Team Obsolete goes to Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio

Team Obsolete’s 1954 AJS “Triple Knocker,” one of just four built.

Team Obsolete is set to bring two rare historic bikes to Vintage Motorcycle Days Mid-Ohio July 19-21, 2013. The AJS “triple knocker” 350 cc ex-factory Grand Prix racer that Rod Coleman rode to victory at the 1954 Isle of Man Junior TT will be ridden by 1984 Isle of Man TT winner David Roper. This exotic single-cylinder bike has three valves, three cams, and two exhaust pipes! The six gallon pannier-type fuel tank wraps around the engine, and utilizes a mechanical fuel pump.

Only four “triple knockers” were ever built. They were raced by the AJS factory Team during the 1954 season. Then AJS withdrew from Grand Prix competition. The bikes were out of the public eye until we found one in an English storage locker 30 years later. It was missing some of the unique engine internals, which we made in Brooklyn. Remarkably, it has original paint, chrome, and upholstery.

After Vintage Motorcycle Days the 7R will be flown to the Isle of Man where David Roper will do a 37-mile lap to support the Manx Grand Prix Classic Revival.

Also scheduled to run at Vintage Motorcycle Days/Ashland is the 1957 factory BSA Gold Star rigid frame dirt tracker rebuilt by Dick Mann 30 years ago. Dick built the bike using genuine Gold Star dirt track components, many from his private stash. It was last run by Dave Atherton at Ashland in 2009. Rider will shortly be named for Ashland 2013, likely Dave Atherton again, and Jeremy Eischen.