LOYALTY REPAID my John Player Norton
PONDERING OVER THE PICTURES OF this fabulous John Player Norton, you might correctly label it as a ‘replica of a replica’. But not so obvious is that this special and iconic Seventies racer has been created for everyday use by its proud owner.
Subtle clues to this special’s exclusivity are everywhere – chic and timeless classic car mirrors, a bespoke and memorising cockpit that bristles with well-appointed instruments, plus a set of eye-catching and mischievous transfers – all of which add charisma to this race replica’s everyday practicality.
Look deeper and you might spot the single 32mm Amal concentric, or the cheese-grater air filter and insane ‘twittering’ peashooters. Even the single Norvil disc brake and Lucas period indicators could hardly be mistaken for track-focused kit.
Not honed for track life then, this 1973 JPN 750RR (get it?) was actually conceived as a unique and ‘unapproachable’ road machine; one that hides its road-burning intentions behind its red, white and dark blue tobacco-inspired fairing.
HI RIDER, REPLICA OR HOVERCRAFT?
“When not rebuilding engines for the RB199 Tornado F3, or distracted by a growing family, Mac’s spare time was spent working on his Norton.”
But owner Mac’s JPN Replica began life in quite a different guise. It was actually an 850 Hi Rider and belonged to his RAF colleague Martin when both lads were serving at RAF Kinloss. It was Martin who first embarked on the John Player transformation in the mid-Seventies when his Hi Rider began to develop engine problems. In a generous
