George Wade Douglas Racing Tasmania

[Daren W Australia]

Hi try this link http://www.motormarques.com/content/view/196/65/

George also raced motorcycles and bought his first Douglas when he started his apprenticeship. Over a period of time he extensively modified the frame and engine (reshaping the camshaft by hand) for sand and circuit racing both as a solo and sidecar outfit.

The north coast of Tasmania had many excellent beaches for sand racing and makeshift airstrips for pilots, Bakers, Greens and Brickmakers but to name a few. He was soon winning many events and in 1935 broke the Tasmanian speed record at Bakers Beach with a run of 118.4 mph which stood until 1948.

Thinking they might be interested to hear of his achievement with one of their product he wrote to the Douglas Company in the UK. They replied that ‘their bikes were built for road work not racetracks’. Despite this lack of enthusiasm George always remained faithful to Douglas motorcycles.

Where is this bike now Regards Daren

[alwyn]

Hi try this link http://www.motormarques.com/content/view/196/65/

Thanks Darren - interesting pages!

Thinking they might be interested to hear of his achievement with one of their product he wrote to the Douglas Company in the UK. They replied that ‘their bikes were built for road work not racetracks’. ....cut...

Doesn't seem to be a very apt response from the Company - but that was a long time ago - it might be quite different now if the subject was re-introduced through the LDMCC?

Where is this bike now?  Regards Daren

That's a good question, Darren - don't give in to your own quotation "too many dougli not enough time!"  - what about squeezing in a bit of extra time to start your own research to see where it leads? - you just might find it very rewarding!- and I'm sure other members will be keen to follow it too.

Alwyn
Moderator
 

[Doug]

The bike shown is a 1935 OW1. There is a little more info under the Historical Information of Wade Camshafts own website- http://www.wadecams.com/

Also some murky pictures of the bike were featured by Len Cole in NCR issue of the early eighties (I think.)

Since I have a 1934 OW1, I wrote to Wade Cams and got a friendly reply from the manager. He agreed to pass on a letter of mine (with some pictures of my OW1) to the family asking if it would be possible to get more information or higher resolution pictures. Since there are not many OWs about and total production quantities a bit of a mystery I was curious what serial numbers it wore. There was no mention the bikes were still extent, so finding out such could well have been impossible. I followed up with a polite reminder a few months on, but since that was now a few years ago, I do not imagine I am going to get a reply.

-Doug