Recreating The 1970s Norton Racing Motorcycles - Part 3/3

Part three of the story of how the famous Norton Works Team from the 1970s reunited one last time, in 2004, to recreate the five racing machines they first built 30 years earlier, after disaster struck the UK's National Motorcycle Museum and destroyed more than two thirds of its collection of priceless veteran, vintage and classic motorcycles.
With exclusive access to the workshops of former Norton race engineer Norman White, we follow the team as they hand craft these bikes back to life in less than a year from drawings, photographs, and their own memories.
If you've enjoyed this unique and historic series, please like and subscribe to let KZbin's algorithm know we're doing something right here at 3Phils. Thank you.
Links to the other videos in this series:
Classic Motorcycle Racing at Brands Hatch (2004):
• Classic Motorcycle Rac...
Series Trailer:
• Recreating The 1970s N...
Part One:
• Recreating The 1970s N...
Part Two
• Recreating The 1970s N...
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#classicmotorcycles #nortonmotorcycles #motorcycle #motorcycleracing

[@mikecartlidge5355]

So great to see those machines restored to such perfection. With men who have skills of that level, well it's in the blood and you could tell they were happy to be working on those motorcycles again. I spent 48 years as a motorcycle mechanic and worked at a Norton dealership and they were happy days indeed. Now retired but I have a workshop and projects of my own to keep my hand in.

[@3Phils]

Yes, amazing fellows indeed. And it was all done with calm dedication, professionalism and good humour throughout. Wishing you a long and happy retirement fettling your projects - what great skills to have!

[@mikecartlidge5355]

@@3Phils Thank you.

[@mv4ago]

Thanks for uploading this series of videos, it's hard to believe another 20 years have since passed.

[@3Phils]

Thank you. We really enjoyed making it all those years ago. Sadly, some of the great gentlemen featured are no longer with us, but we hope this will be a lasting tribute to their talents, skills and engineering ingenuity.

[@MrTomYeoman]

A gem of film.

[@3Phils]

Thank you!

[@flatbrokefrank6482]

Excellent 3 episodes

[@3Phils]

Thank you! 😊

[@steveinskip4897]

What a fantastic series of vids. Lovely to see the guys working together again and thanks very much for uploading these.

[@3Phils]

Our pleasure - glad you enjoyed it!

[@Desmo900SS]

Wonderful !!! 👍

[@3Phils]

Thank you!

[@jamescoleman4747]

Norman White very nice bloke I met him at Thruxton circuit many years ago I was on my 72 t120 and he had time for me.

[@3Phils]

He’s a legend and always has time for a cuppa and a chat! 😊

[@nickohare7187]

Fantastic series of videos thanks a lot

[@3Phils]

Our pleasure - glad you like them!

[@garybaker2683]

Brilliant memories to look at and listen to.

[@3Phils]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it!

[@kerrydunn7760]

Hi Norman its Kerry its now nearly 2024 oh how i wish like everyone else to be able to ride those bikes back in the day or even own one today top vid thank you

[@practicalplinking6133]

I know people that would do dispicable things for an oppourtunity at that !!

[@martinjefferies666]

What an amazing bunch of guys. I wonder how many years of training and experience they have between them that made this fantastic work possible, I found it quite humbling to watch. Thanks for posting this brilliant series of videos

[@3Phils]

Thank you. They were a charming and extremely skilled and talented group of gentlemen, and it was an utter privilege to observe them at work. Between them, there would have been over a century of engineering experience back in 2004!

[@martinjefferies666]

@@3Phils and not a day of it wasted. You can't buy experience and you showcased theirs very respectfully, thanks for replying

[@howardosborne8647]

@@martinjefferies666 Well said,Martin. When asked about the most important attributes relating to engineering or technical projects I always respond with "there is no substitute for experience"

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Splendid! Thank you very much. So many memories... also of the Rickman Metisses. Very elegant bikes.

[@3Phils]

So pleased you enjoyed it - we felt honoured to be allowed to make it all those years ago!

[@richardjohnson3463]

Fantastic!

[@3Phils]

Glad you like it! 😊

[@kenc4104]

Fantrastic series. I recall chatting often with Peter Williams at his dealership in Southampton after his accident . Nice guy.

