#teamobsolete

[triplenickel555]

Quail 2013 was a fun one, after racing at Sonoma Raceway with AHRMA, Gordon McCall allowed me to organize a racer’s exhibition on the lawn. It was so cool seeing all the race bikes fresh off the track alongside all the proper show bikes with the likes of Fred Mork and Mike Lohrman, and the east coast racers Dave Roper and Kenny Cummings were in town which made it extra special. . #thequail #thequailmotorcyclegathering #sonomaraceway #nycnorton #fredmork #daveroper #teamobsolete #pauldorleans #thevintagent #gordonmccall #waynerainey #quailmotorcycle #quailmotorcyclegathering (at Quail Lodge & Golf Club)

[motoary]

Toss back Tuesday to the Classic / Manx Grand Prix. For the uninitiated, this event is more than just racing. It’s the perfect culmination of friends, beer, and enjoying all things motorcycles. It was a pleasure meeting @meanmachines for the first time at this event after being in contact with him for awhile via Instagram. #motoary #love #followback #instagramers #croig #caferacer #photooftheday #20likes #amazing #bikers #follow4follow #like4like #teamobsolete #instalike #igers #picoftheday #twowheels #instadaily #instafollow #followme #motorcyclesofinstagram #instagood #bestoftheday #instacool #bikestagram #follow #classicbikes #bikes #meanmachines (at Douglas, Isle of Man) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2QCs-XnBUK/?igshid=1k59s30jdx9n4

[thegoldblackmagazine]

Former glory. @teamobsolete Photo @douglasmacrae For @bikeexif #tGBmag #TheGoldBlackMagazine https://www.instagram.com/p/COnE938gO9c/?igshid=1tte45e0ezkns

[thespeedstable-blog]

Apart from the pack. #daveroper #teamobsolete #roper #harleydavidson #aermacchi #iomtt #ahrma #racebikes #legend #motorcyclesofinstagram #croig #bikeexif #pipeburn #vansonleathers #araihelmet #alpinestars #startup #racingfamily #caferacer #speedjournal (at Roebling Road Raceway)

[themightymotor]

Dick Mann • Rocket 3 @teamobsolete | Brooklyn, New York.

[rosko-cc]

UnObtainium® repairing titanium works @mvagustamotor exhaust system for @teamobsolete from their MV 500/4 grand prix racer. Classic era use of titanium was fairly limited but the MV factory with their aerospace texhnology (and the count's money) put all their resources to bear in the efforts to win (and keep winning) world championships. Honored to hold examples of this history in my hands and bring it back to working order so they may sing in anger once again! Now, what do you think: these megs stamped or hydroformed? #works #factoryracing #titaniumexhaust #grandprix #motorcycleracing #classicracing #mvagusta #ago #agostini #mv500 #worldchampion

[somar78]

1959 AJS 7R – The “Surtees Special”

Tell us about yourselves?

Team Obsolete is the worlds first and foremost Vintage Road Race Team and the originator of the first AMA sanctioned Vintage Road Races at Daytona, Loudon, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca and Del Mar. Founded in 1979(?) Team Obsolete helped birth classic motorcycle racing in the US. Over the years we amassed a collection of pedigree road racing motorcycles with the goal of restoring them to race shape to reunite them with the original riders: Ultimately bringing the spectacle of motorsport history- the sights, sounds and scent of Grand Prix racing back to the track for enthusiasts worldwide to experience first hand.

During over twenty years of competition, Team Obsolete has entered more than fifteen hundred races worldwide, garnered twenty-two Daytona wins, and is the only American Team to ever win the Isle of Man Historic TT (1984). Other wins include French GP (Paul Ricard/Toulon), Assen (Holland), Brands Hatch (UK), Mallala (Australia), Pukekohe (New Zealand), La Carerra (Mexico) and Mosport (Canada) plus virtually every USA venue.

