Mike Browne wins race on ES2 after starting last

[highbury731]

Mike Browne took 4th place in the Manx GP recently, on a rather special ES2 Norton built by Peter Grantham Lodge in New Zealand.

Here's a YT video of him at the MPSC on 3 December 2020. He started last due to ignition problems, and takes the lead just before the race end:

 

[bmetcalf]

Don't need those overhead cams!

 

[Robert Watson]

And pull it to 8 consistently and 8 1/2 or more when pushed!

 

[bmetcalf]

I wonder if the pushrods were a special steel.

 

[BigEd]

A great ride and result in the I-o-M. Don't get in too much of a rush to enter your ES2 in a race meeting.
The engine in this doesn't seem to have many ES2 parts.

 

[passenger0_0]

We call this Kiwi ingenuity.

 

[BigEd]

We call this Kiwi ingenuity.

My post was not meant as a put-down. Having in the past been involved with making road-going bikes go faster for use on the Vintage/Classic race track I appreciate the ingenuity and hard work involved in building something competitive. More power to the builder's elbow.

 

[Chris Launders]

I remember seeing an ES2 someone was racing at Scarborough probably 30 or 40 years ago and that was indecently fast, until the drive side flywheel cried enough and escaped taking the drive side crankcase with it.