The Place

Another one

You tease!

Works of art Mike, but you must be working on other than Beemers. Gona tease us with some pics, Imp, or maybe Honda!!

Funny you should say that Brian, Big lumps of British metal around the place and the odd Japanese motor You got cameras in my workshop

Good job mike... Beautiful..... Nearly as nice as the new F2..... Enjoy......

Hondas? Oh yes, a nice, well put together S800 motor, superb!

Bob B wrote:Hondas? Oh yes, a nice, well put together S800 motor, superb!

Did anyone ever race one of those? Should have been a good base for a race engine with that roller bearing crank and 4 carbs.

YES, Ray Wilson built and raced one 69-72 mainly at Lydden and Brands,it is currently owned by Mick McGinley who raced it in the CRMC, but i know nothing of its history between these two riders. I believe that Ray built a second bike with hub centre steering

Is there any pictures of that outfit around?

Really curious how they managed to get that big engine down in a sidecar....

I know a little of the history from the late 70s. Bill Organ from Enfield sold it to Sean Mcginley around 1980 who sold it a year later to Ron Jones from Greenhithe. Ron changed the sidecar wheel arch from GRP with fuel in it to a ghastly aluminium monstrosity and to rear exit. Sold on then Mick Mcginley around 1983 who still owns it and occasionally gives it an airing.

The engine is very compact in actual fact, smaller than an Imp. Runs on four Concentric carbs. and the flywheel has been removed. Drive is chain from the crankshaft to Norton four speed box and clutch, this is probably the Achilles heel of machine as it needs regular attention and maintenance. Before excessive noise regs were introduced it ran on a 4 into 1 which sounded superb especially when really screaming.

As for the engine it is built like a Swiss watch with needle rollers in just about every conceivable place, a truly beautiful piece of engineering.
The standard lump is redlined at 9,000 rpm, tuned will easily go to 12,000. Valve bounce using racing springs occurs circa 13,500 and con rods are known to fail at just under 15,000

Rumour has it that Kenny Howles also used an S800, appreciated if anyone could confirm that please!

The Woodhouse brothers used an S800 engine early 70s. From what I can remember it was a tidy bike. Dont think it was successful though. Back to Mikes outfits , they are beautiful and are "Made in England". If I had one of those BMWs, I would polish it and not bother getting it dirty.

My dad bought a Honda S800 engine off a bloke that had it in a sidecar about 1977, unfortunately it wouldnt fit into the chassis shame because I think it could have given the Imps a run It had four CV carbs (mikuni) in two banks of two.

Just spent 10 mins googleing s800s i never even knew they existed. (never seen one up here in the frozen North) Funny how they look a bit like an MG though, revvy little bugger of an engine mind.

I seem to recall circa 1964/5 seeing a Honda S600 (600cc) powered outfit with 16" wheels, the lump was DOHC, four carbs etc and produced stock some 60bhp. BTW the car was chain drive!

Geoff "Made in England" by a Welshman