Post by Go Slideways on Apr 11, 2016 20:54:09 GMT 12
As well as it being Legends night in Palmy and featuring Vintage A grade Stockcars, there was also a full field of classic Sidecars racing.
One very special outfit present was the Kiwi built Denco vee twin.
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I have conversed with the current owner Bill Napier and in Bill's words he shared with me:
"Hi Pete, It was my Denco Racing at Palmy last night. Thank you for your selection of photo's really cool. Haven't raced it for 10 years, feeling it a bit today.
....first thanks for you interest in the Denco, they are special. Very rare and a complete beast of a machine. On Saturday night I had young Jeremy Pruckmuller swinging on it. His first season and the first time on the Denco never with me before. It was also my & Denco's first time on the track in 10 years.
I bought the Denco off Jeff Angel from Rotorua in 1995. He had a major crash that ended his speedway career. He had Paul Henderson ride and Rodger Broad swing on it for him.
We raced it for 2 seasons with the Rob Jennings frame and decided it was time to give her a birthday. Spent the winter of 1998 in Craig Boalers shed and he built the frame we have now. When my eldest Dylan turned 16 he got full time job of swinger, and was one of the best. We raced together for aprox 8 years contracted to Meeanee.
I am not a mechanical wizard but my best mate is and has put huge efforts into this engine. He is Clark Kelly owner of Kelly Automotive up here in Hawkes Bay. My job is to wring it's neck and keep it pointed forward..It is a bloody hand full.
Had some good wins on her such as Hawkes Bay champs, East Coast Champs , 5th = NZ champs and many club night victories.
These engines are purpose built speedway race engines built in Christchurch NZ by Bob Denson. I'm not 100% sure but think there were 5 Vee Twins built. I know where one other is. They are a 60 degree Vee with belt driven over head cams. 4 valve heads. We run mechanical Hilborn fuel injection and on Methanol. This all transfers through a 2 speed English Bewley gearbox. Wow bit like writing a book lol. Hope there is a bit of a grounding for ya Pete just let me know if you have any questions. Cheers Bill."
Other information I have found out:
Ben Crowe ~ "The Denco engine was designed and built in Christchurch by Bob Denson. He also made a handful of DOHC Solo bike motors, as well as a couple of Midget car houseplants that were run by himself, and later by his son Paul. A mechanical genius..."
John Ward ~ "I had this engine built for me by Bob Denson in 1982 and I had him built it so that I could run twin carbs and was the only with them and I also painted it black which was also the only done."
Back when I first started going to Speedway Sidecar racing was (and still is) very big at Palmy. The Mothers Motorcycle Club were keen supporters of the class with Baz Fox, Brent Hanly, Robert Vandemberg and Brat & others fighting out brutal races.
Marques such as Goddin, Triumph and Weslake weren't uncommon.
I hope you enjoy seeing this unique piece of Speedway history, I think this bike may have even helped path the way for the world famous Britten motorcycle.
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Many thanks to all the other racers who bought their classic bikes out on what was a fantastic meeting. I'll try and post more pictures onto Go Slideways TV this week but my camera is now full of dirt so many are very grainy and poor quality.
Any more comments/Sidecar racing history is most welcome on this thread.
One very special outfit present was the Kiwi built Denco vee twin.
free upload
I have conversed with the current owner Bill Napier and in Bill's words he shared with me:
"Hi Pete, It was my Denco Racing at Palmy last night. Thank you for your selection of photo's really cool. Haven't raced it for 10 years, feeling it a bit today.
....first thanks for you interest in the Denco, they are special. Very rare and a complete beast of a machine. On Saturday night I had young Jeremy Pruckmuller swinging on it. His first season and the first time on the Denco never with me before. It was also my & Denco's first time on the track in 10 years.
I bought the Denco off Jeff Angel from Rotorua in 1995. He had a major crash that ended his speedway career. He had Paul Henderson ride and Rodger Broad swing on it for him.
We raced it for 2 seasons with the Rob Jennings frame and decided it was time to give her a birthday. Spent the winter of 1998 in Craig Boalers shed and he built the frame we have now. When my eldest Dylan turned 16 he got full time job of swinger, and was one of the best. We raced together for aprox 8 years contracted to Meeanee.
I am not a mechanical wizard but my best mate is and has put huge efforts into this engine. He is Clark Kelly owner of Kelly Automotive up here in Hawkes Bay. My job is to wring it's neck and keep it pointed forward..It is a bloody hand full.
Had some good wins on her such as Hawkes Bay champs, East Coast Champs , 5th = NZ champs and many club night victories.
These engines are purpose built speedway race engines built in Christchurch NZ by Bob Denson. I'm not 100% sure but think there were 5 Vee Twins built. I know where one other is. They are a 60 degree Vee with belt driven over head cams. 4 valve heads. We run mechanical Hilborn fuel injection and on Methanol. This all transfers through a 2 speed English Bewley gearbox. Wow bit like writing a book lol. Hope there is a bit of a grounding for ya Pete just let me know if you have any questions. Cheers Bill."
Other information I have found out:
Ben Crowe ~ "The Denco engine was designed and built in Christchurch by Bob Denson. He also made a handful of DOHC Solo bike motors, as well as a couple of Midget car houseplants that were run by himself, and later by his son Paul. A mechanical genius..."
John Ward ~ "I had this engine built for me by Bob Denson in 1982 and I had him built it so that I could run twin carbs and was the only with them and I also painted it black which was also the only done."
Back when I first started going to Speedway Sidecar racing was (and still is) very big at Palmy. The Mothers Motorcycle Club were keen supporters of the class with Baz Fox, Brent Hanly, Robert Vandemberg and Brat & others fighting out brutal races.
Marques such as Goddin, Triumph and Weslake weren't uncommon.
I hope you enjoy seeing this unique piece of Speedway history, I think this bike may have even helped path the way for the world famous Britten motorcycle.
upload image online
image upload
image upload no ads
photo sharing websites
image hosting no register
screen grab
image search
free photo upload
image url
forum image hosting
Many thanks to all the other racers who bought their classic bikes out on what was a fantastic meeting. I'll try and post more pictures onto Go Slideways TV this week but my camera is now full of dirt so many are very grainy and poor quality.
Any more comments/Sidecar racing history is most welcome on this thread.
