Trounson JAP Speedway survivor
Such was the revolution, started in the ‘seventies, in speedway sidecar design that few of the old original models remained intact. Story Ron Trounson with input from Rob Steep Photos Trounson family archives
The favoured HRD/Vincent and JAP engines were quickly snaffled for other projects, while the chassis, usually a collection of parts purloined from wherever they were available, found various homes, or were simply scrapped. So it is unusual for a machine such as the big JAP raced by the Trounson brothers, Allen and Keith, to survive completely as it was last raced in anger in 1960. And it’s still tearing around the tracks. Arch speedway enthusiast Rob Steep, alerted us to the existence of this old warrior, which was ridden at Kurri Kurri Speedway in 2017 by his son Chris, with Chris Walker in the chair. The event was a memorial meeting for Gary Treloar with the JAP ranged against three Vincents in a series of demonstrations. The outfit is now owned by Jim Powell from Bendigo. Ron Trounson, son of Keith, has pieced together the history of this most interesting machine… The Trounson brothers started racing sidecars together on an old J model Harley outfit bought from the local bakery in Hartwell, Victoria around 1947. They converted the Harley into a racing outfit, joined the Hartwell club and with ACU licences obtained, entered the up and coming Jordanville meeting – the racing bug had bitten. Rides at Gladstone Park, Keillor, Lilydale, then road racing at Rowville – which was more loose blue metal than road surface as we know it today, but was good experience for sliding the outfit sideways. So around 1948 the next progression was speedway, but fast as the Harley was it soon became obvious that more power was needed. Never short of ideas, the brothers fitted 4 valve Rudge heads and barrels to the Harley. Being beginners they only received reserve positions and only got a ride if someone pulled out. Kirjon speedway in November 1949
Yet more power was needed so the Harley was to be replaced in 1949 with an ex-Keith Ratten outfit powered by a JAP 1000cc 8/50 racing engine. Results came quickly but they were still being beaten by the top-liners, so once again more power was needed. The answer was to convert the 8/50 to 8/80 specifications. The old 8/50 engine had leading and trailing exhaust pipes, single magneto, twin float Amal carb, whereas the 8/80 JAP had twin leading exhausts, twin carbs, twin magnetos and was good for 80 BHP. Unfortunately the crankcases were light in construction, so in stepped a mechanic/engineer friend by the name of John Wentworth. Patterns for new crankcases were made, stronger in design than the originals. These were cast by a foundry in Brunswick and machined by John Wentworth at Finlay Brothers workshop in Melbourne. Steel flywheels were made, JAP speedway heads and barrels were used fitted with Specialoid 14:1 pistons, two Lucas racing magnetos, two DT twin float needleless Amal racing carbs, with Lodge R51 racing spark plugs. Methanol fuel and Castrol R oil was used. The original JAP 8/80 from the factory was good for 80 BHP on a lot less compression, but the 8/80 engine they built was believed to produce well over 90 BHP. The Trounson brothers, along with Keith Ratten, travelled to Claremont Speedway in Perth, WA in 1952 and were very successful riding from 240 yards in handicap events. They also raced at Rowley Park in Adelaide, SA, leaving Melbourne on Thursday night, competing on Friday night and returning to Melbourne to race at Tracey’s Speedway on Saturday night, carrying the outfit in their Bedford Panel Van with the front wheel positioned between the seats. In 1953 they broke Australian Champion Jim Davis’ lap record at Tracey’s Speedway, Maribyrnong, lowering the mark to 61 seconds for a standing start and 59 seconds for a rolling start. Together they won the Victorian titles two years in a row beating riders of the calibre of Jim Davis, Chook Hodgekiss, Clacker Levy, Jack Prime, George Robinson, Keith Ratten, Ron Anderson, and Pud Freeman. After winning the 1953 Victorian Sidecar Championship, Alan married and intended to retire from racing. Don Page took up riding duties, still with Keith as passenger, but broke his leg in 1954 so Alan pulled on his leathers once again to contest the 1954 Victorian Championship, the brothers successfully defending their title.
Thereafter the outfit was sold to Herb Dirken in Adelaide who used to run the Globe of Death at shows and carnivals. Herb had Mal West ride the outfit at Rowley Park and other SA tracks. Mal won the South Australian Sidecar Championship in 1958 and 1960 and also scored a podium in the 1958 Victorian Sidecar Championship. When Mal retired in 1960, the bike was sold to George Robertson, a former sidecar rider who intended to make a comeback but never did. George refused several offers to buy the outfit – including one from Alan Trounson – and so the bike remained with George until he passed away in 1996. Tony West was able to purchase the bike from Peter Robinson in 1996, replaced the tyres and had the engine rebuilt by Greg Summerton. Greg said at the time that the replacement crankcase made by John Wentworth was still in very good condition and far better than an original. The frame is from a 1930 MSS Velocette, cut down 1929 Harley forks, with a pre-war Norton rear wheel. The front wheel is actually a rear wheel from a BSA with the brake drum removed. A Norton pre-war gearbox is fitted with solid disc Manx clutch plates. The sidecar wheel cover was spun light gauge steel and chromed. The rear mudguard was spray painted white, as was the tank and wheel rims and the rest black. My father and my uncle once told me Keith Ratten used to call the bike “The ice cream cart”. This great old speedway sidecar is as it came off the track in 1960!