charles statman

I had NO clue what I was doing, but OMJ tolerated me and helped me along.

A fella sold me a BSA 250, and OMJ told me if I ever wanted it to go faster, I needed to take it to one of the last living Gods of Speed.  Mr. Jack Wilson at Big D Cycle.  If you wanted a brit bike to go fast, Mr. Wilson was the man.   He tuned the world famous "Texas Ceegar" in 1954.  powered by a 650 Triumph Thunderbird motor - it went 193.3mph at Bonneville-- a new world record, so important that Triumph released the now iconic Bonneville to celebrate the win.

Mr. Wilson tolerated me in the pits.  I was young and stupid, but I was trying my best. He didnt have time for my ridiculous BSA 250 - but he told me Keith Martin, his apprentice, might do the work, and was looking for a 305 Honda Superhawk.    OMJ had a spare, we made a deal, I took both bikes up on a trailer, and traded Keith the honda for some work on the BSA.   Starting my love of ridiculous, underpowered brit bikes that loved to fall apart.

Mr. Wilson told me, "if you want to go fast, build a Norton" --  I dont know what that meant.

Decades later, I took ANOTHER BSA Starfire 250 tank to this guy Ken, in San Jose.  He laughed a little when I brought the tank into his shop and asked him to seal the fiberglass.   He said it wasnt an immediate process, and I couldn't ride the BSA home that day. 

I had to explain I did not come TO his shop on the BSA.  I strapped the tank on the back of my Royal Enfield.   At which point, I believe,  Ken realized I was quite insane, and we became a pretty decent friendship.

I sold the 2nd BSA 250 with sidecar to some buddy of Kens,  and we used the money to start the Norton P-11 Project.

The P-11 started out as a pile of parts in his shop.   I think the motor lived under his desk for 10 years before I even came along.

Ken and Diana gathered parts and started assembling.  I mailed the motor to Mac Whiteside, who did some magic onto it , then ceramic coated for it to keep heat in some places, disperse it in others, retain oil in some spots, shed it in others....

Ken called in favors from all over town.   for years.
Tom Keeble at Barnaby & Company was instrumental in the oddball machineworks necessary for this foul thing to come together.  He helped graft a Yamaha XS650 front end to it, so I had 35mm fork tubes, and modern disc brake.  He connected us with a guy who custom built the seat.   from nothing.   He made brackets, mounts, widgets and things

Matt copied and printed out the graphics for the tank. it combines the traditional Norton Logo, with the "Norton Birds" advertising series...  

Now its home, I cleaned it up a bit.  the wiring harness needs some tidying, the forks need some polishing,  but it has gone with my paint scheme  "black or shiny"

heres a quick video,  yes, I know the exhaust flange is loose, and the fender needs tightening,  I'm workin on it.

Video

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# posted by cstatman : 1:21 PM  0 comments