Engine
 

1952 Mk1 Jackson-Rotrax J.A.P.  “Vic”

Vic actually began with the engine first. I spotted the J.A.P. in a milk crate in George Wenn’s garage. It took some talking, but after several negotiations George agreed to sell it to us. After the deal was done, George told us that the engine has at one time belonged to Mike Bast.

We purchased the engine after George went through it and cleaned it up. We then began looking for a suitable chassis which surfaced during our 2001 trip to England. The rolling chassis was found at Alan Bellham’s Speedway Services in Kings Lynn. Alan explained that the bike had belonged to Vic Ridgeon, a career league racer.

A deal was struck and Alan shipped the bike chassis and wheels to Arizona in boxes via Fed-Ex.

Our friend Richard Snodin did some research for us and found Vic living in Essex, England. I was eventually able to make contact with Vic myself via phone. Vic told me that he had purchased this bike in pieces from George Greenwood in London in about 1985. It was one of the last Mk1 Rotrax frames that George had. Vic bought all the pieces to build this bike to race in the Veterans Speedway Racing Association Vintage Meetings. Vic participated in those meetings from 1986 to 1998. Vic sold the bike to Alan in 1999 with serious engine problems.

I began the restoration in June of 2002. I decided to plate the frame in chrome since there was a good deal of shale pitting and Cadmium doesn’t fill the pits.

These chassis were originally offered in Cadmium or Chrome, but most were sold in Cad due to the extra cost of the Chrome.

The hardest part of this restoration was finding a good Amal type 27 Track Carburetor. I ended up buying two to make one good one.

The handle bars on the bike are Vic’s favorites. He used these bars during his long career in League racing.

The bike was finished in March 2003. I sent photos to Vic in England and he was very pleased to see his old bike looking this good.

Since completed, this bike has won many trophies at Vintage shows and a “Best of Show” as well.

Vic’s Speedway career lasted from 1948 to 1966 as a league rider and about 12 years as a Veteran rider, ending in 1998. Vic was at one time Captain of the Wolverhampton Wolves Team.