Steve Baker's OW 31

[Hogboy]

I was fortunate enough to see Steve Baker race a few times during the hippie years.  One of the few guys that could match Roberts and often on similar bikes.

Once, at Westwood, BC, I saw him race 4-5 classes in a weekend alonside people like Dunlop's Jim Allen (hopping off street legal YR 350 Yammies and getting on TZ250's, etc.).

Seems his old OW31 has been re-discovered and here it is in all its glory:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/vegas12/yamaha/index.htm

[Pat and Sher in MA]

Hogboy,

Thanks for the link, That is some kind of awesome machine. I'll have to keep that
Las Vegas dealers info somewhere so I can check them out if I get out that way
sometime. If he still works in the family dealership it would be cool to go buy some
swag and get a autograph.

I think on the "Taking it to the limit" dvd they had a nice section on Baker when he
went to Europe and kicked some serious world class butt ! 

[Hogboy]

Cool, not sure if you saw the other link to the same place.  Love that Laverda!!

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/vegas12/0/

[jathkajoe]

Ah, Westwood in BC.  Was privileged to take in a race day there in the spring of 1967, cars and bikes.  Free to walk around and watch from almost anywhere.  That was my first look at a road course.  I thought it was a great track to watch and I was itching to ride it.  Alas, my bikes were in AK.  Was with a local kid named Brent Saunders.  Saw him a few years later when he road through Minnesota on a BMW. Lost track of him after that.  Man, that's a few days back.

Joe

[Pat and Sher in MA]

Hogboy,

Thanks for the extra link. some very nice stuff amongst the pirate swag. It really
does look like a must see place if ever in the area.

[WillyP]

Nice especially cool to see a Laverda next to 'Captain America' and the caption about what is that behind stacks of made in China HD clocks... LOL!

[Froggz]

Thanks Hogboy for the extra link to the Laverda, it brought back old memories. A buddy of mine had one when I lived in Québec back in the late 70's. I had a Laverda SF750 at the time and I remember him always ending up leading our group rides for some reason after buying one of those orange coloured beauties. I wonder why? 

[Hogboy]

Merci Claude,  I always liked the Laverda Jota better as the 750 reminded me of my old 305 Superhawk.

[CRocker]

Never thought the words "Just an ex-Barry Sheene Suzuki..." would be used...ever!

[Jaxrider]

Nice pictures of a great racing era. I have a friend in Ormond Beach who still races a '75 Z-1 in the AHRMA heavyweight superbike class. He was the national champion in that class in 2008. It's amazing to see the bike and how they have changed over the years.