WELCOME TO CLUBMAN CLASSICS

Clubman Classics is a personal blog inspired by the fearless, amateur road racers who competed in the 1947 - 1956 Isle Of Man Clubman's TT races and their production based machines.

Monday 16 January 2012

Norton Dominator racer

Originally capable of producing upwards of 50bhp at around 8,000rpm the works Domiracer was a very capable machine.

In the 1961 Isle of Man TT rider Tom Phillis took a Doug Hele-developed Domiracer to third place and lapped at over 100mph. This was a first for a twin-cylinder pushrod engine.

1956 Norton Domiracer

Once the Bracebridge Street race shop in Birmingham closed in January 1962, Norton abandoned the Domiracer project and the works Domiracer and factory spares were sold off to Paul Dunstall. Dunstall continued to campaign the 500cc twins with riders Fred Neville, Dave Downer and Syd Mizen, up until 1964.


This example features a 1956 wideline frame with Dural engine plates, Manx type swing arm, Hagon shocks, chrome short Roadholder forks with alloy damper tubes and a Seeley alloy top yoke. Front wheel is a WM2x18 Akront with Norton hub and a Triumph 2LS backplate. The rear wheel is WM3 Akront with Norton hub and cable brake. It is worth noting that the brakes are very effective!

1956 Norton Domiracer

The engine is Laystall short stroke (68x68), with one piece period race crankshaft fitted with polished and shot-peened Commando rods, SS camshaft with lightened followers, running 10.5 - 1 with Powermax pistons, gas-flowed head with lightened and polished rockers. The carbs are twin rubber-mounted (GS750 stubs) 28mm Amal MK2s. Total loss coil ignition system. Bob Newby clutch and belt primary drive with fibreglass primary cover. Close ratio 4 speed gearbox and custom-made, 2-into-1 Mason Racing exhaust.

I can't wait for a test ride once the 2012 season gets into full swing!

1956 Norton Domiracer

Thursday 12 January 2012

Behind the scenes at the Isle of Man TT races

I've been collecting various 'behind the scenes' IOM TT images over the past few months and have finally had the time to put a post together. Featuring several well known faces - plus some not so well known, the images provide a look at the famous TT races form a different perspective. Racing was done on a shoestring budget and many local garages and stable blocks were transformed into both privateer and works garages for the duration of the TT races.







Geoff Tanner







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