In the world of motorsport, without a doubt, the great contribution of the United States is flat track racing, that glorious slideways action on the dirt track. It’s not just the great sport itself but also the amazing riders who have come through the discipline and gone on to rule the world of racetracks of every kind. Think Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Eddie and Freddie, and many more. In the heyday of the sport, it was ironically British bikes that ruled the roost, with legends like American Dick Mann winning on a BSA. However, the astute student of history, Jeff Duval of Jets Forever, knows many of the untold stories of motorsport and motorcycles. So, to bring one of those tales to life, he has created this simply beautiful BSA A10 Super Rocket 650cc, which earns the nickname ‘Anaheim’.
In the ’60s and early ’70s, California was alive and buzzing with the very best flat track riders in the world, and the Brit bike to have was a Triumph Twin. “Only second in favour to the iconic Triumph, like our own Triumph Rennsport, were the glorious BSA A10s of the late fifties,” Jeff explains. As was so often the case, the local dealer network was responsible for providing the bikes to the race teams, and they were eager to get the factory to deliver a better product. Here, the desire to win on Sunday often clashes with the need to sell on Monday. And as the Brits were losing sales, they were keen to bank the money rather than spend it on fancy race bikes.
However, the American racers not aboard a Triumph wanted and needed a better bike! “It is rumoured that to combat such overwhelming competition, BSA West Coast bosses tried to prompt the factory to build a short run of upgraded Super Rockets, which they aptly named Anaheim,” Jeff reveals. The Super Rocket was produced by BSA from 1957 to 1963, but requests for a more track-focused variant never materialised. So, doing what he does best, Jeff and his Jets Forever team set about building the bike that could have been. His digging revealed some treasures, like the paperwork put together in the “San Francisco Bay, where Hap Alzina, BSA Distributor in Oakland, CA, used to dictate what the English factory should supply.”
It was also at one of Hap’s shops that Dick Mann, winner of the ’63 Grand National on a BSA, worked as a mechanic. So, like that team of old, Jeff is joined by his builder, Tony Taysom, and together they sought to bring those once-desired improvements to life. “The OEM frame was restored to include many minor touches to accommodate those numerous invisible improvements for that unique allure and upgraded specs.” Just don’t expect all those hard-earned secrets to be shared in detail, but fans of the marque will no doubt be able to make some educated guesses from the stunning photos.
Over the top of that frame goes the simply gorgeous bodywork, and Jeff left no stone unturned in getting things exactly as he desired. The fuel tank sets the stage, with those classic, elegant lines allowing the totality of the engine to be viewed and has been topped off with a Le Mans-style filler cap. The fenders, too, form a pair of beautiful arcs; no stone is ever getting past these gloriously chromed hoops of steel. The seat, however, takes a more modern twist, this bike is built to be enjoyed, and the comfort level offered by the two-up styled piece means long days in the saddle are no problem.
The oil tank and side cover combination had to be original, and they are in simply perfect condition. They form part of the canvas for the stunning colour combination. “The seriously critical job of painting this unique restoration project in matching yesteryear OEM colours was entrusted to Steve, Mandy, and Sammy of Image Custom Design, Camberley, who were able to commendably replicate and improve the original attire.” The new graphics join the vintage logos to help tell the tale that this incredible bike reveals.
BSA specialist Geoff Dewhurst of SRM Engineering was tasked with assembling the drivetrain, and he did not disappoint, screwing together a beautiful ‘Fast Road A10 RGS + engine’, with 650cc barrels and pistons to start the job. The entire rotating assembly is dynamically balanced, including the crank, pistons, and rods, to ensure everything is spot on. Above, the cylinder head is gas-flowed and fitted with competition spec valves, springs, rockers, and just the right cam for the package. He also rebuilt the stock four-speed transmission, and interestingly enough, a modern Mikuni carb was tuned and optioned for the fuelling.
There are electrics by guru Steve McFarlane to ensure modern reliability on this classic steed, and the rear shocks come all the way from CR Suspension in Budapest. The front end benefits from a full Gold Star fork assembly that has been rebuilt to its best, and that gorgeous front brake is by Eddy Dow. The hubs are laced up with stainless spokes to alloy rims measuring 19 and 18 inches front and rear, and these have been wisely wrapped in quality modern rubber suited for the road, where the bike will spend the majority of its time.
Sure, Jeff could have fitted some flat track tyres for the street cred, but in telling the tale of what could have been a mighty factory FT racer, he has still managed to build a bike that will give you a thrill on any given Sunday.
[ Jets Forever | Photography by Rich Pearce ]