John Britten and the bikes

And Enzo Ferrari was a pretty good poker player, but he never got close to being as good as Phil Hellmuth. I guess old Enzo just wasn't really up to snuff.

In other words; what does one really have to do with the other?

 

the Britten bikes were absolutely amazing, very few ever built but the ones that were broke every "Law" of motorcycles, they were technological wonders that were art on 2 wheels

 

I GOT PASSED BY ANDY STROUD AT DAYTONA GOING INTO THE TRI OVAL GOING INTO TURN 1...I COULD FEEL THE BIKE IN MY CHEST! WHAT A GROUND POUNDER!!!

FUNNY BUT BECAUSE OF THAT PASS, I FEEL KINDA A CLOSE CONNECTION TO THAT BIKE. WHAT AN IMPRESSION.

 

YOu owe it to yourself to take a trip to Birmingham Ala. The Britten is one of a thousand bikes in the Barber Collection.

 

I was probably there watching that...I remember Stroud and I think Mark Barnes racing them at Daytona. Absolutely amazing machines in person.

Larry

 

When they first showed up in the class, everyone pissed and moaned. They were fast, but to the rest of us, they had an unfair advantage, we were on modified production bikes, they had specially built racers. They weren't that much faster than we were though. It was at the back end of my career though, so I wasn't too pissed off.

Art

 

Truely extraoridinary bikes that were ahead of their time.

 

They have contacted me about a bike I own but I just can't give it up for a 2 year period.

 

checkout the bottom of the eight video recordings listed:
http://www.ttwebsite.com/shop/amulree/index.php
cheers, d.

Art, have you booked for TT 2007 ... the place is filling up fast.

 

Thanks for that insight ... now it makes sense. I for one could never understand how one person could make an engine more powerful than a company that has been racing for years. Yes he was clever and I am proud to also be a Kiwi, but technically speaking he broke the rules ... and really should have had to make production numbers FIRST.

This would not have happened at say Le Mans for example ... rules are rules and all about fair play.

Racing a one off bike against production machinery ... they should have made a separate class for his bike or his result not counted.

Pete

 

Stunning bikes. Sex and art on two wheels.

Missed the one that ran at Willow Springs a while back... would have liked to seen that.

 

They were amazing bikes - there are a few books out on John Britten if you want some reading.

The bikes travelled around most secondary schools here in New Zealand last year for us students to learn about, and be inspired how some kiwi could build such a great machine.

 

Harley ran the VR1000 in AMA Superbike competition for several years, including leasing to satellite teams, without ever producing a version for the street (I did see pictures of one...once). Of course, I think they only got one pole position and possibly one podium finish IIRC...had they done better, there would have been more complaining.

I saw Chris Carr put it on the pole at Pomona. Harley execs flew out that night to be at the race the next day only to watch the bike take a **** on the grid and not start. Kinda typical of their experience.

Larry

 

You could buy the street version of the VR1000 in Poland.

no joke.


best placing was 3rd? IIRC... at Pike Peak, in the rain.