The Dave Degens, 1970 Barcelona 24 Hours-winning, 1970 Dresda Triumph 650cc Racing Motorcycle

• Built specifically for the 1970 Barcelona 24 Hours race
• Original condition
• Ridden by Dave Degens at the 2019 Goodwood Members' Meeting

Dave Degens began racing in 1956 on a BSA Gold Star. After a year racing the 'Goldie', Dave bought an AJS 7R from Twickenham dealer Geoff Monty and raced it with some success, only to have to sell the bike back to Monty when called up for National Service in the Army. Fortunately, Dave had an understanding CO, who allowed him time off to go racing, commencing with an outing at Brands Hatch aboard one of Monty's 350cc Manx Nortons. Dave kept racing Monty's bikes while doing his National Service and began working for him when it was over. In 1963 Dave bought Dresda Autos, formerly a retail outlet for scooters on Putney Bridge Road in Southwest London. By this time he had already built three Tritons. As Dave's business activities began to expand, so did his racing career. He rode for prominent entrants such as Sid Lawton, Paul Dunstall, Tom Arter and Tom Kirby, and it was while riding for Lawton that he enjoyed his first taste of endurance racing success, winning both the 1964 and 1965 Thruxton 500-mile races on a Triumph Bonneville.

It was at Barcelona in 1964, when he was riding a works BMW, that Dave conceived the idea of building a machine specifically for endurance racing, which he was convinced would be capable of beating the works prototypes. The result was another Triton, its engine tuned for reliability and acceleration out of corners rather than top speed, as the Montjuc circuit was very twisty. Dave's conception was proved right when he and co-rider Rex Butcher won at Barcelona in 1965, enjoying a trouble-free ride against formidable factory opposition.

By this time Syd Lawton had lost faith in the complacent British motorcycle industry and switched allegiance to the Italian Aermacchi company with which his name is forever associated. Dave was surprised to discover that the diminutive pushrod singles handled better than a Manx Norton; so he took the logical next step and built a Norton Featherbed-style frame incorporating Aermacchi geometry: the first Dresda had been born. Using the new Dresda frame and a 650cc unitary consruction Triumph engine, in 1970 Dave won at Barcelona for the second time, with Ian Goddard on this occasion, and this versatile chassis would later accommodate all manner of multi-cylinder engines from Japan.

Hand built by Dave Degens and raced to victory by him and Ian Goddard in the 1970 Barcelona 24 Horas against the combined might of the British and European factory teams, the historic machine offered here has been featured in numerous motorcycling books and magazines over the years. Notable features include twin Amal Concentric carburettors; 18" Borrani wheel rims; Dresda large capacity glassfibre fuel tank; Krber 10,000rpm tachometer; integral headlamp; and a double-sided eight-cam front brake, believed the only one cast in magnesium rather than aluminium. Dave raced the Dresda-Triumph at the 77th Goodwood Members' Meeting in 2019, and also picked up a 'Best Bike' concours award with it (see photograph on file).

Following a period of inactivity, the machine will require re-commissioning and thus is sold strictly as viewed. It is hoped that supporting documentation will be available at time of sale. Key not required.