Classic Racer takes you so close you can actually smell the Castrol R. With the world's finest archive, and an editorial team who live and breathe the sport, the only way you'll get closer will be to put on your leathers.
We might be used to the modern polished pre-race performances of Dorna and its employees, but back in the day there was nothing quite as well drilled in GP racing. You knew what time you had to be ready to get out on the grid and then, well, you just kind of went out on to the track and got into position. A fine time for fans and assorted hangers-on to get a last minute photo, autograph or chat with a hero or two. Also, a very good time for you to do a bit of free back-of-the-jacket advertising for your mate’s brand of jeans.…
You can measure many eras by the extremes of fashion. Many of the trends have gone, long consigned to the dustbin of distress that accumulates so much of what once was deemed essential, as seen in this wonderful photo by Nick Nicholls. Face hair, promo girls, a DuHamel on top of the podium looking effortlessly cool... The only modern racer anywhere near getting this ethos in top flight racing again (in truth) is Cal Crutchlow. You can see the real Cal from time to time in Parc Ferme. Get growing the long hair and sideburns Cal, let’s have another refined caveman out there sticking it to the pretty boy glitterati just likeYvon did 43 years ago. It’s time.…
Twenty-three years ago and the world of World Superbikes was left buzzing after watching the on track antics of Nagai. On the factory Yamaha the Japanese rider was part of a new breed who gave as good as he got in the rough and tumble of the diesels. Throughout 1995 Nagai spent a lot of time following Carl Fogarty in qualifying, using the king’s knowledge of lines and braking markers to improve his own performance. This, as you’d understand, narked Foggy right off. And when he passed Nagai at Sugo that season in race two, the middle finger salute out of the chicane expressed that personal Ducati view to the world. Well, it did for about a second before Nagai side-swiped Foggy's right leg with 750cc of hot Yamaha powerplant…
In reply to Messrs Murfin and Owen Dear CR I must reply to both letters from Dennis Murfin and Pete Owen in issue 190. Firstly, I have a replica Honda RC 162; I intend to race this bike in the very near future. It can be raced in Australia as a Period 6 250. Period 6 is for machines made between 1983 and 1990. As the engine is a 1990 model CBR 250 MC22 engine it fits into this class. There are currently several other replicas in Australia but they are not being raced. It is obviously not competitive with a 1990 Yamaha TZ 250, however, it will sound great and be something different. Regarding John Hartle; l I had the good fortune to buy a 500 Manx Norton from…
From the colonies Dear CR As I was reading issue 189, (I live in Australia and we get CR much later but it’s worth waiting for), I thought there were a few more articles this time. I always look forward to getting it, as it takes me back to when my brother and I, along with a few others, used to go to Mallory Park or Cadwell and even Snetterton and the Norton Matchless battles. The bikes have come a long way since then, the best one that comes to mind is the 1968 125 race, which I happened to be at, when the late Bill Ivy lapped at 100.32 mph on a four cylinder Yamaha. The 125 race was then dropped in 1974 till 1989, when the record was…
Dear CR In response to the Star Letter in issue 191, page 14, this bike is motorised not by a motorcycle engine, but by the Honda S600 engine, a wonderful little sport car of the Sixties (double OHC and liquid-cooled). This bike was built by Andreas Susan Georgeades (ASG!), and he’s the pilot too! This ASG was slow and did not have good results in his career. Andreas converted the liquid cooling to air cooling and two valves/cylinder by four valves/ cylinder from CR72 Honda. Also Andreas took off the chain cam and replaced it with one belt! A big work! Thanks CR... I have all the issues since number one! Pierre de Pauw France…
