Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 13:00
c. 1972 Triumph Rob North Replica
Part of The Richard Darby Collection
Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: ME00188
MOT: N/ A
Richards Darby's own personal classic race bike
Miles Engineering frame with a tuned T150 engine
Second in the Formula Classic Manx in 2013
This Rob North Replica has been part of Richard Darby's personal collection since the 1980s. Richard, who sadly passed away in 2023, was a well respected character in classic restoration and racing circles, mainly as the proprietor of 3D Motorcycles. Regarded as one of the world's best restorers of classic Triumph motorcycles, Richard was respected by his many customers and friends in the UK and around the world and will be sorely missed. He not only specialised in repairing and modifying Triumphs but raced them himself and sponsored many riders over the years on bikes he had prepared.
The launch of the Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket Three models coincided with the arrival of the glamorous Formula 750 races of the early 1970s, with events like the Daytona 200 and the UK v USA Match Race series becoming the most popular bike races in the world. With the advent of Formula 750 classic racing in the 1980s the Rob North framed Triumph and BSA triples staged a comeback with many replicas being made of the early 1970s works bikes. Richard built this bike for himself to race in the 80s and 90s and parade in later years using a Miles Engineering official Rob North replica frame and a T150 motor. As one of the foremost restorers and tuners of Triumph triples Richard gave the engine a full race tune with high compression pistons needing starting rollers to get it fired up. It was taken out of retirement to race in the Classic Superbike MGP in 2010, ridden by Gavin Lupton to 10th place against more modern bikes and finished under a second behind Dean Harrison in the 2013 Classic Formula race to claim second place. A well sorted replica with a good history, it last ran in September 2022 so will need the normal checks before use.
