Property of the late Warrick Blackwell, c.1963 Tohatsu 125cc Racing Motorcycle Project

Frame no. 71-84 Engine no. none (see text)

• Rare Japanese over-the-counter racing motorcycle
• Possibly imported by Jim Pink
• Useful spares included

Although no longer a manufacturer of motorcycles, Tohatsu had a significant impact in the ultra-lightweight classes back in the 1960s. The company originated in 1922 when Tanaka Motors Enterprises began experiments with gasoline engines. In 1939 the company was renamed Tokyo Hatsudoki Co Ltd (hence 'Tohatsu'), by which time it was a major producer of generators. Motorcycle production commenced in 1949. All Tohatsu's motorcycles were two-strokes, and by 1957 the range consisted of four models, the largest of 199cc. With its domestic rivals all reaping the rewards of publicity generated by competition successes, Tohatsu had no option but to follow suit, introducing a pair of moto-crossers in 1961 together with a 50cc road-racer, the Runpet CR50. A twin-cylinder '125' followed and both models made their international debut in the US Grand Prix at Daytona in February 1962 with promising results.

As well as the works bikes, Tohatsu also built over-the-counter racers for privateers, the first of which were exhibited at the Tokyo Show in October 1962. On offer was a revamped '125' and the 49cc twin-cylinder CA, the latter notable as the only twin-cylinder '50' ever offered for public sale. The engine of the '125' was unusual in having a vertically-split three-piece crankcase, which facilitated stripping the engine using only a handful of special tools. One of the first privateers to race a Tohatsu in the UK was Dave Simmonds, whose efforts were rewarded with the supply of a pair of new twin-cylinder 50cc and 125cc racers for 1963. Despite not being the most reliable bike on the grid, Simmonds' 125 Tohatsu proved good enough for the Middlesex rider to claim the ACU Star that year, one of the highlights being Dave's victory over Honda works rider Tommy Robb in October.

Things looked bright for 1964 (a possible factory team was mooted) but in February the company was declared bankrupt. Dave Simmonds continued to race Tohatsus with considerable success for the next few years before joining Kawasaki for 1967. In 1969 he would become 125cc World Champion for the Japanese firm, only to lose his life fighting a fire in another rider's caravan at the international meeting in Paris in October 1972.

Wallingford-based dealer Jim Pink imported a number of Tohatsu racing motorcycles circa 1965/1966, and the machine offered here comes with a substantial amount of related paperwork. Dave Simmonds' name appears on some of these documents, but it is not known whether or not he owned or raced the machine offered here. Included in the sale are two semi-complete engines and a set of crankcases numbered 'Z2-116', 'BAB-1008' and 'Z2-101' respectively.
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