but he was really nice and sponsored us for a few years in till that diversion got closed down as Hi-Point started to fade as a company.

We would meet him and Dave Porter from Arai on the same days for lunch and load up on free loot and bonus money checks for any magazine photos of our bikes or gear that you could see a Hi Point or Arai sticker or logo.