Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cycle Magazine Secret Racer 1967

This project was a Daytona 200 project of Gordon Jennings of Cycle Magazine using a special short stroke Harley KH engine by Jerry Branch. In those days you apparently could cut a connecting rod, have it welded together again and go racing without worry.
Jennings, inspired by a 250 Aermacchi Sprint frame, designed the smallest structure he could fit the new smaller motor into and the bike was assembled. The fibreglass gas and aluminum oil tanks were also handmade. How did they do? The article ends as they are loading up for the drive to Florida...



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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 2, 2013 at 5:53 PM

    "using a special short stroke Harley KH engine by Jerry Branch. In those days you apparently could cut a connecting rod and have it welded together again"

    You still can cut and weld rods....but how does shortening a rod change the stroke?

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  2. Mister GMarch 2, 2013 at 6:13 PM

    Apologies,not well explained. Shorter rods by themselves do not of course change the stroke,the crank would have to be destroked The article also mentions shortening the barrels as part of engine shrinking exercise. The engine mods deserved a whole article in themselves.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2014 at 3:27 PM

    Hey There-
    Super cool! Can you state what month/edition Cycle Mag this was in?
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mister GSeptember 24, 2014 at 7:35 AM

    This article was in the May 1967 Cycle Magazine.

    ReplyDelete