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Those were the days...

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Kurland was one of two or three dealers who sold Berkeleys outfitted for racing. Or, at least they advertised them.

Also, in case it didn't hit the front page of your local papers, Sir Stirling drove a Berk at Goodwood last weekend (not in a race, but in a parade lap) and, according to the fellow riding with him, couldn't help harassing the pace car.
 
Wow! Complete with safety belt! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

You know, seriously, if these were available today for that price, I'd run down to the local Berk-shop and buy one right now.

John, you need to get you little buzz-box ready and bring it to one of our VRG vintage events.

I'm pretty sure that John knows about the Berk project at Classic Motorsports magazine....if any of the rest of you do not, here's the link.

https://www.classicmotorsports.net/projects/berkeley.php
 
<u>Grassroots Motorsports</u> is bringing a Berkeley racer to the GRM Challenge in October!
 
[ QUOTE ]
...if these were available today for that price, I'd run down to the local Berk-shop and buy one right now.

John, you need to get you little buzz-box ready and bring it to one of our VRG vintage events...

[/ QUOTE ]

So would I. Berkeleys could never be sold today in anywhere near their original design if only because the old two-strokes were nasty things re the environment. A 16-1 gas/oil mix means lots of smoke and - I presume - frightful emissions.

Berks are almost all VSCCA elegible & a couple people have suggested it but I'm afraid I just have too much going on here to even consider it at the moment.

I thought that Grassroots/Classic Motorsports had sold all their Berks so that is indeed new news to me.

Meanwhile, I've just finished going through my 3 cyl engine - here's some photos. Looks really simple on the outside but it's not quite so simple inside since it uses a built-up crank shaft with (loose) roller bearing big-ends and ball bearing mains with seals between each cylinder etc.

jhcengine1.jpg

IMG_0490.jpg

IMG_0275.jpg
 
I've always liked that model of Berk. Pretty little things, although I figure that a guy my height would look really funny in such a small stinker.
 
I'd like one of the 3 wheeled versions myself!
 
650 lbs !!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif holy cow!
that's cool. I diden't know those were 2 stroke. That looks like the motor out of the Kawasaki H-1 my brother had. It was a 3 cyl 500cc 2 stroke, on 2 wheels.
I think I'd take the Berkley..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
They're much harder to tip over, Ben. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
They're much harder to tip over, Ben. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gifhehehe. Yup. From all the investigating we did on that bike, it seems that the H1s(500cc) and especially the H2s (750cc) were noted for doing cartwheels. I spoke to more than one guy that got rid of one because it liked to pop wheelies and not stop on the way over....
I'll definatly take the Berkley!
 
Are those Amil carbs, John?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Are those Amil carbs, John?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yessir. They were standard on 99% of Berkeleys. Most of the cars imported here had 1 per cylinder.

Some cars had a single Zenith downdraft - not the Zeniths that look like melted SU's, but that look more like a small Solex.

I like the looks of the Amals although I think of them as more of a racing carb than a good road carb. No restriction when wide open (there's no butterfly) but also no accelerator pump or equivalent function.
 
huh... I've only ever seen 'em on two wheelers.

Interesting.
 
Or th' dreaded Lucas Sliding Throttle setup. We tried that on a F-A car and switched to a T-J injection system almost the next day! The Lucas setup *looked* amazing... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
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