Moto Trivia, mystery bike.

[Sir Limpsalot]

OK guys, my turn to post an unusual machine. Or at least an unusual variation on a particular classic.

http://img140.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc232&image=30294_TT_Tonkin.jpg

Mind you, with my computor skills it'll probably come out with the name emblzened all over it!

Good luck.
Si

[vintagemxr]

Looks like a Seely cafe racer but I confess to not knowing my old single cylinder engines well enough to ID the motor.

[Dallara]

Seeley BSA Goldstar DB34

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[Sir Limpsalot]

It's not a Seeley. But it most certainly uses a Goldie engine. So that's half a point to you Allan.
Any other guesses as to the constructor?
It was made and sold in limited numbers by one of the UK's foremost BSA experts.
Anyone????
Si

[Dallara]

Tonkin

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[arkline]

Steve Tonkin? Looks like an Egli frame - um, maybe Rickman/Metisse? Very clean small diameter tubing. I like it.

[Dallara]

Well, if it isn't a Seeley, then whomever built it was reading Colin's mail...

But it shouldn't be an Elgi, as he pretty much believe in big backbone construction, and rarely did spindly little tubes like those. Besides, Simon gave us a clue... Egli was Swiss, but Si said it was from one of the UK's foremost BSA experts.

And I know it's no Rickman frame... Not a chance. They never built a thing that hung the engine from it, and believed in downtubes and full loop cradles.

Tonkin is just a SWAG...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[arkline]

Allan,

Well, if it isn't an Egli frame, then Egli's mail wasn't secure either...:icon_biggrin: I'll defer to your greater experience, though. Still, it'sa lovely bike.

Si,

Well, I haven't a clue who put it together. Someone who knew what they were about...about whom I know nothing. More clues?

[Sir Limpsalot]

It looks with the name(s) intact.

http://img16.imagevenue.com/loc68/th_99871_tempest.jpg (http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc68&image=99871_tempest.jpg)

It's the Tonkin Tempest. Built by former TT rider Steve Tonkin (well done Ron) using his own fairly blatant copy of the Seeley frame (well done Allan & Vintagemxr).
The idea was to provide a more affordable alternative to Seeley's Condor which used a full race Matchless G50 engine. The G50 in addition to being hugely expensive to both buy and maintain never had any provision to run any form of lighting or charging circuit. Overcoming this was in fact the biggest problem that faced Colin Seeley when he embarked on the venture.
The DBD34 however, being a roadster unit, had all the necessary electrics already in place.
What it didn't have was the handling or brakes. The last Goldies were made in 1961/2 and although the Beezer frame was not bad the spindly, underdamped forks and (especially) the puny brakes meant that twenty years on they were best admired from a safe distance.
Tonkin's idea was to provide the engine, which still had enough fun potential, with some decent forks, brakes and tyres.
Built in his midlands workshop the Tonkin Tempest (TT!!) gave the well heeled clientel the chance to run and own something fairly unique.
Tonkin, as I said earlier, was a top class TT Racer and remains one of those guys who makes mere mortals like me envious to the core. He has looked about 35 for ever and remains trim and fit. The sort of guy who could fit straight into his racing leathers that he last wore twenty years ago!
There is a spot permanently reserved for a TT in my dream stable, pride of place in fact.
Cheers guys,
Si

[DarthRider]

Si -
A buddy told me the other day he just bought a mint DBD34 Goldie Clubman.
I can't wait to see it!

Dave

[Dallara]

Cool, Si...

So sometimes a SWAG is enough! Though I knew of Steve Tonkin, I had never heard of the Tempest TT. Interesting idea, but I knew he had to be pimping off of Colin Seeley's playbook.


As for the Swiss designer/specials builder, Fritz W. Egli, Ron...


http://www.mehrsi.org/images/promis/fritz_w.egli.jpg


He most definitely *hung* engines from his frames, but his entire design philosophy was quite a departure from Colin Seeley's more *space-frame* concepts. Seeley believed in lots of little, light straight tubes, much like Ducati does now, and the same idea that hatch cars like the Maserati "Birdcage" race car of the 1960's...

http://www.collectorstudio.com/1-8mascage.jpg

http://www.atspeedimages.com/pebble2000/laguna/maserati_birdcage_behind_dashboard.jpg

http://www.87thscale.info/images/EricK/Maserati_Birdcage-1.jpg


Fritz Egli went down a completely different path, however...

Much like Colin Chapman did at one point with the Lotus Elan, Lotus Europa, Lotus 30, and Lotus 40... That of a very large, stiff "backbone" that everything hung off of...

http://www.spydercars.co.uk/pg1spy1.jpg


http://utahlotusmuseum.com/5fe9e5d0.jpg

http://www.sportscarworld-lotus.com/Europa%20S1,S2%20Catalog/Chassis.jpg

http://lotus-europa.com/files/modified_ng3_input_shaft/spyder%20chassis.jpg

http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/Doug-Alexander/02Chassis2_Small.jpg


This was very much at the core of all of Fritz Egli's designs. Whereas Colin Seeley wanted a stiff, straight tube running directly from the swingarm pivot to the steering head for a straight load path, Egli thought the engine should do that job and he would better locate the engine with a large diameter, stiff, and as short as possible tube... Nothing's strogner than a big, stiff tube right? (I can't wait to hear what Bob says about that...)

He didn't even like the swingarm pivot attached to the frame, but preferred it to pivot off the engine, or an engine mounting plate. Some say he was the *Father* of that particular design cue, which oddly enough, is pretty popular today. He thought, rightly so, that engines were big, stiff structures and that one should take advantage of that.

Take a look at some of Egli's designs and you'll get the drift...

http://www.vintagenet.com/phantom/egli-frame.jpg

http://www.wielhoven.com/pics/sa/egli-frame.jpg

http://www.blondeel.be/egli._1.JPG

http://www.vintagenet.com/phantom/egli-engine-right-frame.jpg

http://www.rrr.de/~desert/sw-2-96/manfred/sw2-3a.jpeg

http://www.wielhoven.com/pics/sa/egli-duc.jpg


Not to say he didn't build some great looking sleds, like this Harley...

http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Harley%20Davidson%20Bikes/images/Harley%20Davidson%20Egli_jpg.jpg


Or this lovely Enfield Single powered beauty...

http://www.royal-enfield.net/new_bullets/Egli3.jpg


Though he could build some rather hideous looking pieces, as well... Like this Harley:

http://www.planete-biker.com/images/racing/Streetevo2.jpg


If you want to take a look at some of his other creations here's a good page...

http://www.egli-racing.ch/cms_egli.php?WEBYEP_DI=5


Hope this helps!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[DarthRider]

Allan -
I got to see Phil Hill drive the beautiful "Birdcage" Maserati at Laguna Seca in 1961.
Along with my personal fave, Texan Jim Hall in an nasty, wicked, early Chapparel.
Don't remember who won...I've slept a few times since then!
And I was AWOL before I got back to Fort Ord.

Dave

[fganger]

You guys are way too good. Normal people (those like ME) don't have a chance against you guys.:icon_redface:

Great work:058:

Frank

[DarthRider]

You got me pegged wrong Frank!
No money or connections here my friend...I was in light-weapons infantry training at nearby Fort Ord in 1961 when I saw those goodies!

Dave

[fganger]

Dave,
But to remember it all, even the small details, and then to be able to locate pictures of it - just stinking impossible for normal folk.

No joke, I'm impressed with you guys.:eusa_clap:

Frank