Topic: Roadracing Panther Framed CB750

[Tintop]

The accident I was referring to happened at Shannonville.  The owner was a rookie (1st race), and staled on the line.  Another rookie didn't see his raised arm and hit him.  Resulted in a severed leg, he survived, but....  Not a nice story, no happy ending.

[bwaller]

Different bike and track obviously. A whole different tale huh?

[754]

 I mentioned the Curtis/Cmek.. Panther Racing back in post # 3..
 be cool if it was one they had worked on ..


 next time one of you talks to Denis, ask him if he remebers the DOHC 750 back around 70 ish.. owned by Jim B.. actually I think it is on the Curtis website..

 The Canadian CR , have not heard of that one..

[Tintop]

....next time one of you talks to Denis, ask him if he remembers the DOHC 750 back around 70 ish.. owned by Jim B.. actually I think it is on the Curtis website..

 The Canadian CR , have not heard of that one..

Hi 754, I will be seeing Denis over the Christmas holidays, I'm assembling my 550 build in space I'm renting from him next door to his shop.  Are you referring to the bike with the Piper head?  I have spoken with him about that bike, and can probably answer some of your questions.

As for the 'Canadian CR'.  From what I have been told, it came directly from Honda Japan.  I do know the person who got it from them, and was speaking to him just days ago, although on an other matter.  This just wasn't part of that conversation.  As I said, I'm trying to arrange to see / photograph it with the person who purchased it from him.  Because of holidays, that will not happen until the new year.  I will however, endeavour to confirm its history / status (factory, kit) with the original owner in any case.  So at least that part will be clear.  Frankly, at this moment I kind of wish I hadn't said anything about it, and just ended my post with info I had regarding Curtis / Cmek / Panther & Rob North.  I promised not to name, names, and until that situation changes, I will honour that promise.

[754]

I didnt really have questions. One day when Jim was still with us, I met him at a buddys place.. who mentioned I had a sandcast 750 (at that time) So Jim told me about building that bike, but I did not see pics till later, on the Curtis site.

 I went to Curtis Racing Frames when it was in Ricmond back in the day.. We saw a monoshock triple disc Vincent.. I think it is now in the Leno collection. That may have been Jims Vincent.

 A local guy that I rode with had a Champion framed 350 XL, and I remembered him telling me about going to see Led to get steering stops put on the frame, when his shop was called Panther... He still has the Champion as well as a totally tricked out XR1000 Sportster.

[Tintop]

Yes the Leno bike was built by Denis, cool you knew / know the original owner.  Back in England he was 'the' Vincent guy, and I think that's were his heart still is. Denis is in the process of building another Vincent Special.  It will be a track day bike, with a mono shock rear, and lots of trick parts.

[Bluegreen]

So I had a nice natter with Denis Curtis regarding what has been mentioned in this thread.

A little history re Panther.  Led Cmek was a mechanic who worked for Denis in Vancouver, starting in 1972.  In 77/78 Denis sold his business to Led, and he renamed it Panther.  He was going to call it Greyhound, and use the Greyhound bus logo, but was informed of the possible legal issues, so used Panther.  Led got from Denis all of his fixtures and jigs.  Panther's primary business was flat track frames, based on Denis's improved version of the Champion frame.  The only 750 frame Panther produced was a continuation of the mono shock frame Denis originally built for Robbie Mieklejohn.  There are pictures of this very frame in my Speed Pony thread - http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=74854.0.  Denis is absolutely certain Led never built any twin shock frames for the 750.  So the Curtis / Cmek / Panther connection to this frame, is very tenuous at best.

As for the Rob North connection.  Denis knew Rob in England, and continued to contact him after Denis emigrated to Canada, and Rob North to the US.  Denis stated that Rob North's only interest was in British engines, primarily the BSA triple.  He also said that when Rob's company went under in England he, to put it politely, sought solice in the bottle.  This continued after he emigrated, and he produced very few frames once there.  Those that he did build, were also for the same engines.  Denis is absolutely certain he never built any specifically for the 750.  He also said that if the frame is a Rob North, then it is one of his BSA frames converted to take the 750.

Given all this, if the frame is a Rob North, and Panther was involved, then the best explanation is that it is a BSA triple frame that was converted by Panther for the 750.

On another note for KOS, and other CR750 interested parties.  Denis told me that there is a real CR750 (not a kit bike) here in Canada.  The bike's provenance is iron clad.  I'm have the owners #, and if possible will try to go see it, and take pictures.  When I don't know.  However, if there is something in particular someone wants shots of, let me know.  I'm also certain that KOS knows the bike I am speaking about.

Dose the Canadian CR750 belong to this guy, I did hear there is one lurking in his museum.

http://www.hondacentre.com/gallery2.html

Sam.

Dick's bike is in Burnaby right now getting paint I believe.

[kos]

I think, if memory serves me right. Tom Faulds bike crashed so hard up in Canada at one time that the steering head was damaged or even torn free from the bike. Tom was the head of Service Division for Honda Canada and always had very fast riders on his well prepared machines. I think at times, they were Honda Canada factory sponsored riders? Nice!

KOS

[bwaller]

That's the crash I mentioned, it wasn't good for the motorcycle.

[Tintop]

That's the crash I mentioned, it wasn't good for the motorcycle.

Not sure about that bw.  Unless it was rebuilt after the Shannonville accident, and then crashed again at Mosport.  For sure it was the one in the Shannonville one.  Both Denis & Tom have told me that.

[bwaller]

I don't know Brian, pretty sure it was Tom's bike and it was eight or nine years ago at Mosport.

Sorry to continue to drag this off topic.

[Tintop]

I don't know Brian, pretty sure it was Tom's bike and it was eight or nine years ago at Mosport.

Sorry to continue to drag this off topic.

Yeah it has become a bit of a hijack.  I will be seeing Denis over Christmas, and will be speaking with Tom shortly after Christmas. Will see if I can clarify the time line.  I'm thinking it sounds like Shannonville happened 1st, it was repaired, and then totaled (from your description) at Mosport.