That Cat Came Back... 19 years later! Photo: Joe Michaud |
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| This picture shows the gorgeous pre-alternator Matchless
primary cover and one of the few remaining Manx parts: The rear brake pedal!
We think we'll keep it, there's little likliehood _that_ part will need upgrade or one-off
fabrication. The frame, swing arm and some front fork parts are '56 Domi,
legacies of the early '60's PM Norton ridden by Rich Arians to AFM Open GP
championship. The fuel tank, including the same paint, is from the 1964 AFM
500 GP champ bike, 'Moto Metzer' of former Berkeley Matchless-Triumph-Vespa Dealer,
Tony Metz. It is a Dick Kilgroe tank, marketed back then as Cutlass
Fiberglass. Dick Kilgroe was definitely one of the most colorful characters in the
highly informal road race scene of those years and was sometimes described as the guy with
the world's grottiest leathers, uncontested champ. He was an enthusiastic rider and
pioneered what are nowadayds called 'aftermarket fiberglass products' back in a time fun
was more important than money for most of us at club races.
The oil tank is a one-off 'expertly welded' by yours truly. The Keihin CR carbs are one of the best features, even though (at 31mm choke size) theoretically too small. They work so well, it doesn't seem to matter. The Wassell swept back exhaust pipes (mistakenly identified by many as Dunstall) are a make-do until we can fab an appropriate set of high pipes. The 2:1 got lost somewhere along the line..... Link to Full sized image, complete left profile 43K
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