KGB outfits

[Peter Davis]

In the early 70's, after I'd been preparing my race car for the Barcelona 1000kms at Keith Blayney's workshop in Wythall, he asked me to go and work for him and build a racing sidecar outfit. Peter Rust had ordered an Imp engined outfit for his brother Brian to race. I remember turning up at the new workshop in Minsterly near Stroud and being shown an Imp engine, three wheels and a turned headstock. I used 531 Reynolds tube to make the frame and suspension which I nickel bronze welded. When I'd finished it in 1974 we took it to Mallory Park for it's first race. In Brian Rust's capable hands it won first time out.

When we took the outfit to Imola in Italy the scrutineers didn’t believe the Imp engine for that race was only 750 cc. I removed the head as requested for the check (which it passed) and then spent the evening replacing the head with new wills rings ready for the race the next day.

While working for Keith I also built a second Imp engined KGB outfit ordered by someone new to sidecar racing in Gloucestershire. This 2nd outfit began it's life painted dark metallic blue.

The third and final outfit I made was more radical. More influenced by my car racing suspension knowledge. This used a Merc boat engine. I fabricated sheet metal single sided front and rear suspension arms using single spring damper units. This also allowed the wheels to be quickly changeable. This new Merc engined outfit for Brian Rust was taken together with the Imp engined outfit to the TT. I particularly remember riding the Imp engined outfit from the hotel on Douglas front up the hill to the paddock at the start.

After testing the Merc engined KGB outfit at Sulby it was taken for scrutineering. The scrutineers studied the outfit and it’s concept and eventually failed it. I’d fabricated the aluminium fuel tank into the shape of the complete chair floor. Including the passenger handles welded to the sides of the tank. The tank was attached at only three points to the chair frame. Although it was covered in a glass fibre sheet the scrutineers couldn’t allow a passenger to be hanging onto, and out of, nothing but the outfits fuel tank. You win some you lose some….

Sadly Keith Blayney has since died. I can only say what a real privilege it was to work for such a clever man.

And finally to my question: Does anyone know what happened to this Merc engined outfit. Or who owns it now?

Many thanks, Peter Davis

[Gary James]

Hi Peter
Don't know much about any Merc outfits but the guy in Gloucerstershire who had a KGB Imp outfit was Andy Jackson. He was very quick on this during 1976 season. Like a lot of guys he switched to Yamaha power and my father sponsored him during the 1978 season under the RNJ Racing banner.

Gary

[ianw]

Gary, do you have any photos of Andy Jackson on the Yamaha outfit with the small Tyrell wheels?

[NickR]

Ray Reeves had a KGB Imp out at a couple of CRMC rounds last year.

[RP]

I seem to think that Bryan Rust owned one of the original KGB imps and Peter Williams the other.

[Crusty412]

hi peter, peter williams had the metallic blue imp outfit, my uncle peter as you rightly said purchased the outher imp for my farther, i believe that eddy wright still runs the pearson drive in his outfit i think the rest was broken a few years back.i do have a pictureof the outfit at the tt and can remember the tank (14 gallons ) allan bedford in the chair,will try to post photo.The mercury 500 as you say owned by my uncle was ridden by andy jackson as i can remember at gaydon and scarborough, but unfortunatly the engine wasnt open to tuning and the chassis suffered from violent head shaking the project was scrapped,i did like the single sided front forks very clever,that outfit was given to phill biggerdyke early 90s i still have the pearson type kgb drive (soon to be fitted to a konig) knowing my farther he might still have the sleeved down engine, peters outfit is still on the go,cheers.

[Peter Davis]

Hi Colin, many thanks for your informative reply.

Yes, I'm sure the 500 Merc engined outfit concept needed a lot more development, but unfortunatly I left KGB without having that pleasure. I suppose I was hoping to trace it to see if it was for sale as I fancied having a go myself. What a dreamer....

[Eddy Wright]

Ray Reeves had the ex Peter Williams outfit. I bought it from him last year, and sold it on.

[Gary James]

Gary, do you have any photos of Andy Jackson on the Yamaha outfit with the small Tyrell wheels?

Hi

Yes I do. The original chassis was hanging up in my father's garage for years.

[ianw]

Great, can you post some please? a passenger of mine from the late 70's passengered Andy, Colin Bairnson, he went on to passenger Nigel Rollason after Donny Williams.

[stevek]

Hi Peter Keith Blayneys wokshop was a few miles outside Gloucester at whitminster the blue imp outfit was built for Andy Jackson. Andy was let down for a race meeting by his passenger so i stepped in to help out we had both raced 650 triumph outfits the season before. that imp just blew me away just how quick and smooth it was after the twin engined bikes we raced.
so i passengered for him all season doing the ACU clubmens and north Glos meetings also lots of meetings at Brands.It had hub centre steering it really did handle well.I sold my trident engine and raced a KGB engine in my windle for 1977 what a great race bike,raced all year and never replaced anything thats what you called cheap racing.Tim Court passengered Andy after and they went on to some very good race results they were really quick.As you say Keith was a very clever guy who could turn his hand to most things.Andy now lives in france.
regards Steve

[Peter Davis]

Hi Steve, many thanks for up-dating what happened to the second KGB Imp outfit. Good to hear you had many races beside Andy Jackson.

I had another restless night coming up with different designs of frame and suspension for a new classic outfit. And looking for a suitable pre '72 engine/bike for sale in the day! I'll have to stop coming on this site, it's addictive.

Peter

[steve-e]

I'll have to stop coming on this site, it's addictive.

Me too

[mervnoble]

I am not certain but I think Charlie Kilduff had one, Charlie is still involved with the sport so he could be found quite easily to contribute I guess.

[stevek]

Yes Charlie did buy Andy Jacksons KGB imp we raced against him at Mallory park in 1977 i have some photos somewhere if i can work it out i will download them onto the site.
regards Steve