[@3Phils]

Never got to meet him in person, but when the video was being filmed it was clear from what all the chaps said that he was held in very high regard.

[@howardosborne8647]

@@3Phils Peter was indeed a highly talented and visionary designer and engineer and a top racer too. From the Arter Matchless to the Cosworth twin,Peter brought some very futuristic engineering thinking to bear.

[@kenc4104]

@@3Phils Wow, I just looked Peter up, and he died a couple of years ago at 81 years of age. 81! In my minds eye he was mid to late 30s. Time is not my friend.

[@3Phils]

Yes, sadly Peter Williams, Peter Pykett and John McLaren are no longer with us.

[@moriwaki1105]

Outstanding Work and sheer dedication......that Number 11 bike.....W O W .

[@ralfmuller4823]

Gentlemen, great work, it made me gooseskin to see those enthuiasts doing what they love and may be what they are living for. I am looking foreward to see and to here the cosworth engine running.

[@jochenwagner5170]

Phantastic! Thank you very much!🍀

[@jonnaylor3154]

God bless you Chaps!! Well ✔

[@muzza881]

Great to see such skilled people in action.

[@hilbilchillbil]

Great series thanks for sharing 👍

[@3Phils]

Thank you! It was an honour and pleasure for us to film it all those years ago.

[@practicalplinking6133]

What a wonderful video !! Thank you !!

[@MrWhothefoxthat]

the skills from these men are what's lacking in this country, we had it and let it all go.

[@3Phils]

Couldn’t agree more, although I’d add that Norman White is still applying his skills at the Thruxton Circuit. Two of those amazing chaps in that video, made twenty years ago now, are sadly no longer with us. Both wonderful gentlemen and it was a privilege to meet them and witness their painstaking work.

[@deanhackett349]

Awesome!

[@3Phils]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it!

[@jayhart1353]

I presume this monocoque was what Norman White and Peter Williams brought out to New Zealand about 10 years ago. I was lucky to get 5 mins with Norman and the bike with the fairing off and shown some of the modifications.

[@3Phils]

Yes, and Norman is still going strong at his Thruxton Circuit workshop - nothing seems to slow that man down! Thanks for the comment.

[@rustyrims05]

My friend raced the early 70s Rickman eight valve ‘ world beater’ at the Manx gp in the mid nineties. That used to try to make itself into horizontally split crankcases with depressing regularity. It was also the loudest bike in the paddock.

[@3Phils]

Would have loved to have heard that! Thanks for the comment.

[@howardosborne8647]

By the time the full Weslake modifications had been included there weren't many Triumph parts left to see. They eventually made these 8 valve engines dependable enough that they didn't go off like a poorly made grenade🤣

[@colvinator1611]

Great team ! Great history ! Great sound ! Thanks a lot for the video.

[@3Phils]

Thank you! It was an absolute delight to film with those folk all those years ago. When Norman first started those bikes up, there were grins all round!

[@colvinator1611]

@@3Phils I remember a certain Mr Cooper at Mallory............BUT ............I believe he was on a triple. Mr Agostini would remember.

[@phillpearson7531]

I saw Peter Williams ride one at Daytona. I think it was in 1973.

[@caribman10]

These would make nice street bikes with sensible steering lock....

[@stephendavies4210]

Properblokes...no turkey teeth,no tatts no bollocks!!!!!!

[@stephendavies4210]

sorry.no bullshit

[@tomhanley-li6nc]

perfection is a state of mind. how long will it work who knows boo hoo

[@markhancock7527]

The bike transporter was parked near Boxhill in surrey for many years its now gone any ideas where it went ?

[@3Phils]

Sorry, no idea. If you want to pursue it further you could try getting in touch with Norman White at the Thruxton Circuit, he still has his workshop there. There’s a link in the credits at the end of Part 3, or a quick Google search should do it.

[@70sport37]

This is how the Britts deal with a terriable desaster !

[@daviddjerassi]

WHY BOTHER ?? the motor was crap my 350 Yam was faster and handled better fact.

[@colvinator1611]

Why explain to the likes of you ? You wouldn't understand anyway.