Today at the Ponderosa

[Craig380]

Gave my new (to me) AL7 its first proper spin out to the Ponderosa this morning, it was bright but surprisingly cold in that strong wind.

While up there I noticed an older gent wheeling a very tasty-looking Kawa A1-based race bike out of a van. I got chatting to him, and what a fascinating story he told.

His name is Dave Thomas, and the bike was originally a 250 A1R (as rare as hen's dentists) on which he secured Kawasaki's first-ever race win in the UK, at Cadwell in 1967 against the Yamahas, Bultacos and Aermacchis of the day.

However, he found the 250 Yamahas to be tough competition, so he and his dad decided to convert the bike to a 350. They made their own crank, cast their own cylinders etc. Absolutely amazing ingentuity. As a 350, he set the fastest lap at the Manx GP in 1968 at over 92mph before retiring.

Here's Dave talking about the bike and lighting it up at a 2018 event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtC4e1NQfZM

[admin]

Originally Posted by Craig380

Gave my new (to me) AL7 its first proper spin out to the Ponderosa this morning, it was bright but surprisingly cold in that strong wind.

While up there I noticed an older gent wheeling a very tasty-looking Kawa A1-based race bike out of a van. I got chatting to him, and what a fascinating story he told.

His name is Dave Thomas, and the bike was originally a 250 A1R (as rare as hen's dentists) on which he secured Kawasaki's first-ever race win in the UK, at Cadwell in 1967 against the Yamahas, Bultacos and Aermacchis of the day.

However, he found the 250 Yamahas to be tough competition, so he and his dad decided to convert the bike to a 350. They made their own crank, cast their own cylinders etc. Absolutely amazing ingentuity. As a 350, he set the fastest lap at the Manx GP in 1968 at over 92mph before retiring.

Here's Dave talking about the bike and lighting it up at a 2018 event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtC4e1NQfZM

Fab. You do meet some interesting people at the ponda.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[garynortheast]

I rarely go to the Ponderosa as it's generally too full of motorcyclists Perhaps I should get over my prejudice and go up there sometime.

[Chris_SVS]

The outrage! Bikers at a biker hangout

[garynortheast]

Originally Posted by Chris_SVS

The outrage! Bikers at a biker hangout

I know, terrible! How the hell am I going to cope with all you bikers at Barmouth in June?

[Chris_SVS]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

I know, terrible! How the hell am I going to cope with all you bikers at Barmouth in June?

Alcohol is a great leveller, if we don't level each other

[garynortheast]

One pint is enough to level me I'm afraid!

[Chris_SVS]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

One pint is enough to level me I'm afraid!

Be a cheap night

[garynortheast]

Ha ha! Always is for me. No tolerance, or indeed any particular personal liking for alcohol. It just makes me feel ill.

[Chris_SVS]

I know what you mean there, I can't drink beers/ciders etc but after 10 or so years of no drink I discovered whiskey, usually give up long before a state of drunk though