MANX GRAND PRIX
The racing is only one of the attractions on the Isle of Man during Manx Grand Prix week. There’s also the VMCC Rally, the Ramsey Sprint, Jurby race day, great roads and a rolling classic bike festival. These are some of the people and bikes we met
1978 Kawasaki KH400 & Honda CB400F
Darren McOwen and Karl Skelly, both over from Blackpool, were making their first visit to the Manx, though they’ve been to the TT before. “It seems like the right setting to bring the classic bikes,” observed Karl, who bought his Honda as a box of bits four years ago and used the Isle of Man trip as a deadline for completion. “It was finished in a big rush, two days before we caught the ferry. We reset the valve clearances in the campsite last night and there have been a few niggles, but it revs out in all the gears.” Darren’s KH400 was also built from bits – but quite a few years ago, by his father.
“My dad was big into a triples and a member of the club. I’ve had it since he died, 13 years ago, but this is the first time I’ve done anything with it. I don’t normally ride on the road; I race in the Mini Twins Championship at Three Sisters on a Suzuki SV650.” The KH has period accessory ARE alloy wheels and Denco pattern expansion chambers by TNT. “My dad built it up like this – he wanted it to have the ’70s modified look, like it would have had at the time. All the rubbers were perished, so I’ve replaced them and it’s had new pistons and rings. It’s fast over the mountain – but its on 250 gearing, so at around 95mph that’s it.’
1959 MV Agusta Ottantatre
“I bought it at auction in March,” says Gordon of his 83cc, 83kg, 83kph (Ottantatre is Italian for 83) ohv MV. “I’m the first UK owner, and I had to get it registered, but I’ve not done anything to the cosmetics; it should have a white panel on the tank, but its been painted over. I put the carburettor in the ultrasonic cleaner, oiled all the cables and changed the tyres which were badly cracked – Ithink they may have been the originals – but the tubes were still holding air.
I think its been off the road for most of its life. It’d done 55 miles round the George Brown Memorial Run at Stevenage before coming to the Island, but it’s done 350 miles this week including the lap on Sunday. It does everything, but quite slowly. We were in second gear (of three) from May Hill all the way up to The Mountain Mile. Once you’re in top it’ll cruise at 35-45 mph, which is enough for the front brake. You can pull on the lever and push the bike along.’
1974 Miles Trident
“I’ve had it a month,” laughs Allan. “And before I got over here, I’d only done 50 miles on it.” The bike was built in the 1990s, using a Miles Engineering Rob North replica chassis kit, with a 1974 Triumph T1
