Source: Bike Bound
[[{“value”:”A Record-Setting Ascot TT Special from the 60s…
In 1962, Honda released the CL72 Scrambler 250 with an eye toward the American market, where high pipes, semi-knobby tires, and an off-road attitude were fast becoming the rage. Though a so-called “street-scrambler,” the CL72 was far more than a mere stylistic exercise, as Honda engineers fully expected dirt-happy riders to put the CL through its paces.
“For the CL the R&D boys felt that more ruggedness was needed, as the bike was intended for boonie-bashing with lots of jumps and heavy landings. The two short arms attached to the cylinder heads were traded for a large single downtube which went down to a pair of tubes that cradled the engine, and on to the swingarm pivot. A sturdy skid plate was bolted on to protect the engine.” –Rider
That same year, Bill Robertson Jr. and Dave Ekins — brother to the legendary Bud Ekins — rode a pair of CL72 Scramblers the entire length of the Baja Peninsula. Ekins finished the 952.7-mile trip in 39 hours 56 minutes (39:56). Not only was it a huge PR coup for Honda, but that trip would serve as the pioneering run of what would become one of the most prestigious and demanding off-road races in the world, the Baja 1000.
Today, the Honda CL77 Scrambler 305 seems to get the lion’s share of attention, but it was the CL72 that first displayed Honda’s prowess on dirt as well as tarmac. And it wasn’t just the desert where the Scrambler 250 shone, but the flat track — thanks largely to the efforts of builders like Bill Bell of Long Beach Honda.
Bill Bell and the two twin-cylinder Long Beach Honda racers (CL250 and CL350) ready for the start of the Mexican 1000 in 1968
This ’62 CL72 comes to us from Walter Magness of Anza, California, who moved to the Golden State in the mid-60s and began working as an executive night chef at the Disneyland Hotel while racing motorcycles in his free time — primarily a CB450 — taking home several records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in ’66.
Walt on the Salt!
After going to work at Norm Best Motors in Whittier, California, Walt joined the Road Runners hot rod club and got more into off-road racing. He was soon introduced to Bill Bell, the manager of Long Beach Honda and head of the race shop. Bill had built the ’62 CL72 you see here to race at the famed Ascot TT track.
“The Ascot TT was one of the most challenging and respected races in the heyday of motorcycle racing. Held at the legendary Ascot Park in Gardena, California, the Ascot TT was a 50-lap endurance race won only by some of the most revered names in the history of the sport.” –British Customs
It had all the goodies of the period: 338cc custom pistons with Teflon buttons, Harmon Collins roller cam with roller rockers and alloy retainers, Barnett clutch, extended and reinforced swingarm, alloy wheels with twin leading shoe front brake, modified suspension, etc.
The proof is in the pudding, and this 338cc TT Special delivered, setting a record fast time twice at the Ascot TT track in Dec 1964 with Glen Hays in the saddle. However, the rise of purpose-built dirt bikes and flat trackers would soon outpace the Honda twin on the track, condemning this race bike to little more than a garage ornament…but Walt had other ideas. He bought the bike from Bill in 1971.
“I told him I was going to make a street tracker and register it. He liked the way it turned out.”
To make it street legal, Walt installed a stator, lights, horn, mirror, wiring loom, and a pair of silencers. However, the Honda remains a race bike at heart:
“It runs great, sounds good, and still has to use race gas.”
What an incredible piece of history. Thanks to Walt for keeping this Bell-built tracker in top shape, and for sharing the story of the bike with the rest of us. Below is more of our interview with Walt about his motorcycling history, the incredible stable of cars and bikes he’s owned and raced, and how this TT Special came to be. Enjoy!
Honda CL72 Street Tracker: Owner Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop if you have one.
I have been riding since I was 14 (in 1957). My first motorcycle was a 250 Zundap Super Sabre. My next bike was a 1965 CB305 Superhawk that I modified with the Webco 350 kit as well as the latest cam kit from Harmon Collins.
Some other bikes I’ve owned and raced:
BSA650 Spitfire, 1967
Yamaha V-Max, 1985
Suzuki GS1100
1200 Harley Sportster
As well as other cars — all have been raced:
1943 Ford coupe, my 1st car (1953)
Buick Grand National, 1986
Corvette 1967 427, 475hp
Corvair 1966 with mid engine 396, 450 hp
• The bike was originally a TT Special built by Bill Bell of Long Beach Honda. Did you know Bill back then and/or see the bike race in the 60s?
I came to California in 1965. I had just graduated from The Culinary Institute and went to work at the Disneyland Hotel where I was hired as executive night chef. Meanwhile I was racing motorcycles and needed sponsorship — at the time I was racing a CB450 Honda. I took to Bonneville salt flats and set several records in 1966, fastest speed 129. I had gone to work as a salesman / manager at Norm Best Motors in Whittier, Ca. I started to ride off road in desert races as well as belonging to the Road Runners hot rod club. The manager Tom Senter of Norm Best was into off-road racing and I started to become more involved also.
My friend introduced me to Bill Bell who was the shop manager at Long Beach Honda and head of the race shop. As we became friends I used to go to his house to go trail riding on Sundays — at the time I was riding a Husky MX400, a real step towards the future. In the shop behind his house, which was very large, sat the Honda.
I asked what he thought about selling it — about a year later he decided to ask me if I was still interested. Took it home that day.
Bill related to me the record set by the Honda and was very proud of its success at the time and that all new dirt bikes had made the Honda uncompetitive. I told him I was going to make a street tracker and register it. He liked the way it turned out.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
The motor has all the good parts: Harmon Collins roller cam with roller rockers and alloy retainers, 338cc custom pistons with Teflon buttons, Barnett clutch — it shifts on either right or left side of motor. Swingarm is reinforced and extended. The front forks are later model alloy sliders with double leading brake (also alloy wheels front and rear), which helped it to set record fast time twice at Ascot TT track in Dec 1964 with Glen Hays riding. I bought it 1971 from Bill.
Bill Bell worked with Kenney Harmon in developing the roller cam conversion. Bill was a great fabricator and engine builder. He modified the suspension and took a lot of weight off to make it competitive.
I converted it to a street tracker and it is licensed with original paperwork.
• What work was done to convert the bike for the street?
When I made it street legal I removed the total loss electric and installed a stator and armature mufflers and after that I added lights, horn and mirror as well as a loom. It runs great, sounds good, and still has to use race gas.”}]]
