COCK-UP CORNER
We do our best to make sure all facts in CB are correct, but we’re only human. Apologies to the correspondents below...
On behalf of the VJMC, we’d like to #1 make it known that at no time did the club claim Anthonie Mans’ 1970 Honda CB750 [Letters, December issue] was ‘a fraud’. Our experts are of the opinion that the frame number stamping is not totally original. The zeros in the frame number are oval in shape until the last three digits, where the two zeros either side of the ‘2’ are elliptical. The oval format is characteristic of Honda’s stamping fonts, whilst the elliptical format is definitely not. Additionally, it is almost unheard of for 750/4s to carry matching frame and engine numbers. It is for these reasons that the VJMC was unable to assist Mr Mans with his request. As Dvlarecognised, Japanese motorcycle machine dating specialists, the VJMC has a duty of care to ensure all bikes that they are asked to date are rigorously and accurately assessed. Steve Cooper, VJMC Press & Media Liaison Officer
Mick Ofield contacted us to point #2 out there were several factual errors in the feature we carried on his life and times as a designer within the British and American motorcycle industry (CB December). He told us: ‘Certain technical details and responsibilities mentioned in the article were incorrect. I did not have the opportunity to read the article prior to it being submitted to Classic Bike magazine.
Pointing out specific errors, he adds: ‘The performance of Nortons was not part of my job, nor was the racing side of the company. I was never in any ‘engine department’ – I always worked as a product designer. One of the advantages of the AJS 500 (the Chindit) was eliminating vibration by using the ‘Isolastic’ mount system, not ‘Silentbloc bushings in the swingarm’. This feature was a huge advantage in the long GP races, as it reduced rider fatigue; however, only the ergonomics and overall look of the bike were my job. The B50 project that came my way was a styling exercise that used a BSA Bandit frame with the Isolastic-mounted B50 engine. In retirement, I quit racing, too. The picture of me with my Ducati race bike is from my last race in 2004 with my wife, Peggy.’