BSA VICTOR 441cc / 1966

This perfect example of the first year model of the BSA Victor was the replacement for the famous Gold Star model. The Victor is smaller in cubic centimeters (441cc as compared to 500cc) and also smaller in physical size. This machine became very popular on and off the track.

My brother Dan purchased a Victor when he was a senior in High School. I have two distinct memories from the time he owned this bike – him wheeling it over backwards in the school parking lot and his nearly braking his leg trying to start the bike when he was leaving work. The ’66 model was particularly hard to start unless it was in perfect tune. Later models went away from the ET ignition, had 520 chains (instead of 428), longer seats, and other concessions to comfort as opposed to serious off-road use.

Please enjoy this ’66 model BSA Victor (I only wanted a ’66) that was meticulously restored by Don Harrell.

BSA B50MX 500cc / 1974

The BSA Factory (Birmingham Small Arms) built the B50 in answer to the growing demand for a good 4-stroke off-road bike. The 500cc thumper made a good trail bike, but was too heavy to compete against the modern 2-strokes. Chuck Minert used to race a B50 that was heavily modified with significant success in local motocross and scrambles events. I purchased a new B50 and won the 1975 Dinosaur Run Scrambles, and important 4-stroke only event in the day. I had modified the bike extensively and remember the bike as a blast to ride.

This bike was purchased from a gentleman in New Mexico and comes with a great story. The father of the man I purchased the bike from loved BSA’s, so he purchased two identical 1974 B50’s, one to ride and one to sit in his living-room. The machine you see here was the living room bike, and according to the seller, this bike has never been ridden or started. Kind of the “Holy Grail” of vintage dirt bikes as restoration was not necessary. Please enjoy!

BSA 650cc HORNET / 1967

The Hornet model was introduced into American to compete against the very successful Triumph TT Specials that had been tearing up scrambles courses from coast to coast. One of my early hero’s, Dallas Baker had a fair measure of success on one of these Hornets raced out of Irv Seaver Motorcycles in Santa Ana. Dallas was one of the first Ascot Pros that Dan and I had the opportunity to meet. I remember watching Dallas at Ascot and Irwindale and dreaming of racing at his level.

This machine was restored by British expert, Don Harrell. Don’s attention to detail is phenomenal. Every nut and bolt was stripped, filed, and cad-plated (the proper plating for English hardware) to better than new condition. The engine was also completely disassembled and rebuilt with new parts as necessary. The frame was powder-coated and all body work repainted as original. Don has restored several of the bikes in my collection. Please enjoy this “really good restoration,” by one of the best in the business!

BSA B44 METISSE 500cc / 1968

The Rickman Metisse frame was the “State of the Art” chassis in the mid to late 1960’s. The BSA B44 engine with Westlake top end was arguably the lightest and most powerful engine available. When mated together, the Rickman B44 was still competitive against the new lightweight CZ’s and Huskies that were the standard in 500cc International GP’s. To this day, in AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) events, several competitors prefer this motorcycle because of its tractable power, lightweight (for a 4-stroke), and precise handling.

This machine was built by my friend, Frans Munsters of Veghal, Holland. Frans, the founder of the leading motocross air filter company, Twin Air is a collector and restorer of vintage dirt bikes. This machine is one of four bikes that I have purchased from him and imported into America.

BSA GOLD STAR CATALINA SCRAMBLER / Chuck Minert / 1959

959 BSA 500cc GOLD STAR “CATALINA SCRAMBLER” – DESERT, SCRAMBLES, ROAD RACING………..IT COULD DO IT ALL!

The BSA Gold Star Catalina Scrambler was the perfect machine for a rider like AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer – Chuck Minert. Minert excelled in all types of motorcycle racing from speedway to trials, from desert racing to scrambles, and later, in motocross. In the late 50’s and early 60’s Minert rode a factory -backed BSA for much of his racing career and was loyal to the British brand long after the bikes were past their competitive prime.

The most important win for Minert in his racing career came in 1956 at the popular Catalina Grand Prix. Almost 1000 riders competed and the win at Catalina was so prestigious, that BSA actually named the 1969 Gold Star DBD34 after the event, thus the name “Catalina Scrambler!” The machine he rode was a 1956 BSA Gold Star Scrambler! Chuck comments, “I changed the tank to a 5 gallon, borrowed a front brake backing plate with a scoop (for additional cooling), and used a 19″ front wheel instead of the standard 21″ wheel preferred by the English!”

The westcoast distributor for BSA, Hap Alzina asked the factory for a replica of this bike! By the late 1950’s, the US market was the strongest in the world for BSA and they followed his advice and responded with the Catalina Scrambler in 1959. The machine would go unchanged until its production stopped in 1963.

The aluminum barrel Gold Star was arguably the most successful race bike every built. It won races for over a decade in every discipline………desert, scrambles, motocross, flat-track, and roadracing! Ultimately, the Gold Star model was replaced by the smaller (and lighter) B44 that was developed by motocross World Champion – Jeff Smith. This machine, based on the BSA 250cc model, would win its final 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1965 and would mark the end of 4-stroke domination in the premier series.