Page 14 - Bike Torque January 2022

COMPETITION

Last month’s winner Was Russell Venn who correctly identified the mystery vehicle as Admiral Bird’s
Antarctic Ice Cruiser (see story next issue). It went to the Antarctic in 1939 – and is still there, either locked
in the ice somewhere, bobbing about the Antarctic coastline inside a giant iceberg, or, more likely, on the
bottom of the sea (icebergs tend to melt). Russell also correctly pointed out that bald tyres don’t really
provide much traction on snow and ice. Russell won a coffee and a biscuit.

This month’s competition: below are some interesting, if somewhat obscure, objects – identifying any one of
them will get you a coffee. If you can identify them all you get a biscuit as well.

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DID YA HEAR …..?

Board trackers: new take on old school
There’s something about board trackers that is muscular, stripped back, old-school, and adventurous. They
look like they were meant for business – and they were. This old school was a tough school – “the
murderdrome” they called it. A lethal dose of splinters was a common injury. Board trackers maintain an
allure due to their unique style and design. Distil these bikes down to their bare essentials and you’ve got:
rigid frame, girder or springer forks, functional little tanks, sprung seats, “barely there” guards, and “barely
there” exhaust pipes. Take the essence of the board tracker and apply it to newer bikes and here’s what
you get.

1973 Honda CB350F, 4 cylinder. 1938 Triumph 350cc single

These are reimaginations of board trackers, not replicas of specific bikes. And the builders have got it right!
The Honda on the left has a new custom frame, springer forks from a Harley Davidson, Honda wheel hubs,
new wheels, original rear drum brake (but no front brake at all), custom tank and rear guard, custom
electrics box, custom seat, internal bar throttle and clutch, stock engine (except for carbies) (Source:
retrobike Issue 38, Winter 2020). The Triumph on the right has some original parts (forks, frame, engine)
but new brakes, wheels, custom seat and tank (Source: Cruzin Issue 129, July 2011). Do these recreations
do justice to the board tracker heritage? I reckon so. I want one!

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