Tell us about the Syndicate superbike Gos

[limegreen585]

Will be in touch Fezz, we may be able to get the old lady to fly again !!!!!

Cheers
Tony

[fezzick]

Point #1. "The Syndicate" was a code-name for a shadowy group of business men who funded the development and costs of the Syndicate Kawasaki. Shadowy because it was said at the time that the source of their income was an illegal substance that could be bought if you you knew the who and where...or so the story went at the time.
Point #2. I am about to begin serious restoration of the Shadowfax Kawasaki (pics following), but, if you want to read the full story, you can do so here....

http://www.halfofmylife.com/races-racer ... fax-story/

[limegreen585]

Like this Fezz ???

[fezzick]

Yeah, sorta, Tony. I don't want to go with what it originally looked like because it was as ugly as. I may get Kent to do a replica bodywork so that I can show the bike in "as original" condition, but I'm tending towards trying to rebuild it as an endurance racing replica. You know, solo seat and long, Dunstall-style tank, semi-bikini fairing so that it's registrable and rideable, but a bit different at the same time.

[Gosling1]

Heh Tony, how ya been mate ?

Check this little jigger out, picked it up last Friday.....its a runner, just about to get historic plates, and maybe a spot of racing later this year in Period 4 250cc class ! 1972 S1 250......this will bring back some memories of your S2 350...

[jap]

Old news print pics


http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/ ... G_7803.jpg


http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/ ... G_7801.jpg

[fezzick]

Neat. The 2nd one has Kenny in it.

[Gosling1]

It was one amazing motorcycle. Down at the Island Classic this year, I had a conversation with a bloke who knows the history of this bike pretty well..........unfortunately, it is not going to see the light of day again, which I reckon is a real shame. It would be *instantly* competitive in Period 5 racing....

[fezzick]

As long as you could find anybody mad (brave) enough to ride it!

[Gosling1]

......As long as you could find anybody mad (brave) enough to ride it!.....

well, its funny you should say that - when I picked up my copy of Croz's autobiography from the man himself, I asked him about a return to racing in Period 5, and what a good bike the Syndicate would be for him to ride !! He had some vague memories of it, but couldn't recall how quick it was in its day.......

[fezzick]

Croz had left to race in Europe by the time the Syndicate bike hit the scene.

[Gosling1]

He would be perfect for that bike............alas, it sits in a dark corner of a shed in Melbourne, unlikely *ever* to see the light of day again.......a great shame really, it was a weapon and would give any of the current front-runners a real shock I would think !

[s man]

The last time I saw the Syndicate Kawasaki was at the 1988 Oran pk 1st round of the world superbike championships. The orginisers dragged out some guys that raced back in the 70s & early 80s to do some demo laps. AJ was there & rode & crashed the bike. Jim Budd was there but didnt ride, but I think the Warren Taylor Phase 4 bike he rode was on display., as was Mick Corks Z1000 Dennis Neil, Mick Cole,& many others.
AJ took the bike out on the demo laps but some how a rag had got sucked into one of the carbs & held the slide's open, when he went to shut off nothing happend & he crashed at the end of the straight.
We got the bike back to the pits & me & a friend fixed it up so AJ could go out in the next desplay race.
I cut the damaged part of the front guard off with an hacksaw & straighternd what we could. All AJ was worried was if anyone seen him crash. He had a bit of bark of his crook hand, but otherwise was ok.. Now from what I hear, the bike is still alive but in a bad state, cant remember 100% but someone was rebuilding it, & I have a feeling it could be Shannon AJs son. Thats all I know.

PS:: I dont remember anyone else ever riding that bike, but I could be wrong.
Before you ask why AJ didnt hit the kill switch? there wasnt one!

[Gosling1]

I think you are right Steve - only AJ rode that bike from what I can recall.

[fezzick]

It was an "Ajay-only" bike from my memory. Incidentally, the story of AJ's crook hand is interesting. Apparently he was working as a bulldozer mechanic and was disassembling a hydraulic ram when the hose exploded, taking some of his hand with it.