CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS
No. 352 June/July 2018
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
CLASSIC RACING AND TIME TRIAL ACTION FROM RUAPUNA AND CHELSEA 9 418979 000012
1960 HARLEY-DAVIDSON KRTT
MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
1960 KRTT 750 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Words and photos Stuart Francis
Just across the floor plate from Burt Munro’s World’s Fastest Indian, in the E Hayes and Sons shop in Invercargill New Zealand, stands John Shand’s 1960 KRTT 750 Harley-Davidson. One of only a couple of C class racers to be sold by the factory racing department outside North America. The long racing history of this unique to New Zealand machine is well known, but what is intriguing is the story of the owners, one of whom shot his boss, while another was murdered on a remote outback track in Australia. The final mysteries are; who ordered a set of tuning parts from the factory racing department, and why did the factory send two complete sets of tuning parts? The first owner of the machine was Alf Groves of Invercargill NZ, a contemporary of Burt Munro. Alf was a complex character, a talented racer and tuner who suffered from bouts of depression and had a very quick temper (possibly due to an
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accident on a Harley-Davidson in the late 1940s). Alf worked for Tappers, the local motorcycle shop and Velocette agents. When Tappers bought a brand new Mk8 KTT Velocette Alf was their only mechanic who could set it up and get it running properly. In 1952 Alf was sacked after losing his temper and throwing a spanner across the workshop at his irascible boss Alf Tapper. Having spent some time in the pub he returned later that day to pick up his wages. He also had his pistol with him, shooting and wounding Alf Tapper in the shoulder! After serving time “at Her Majesty’s pleasure” he rebuilt his life
and by 1960 had enough money to buy and import a brand new Harley-Davidson KRTT 750. Alf bought the KRTT to compete in the open classes in local club events, hillclimbs, sprints and beach racing. After some initial runs, he decided to do a bit of tuning with Burt Munro’s help, adding a second magneto and a second spark plug to each cylinder head. The second magneto was fitted where the rev counter drive emerged from the timing chest. The cylinder head fins were drilled, whether to improve cooling or lighten them is not clear. In this form the machine was clocked at 118mph at a Christchurch meeting. However on a photograph taken at the time, Alf wrote “Twin plugs tried no success”. He later remarked that the twin magneto set up was no faster than the single mag. At a later Christchurch
s TT rear brake.
s Good advice!
s Alf Groves’ modifications - the additional magneto and drilled cylinder heads.
s Mikuni carburettor fitted for ease of use.
s Alf Groves’ modifications - twin plug cylinder heads.
s 1960 KRTT as modified and raced by Alf Groves.
meeting he achieved 125mph one way and a two way average of 122mph. Alf continued to race the KRTT through the 1960s occasionally buying updates from the factory. After some years of racing the KRTT was getting rather long in the tooth and so was Alf, so he sold the machine to Haldanes, the Auckland dealership, who then sold it to Jack McKay of Auckland. The machine was registered for the first time in 1970 by Jack and was allocated plate number 73 NC. The next owner, Tim Thompson, came across the KRTT purely by chance. He had heard that Jack McKay had a 1947 HarleyDavidson 1200cc UL for sale, and flush after selling some land in Arrowtown, wanted to buy it. However Jack McKay didn’t want to sell the UL until he had got rid of the other Harley he had, the KRTT. Tim bought them both. How long Jack McKay owned the machine is not completely clear. According
to the ownership papers it was sold to Tim Thompson in 1973. Although it is very likely that Tim owned it for some time before registering ownership and the registered address does not exist, all of which has a bearing on the next part of the story. In 1972 Alf Groves (or somebody purporting to be him) contacted the HarleyDavidson race shop asking to buy the latest updates for the KRTT. As the machine had now been superceded by the XR750 they despatched two (yes two) complete sets of latest tuning parts, including the twin carb arrangement, special barrels, close ratio gear cluster, a complete selection of cams and a host of special parts, free of charge. The date of the request for the parts is strange as Alf had sold the machine more than two years earlier and seemingly had no contact with Jack McKay. However Tim Thompson did know Alf Groves and knew
