Offered from The Forshaw Speedway Collection, c.1976 Rotrax-JAP Mk II Speedway Racing Motorcycle

Engine no. 84S 76403B

• Design notably influenced by Jawa with the curved rear frame
• Has the later 84S engine with the stub fitting 932 concentric Amal carburettor

Rotrax was formed by Bill Harvell, an Olympic bronze medal cyclist, producing bicycles until the company was taken over by Freddie Prince in 1945. The first Mk I speedway frame was marketed from 1951. The influence for this came from the Australian Dave Hynes, who had arrived in England in 1947 setting up a workshop in Birmingham where with limited premises he started to build speedway frames with his own innovative ideas for the post war slicker tracks, with its wide upswept handlebars fitted to the front of the forks encouraging the rider to move further forward for the now more generally accepted foot forward riding style. Hynes is one of the most influential frame makers but his business acumen was not quite so successful.

Despite leading riders using his frames and with the endorsement of the formidable Graham Warren declaring that he would never ride anything else, Hynes decided to move south to Southampton to work for Mike Erskine. This was when both the Erskine Staride and Rotrax benefitted from the influence of Dave Hynes.

From 1951 Alec Jackson acquired the manufacturing rights from Prestwich to take over the JAP speedway engine and at around the same time he gained the concession to market the Rotrax. This arrangement lasted until 1967 when George Greenwood took over from Alec Jackson. It was two years later in 1969 when the Mk II Rotrax was announced, now notably influenced by Jawa with the curved rear frame that was soon to be adopted by everyone.

This Mk II Rotrax has the later 84S engine with the stub fitting 932 concentric Amal carburettor. There is no record as to when this machine was acquired for the collection but on file there is a page from Speedway Star dated 2nd June 1973 with an advert which has been highlighted for a MK II Rotrax minus engine, possibly referring to this machine.The mechanical condition is not known and therefore we recommend re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent.
Key not required