Sunday, December 20, 2009

page 1, early years 1972 -1979



Triple's, started in 1972; when I sold my dear old Triton and bought a one year old Trident. My Chopper time was over, I was more in for speed and modern technics, it endend in technics.

The new bike was a 1969 model that started here life in Holland in 197! It was a slitly modifed triple with Ceriani GP shocks and a four-leading shoe brake. It appeared to be a very reliable machine
.













My next bike was the ''71 Fastback, but sold after a few years, to much trouble. One Britt is enough, so the Trident is still here. But now, I now miss the bottum power and the good looks.














The following years, hollidays were spent as gigant spare tours to collect all sorts of racing parts as well as meeting lots of new friends. So I found my way to Silverstone.



Production 750 race at Silverstone in 19??, Less Williams on the Son of Sam. That race, overall winner Alex George took second place after Gus Kuhn's BMW (nr. 37)

the bike is now owend by John Young.



















In 1976 on our trip to Less Williams (yes, for spare parts) Dirk and me broke down in the pooring rain, just in front of a Suzuki dealer. Inside I recognised the owner: Percy Tait, he kindley brought us to Less. There we met Martin Russell.


When you have once seen the parcel man, you will never forget him.








Martin Russell in 1976, with the most advanced triple (he) ever made. Martin and Les Williams enthousiasted Dirk and me to start working on triples. Martin did the first job on the cylinderhead, the special three-in-to-two and some other special parts.


One of the first pictures at Zandvoort 1978,
the bike is still classic black. At the back the blue and red triples from Rob and Rob


















This is a early Unicorn event some years later at Zandvoort in 19??, Michiel taking his "stock" Triple to the Hunzerug. Notice the Russell exhoust system! The bike still runs with 19" rims. A year later, more body work was done and the Boyer exaust was mounted, more top power, but not so smooth.

Monday, December 01, 2008

page 8 2008

2008


The year 2008 started at Croix, a small nice trac in the north of France. Dirk, Rob and me went there for the one day event by bus with three Rob North triples. Allways an early event, a 4 hours ride to get there and to get ready. Stress to get things right, battery seemed to be to low (Lucas - Prince of darkness), but fineley we were of.









Dirk was OK with his new outfit.







Jan van de Bossche was there
with his fast triple.

May 2008 After that we returned to Dyon, the Coupe Moto Legende, always a great weekend. Many frends over the years. We joined the paddock with Ron and Angela Chandler. I always wonder how this triple makes such impressive sound.


video


in june the others were off to Spa, Eric and I dedided to go for Chimay. The celebration of the long track. the roadcircuit was brought back to the old 10 km. I was a difficult choice but we made the right descicion, no commerce, but the real old sport.



I took the two bikes with my "grand old" Citroen lady to Chimay. With Eric Casius and his fab. Norton and his dear old Bedfort, we had a great weekend.









The trac was awsume, as you can see on the video, gearing problems on the fast lane where due to some frustrating moments.

I ran out of petrol with the green old lady and (what a shame) I lost the battery on the Rob North.





video


I wonder why he's brought the fourth beer for?
w'are staying triple, I hope!

Saturday, December 01, 2007

page 7 2007



At the end of 2006 I was offered the opportunity to buy a special triple. The legendary story of the old bike in the shed.
The bike was build by Norman Miles and I was told to be raced by Tony Osbourne before it was sold to Jan Braas.
The bike raced successfully in Holland till 1982, then it was put in a barn where it stayed for several years.
The winter of 2007 was a lot of work, restoring and checking the bike. The bike has a BSA engine and no frame or engine number on it. Many special parts where fitted, Magnesium hubs, Mahle pistons, unknown camshafts, etc. The rear Dunlop tire dated 1978! The former owner, Jan, claims it was Miles first build bike, Tony Page explained that the first four bikes had no numbers.So it is up to Norman to tell.




The first outing was Nurburgring in April, but it was no success. Battery and carb problems, very tiring.







Because Dirk had engine troubles just before the Coupe Moto Legende at Dyon we took both bikes to France. I was exited to be able to see the bike on the track. My old lady ran perfectly till the last run when I found out the rear wheel bearing had given up. But by then the Miles engine was running perfect.



And Dirk found out that handling is far out, while the power comes in at more than 6500 rpm, but than there is plenty of it.















Spa Francorchaps was a party (as you can see on Youtube), three Rob North triples running perfectly.



























Then the last outing was at Gedinne in Belgium. Together with good old Norton Eric we went into the Ardennes. The trac appeared to be a country road that was not been improved since the battle of the Bulge in 45. There we met to my surprise Norman Miles, he immediately recognised the bike. We had a very nice meeting and a lot of talk, but his memory... it is still not clear if the bike is his first or second.






Unfortunately the weekend was no success, the long frame and the old type racing cams made it very difficult to handle at the small twisty track. Several accidents gave it a sad end with a deadly accident on Sunday.

Friday, December 01, 2006

page 6 2006

results of the year 2006



1.
the start was in Croix this year, where Dirk had an happy landing and the rest of the team had to clean up his bike for Assen. Dirk, happy with the support, wanted some more of that. So he did it again!


2.
At Nurnburg in May all went well, exept my new close-gearbox, didn't do what it was suppost to do. With some scary moments. Then in the third lap at the end of start and finish it was over and out, no more traction.




3.
At Schleiz in Germany we had nice weather, beer, etc. But still major troubles with the old ladies gearbo. Missing gears up and down I had to struggle my way amongst fat German BMW's and Jap kamikaze. Best man was Eric on his Norton.



The trac is beautiful but very tricky




4.
Spa-Francorchamps we always have a good time. The best trac to be, three days of perfect weather and driving.




Thursday, December 01, 2005

page 5 2005

n e w s f r o m 2 0 0 5






n u r b u r g r i n g
smoking up a tire and more fun






























s c h l e i z

great track, nice weather, beer, "dirndels", krautcars and three days of headache.









The 2005 team, Rob, boR, Michiel, Dirk and Erik
in a typical Teutonic racing club




German news and Dirk testing his silencer. This caused a three day headache.
















The trac at 6500 rpm.






















Wednesday, December 01, 2004

page 4 2004



n e w s f r o m 2 0 0 4

the lowland triples at zandvoort in 2004, beer in the can and girls in leather.



Invited by RaceGirl Vicky,a Canadian girl who races for Ten Cate's Honda team, we had a nice day out at the new Zandvoort track,(were little reminds of the old glorious day). But fun we had. My new shortgear clutch gave a lot of trouble and pain, Dirk dicided to step out at the Gerlach courner (will he ever learn to rise his foot, size 11, in a corner?)





View at the Hunzerug, a blindsited spot. And Rob on the BSA chasing Dirk on his T150
at 6500 rpm.





















In May we were at Dijon, the coupe Moto Legende, a fantastic festival we meet for many years now. Dirk had his day, chasing Jammy's at the bumpy, but lovelly trac. Watch the DD triple video.


The new finished old lady,

















video



In june we went to Spa, the best classic race trac for triples. This bikers festival is a long weekend for bikers who love fast long lanes. Strangely Phil Pick prefers the border.









We had rain too, allways spectacular!



Phil's bike