86 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA
While the engine was being built a complete new
machine was constructed with a fuel tank extending
around the head stem and recessed for the riders chin
and rev counter. This as well as a new rear end hold-
ing the seat and containing the large oil tank were all
hand made from fusion welded sheet aluminium. It
was entered for the 1953 Bathurst meeting but road
tests did not come up to expectations so the rotary
valve was replaced with one of the two stroke race
units for Rex to gain a creditable fourth place.
As with such projects there often comes a time
when the inventor having proved a theory either
loses interest or comes to the realization that the
expense of continuing is not worthwhile and such
was the case with the Rex Tilbrook dream of an
alternative to the poppet valve. After twelve
months of machining, fabrication, assembly and
development the project was shelved and put under
a bench in the experimental shop and virtually
forgotten. Dennis had moved on and eventually
settled in Victoria.
Vdue fever!
Reader DAVID WALE was so taken with our feature
on the Bimota Vdue(OBA 65)that he contacted
the owner of the Vdue stock, Piero Caronni in
Italy, and arranged to purchase the very last
complete engine, which is now in Australia.
That engine is being built into a very special road
machine, using a Honda CBR600 chassis. David is
anxious to form a local Vdue discussion group and
can be contacted at [email protected]. To
complete this project, David has enlisted a very
impressive brains trust.
“Ian Drysdale is going to do the installation with me, Rod Tingate is going to
design exhaust pipes, Clyde Wolfenden is happy to assist with dyno work, and Tony
Hatton in Sydney is interested in helping as well. I am considering, if there is any
interest, in doing a limited production run of complete bikes or kits price for
approximately $15,000-$28,000. Also Piero Caronni has complete Vdues for sale
but only the carburettor version, not the fuel injected model, for approximately
$35,000 not including freight or duties. He also has new VTR 1000 Honda-engined
Mondials for sale at a price to be advised. Any enquiries for any of these bikes can
be directed through me.”
Neil Cummins
with his new toy.Neil’s new wheels
Neil Cumminshas a deep affinity with
Ducati. It was he who twirled the spanners
for the 750SS ridden by Mike Hailwood and
the editor at the 1977 and 1978 Castrol Six
Hour, and the 1978 Adelaide Three Hour. In
1979, Neil almost met his maker when he
was cleaned up by a car driver while running
in a Ducati Pantah 500, and the lingering
effects injuries he sustained that day are still
with him. However he recently decided to
satisfy an inner urge to own a Ducati again,
and purchased a 1998 ST2. “I bought it from
North Coast V Twins at Coffs Harbour. They
are the most interesting group of people you
would ever find in a shop. Ashley Beaton is
the Dealer Principal. His son Beau races the
Irving Vincent and a very quick Ducati
Panigale. The office lady Heather rides a
Harley. The spares man Garry was in Joe
Eastmure’s pitcrew when he won the 6 Hour
on the BMW. The apprentice is a qualified
panel beater spray painter who gave that up
and became their apprentice because he
wanted to work on bikes.”You can find us on Facebook at...
http://www.facebook.com/oldbikemagLEFT One brand new
Vdue engine.
BELOW The Bimota
engine is an easy
fit in the Honda
CBR600 chassis.About a year later another attempt was made to
see if it was worth proceeding with the concept.
New rotary valves were tried with different timing
and alterations made to the head contours to vary
the gas flow. The compression was raised and
methanol fuel used. These changes resulted in
considerably more power but at much higher
revolutions with a narrower power band that
required a new multi ratio gearbox as used by the
European works machines to be effective.
Once again the rotary valve engine was removed
and put on a display stand until Rex and Dorothy
Tilbrook arranged a function for the late English
journalist Vic Willoughby during his visit of Australia.
Rex organized a display of classic motorcycles,
including a range of Tilbrook tourers and racers, at
their Encounter Bay property and the rotary valve
model was restored to working condition, although
it was never restarted.
It was appropriately in a prominent place at the
funeral service for Rex on 6th. December 1997.