Road Racing

The only reason I ever road raced was purely intellectual. It was my interest in building a better motorcycle. Other than building a bike which is better than others in a particular class of racing, I have nothing to prove. And with my Seeley 850, I have achieved that. The first time I ever raced, I went up the road on my back at about 100 MPH, in front of a crowd at the end of the front straight at Calder Raceway. So I lost my ego. But the good thing was, my two young sons saw it happen, so I never had to watch them race.
My brother-in law is now lying in bed in Taralgon, on his way to getting into the box. A few days ago I visited him. I told him what happened the last time I raced, and he said I was bragging. Actually I was not. These days, if I race I actually do ride that well.
But as another one of my mates who is also dying said - 'you silly old bastard, you have left it too late'.

My Seeley 850 is a fun motorcycle. It is better than sex. I cannot describe what it feels like when I ride it out the gate onto Winton Race circuit. It does everything perfectly and I am no slouch. The last time I raced, I had them cold. I was in front with about 5 tight bends in front of me. They would have needed 140 horsepower on the main straights.to get near me It was only a stupid thing which stopped me. The clip which tightens the fuel line is right up under the tank, so is easy to forget.

Could you post some pictures of your bike?

In the past, all we had to do to post pictures was find a hasting site and post the link. I think these days you have to be a special member of this forum. If it is still possible to use a hosting site, could you please post me a link to it ? The last time I tried to post pictures, I could not find a host.

acotrel said:

In the past, all we had to do to post pictures was find a hasting site and post the link. I think these days you have to be a special member of this forum.

Click to expand...

No, nothing has changed. VIP members can upload directly, non-VIPs need to use a hosting website.

acotrel said:

The last time I tried to post pictures, I could not find a host.

Click to expand...

Then copy and paste the 'Hotlinks for forums' option for each image into your forum message (no 'IMG' tags required).

When I built that in 1978, the sum total cost of the bits was about $2,500. All I had to do was make the engine plates and the strut for the frame. The rest was just nuts and bolts and a few consumables. It was the easiest build imaginable. The rolling chassis originally housed a 750SF Laverda motor, but I could not get that. An idiot had got the bike and pulled it apart - the engine went in two directions and became too expensive. My mate had built the Seeley Laverda, but the exhaust system was too restrictive, so the bike was slow - he sold it and I followed it for two years and was finally able to buy the rolling chassis.
My motor is a nearly standard 850 Commando. It is still quick enough. It amazes me that it is so responsive to tuning. When I built this bike I never believed in it, until I raced it.
I cannot believe that something which is so bad can be so good.
The motor cost $1300, and I got a Norton box for $300, the 4 speed close ratio gearset cost $700. It now has a $5000 6 speed TTI box, because it has been too slow getting off the start line in races.

If you trudge around motorcycle wreckers and old motorcycle dealerships, it is sometimes possible to find an old racing frame or rolling chassis. A while back I saw a Rickman frame for $400. Once you have that, the rest is easy. If you buy a complete race bike, it will cost you a motza. When I was building the Seeley, I built it without the intention of racing it. It was just a good thing to build.
Have you seen any photos of the Seeley Condor? The Seeley AJS 350 was best ever British single cylinder 350. The 1959 AJS 350 was as quick as the MV350s.
These days, if I was starting again, I would build a replica of the Seeley AJS 350.

This is a photo of me learning to race in 1969. I look at it now and shudder. What would life be without pain ?

I am posting this video so you can see things you should never do :

Few more bits Al & it will be ready to go!
Oil catch tray, a shark fin ooh & of course some new tyres.

If I can get the Norton clutch to go back together, that would help. It is the old single row chain type. I pulled the cush bit apart, and some of it moved back. Now I need to take the whole lot off and rebuild it on the bench.