The Dave Degens, The 1969 Scarborough Gold Cup-winning, 1969 Dresda-Triumph 500cc Racing Motorcycle

The last British machine to win the Scarborough Gold Cup
Raced in period and in modern Historic events
Highly developed engine
Requires re-commissioning

Dave Degens started 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 Syd 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. Dave's faith in the project was duly rewarded 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 Dresda had been born.

Built in 1969, the machine offered here is the first to use the lightweight Dresda frame. Dave used this Dresda-Triumph to win the 1969 Scarborough Gold Cup; the last occasion that this prestigious race was won by a British rider on a British machine. Having won the Barcelona 24 Horas for the second time, in 1970 with Ian Goddard, he wound down his racing activities but returned in the 1980s, competing successfully in Historic events.

Specification highlights of this highly developed racer include a Nourish 180-degree crankshaft; Nourish cams; Carrillo con-rods; lightened valves and rockers; squish-band cylinder head; electronic ignition; crankcase breather conversion; twin Amal Concentric Mk2 carburettors; Quaife five-speed gearbox; belt primary drive; Dresda box-section swinging arm; and a conical rear hub. It should be noted the glassfibre fuel tank is loose and that the oil filler plug is missing. 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.