1972 Hi-Tac Suzuki 500 GP

1972 Hi-Tac Suzuki 500 GP

With Phil Aynsley

In a previous column (Eric Offenstadt’s Kawasaki 500 monocoque racer) I was referring to the wave of two-stroke racing into the 500cc World Championship in the late 60s and early 70s, making privateers a cheap and highly competitive car.

Here’s another great example – the 1972 Hi-Tac Suzuki. It was the project of Peter Inchley, former Norton Villiers development engineer who saw that water cooling was desirable for two-strokes and design. a set of thermal siphons for the T500 road bike engine, before Suzuki’s TR II version debuted in ’73.

In terms of initial specification, this kit includes water-cooled tanks with removable cast iron liners for shifting, close ratio gearbox, CDI igniter, Ni-Cad battery and hoses Exhaust the expansion chamber.

The first year’s kit featured a single 38 mm Amal carburetor (a twin carburetor used later) offering great versatility without a noticeable drop in terminal power. . CDI ignition allows a limit of 14,000 rpm.

The air-cooled standard engine makes about 60 hp with the original set up to 72 hp. Later double carb versions made 82 hp.

This bike was originally owned by Barry Sheene, who later sold it back to Colin Seeley, who in turn sold it to Charlie Sanby, who won third place in the 1973 Senior TT competition – possibly was the last time a road engine made a GP podium?

Current owners have fitted an electric water pump to cope with pre-race procedures more comfortably than at today’s classic races.