Tribute to Rudi Knees, son Peter and daughter Christa

Rudi Knees was born Rudolph Knees in Konigsberg, East Prussia in 1907 and before WWII was a works NSU rider. Known as 'Rudi Knees' on, he also raced his beloved 1939 350cc supercharged DKW, winning several races.

Rudi and his family started from scratch after the war but was keen to continue racing and wanted to compete in International events in mainland Europe. However, following the ban on forced-induction motorcycles, his supercharged DKW was ineligible.

In 1949 Rudi confidently placed an advert in The MotorCycle magazine, looking to swap with his beloved DKW for a 'pukka racing job'. He listed: post-war KTT Velocette, Manx Norton, 7R AJS, or GP Triumph - machines worth considerably less than the DKW in today's money!

A copy of the advert Rudi placed in The MotorCycle magazine in 1949.

The advert continues, "The DKW is good for about 110mph on 50/50 petrol/benzole." There is evidence he swapped his DKW for a Manx Norton. Rudi is shown handling his first Norton below.

Rudi with his first Manx, a machine that cost him his DKW 350.

Rudi was racing sidecars with a passenger named Ziemer in 1950 at the Feldbergring in Germany. He also tried his hand at ice racing, again as the rider of a sidecar outfit. In the same year, there is also evidence that he finished second behind Heiner Fleischmann (NSU-Kompressor) riding a 350cc AJS at Feldberg.

By 1952 Knees was one of the top riders, riding both 350 and 500 Manx Nortons, finishing second and first in that year's Feldbergrennen cup race. That year, he also went on to become German Champion in the 500cc class.

Knees continued to race in Europe with various amounts of success up to around 1960, competing all over Germany, Czechoslovakia (then CSSR) and in Barcelona. His transport was in the form of a race truck, shown in the photograph below.

During his many races he was joined by his son Peter Knees - who campaigned a mid-fifties BMW, and his daughter Christa, who was her father's travelling Norton mechanic. She wasn't allowed to work on the BMW, but remembers her father's Norton well and still knows lots about the engine.

Both Peter and Christa feature heavily in the photos. Peter is seen riding a racing BMW in numerous shots. According to Christa, she did once ride her Dad's Norton, when his back was turned. He noticed and shouted at her, but then turned to the other racers and smiled 'brightly'.

Source

I discovered this story through an online acquaintance Mike Muller, who was fortunate enough to meet Christa, now a lady in her late 70s. Christa provided the photos from her own personal album. My thanks goes to Mike and Christa for making this post possible.

Almost all the images are previously unseen. I hope you enjoy the gallery.

IMAGE GALLERY

Photo taken before WWII when Rudi was part of the NSU racing team. 

Peter Kness with the winner's reef. 

  

NSU 500 Kompressor

Christa timekeeping

Rudi and Christa

Peter and Christa

Peter Knees BMW

Rudi experimenting with streamlining

Here Rudi had a broken leg and Christa was allowed to push him in this race. 

Rudi's driving licence

The History of the Clubman's TT races - book review

The History of the Clubman's TT races 1947 - 1956 by Fred Pidcock and Bill Snelling.

There is a distinct lack of historical information published covering the events of the IOM Clubman's races. As a result, the writers of this book have created a detailed, year by year account following the riders, the machines and the people that made the Clubman's races happen.

From the initial concept of the 'Tourist Trophy Team Test' to the first successful Clubman's races in 1947, the book goes to quite some length explaining how some of the biggest names in motorcycling felt about the idea of non-professional, production-based motorcycle road racing. It is hard to believe that some were quite against the idea!

Run by the ACU, the organisers were quite specific that the Clubman's events were to be graded 'National' status, allowing affiliated clubs to enter participants form any country. The writers have included some fascinating opinions provided by many well-known names of the time, highlighting the politics involved during the conception and demise of the Clubman's races.

Involving machinery from almost all post-war UK-based motorcycle manufacturers, (including plenty of Norton Inter's) the Clubman's races gave riders from all levels, backgrounds and abilities the chance to take-on the legendary Mountain course without the support of a factory - encapsulating the spirit of bike racing as a whole. The book is made all the more richer by the numerous heart-warming first-hand accounts describing the journeys and lengths entrants went, in order to compete.

I'd like to whole-heartedly recommend the book as it boasts excellently written accurate content, top quality images and some brilliant motivational material!

To buy your copy visit, www.manxshop.com

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

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

MV Agusta three cylinder at Manx GP

Fantastic video of the awesome sounding MV Agusta three cylinder Grand Prix machine filmed at Hilberry on the Isle of Man - as ridden by Giacomo Agostini between 1966 and 1973... Turn up the volume!

Blue NSU racer

Norton International - Norwegian style

My lovely Norwegian friend Wenche (pronounced Ven-ka) trying the '37 Norton Inter for size.

Frank Chatokhine - British Motorcycle Specialist

Lansdowne Historic Grand Prix - Brands Hatch

Brilliant footage from Mike Russel racing a Manx Norton at Brands Hatch in the hotly-contested Lansdowne British Historic Grand Prix. This film provides a genuine rider's eye view of vintage bike racing..

Goodwood Revival 2011

Some shots of this year's Goodwood Revival event. There are very few other events that feature so many impressive bikes, cars and aeroplanes. The scramblers parade at the end of the day was a real treat.

The whole event is a celebration of vintage motor racing that took place before 1966 at the West Sussex track.

The Worlds Fastest Velocette

Ever wondered what the worlds fastest Velocette looked like? Well wonder no more- Stuart Hooper with his single-cylinder streamliner 750cc Velo can reach in excess of 150mph. Here he is warming up and pulling away at Lake Gairdener in 2009. For more info browse his excellent www.worldsfastestvelocette.com site.