£3.80

December 2010

Triumphant day out

• STAFFORD MECHANICS SHOW

• TWN CORNET > 2

• 1 • DUTCH LION £3.8 9

• VETERAN FN 9 1

• IVORY CALTHORPE 5 8

• TRIUMPH 3T 0 3 6 2 0

Green machine –Velocette’s sturdy & stylish MAC 7 l. 37 No. 12 December 21 7 Vo 9 Goodwood Revival

The Ace Classic/Baron Speed Shop Triumph – featured in the October 2010 issue of – made its competitive debut at the Goodwood Revival, as did its co-builder.

Words by James Robinson Photography by Nick Haskell

The team; from left Dick Smith, Cliff Rushworth, Kev Rushworth and Roger Munsey.

There was a Le Mans style start for both races.

64 December 2010 The Classic The Classic MotorCycle December 2010 65 Goodwood Revival The Triumph up on the bench.

he Goodwood Revival meeting in the late 1970s – and the popular continues to be one of the most Londoner’s ‘golden touch’ applied at T popular and successful classic Goodwood, with the motorcycle races events in Britain, probably in the world. It’s becoming firmly established. a race meeting – and a carnival too. Following Barry’s death in March 2003, the Though the cars are the stars, the motorcycle events were renamed as the Barry motorcycles give sterling backup, all Sheene Memorial Trophy races. Ever since supported by the wonderful efforts made they had been created, the races had been for on the part of organisers, entrants and pre-1967 Grand Prix type motorcycles; ie spectators to‘dress the part’. And, of Manx Nortons, Matchless G50s and AJS 7Rs course, there’s the aeroplanes too, which is predominantly, with the odd MV Agusta, fitting since Goodwood is a former RAF Paton, Honda and such like thrown in. While base, used during WWII. this usually produced some good racing (and And it was aircraft which led to the continued to attract some top riders, following creation of Goodwood as a race circuit. in the wheel tracks of Sheene) it was decided, Following the end of WWII, it was decided to in 2008, to try a different format for the two- run a few race wheeled events. meetings at It was decreed Goodwood, The motorcycle that the motorcycle apparently on the element has long races should be for suggestion of 1950s type Squadron Leader been a popular part machines, as Tony Gaze (a friend of the Goodwood at of the ninth Duke of Revival, mainly due Goodwood ceased Richmond – in that decade. This Freddie March – a to the participation in opened up the races renowned amateur the early years by to a whole different racer who went on Barry Sheene. load of machines, to design both with the organisers March sports car seeking a more bodies and aircraft in his capacity as as diverse grid. It was judged a success – with engineer) who was based there during WWII. Gold Stars, Dominators and Norton Inters to The motorcycle element has long been a the fore – though the SheeneTrophy reverted popular part of the revival, mainly due to back to the 1960s machines for 2009 (it was the participation in the early years by Barry always the plan to alternate) so for 2010, it Sheene. Barry had been away from road was back to the 1950s kit. racing for years but began appearing This pricked the interest of Kev Rushworth regularly at the Revival, quickly establishing (of Ace Classics) and Dick Smith (The Baron machines, including the ‘bobber’ which Goodwood circuit, full of hope and SATURDAY himself as a firm favourite with the largely Speed Shop). Kev and Dick are pre-unit featured on the cover of our November 2007 expectation. It was to be the culmination of a For race one, Roger Munsey – the car racing fraternity. Of course, it was Triumph men through and through; Ace edition, plus similar machines for movie star lot of hard work and the debut for the racer, ‘professional’rider in the two-man Ace/Baron Barry’s personality, combined with his Classics has long been the go-to place for Ewan McGregor and his continent-crossing while it was also Kev Rushworth’s full riding team – was lined up for the Le Mans ability on a motorcycle, that led to fans of pre-unit Triumphs while Baron’s pal Charley Boorman. competition debut too, the 29-year-old style start, along with all the other‘star riders.’ motorcycle racing enjoying such popularity Speed Shop has built some sensational Kev and Dick decided they wanted a piece having had plenty of track time in the past, Among them were Northern Irish former 250 of the action, so set about building a bespoke being a track-day veteran – albeit the and 500cc GP star Jeremy McWilliams Overall winner Steve Brogan, who racer, the process of which we detailed in our majority of his time having been onYamaha (Norton Manx), multiple TT winner Charlie has since clinched the British October 2010 issue. With a bit more testing R1s and their ilk. Williams (Vincent Black Shadow), ex-works Superbike EVO crown. and a few mods – like fitting a high-level star Paul Smart ( 99), exhaust system – it was time to head for FRIDAY Scouse BMW superbike ace – and since Famous flypast – the Battle of Britain Goodwood, though first the Ace/Baron team First practice took place at 9am on Friday crowned inaugural BSB EVO class champion Memorial Flight does its thing. had to find out who their ‘second’ rider morning. Kev was raring to go, though Dick – Steve Brogan (Manx Norton), former BSB (nominated by the Goodwood organisers) was reiterating the point it was a long race winner Scott Smart (partnering his dad would be... the name given to Kev was Roger weekend and that they shouldn’t do any on the Dommie), 1970s BMW star Helmut Munsey, a man who’ll be familiar to many of harm to the Tiger in practice. Eventually, Daehne (BMW RS54), Scottish Ian duo our readers, owing to his long participation they qualified 16th out of the 30; a Duffus (Manx Triton) and Simpson (Manx on various classics – including, of late, a satisfactory job all round. Others weren’t so Norton), fast lady Maria Costello (Gold Star) Norton Domiracer in the Bonhams Historic lucky – the Wayne Gardner Walmsley Gold and journalists Alan Cathcart ( GP series, so giving him useful experience of Star suffered terminal damage (a holed Saturno) and Michael Neeves (Matchless riding a twin. Roger has raced numerous piston) though the Aussie was given G80CS). Other notable names included motorcycles over the years, including dispensation to race on a G50; admittedly British Historic GP regulars Glen English enjoying success on a Manx Norton, so Kev out of period, but the 1987 500cc world (Velocette MSS), Ian Bain (Manx), Seb Perez and Dick were quietly relieved to have champ is one of the stars of the show and it (Velocette KTT) and Andrew Taylor (AJS 7R). someone they felt they could trust on their doesn’t do to disappoint the crowd. He was Munsey got off to a reasonable start and racer, which had taken a lot of time and effort to be partnered by John Leigh Pemberton, settled into a nice rhythm, gradually easing to construct. so bringing back together the winning team himself past a few riders, so that by the time The weekend started on Thursday 16 of 2009 – and, as it turned out, the winning he came in to hand over to Kev, they were September, when the team travelled to the motorcycle too. running 13th. Kev flicking through the chicane. 66 December 2010 The Classic MotorCycle The Classic MotorCycle December 2010 67 Goodwood Revival

