In reply to Messrs Murfin and Owen

Dear CR I must reply to both letters from Dennis Murfin and Pete Owen in issue 190. Firstly, I have a replica Honda RC 162; I intend to race this bike in the very near future. It can be raced in Australia as a Period 6 250. Period 6 is for machines made between 1983 and 1990. As the engine is a 1990 model CBR 250 MC22 engine it fits into this class. There are currently several other replicas in Australia but they are not being raced. It is obviously not competitive with a 1990Yamahatz 250, however, it will sound great and be something different. Regarding John Hartle; l I had the good fortune to buy a 500 Manx Norton from John in 1965. At the time I was living in Sheffield with two other Australians and between us we bought two 500 Manxs and one 350 in a Reynolds frame. Every time we drove down the A1 south we used to call in and see John and Shelagh. I came back to Australia in 1967 and was devastated when I heard of John’s death at Scarborough in 1968. I still have the 500 Manx but have been racingyamahas for the last 40 years; obviously in historic racing today. Great magazine which I have subscribed to for many years and which I receive by airmail. John Simms Email