September 3, 200619 yr I'm waiting for my new Raga replica so I drove down to Mercer this morning to watch a classic and twinshock trial. Mercer's about 60km south of Auckland. Some of the tackle that was there was very rare indeed, for example this 500T Norton ('bout a 1949 vintage): There were also 4 198/199 Bultacos there. This was possibly the cleanest example: Also there was a lovely Greeves. The Greeves was ridden by NZ reigning enduro champ Chris Birch whose father is pictured on the 198A Bulto Peter Birch on the 198A Sherpa Also pictured, the great view from the venue. As well as a few local enthusiasts.
September 3, 200619 yr Yeah awesome trial well worth the trip from Tauranga to take part! So good to see the old bikes and hear that Triumph twin.
September 3, 200619 yr Author Yeah, that 'umph was a 3TA motor shoehorned into Cotton frame. Did sound nice.
September 3, 200619 yr Nice to see the Norton 500T on this site, I helped restore this 1951 model some years ago, bought as a basket case from the UK in the 1980's, many parts were missing which required making a replica copy of the alloy cylinder barrel of the period, making a pattern, casting the alloy barrel, turning the steel liner, oil holes, and maching including the fins, then shotpeening to replicate a cast alloy appearance, making pushrods, pushrod tubes, exhaust nut, carb stub, forged footrests, wheel hub parts, etc. All machining was done in a home workshop on a centre lathe and mill. I recall the flywheels weighed 22 pounds ! I was rewarded many times having rode it successfully in NZ Trials in the Classic Clubman classes. The alloy tank was made by a local panel beater to a series of sectional templates taken from another 500T at that time, in all, a truly great British Trials bike of the period - had Norton built a swing arm frame in the early 1950,s, Trials results could have been very different for Norton. Jeff Smith and Johnny Draper rode 500T models and later left Norton to go to BSA and the Gold Star. I am always pleased to see the 500T still being ridden in our Classic Trials events - it brings back a lot of memories both in the building / restoration and the enjoyment of riding a powerfull single of the 1950's. Brian H
September 3, 200619 yr new zealand i dont believe it for a minute. looks more like silsden and yorks classic club, ( but then they'ed never have that B*****o,) nice post hope you had a great day out..
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