Come from the shadows - the Shadowfax restoration.

Its a shame the bike wont be used in anger but I'm sure it will be well cared for like an old horse at Phil's place.

Yes like "fine Cotton".

Yes like "fine Cotton".

i dont think bike make great fertiliser

and has anyone seen hayden haitana recently?

.... but I'm sure it will be well cared for like an old horse at Phil's place. ......

well, it is an old war-horse after all and named after the fastest horse in Middle Earth....

......Yes like "fine Cotton".......

maybe wrapped in cotton-wool !!!

well, time for the last update from me about this project.......

I took the 'Fax up to the BSFOS a couple of weekends ago, just for the Sunday show'n'shine. Lobbed into SMSP about 9 in the morning, spotted Phil and set the bike up in the display area. Phil was pretty excited - at the end of the day the bike was going back to his place - I was pretty excited about this as well . Interestingly, Phil seemed to have already decided what he was going to do with the bike in the long-term. He had been talking to Brian Kelleher from the Nabiac museum......I told Phil this was totally the best thing that could happen with the Shadowfax.

As usual, the 'Fax got plenty of admirers over the course of the day, and duly picked up Best Pre-81 Jap Race Bike.

Around 3 we packed up and headed back down the road to the 'Gong and unloaded the old girl. I pinched the last couple of things on the bike that belonged to the Black Pearl - the Kerker muffler and front calipers/lines/master cylinder. Phil had been speaking to another Phil - Phil O'Brien. Yes, that same bloke who built O'Brien exhausts back in the 70/80's for every jap 4-cyl ever made ! Phil O'B is going to knock up a proper replica of the original muffler used back in the 80's. Phil has already had the original brakes re-built so these will be fitted up as well.

At some point in the future, Brian K will be picking up the Fax from Phil's place and taking it up to Nabiac, where it will be on display for many years to come. Definitely the best option for this bike. Although, if I could ever convince Phil to fit some modern suspension and wheels, it would actually make a good rig for the bigger circuits - PI in particular. It does handle pretty well for an old dinosaur......

So endeth the project from my end - the 'Fax will start a new life up at Nabiac, probably before the end of this year. It was a great project to be a part of, it was a huge help to Phil and his rehabilitation from his massive accident back in 2010 - but most of all it gave me the opportunity to share a track with Graeme Crosby for about 7 laps !!! That wasn't even on the bucket list !!!

here are a couple of my favourite photos of the 'Fax....


Rolling out of pit lane at the 2011 BSFOS




Sitting in pit lane with Croz and Whickle (pit lane boss at this meeting)






thanks to Lech Budniak for these photos - especially this last one




Over and Out.

GOLD !!!

The story is nearly complete and, as Gos has detailed, the money is just not available to refurbish the motor to a condition that would make it suitable to run. Since my accident in 2010 I haven't been able to work any more than a few days of casual relief work at school and that doesn't look likely to change. Which is why it has been such a tremendous thrill for me to have been able to complete this project a all. And, it goes without saying that, without the goodwill of many, many KSRC members and others, it simply wouldn't have happened at all. And, most of all, it is Gos who has borne the brunt of the work (though I am sure he regarded it as anything but). Yes, as somebody said, it was a "chequebook restoration" but, given my inability to do a lot of the work myself, the alternative was to not have it happen at all. I cannot, EVER, thank Dave enough for what he did, the many hours of unpaid labour that he put into the project and the devotion that he brought to the cause. Similarly, all the other Kawa fiends who donated time, money, parts and knowledge can rest assured that it has been appreciated far more than I can ever say. If you're cruising by the National Motorcycle Museum and drop in, you will be able to see the end result of all that enthusiasm.

Again, my thanks to all. It's been a great journey and I've had a blast sharing it with you.

Yeah is was a great job that's for sure. Its a shame we wont get to see it doing parade laps every now & again, & will only be a display in National Motorcycle Museum, as it is a real working piece of Australian racing history. But I can understand Phil's thinking on his discussion to preserve it. It was great to see it the first time at the BSfos & to see Phil's face when I said you.ve just won a trophy!! & then another! Priceless..

Again, my thanks to all. It's been a great journey and I've had a blast sharing it with you.

Happy to share a small part in it Phil.
Hoping I end up in a museum when I get a bit older...

If we don't all burn out, we MAY end up in a museum (although under what category they would display us is entirely another matter)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 088da1120d

The bike left last Sunday for Nabiac. I am assuming it may now be seen there. Going to go up there soon and admire it in its new home.

Shed a tear when it drove off? There's some nice pics in that FB link.

Actually, I am ashamed to say so, but I wasn't home when it left, I was commentating a meeting in Canberra. The big empty space in the garage when I got home was a bit hard to take, though.

Courtesy of my good friend, Chris Mundy, here are some photos of the bike at the museum. I think it looks great.
https://www.facebook.com/phil.hall.9235 ... 756&type=1

She looks comfortable in her new environment Phil.