Team Obsolete’s extensive stable of Historic motorcycles includes: the highly prized 1964 Honda 250/6, a screaming six cylinder, 18,000 rpm, 250 cc motorcycle (the only one of its kind in a private collection), the MV Agusta Works Racing 350/3, 500/3, 350/4, 500/4, 125/2, 125/1, and MV’s last project, two extremely rare MV “Boxers”. A Benelli 350/4, an AJS “Triple Knocker”, and AJS Porcupine are just some of the other rare Grand Prix bikes in house. The “work horse” racing machines include , and an ex-Dick Mann BSA III. Through expert tuning skills, these vintage bikes are faster than ever and have won more than four hundred races.

What year/make/model is this motorcycle?

1959 AJS 7r (ex-works, on-off special) Conceived by the late John Surtees CBE the “Surtees Special” is a one-off 350cc racing machine powered by the AJS 7r engine partnered with a chassis designed and built by the legendary Ken Sprayson at Reynolds tubing.

Well this motorcycle has a storied history for sure. After the initial build by John Surtees he was forbidden to ride it by his sponsor Count Agusta (MV Agusta). Many say this is what led him to abandon motorcycle racing for four wheels that next season.

The bike was sold on to Rex Butcher who had trouble sorting the bike and sold on to Tom Arter.

Arter Equip then raced the bike with riders like Mike Duff and Peter Williams- the machine went on to become the inspiration for the later ‘Arter Specials’ which, in the hands of rider/ engineer Peter Williams went on to many storied races and wins well into the 2 stroke era. When Tom Arter passed away the estate was put up for sale and Team Obsolete boss Rob Iannucci, being such a devotee of the AMC singles and the Arter Specials in particular, went on to purchase the machine with the intent of restoring to it’s former glory.

Obviously with a motorcycle of this pedigree one takes on the burden of historic accuracy. The intent from day one was to bring the machine up to original racing spec and run the machine at events around the world reuniting the bike with its legendary riders of the past.

While many of the original parts were present many had been damaged over the years of racing, some beyond repair. Major items like the fuel and oil tank was made using period photographs as reference by the master Evan Wilcox.

AJS 7R – The “Surtees Special” Specifications:

Frame: Surtees/ Sprayson custom-bronze welded Reynolds 531. Engine: Ex-works AJS 7r bore/ stroke of 75.5×78, billet steel flywheels, titanium conrod, Jack Williams grind cam. Gearbox: Schaffleitner 6 speed. Clutch: AMC racing. Magneto: Bosch MR29. Carburettor: 1-3/8” Amal GP2 T-5. Forks: Norton Manx. Yokes: Norton Manx with alloy upper. Clip-ons: Period. Front brake/rim: Oldani 2ls 230mm laced to Borrani 19” rim. Rear brake/rim: Manx laced to Borrani 19” rim. Rear shocks: Girling. Seat: Original. Tank: Replica made by Evan Wilcox. Fairing: Avon. Tachometer: Smiths ATRC. Oil tank: Original. Tires: Avon am26 racing compound front and rear.

Did you use any outside contractors for paint, parts fabrication, etc?

Most everything was done in house with the exception of the tank by the maestro Evan Wilcox. We have a pretty amazing crew here at Team Obsolete:

Robert Iannucci – Team boss, operations manager, fountain of knowledge Dave Roper – mechanic, welder and rider par excellance Josh Mackenzie – mechanic, engine build, suspension Seth Rosko – welder, fabricator, mechanic Eli McCoy – Fabrication, panel beater, mechanic

While this machine has been written about extensively there are not many period images of the original build. John Surtees himself was very helpful until his passing shortly before the completion of this project. There are a few in published works on/by the late John Surtees and also in Mick Walkers book on the AJS 7R. We used these to confirm layout/styling and during the build process we were blessed by a few candid period shots from the paddock from helpful enthusiasts via social media. It’s been really a great help being able to connect with others in this way

The engine was built by the factory race shop for the reigning World Champion so the state of tune is the ultimate incarnation of the AJS 7R at the time. Tuned by the very designer of the AJS 7R, the legendary Jack Williams. Our job here was to return the engine to this configuration as precisely as possible. The engine was torn down, blueprinted and re-assembled with as many original parts as possible and replacements provided as needed from our extensive store of original parts.

