KIWI RIDER NOVEMBER 2017 VOL.1 | Page 66

American ace Cal Rayborn’s Harley ahead of Ray Pickrell’s Triumph triple in a British v USA match race series Mike Hailwood’s BSA leading Gary Nixon’s Triumph at Daytona John Player Nortons battled it out with the Triumph Tridents and BSA Rockets. This didn’t last of course, and when, in 1973, Barry Sheene won the first Formula 750 championship on a Suzuki two-stroke triple, the future looked grim for the big four-strokes in road racing. When the last chapter of competitive British race bikes peaked, things were looking good. At the 1971 Daytona 200 in America, there were ten starters on three-cylinder BSA and Triumph machines, and they filled the first three places at the finish. That same year the BSAs won the LeMans Bol d’Or, and the 750 British Championship, together with a host of other prestigious races. But time was running out, and in 1973 the ailing, loss-making Triumph- BSA company merged and became Norton Villiers Triumph. Norton on the other hand had combined with tobacco company John Player in 1972. The sponsorship deal gave Norton a much needed cash injection. It enabled them to produce better bikes with increased power, better brakes and handling. The trademark monocoque chassis and alloy wheels on the John Player Nortons were examples of the development work possible with the extra financial support. Although it withdrew sponsorship in 1975, John Player continued to support major motorcycle race meetings in Britain. The JP Norton team for 1972 included Phil Read, Mike Hailwood at Daytona in 1971 and Peter Williams. Other riders who raced the bikes during the four year period included Tony Rutter, Mick Grant, Dave Croxford, and John Cooper. Perhaps the most notable achievement was the Formula 750 event at the 1973 Isle of Man TT, when Peter Williams won with Mick Grant in second place, both on JP Nortons. Although the Formula 750 World Series was instituted in 1973, it did not acquire official World Championship status until 1977, by which time the two-strokes had taken over, and the glorious sound of the BSA-Triumph triples and the Norton twins had faded into history. The short and turbulent Formula 750 years produced an interesting spin-off for motorcycle enthusiasts. Norton produced road-going replicas of the race bikes. The JP Norton Replica had the same Commando engine and distinctive John Player livery as the race bike. There were several independent specialist workshops such as Paul Dunstall and the Thruxton experimental shop producing extras such as tanks, fairings, exhausts, and other goodies to give the basic Commando a racetrack look, and improved performance. The three-cylinder engine used in the BSA Rocket, and Triumph Trident road and race bikes also attracted a lot of attention from the specialist workshops. Overall the last act for the big four-strokes was a noble experiment, which was to ultimately come to life again with the more stable Superbike class. Sharing your passion facebo ok.com 66KIWI RIDER /Caffein eAndCla ssics