AJS 18CS Competition

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The 500 cc "long stroke" AJS 18CS was produced from 1951 through 1955. In 1956 it was replaced by the shorter stroke, larger bore models that used the same numeric codes. The bore of these early models was 82.5 mm (3.25 in), while the 1956 through 1966 "short stroke" (final version) models had a bore of 86 mm (3.39 in). The C was for Competition (Scrambles) and the S for Suspension (not a rigid rear frame).

Engine numbers usually start with the year of production, followed by model designation, and completed with the production number of the motorcycle

The AJS and Matchless singles were doomed when AMC merged with Norton as all production was transferred to twins cylinder bikes - so the short-stroke Model 18 is the end of an era.
Pictures via : www.vintagebike.co.uk

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1961 AJS 7R

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Via the great : www.vintagebike.co.uk

This ’61 7R, engine/frame number 4732, formerly raced by me and last seen in early 1972 when fitted with an Oldani brake and Kirby tank/fairing, was a lovely bike and I would very much like to trace its history and present whereabouts. Please do get in touch with any info.
Thanks.

* Manufacturer: AJS
* Model: 7R
* Engine: 350cc
* Year: 1961
* Decade: 1960s
* Machine Type: Race

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Big D Cycle

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Founded by Jack Wilson and Pete Dalio in 1963, Big D Cycle has been setting records and winning races for over 40 years. Originally the shop was located in Oak Cliff, Texas. Jack understood how to build race winning bikes for famous riders such as Gary Nixon, John Minono, Johnny Allen, Mike Kidd, and others.


He built over 60 world speed record setting motorcycles, and countless road racers and dirt trackers. Jack was a no nonsense kind of guy, with a true passion for motorcycles. In 1975 his no BS approach had scared off all his potential riders for Bonneville, so Jack piloted a big bore 1000cc Trident to a 192.34MPH record at the age of 48.

ARIEL SQUARE FOUR

This is just one example how amazing of a man Jack was. Jack Wilson passed away in May of 2000; his contributions to motorcycling world will be admired forever.






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Walt Axthelm an Off-road Rider

. Via the AMA Motorcycle hall of fame museum


Walt Axthelm was an influential off-road rider of the 1950s and ‘60s. He was one of the first Americans to compete in the prestigious International Six Day Trials (now called the International Six Day Enduro). Axthelm won numerous off-road events in Southern California during his racing career, including a class in the popular Catalina Grand Prix. He rode with backing from several factories during his career and was one of the first riders in the America to race factory-backed Suzukis in off-road races.



Axthelm was born in Upland, Pennsylvania, in 1933. His family moved to Southern California when he was 14 years old and shortly afterwards Walt got a junior motor license and his first motorbike, a Schwinn-bicycle-framed Whizzer. He later got a more advanced Whizzer with springer suspension, a two-speed gearbox with chain drive. He raced against his buddies who had Cushman, Powell and other brands of scooters. He lived in Compton and in the afternoons he would go down to the Los Angeles riverbed and practice riding until dark. By the time Walt was 17 he began racing his first true motorcycle, a rigid-framed Royal Enfield, which had no rear suspension and all of two inches of front fork travel.



He began racing in Scrambles events on an AJS in Palos Verdes. Gradually, he worked his way up to become one of the leading off-road racers in Southern California. His first sponsored ride came in 1954 when he was backed by Louie Thomas’ BSA shop in East Los Angeles.



Axthelm was sponsored indirectly by BSA, through Thomas’ shop. "Hap Alzina (BSA’s western states distributor) was supplying the bikes to Louie and they built them there," Walt explained. "Off-road riding didn’t pay anything back then so I never got any money from BSA. No one was making money from that type of racing back then."



By 1980, Axthelm was in his late 40s and he decided to retire after getting hit by a big rock thrown up by a racing pick-up truck in one of the long-distance desert races.

"I decided that it wasn’t fun anymore," he said. "I had a small sailboat at Dana Point and just packed it up and went sailing and that was it."