This machine was purchased from the estate of Tom Arter and the plan from the outset was to bring the machine back to original spec and reunite with developer John Surtees and riders like Michelle Duff for historic races/ parades. Unfortunately Surtees passed before this was possible but we were able to bring the ‘Surtees Special’ to the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian GP (put on by the VRRA Canada) and have Duff pilot the bike for a few parade laps. It was really a special moment to see these two together again and the local racers and fans got to see and hear real history right before their eyes.

  www.TeamObsolete.com

https://www.facebook.com/TeamObsolete http://instagram.com/teamobsolete http://www.flickr.com/photos/117245233@N04/

The post 1959 AJS 7R – The “Surtees Special” appeared first on Silodrome.

source https://silodrome.com/1959-ajs-7r-the-surtees-special/

[globaldimension]

Lovely 1961 Matchless G50 at Team Obsolete. . If we can help you with any engineering/CAD/scanning, we will give a special price to anyone into old Volkswagens, old motorcycles, and other fun things. . We feel your passion. We love what you do and will do our best to support you. . Our location is in Downtown Bangkok. Sukhumvit Soi 3, near Bumrungrad Hospital. The BTS is Nana or Ploenchit. We are easy to find at these friendly links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalDimensionDesign Website: www.globaldimension.com/blog/ Location: https://goo.gl/maps/jWRsCP3fH2K2 LINE: @global_dimension Phone: +66 (0)2 253 2271 @teamobsolete @rosko_cc @trishmartinezstyling @shawndowning @jaylenosgarage @jerryseinfeld (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BncfpLVh3nO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nhmc6yv3f7b4

[classicvehiclerentals]

@daveroper #teamobsolete #matchless @motogrrl

[stephaniediani]

And a portrait. Dave Roper aka Rave Doper. #ravedoper #teamobsolete #vintagemotorcycleracing

[marvelobsolete]

You Shouldn't Have. #NahChill #TeamObsolete #FreeTheGOAT #picoftheday #purple #shoutout to @brandyy_lashayy 💞 You Sis #orlando #MarylandMade

[motoary]

It’s Mad Sunday at Jurby and the legend Giacomo Agostini took a spin on his old racer thanks to @teamobsolete and @meanmachines #motoary #love #followback #instagramers #legend #tweegram #photooftheday #20likes #amazing #bikers #follow4follow #like4like #classicbike #instalike #igers #picoftheday #twowheels #instadaily #instafollow #followme #motorcycleracing #instagood #bestoftheday #instacool #bikestagram #follow #mvagusta #style #giacomoagostini (at Jurby) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1l2GPTnhCT/?igshid=1smt6rx6czaof

[miss1932]

Restored original seat installed back on this #1961 #MatchlessG50 at #TeamObsolete. 🏁 #viameccanica #customupholstery #motorcyclehistory #vintageracing #history #restoration. (at Team Obsolete)

[thespeedstable-blog]

Roper. Only American to ever take a win at the Isle of Man TT. #daveroper #teamobsolete #isleofman #roadracing #vintageracing #vansonleathers #ahrma #legend #motorcycle #motorcyclecrash #iomtt #leathers #battlescars #1984 (at Isle of Man TT)

[themightymotor]

Leaving • NYC Not without some amazing stories. Huge thanks to @newyorkcitymotorcycles and @teamobsolete for the opportunity. Absolutely blown away. Dick Mann | BSA A75R | Brooklyn, NY. (at John F. Kennedy International Airport)

[rosko-cc]

John Surtees AJS 7r special @teamobsolete