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Stafford Show 2002 |
We all love well turned-out Clubman Goldies and there were plenty on the Gold
Star Owner's Club stand. But the most interesting Gold Stars at the show
were those on the K&S stand - various trials and flat-track machines bristling
with K&S accessories or built and prepared by K&S BSA. But the most
interesting Gold Star in the hall was an ex- Al Gunter flat tracker that Nick
was
selling on behalf of a client.
 A
quick look tells you it's a very business-like piece of machinery but
looking closer reveals much that is interesting. Al Gunter was not only a
talented rider but also a clever tuner and there is little inside the engine
that hasn't been 'improved' by Gunter including an end-fed billet crank, carillo rod and 2" exhaust. The gearbox has
an electron shell and has been rebuilt by John Gardner.
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K&S BSA |
Like us, Nick Simpson at K&S is
fascinated by the Daytona BSAs, and has been helping the project with parts and
information.
K&S BSA are a company specialising in the manufacture of frames and accessories
to let you build a trials, flat-track or Daytona replica frame. They will even
build a complete bike for you like the BB34 trials bike reviewed so
enthusiastically by
'The
Classic Motorcyle' in September 2001.
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WE want that frame |
| Although a
fascinating and atttractive bike it's the frame that is of greatest
interest to the folks at Project Daytona. It is one of the original 1954
twin frames, ridden by Al Gunter in the 200 mile race but with a Gold
Star engine fitted since 1954. What has happened to the original twin
engine or any of the others, is a mystery. The frame is number 104 - and came 4th in the
1954 event. Using Nick as an 'agent' the bike has been purchased for the project and is being shipped
from England to the US one year later in April 2003.
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Roland Pike's rigid
frame |
| The frames used in 1954 were new for that year and the result of
Roland Pikes influence. These had rigid rear ends
that are the single most distinguishing feature of the 1954 and 1955
bikes, and probably the reason why photos of these bikes often appear in books
about BSA history, even if they are not accompanied by much in the way of
descriptive text.
Pike had been tasked to put everything into the bikes for
Daytona in 1954. On a trip to the US the previous year he had listened to
the riders who wanted a frame that was light and more suited to the unique
nature of the half sand, half tarmac Daytona course. Pike started
with a production trials frames and ended-up with something that was
welded, light... and rigid!
At Daytona, rear suspension was something the
riders felt would add weight but without any benefit. Eight were taken to
Daytona in 1954 - 4 singles and 4 twins. Since these bikes were
ridden in AMA class 'C', essentially production bikes only BSA had to make
100 frames in total. Where did they all go to?
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