of his previous contacts with the HD race department. Tim Thompson was well known in Southland and Otago for wheeling and dealing in motorcycles and cars before his premature death. After being caught taking deer carcasses he did community service as a teacher, running a class at the local Intermediate School for deprived children. One of their projects was to rebuild a motorcycle he owned. In 1978 Tim decided to take an extended working holiday in Australia with his friend Gordon Twaddle. Before leaving he told John Twaddle (Gordon’s brother) that he had made a will, leaving him the KRTT and they joked about this. After touring northern Queensland, Tim, Gordon, and a lady Gordon met, went missing. Their bodies were found on the side of a bushtrack in a remote settlement called Spear
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MARKET PLACE
DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS We can alter or make driveshafts with fabric components to take modern universal joints and yokes, as well as performing dynamic balancing. We also carry a large range of driveshaft components for car, trucks, industrial and marine. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, Email: mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz EARLY PLYMOUTH 4 pair of replacement rear axle shafts, makers Regent and Dufor, splines and keyways as new with 4 taper roller bearings. Axles 775mm long, 10 splines, diameter at splines 30mm. $50 plus freight. Ph 03 473 7585. MEM OTAGO PISTONS PISTONS PISTONS PISTONS FOR VETERAN, VINTAGE, CLASSIC & ODDBALL ENGINES. We can supply piston sets for most makes and models. All piston sets come complete with rings and gudgeons. We have over 700 listings at competitive prices. M S COOMBES LTD 344 ST ASAPH ST, CHRISTCHURCH PH 03 366 7463, FAX 03 366 7462 MG B GEARBOX w ith overdrive, all complete $1500 plus five wire wheels for same model $400. Ph 03 332 7225, 021 087 00692. MEM CANTY LANCHESTER ROADRIDER 1937 PROJECT. Quality old English car, 1500cc 6 cylinder, worm drive and Wilson fluid flywheel transmission. Complete but mostly dismantled. Present owner’s restoration a priority and vehicle storage no longer available! Phone Bruce 07 5736197, 027 4725010 or lorien@ farmside.co.nz MEM BOP STANDARD 1924 SLO4 TOURER PROJECT. Restoration started 40 years ago, now to nearly rolling chassis stage. Aluminium body panels, worm drive. From memory all major components present. Been dry stored in boxes since 1982. Phone Bruce 07 5736197 / 027 4725010 or lorien@ farmside.co.nz MEM BOP HUBCAPS – a ny problems contact me. I now produce either hubcap skins or complete hubcaps. These are top quality replicas. Pressed not spun to the closest possible original specifications. I can manufacture any model that uses the skin system plus many others provided they do not exceed 10½" in diameter. For more information phone Dave Patten Replica Manufacturing (2003) Ltd, Phone 027 247 7956, 160 New York Street, Martinborough. dave.patten@wise.net.nz
VALVES exhaust quality stainless for vintage engines. Available in blank form or machined to size required. George Calder, 307 Hoon Hay Rd, Christchurch. Phone 03 338 5372 or email gandkcalder@gmail.com
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WOODEN WHEELS m ade for your metal work. Steam-bent felloes, any shape spokes. New beaded rims available in some sizes. Phone Vern Jensen 06 323 3868, 16 Osborne Terrace, Feilding, sandvo@callsouth.net.nz MEM.
VINTAGE CAR REPAIRS
KEEP YOUR CLASSIC OR VINTAGE CAR ORIGINAL Instead of wasting money on an after-market wheel, replace the rim on your existing steering wheel with a choice of solid wood Kauri, Rimu or Macrocarpa. We do Banjos and nearly all other pre-airbag wheels. Prices from $165. Ph John 09 408 7478 johkeekee@gmail.com MEM FAR NORTH
All Classic and Vintage Car restoration. • Panel making • Wooden body repairs, • Bumpers and moulding repair • Competitive hourly rate. Unit 1 11 Penn Place, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
Phone Grant 341 5100 or 027 223 9474 granttvin@gmail.com VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR MARKETING. I maintain a database of buyers and sellers of Veteran, Vintage and Post Vintage vehicles, placing buyers and sellers together. Free to list. No hidden costs. No computer, no problem. Just call me. Whether buying or selling a Veteran, Vintage or Post Vintage vehicle, contact Les at Rushmore Motors Ltd. Phone 027 224 5045. Inc. Sat. vintagecars@xtra.co.nz Free catalogue available. Finance may be available on most vehicles. TYRES 155/80R/12 BRIDGESTONE includes rims and hubcaps, heaps of tread like new. There are 4 sets. They came off a Toyota Corolla KE25. Phone 03 579 4458. MEM MARLBOROUGH
100 YEAR VEHICLE BADGES The Club has 100-year vehicle badges which are available for purchase at $50 each. They are only for vehicles that are 100 years old and have a valid VCC ID Card approving the vehicle’s age as more than 100 years since the date of manufacture. For further details, please refer to the Branch Manual, section 40G, or contact the National Office.