Kev Rushworth in his ‘posing gear’ on the Goodwood start-finish line.

Despite this being his first race, Kev acquitted himself well.

Kev set off for his stint – and his first ever much faster than the day before, with Kev next year. Really, we’dneed it built in the next road race.Though he’s been doing track days gleefully mixing it with the Manx Nortons six months, so we have a chance to run it in, since he was 18 and is 30 now, Kev had never and Vincents. However, proving that old which will be pushing it. actually taken part in a proper race – until adage about good things must come to an The machine would be basically a replica now. He acquitted himself well, gradually end, it didn’t last. of the racer Buddy Elmore used to win the moving through the field and being classified By lap three the Triumph had developed a 1966 Daytona 200 and when Kev floated the as ninth finisher. serious misfire, which stopped play. It’s idea with the Goodwood organisers, they Though the Gardner/Pemberton G50 thought a broken valve spring was the cause. were keen. crossed the line first, they weren’t classified It was a disappointing end to what had been Kev is keen to do some more racing, in the results, that honour going to the a good weekend. intending to run theTiger 110 with theVMCC Brogan/Ian Bain featherbed Manx. Runners- Reflecting on it, Kev said;“It was all like next season, while he’d also like to ride at up were McWilliams, partnered by Duncan some kind of mad, brilliant dream. I Goodwood in 2011, even if it’s not possible to Fitchett, with third the Neeves/StuartTongue absolutely loved it. If only we could have have the 500ccTriumph ready for next year, so Matchless single. Nick Roberts and Mick finished, that would have been great.”Still, in that case he’d be looking for a ride. Hemmings were fourth on a 99 Dominator, for a first effort, it wasn’t bad – in fact, it was Meantime, if the Tiger 110 has tickled fifth was Cathcart and Tim Jackson on the pretty good. In the final classifications – the anyone’s fancy, the guys are able to build a Gilera, from the father-and-son Smart duo, aggregate score being taken over the two replica.“We could build a road-going version Scott and Paul, who were sixth. Indeed, wife races – despite Sunday’s DNF, the team was if anyone fancied one, with all the bits on but of Paul and mum of Scott, Barry Sheene’s placed 17th which, all things considered, was a standard engine, which would cost about sister Maggie, complimented Kev on his fairly satisfactory. £14,000. We could build a racer too, though riding, which greatly pleased the Ace that would cost a good bit more...” Classics man. SO WHAT NEXT? The first race had taught the team a couple Kev and Dick had a wonderful time at THANKS of things, namely that they were able to mix Goodwood, that much is evident and Kev and Dick wanted to thank various it with some of the ‘stars’ and secondly, that naturally they are keen to return. However, people for their help in getting the racer to theTriumph needed a bigger engine sprocket. next year the motorcycle race reverts back to the line, with among them Gordon and Sally So, Saturday night saw the spanners out and the 1960s GP style machinery and so theTiger Russell for all their efforts in helping the team the gearing altered – the guys were quietly 110 won’t be eligible. However, the duo are secure an entry, Will Kingman at Goodwood confident for Sunday’s race. still keen to compete – so have started and, of course, Lord March for running the thinking about next year. event and Steve Smith of Avon Tyres. ! SUNDAY “Obviously, because of what we do, if we Kev was to take the first stint this time. With build a bike, it has to be a Triumph,”says Kev. Contacts; Ace Classics, confidence high, he set off at a rapid pace, “And so that means it needs to be a Daytona- www.aceclassics.co.uk 0208 698 4273, scything through the field up to seventh. based 500cc racer. We’ve started looking at it, Baron’s Speed Shop, With its altered gearing, the ton-ten was though it’ll be a tough job to have it done for www.baronspeedshop.com 01689 638733

68 December 2010 The Classic MotorCycle