Barber Vintage, Kevin Schwantz, the Manx

 

                                                  photo by Michael Lawless

Well, it doesn't get much more exciting than having a true World Champion motorcycle racer visit the vintage race scene. Kevin Schwantz grabbed the headlines in the early nineties with his enthusiastic approach to getting a lethal 500cc two stroke race bike around the toughest circuits in the world. He did it at a time when the depth of talent in the field was at an all time high. His best races were the stuff of legend. Mr Schwantz brings that same passion to the grid each time he puts his helmet on and the fans were not disappointed this weekend. Despite the fact that a single cylinder is about as far away as it gets to his old two-stroke RGV500 Suzuki, Kevin used the combination of the famed 'Featherbed' frame design and Mr. McIntosh's tuning expertise to take wins on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Nobby Clark chats with another interested visitor to the McKeever race camp. Rider Alex McClean put this Manx to good use over the course of the weekend.

That's super senior Bob McKeever with his long time friend Joe Clements. They've shared many adventures in the last half century. The well known picture of Bob, astride his Norton, on the beach, preparing for the start of the 1948 Daytona 200 was taken by his dear friend with his homemade box camera. Oh, they still know how to make those old English cycles go too. 

Bob on the Beach

Pure race tackle. This is not and never was a street machine.

Jamie Waters sorts some details on his Seeley. He made it possible for dozens of racers from New Zealand to join the AHRMA weekend at Barber Motorsports.

Those hair-pin valve springs do let the oil keep that double overhead cam top end cool.

This one is a near stock set up, others opted for a more modern approach.

That's a peak behind the fairing of the Ken McIntosh 500cc Manx which was ridden, with the same forceful way, by 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

I 've always been a sucker for that Matchless logo. The G50 and the Norton Manx

                                                          were fierce opponents now as they were in period.

If you want to win, be prepared. These lads took it very seriously as qualifying was mandatory for the 500 Premiere Class race.

How 'bout that? The spirit of Francis Beart at Barber.

Lovely period peice with short circuit tank and every detail considered for necessity. With so many Manx at Barber Vintage Festival, most fans would expect to see them at any old race event. Not so. Most events are lucky to draw one or two of the real items. Hearing 20-30 on the megaphone at once was aural delight for singles fans. Well, we're off to the museum for the next installment, see you soon.

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