2 day qualifier in 1974?

[Carl Hill]

Question: in the qualifiers back in the 70s were the machines marked to ensure you finished on the same one you started with? If so with paint, decals, or tags? I have a 74 Berkshire and suspect it may have been raced in that series.

[Daniel P. McEntee]

Most definitely they were. Paint markings, and the cylinder and head were required to be drilled for the seal. My 1975 Husqvarna 250WR still sports the drilled head, but the paint has all worn off I think. I have my brother's '73 Husky 250 that also still sports the drilled head and cylinder, but some of the marking paint is still there from when the original owner entered the two day qualifier at Potosi, MO.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Carl Hill]

This machine had paint marks on the engine cases. I can't recall if top end had been drilled.I bought it at Avon Sportcycle in 1978. Had 35mm fork and the pipe had been modified. Also the frame has no numbers, and yes we did get an Ohio title which has the engine number on it. So, is it possible this bike was built out of parts in Lorain for a Penton employee? I know Dane rode 100s back then, anyone else???

[Daniel P. McEntee]

Paint markings would be on the engine cases, wheel rims, shocks, forks.might have been on the cylinder base also. They were a yellowish color. I would have to get the '73 Husky out to review, but others with a better memory and more experience will know for sure. In the ISDT they would scratch your rider number in the paint, but I don't think I have ever seen qualifier paint marks with rider numbers.
   Have a safe Memorial Day Holiday,
  Dan McEntee

[Paul Danik]

Hi Carl,

   The frame with no numbers would most likely have been a replacement frame. I don't think anyone would have built a bike out of parts from the parts department, but of course one never knows for sure. You say it is a 1974, is it a late 74 with the 45 degree angled shocks? If so someone with an earlier 74 may have "upgraded" their machine with that frame having gotten it out of the parts room.

   I don't recall to many details as far as qualfier paint marks, but I do know they liked to put some paint on the headlight. The colors did vary from event to event, I do remember having a headlight that looked like a Sherwin Williams paint test. I still have most of my ISDT Qualifier paperwork in a pile of envelopes and will try to look to see if there is any info contained in them.

   The only time that decals were used, to the best of my knowledge, was in the 1973 ISDT. I once asked Ed Youngblood how that came about and he said that the previous AMA President felt it was a "better idea" from what everyone else had done for many, many years with the paint and scribed number.

   A number of years ago a gentleman figured he might have an ISDT Sachs engine from "days gone by".  I had a few things he needed and we made a trade for that engine. When I got home I put that engine on the bench and was looking at the paint marks and the number scribed in them with my magnifying glass. I got to wondering just who's engine that might have been, I looked at some early Penton literature and found an ISDT Steel Tanker with that number on it, it was Jack Penton's engine from Spain. I called Jack right away and told him about it. He said that his uncle Ted had built their ISDT engines and that they took them with them on the plane to Spain. I don't remember the details but it was evident that the engine had been "gone over" by someone who had a few tricks up their sleeve.

    On my next trip to Amherst I gave Jack that engine and he keeps talking about wanting to find a period correct frame and building a replica of his 1970 ISDT machine using that engine, that would be really neat !
   
   The gentleman who had the engine initally was Dale Fisher and he remembered how it had been bought from Penton Imports. Possibly Dale will chime in with more to add to the story or to correct what I have stated.
 
   The 74s did have 35mm forks. If you pull the cylinder and find the ports smooth as glass, the intake hogged out a bit and possibly the head milled to bump up the compression, you may be onto something.

Have fun and good luck.
Paul

   

[Carl Hill]

Thanks Paul
It is a Berkshire and has the shocks at 45 degree angle. My brother took the machine apart many years ago, I recall him saying that the cylinder was not stock. I have several Sachs cylinders, I will try and determine if any of those are it. I still have the pipe (rough) but it is apparent that it was modified by someone who knew what they were doing. I am a history buff anyway so finding out history on old motorcycles is intriguing. Would be cool to know where it had been prior to 78