Can you help with the History of this outfit???

[bikerjohn]

I'm trying to trace the History of this outfit before 1990. Its Previous Owner was Nigel Smith who was kind enough to spend an Hour with me recently and has given me the background on the outfit from 1990-2013.

I'm currently trying to find out the history before Nigel owned it.
Here's what I've discovered so far..

The Chassis is a Todd from 1965? and the Engine was a Beesa A65.

Are Todd still trading??

Previous owner to Nigel Smith was a gentleman called Matthew Mason who also raced it who was from the Didcot Area.

I think there may also be a connection to Malc Barlow as well.

A firm Called Ganet Racing Did a lot of work on the outfit, Again I've not tracked them Down...

Any help or history would be greatfully recieved..

All the best, John

[steve-e]

Now there's a challenge! ( No, I can't help but I'm sure we can find someone that can with a little effort)

[bikerjohn]

Thank's Steve, this ones going to take a bit of research as its had so much history before the Internet was Invented.

I'm also curious about the Wheels as they have a large amount of inset, their marked with Cosmic which were common in the 60 and 70's I've had a few sets on Mini's but I've not seen this pattern before..

[steve-e]

What IS that lever sticking out the back?

[SlowPhil]

Nav light?

[bikerjohn]

Its just the gear lever rotated so it doesn't drag on the floor...

[bikerjohn]

I've also drawn a complete blank on Todd chassis....

[bikerjohn]

I've stripped the Bodywork today so i'll load a couple more chassis pics tonight

[John Hartell]

Jim Todd was based in Grimsby,Lincolnshire,and built outfits as a hobby in a workshop at the back of his house.He built about 6 outfits in the early seventies, two of which were for local lads Steve Daniel and Dave Hemsworth and were entered as "Tri-Sharks",These were built in 1971/72 using 16 inch front wheels and mini back and side,pre unit Triumph engines and BSA gearboxes and were quite successful at club and national level,these were later fitted with BSA A65 motors.Jim later built 3 outfits with mini wheels all round,2 with SAAB engines for Steve Rowe and Terry Rudd and the other with A65 engine for myself,I sold mine to a lad called Mick Joyce from Halifax,we later converted it to take a Suzuki GT750 engine which Mick raced successfully,getting good results at the 78 and 79 TT.

[tonybsa2008]

Didnt Mal White race a Tri shark?

[oldbelly]

I think Mal raced a Tri Fly Tony.

[bikerjohn]

Thanks for all the reply's so far To confirm John Hartell's post my unit had a 16" front wheel when I acquired it but i'm converting it to 10's all round, It also had a BSA A65 Motor so It sound's like it may of been one of the early ones. Nigel the previous owner also was suggested mine was made around 1965.

Do you know if any of the chassis had frame numbers and if so where were they??

I'll post some more Pics tonight, Cheers John

[bikerjohn]

Just found this on a forum which ties in well..

"Hi I think there is a classic sidecar outfit racing still using the saab two stroke engine.
Neale"

"my old foreman at Grimsby Sheetmetal used to race a sidecar with Saab 2 stroke engine was named a JTspecial he was called Jim Todd I think his mate Mick Parker used to pilot the beast"

[666]

I think the Saab powered one was the bike on which Steve Rowe won the Southern Hundred in 74, maybe both races??.

[bikerjohn]

I think the Saab powered one was the bike on which Steve Rowe won the Southern Hundred in 74, maybe both races??.

Brilliant, thank you for all the updates so far, John