This the story about my plans in building a Suzuki TR500 replica.
After i retired from racing in 1981 i said i would never race a motorbike again, it was over and done with for me.
But you now. it is a virus that sleeps inside you and suddenly wakes up and then you're hooked again, it woke up when i went to Brands Hatch where the practice was for the Superbike race. And bang it hit me again right there.
I had a wonderfull time watching the races, and to taste the atmosphere again after such a long time, and i said to myself, this is my world, i belong here, this what i love to do myself, but then just like Barry competing in classic races when and where i like.
It also struck my then 10 year old son Colin, he loves old racebikes now, and is always helpingdad with the bike, it is nice to have given that racing feeling to my son, he wants the bike after me, and he never wants to sell it he said, so it will stay in the family
And this is the story how it happened.......................
But what to do and how to do it..................
I decided i wanted to race classic races again . But on what bike??? I wanted a RG500 in Sheene style but it was to expensive and i would rather build one myself, so i thought of rebuild a standard T500 frame to TR specifications.
I found this frame and bought it, i bought two standard T500 bikes and stripped them and i rebuild one engine tuned the cylinders, bought 34mm Mikuni carbs and found someone who made me original expansion exhausts.
Brakes are GT750 discs and wheels are new made by Haan wheels in Holland.
I put the engine together and placed it in the frame, now the bike starts to look like a racer, polyesterwork is made by Harrie v/d Kruijs, i know him from my racing period. Harrie was a very good racer. And he makes very nice polyesterparts for classic racing bikes.
I made a new Sheene replica helmet, and my leathers will be in Barry Sheene style as well.
I am racing the bike in Holland with the Jan Kostwinder Classic Team, Jan raced himself in the early days and raced in Daytona 9 times. A very nice team with some great bikes. I also race it in other countrys on invitation, or parade it.
Content © 1980 - 2019 Gerard Kampen
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