FRESH OFF THE PRESS............Billy Denby and I had a 1-hr. talk. Lot's of jumping around but some good details.
Billy and Duane Taylor were the guests of Richard McDougle from American Honda at the October, 1968 Tokyo Motorcycle Show. THE Mr. Honda promised Billy one of the first CB750s would be his. Billy claims to have worked with Honda R&D regarding racing projects. Doug Oswald from American Honda was also a contact for him. Billy had an avid interest in racing but left the politics (dealer contracts) to his partner Duane Taylor. In 1969 Billy's wife divorced him with their 5 year-old son.......and promptly married Duane Taylor.
Billy continued with the Albany Georgia dealership and later purchased dealerships in Tallahassee and Orlando........but his daily interest was building motors. He claims he was in direct contact with 'Yosh' and met with him often enough at racing events that a few secrets were divulged after Yosh hdd some wine or beer.
Billy was invited to the Daytona scene by McDougle and watched and listened with clean hands until it was time to re-build the motor. He was the youngest person on the Mann crew but Yosh allowed him to 'button-up' the motor to Billy's spec. They had found metal bits as well as hard-rubber pieces in the motor on Friday. The pistons, rings, cylinders, etal were at the track with enough for more than one motor. The other motors entered the race with very little expectation to finish. Another added feature was that the exhaust pipes kept cracking.......so before they were repaired Billy inserted a few 'rings' in the mufflers for back-pressure.
Billy has a box of parts including a piston, one or more tachs, a cam or three, fork legs and his notes. BTW.....Yosh was under contract to Honda but always claimed it was a non-exclusive arrangement. After the 4 bikes were sent to American Honda, two of the bikes went to the UK. Billy is quite sure that the #2 bike went to Japan.
We will visit again, but I will also try to confirm from other sources. Does anyone remember Tom Thorp? spelling?
