The ribbing got on my goat just a
tad though, so changes had to be made.
The old CZ went into the shed and I did my thing –
TZ expansion chambers, ‘ooge Amal carb, noisy stingers,
polished Akront’s and a mural for the tank (created
by my girlfriend at the time, when murals were the
go).
With the CZ finished off I jolly well went, with
my white sock topped boots and black levvar gear into
the crisp, foggy Cambridge night.
Evening fast stuff was common in those days and I
slid alongside ‘speed racer’ on an RD350, YR5 I think
it was. Wasted him, I did. Got to the next set of
lights and the bloke stops beside me. “A CZ250?!?”
he moaned, turning a stranger shade than pale and
blue smoking his way into the night, a little embarrassed,
as you would be!
Since the old CZ I have got a tad older and a little
more experienced, working for Audi in the UK and then
as a race car technician at Lola Cars International,
assembling Formula 3000, F1, Indy car, Indy-lights
and Group C cars to name but a few. In Australia I
spent some time in V8 Supercar with Steven Johnson
and now spend my days at the Audi Centre Brisbane.
But bikes are my thing.
I have worked with some very knowledgeable people
and maybe just a little has rubbed off enabling me
to build the bikes that people want.
So Hand Made Racers really comes from the want of
having something a little different. Doesn’t need
to be fast, doesn’t need to be a megabuck racer, just
original and hand made!
Normally we’re contacted by phone or via our website
and from there we try to get our hands on the donor
bike that fits the plan. The bike is then assessed
in its original condition, where we will give a costing
to the client to rebuild the machine to standard form.
After a genre of motorcycle has been decided upon
plans begin to take place on design and function and
a contract is drawn.
If the machine is a custom build we take some photos
of the engine, wheels and frame then ask the client
to draw over some printouts and show us some of the
ideas they have for the fuel tank and seat unit, fairings,
clip-ons, rear-sets, or whatever. If the client doesn’t
really know what design they want, we can draw some
up for them. Should the bike be a replica of something,
like a Heron Suzuki or MV race bike we pretty much
have an understanding on how this should look.
During the build process we release digital photos
by email showing the progress of the build. We do
this twice a month until completion.
That’s roughly how it happens. It can cost as little
or as much as desired but mostly you can have what
you want.
We have full machining facilities, as you would expect,
and we make all we can, only out-sourcing if it’s
not possible for us to complete a job to our and the
clients needs. Most importantly, though, there’s soul
in our work. Neil and I spend hours debating a single
item that doesn’t look quite right, that needs a touch
of this or a bit of that. It’s crucial that the desired
look is obtained no matter what. Neil is the machinist
and electrician and turns out some very nice work.
The best bit for us at H.M.R comes on delivery day.
There is nothing more rewarding to us than seeing
a client’s first test ride on a bike that they have
designed and returning with a grin from ear to ear.
That is why we do this work. And although it does
become a slight obsession, we love it, and for that
we must thank our partners for allowing us so much
time to keep the H.M.R crank turning.
Next project? We want to build a Sheene replica. That’s
going to be a big one. Call me if you’re keen to be
part of it.
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