VINTAGE ENGINE SHORTBLOCKS We can in most cases rebuild your shortblock using modern shell bearings, new pistons and rebuilt oil pump. Please contact us for more information. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz VINTAGE & CLASSIC QUARTZ halogen bulbs. Replace your existing bulbs without rewiring the headlamp assemblies. Up to 100% brighter than your existing Tungsten bulbs. Will fit most reflectors fitted to Pre & Post war cars PENRITE ENGINE COOLANT and motorbikes. Also available in single A colourless hybrid-organic non glycol based filament 55 watt P22 & BA 15 bases for use corrosion inhibitor designed specifically for use in spotlamps and mechanical dip reflectors. in Veteran, Edwardian, Vintage and Classic Car Most bases and configurations available in 6v cooling systems. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph & 12v. Further info: Norm & Jan Sisson, sole NZ Agent. Phone 03 389 0643 Model Boat Street, Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 Supplies, 38 Ottawa Road, Christchurch 6. 7462, mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz Email modelboatsupplies@snap.net.nz
MARKET PLACE
1954 MK1 ZEPHYR CONVERTIBLE body fully rebuilt late 1980s. Mk1 Zodiac high compression motor, full recon 1998. Overdrive fitted to rebuilt gearbox. MkII Consul differential Power brakes. Imitation wire spoke wheel trims. Paintwork starting to show cracks in places. No rust in body. WOF & registration on sale. $40,000 Ph Doug 027 434 4154. d.wither@xtra.co.nz
1911 NEW PICK. Chassis no. 693. A most attractive and motorable Veteran. Top speed 50 – 60 mph. Last running in 1960s when motor was disassembled to reveal a cracked piston. Stored up on blocks since. Phone John Bain, Fazazz The Motorists’ Shop. 027 274 5279 or email fazazz@fazazz.co.nz MEM BP
TRIUMPH 1963 VITESSE SALOON 6 CYLINDER . 99% original. Great condition, well maintained & kept under cover. Comes with few extras including handbook, ownership papers and original number plates. $12,000 but open to genuine offers. Ph 021 058 2795.” MEM BAY OF PLENTY
ORIGINAL MODEL T HANDBOOK, A s new. Swap for similar Model A handbook.Also Model A tools, original, some with Ford script. Phone 021 484 167, david.allen@redigital.com MEM WELLINGTON
1915 SWIFT 15HP 3L ROADSTER . A rare veteran. Leather upholstery, all orig fittings inc Rotax lighting set. Complete hood and side curtains. Restoration of the year, 2x concours winner Dunedin/Brighton and Marlborough Branch Annual Rally. $60,000 Email for extra photos theriverbank@slingshot.co.nz or ph 03 577 7839 Earl Preston. MEM MARLBOROUGH
RED KOTE FUEL TANK LINER. Email enquiries to peter.alderdice@me.com. MEM AUCKLAND
BSA 1937 MODEL G14 V TWIN 1000 CC with BSA side chair. Surplus to requirements and hasn’t fired a shot for four years. Runs well, reg on hold, not museum condition but nevertheless has a nice patina. $35,000. Ph Jens 027 433 4179, kajens70@gmail.com MEM CANTERBURY
ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY 1927 SEDAN, 6 cyl 20hp 2000cc, manual. Reg on hold, no WOF. 1000 miles on speedo. Has not run for a few years. VIN/Chassis no. 42402. Restored a few years ago, blue leather upholstery. Garaged. Some rust spots. 4cm diameter chip in front windscreen. Deceased estate. Car in Akld. Price $35,000 neg. Ph Josephine 022 068 6970
ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY 1929 TOURER 20hp, 2900cc. VIN/Chassis no. 43576 Engine no. 5310 15127 miles. Preselector model. Mostly orig cond. Replacement canvas roof, spares, garaged. Has not run for many years. Reg on hold, no WOF. Slight rust spots on some of body. Deceased estate. $40,000 In Akld Ph Josephine Sharpe, Ph. 022 068 6970.
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NEW MODEL A FORD SHOCK a bsorbers. Precision manufactured in NZ. They are fully adjustable and work as per the originals, $322 each. Spark plug reducers available to enable 14mm spark plugs to be used in vintage cars. Ph 03 3590565 or www. vintagefordparts.co.nz
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