Ive just had some of my old photos scanned and \'jpeg\'d\'...
Here is my first view of a Norton Rotary, 1987, in the paddock at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk.
Malcolm Heath, the development rider, about to notch up his first win on the Norton.
In October 1988 i went to Brands Hatch to the \'Powerbike International\'. Two riders were listed in the programme as entered by Norton Motors, Trevor Nation and Simon Buckmaster. Simon was unable to ride and so Brian Crighton (the creator of the Norton Rotary racebike) asked a rider i had never heard of before to ride the Norton, his name was Steve Spray and he was listed in the program to contest the two main races on a privately entered Suzuki 500 two stroke. Spray fought two titanic battles with the \'Loctite\' Yamaha entered rider Terry Rymer and in two very close finishes, Spray won both races. Also spectating that day were some marketing managers from a certain tobacco company who were so impressed with the Norton that they sponsored the team for the next four years.
Steve Spray spent 1989 breaking UK circuit lap records and winning races. The best Japanese 750cc, four cylinder superbikes were no match for the 600cc twin rotor rotary.
Steve \'sprays\' the champers to celebrate another win over the jap bikes, in this case the \'Durex\' Suzukis of Mellor and Witham.
Knockhill circuit in Scotland.
Its a tough, dirty job, but someone has to do it...
Spray won both the 1989 British Formula 1 Championship and the televised \'Supercup\' series
This picture, taken in 2002, shows Steve Spray and Trevor Nation with the \'White Charger\' Norton Rotary on which Steve Hislop, RIP, won the 1992 Isle of Man TT main race (the \'Senior\' race).
For 1993 and 1994 the Nortons were sponsored by Duckhams oil and were liveried in white, blue and yellow. In 1994 Ian Simpson repeated Steve Sprays feat of winning the British F1 Championship despite stiff competition from the Japanese 750 fours and Italian 1000 twins. At the end of 94 the British championship rules were changed from \'Formula 1\' to \'Superbike\' thereby ruling the Nortons out. Sorry, i dont have any photos of my own of the Duckhams bikes.
fantastic pics, your must be proud to have been part of it. Cool.
Real pleased you have shared these with us.
Cheers,
The Post TT at Mallory Park a couple of weeks ago was AMAZING!!
Ten Rotary race bikes ridden by their ex-riders including the stars who took them to British Championship wins in 1989 and 1994...
QuoteOriginally posted by Norton
For 1993 and 1994 the Nortons were sponsored by Duckhams oil and were liveried in white, blue and yellow. In 1994 Ian Simpson won the British F1 Championship. Sorry, i dont have any photos of my own of the Duckhams bikes.
HAVE NOW! :)
Brian Crighton, the Grandaddy of Norton Rotary racing, oversees the National Motorcycle Museum mechanics while the stars of yesteryear sign autographs in the background...
Lovley!!
No videofottage?
//magnus
I was watching men and motors yesterday afternoon and they had a 15 min feature on the Norton rotaries. They were being track tested they sounded awsome.
There is acually alot of video on the //www.jpsnorton.com site..
The quality is however not very good and it\'s in real..bla..bla... format..
Anybody got any in avi or mpeg??
// Magnus