Cheetah trials

A Cheetah Cub trials bike has recently appeared on Fleebay. Most Cheetahs were powered by Villiers 37A engines so one with a Cub motor is quite a rarity (I believe only five were built). Opening bid set at £4k and, as yet, nobody's nibbled. But I'm sure it'll eventually go for around £5k. It looks in very good nick with a rebuilt engine and Dellorto carb, but it's not road registered. The strong point about a Cheetah is the lightweight frame made of Reynolds 531 tubing. These frames are works of art constructed around 1966-7 by ace welder and trials rider Mick Whitlock and trials bike dealer and engineer Bob Gollner, both of Hampshire. I reckon this is altogether a good looking bike and a wise investment. Or a darned good trials iron to ride in pre-'65 classic trials. I'll keep an eye on the bidding. - P.S. One bid at £4k. Sold.

Walter Kaaden

As previously mentioned I'm a big fan of MZs. People may consider their bikes to be dull and boring but back in the 60s they were a force to be reckoned with on the GP circuits. Much of their success was due to race manager Walter Kaaden's pioneering engine development with exhaust technology. Such was his expertise that the Suzuki racing company arranged for Ernst Degner (East German MZ racer) to jump the Iron Curtain and join the factory in Japan. In doing so, Degner presented the Japs with many of Kaaden's technological secrets together with some hushed-up engine parts. Armed with Kaaden's extensive engineering knowledge the Japs then began their dominance of GP racing, firstly with Suzuki then the others.

What many people don't realise is that the great Mike Hailwood rode for MZ (see photo 1). Photo 2 shows start of 1967 250cc GP at Sachsenring with MZ riders Heinz Rosner (101), Derek Woodman (103) and Hartmut Bischoff (100). Photo 3 shows Kaaden with Hailwood, Alan Shepherd(?), Degner and another racer. Interesting, huh?